Golf ball

• US 6,533,682 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US09/842,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351-377
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0035 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0083 Weight; Mass
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005

Abstract

A golf ball with a precise spin rate is disclosed. The distribution of weight among the layers within the golf ball relative to a centroid radius is realized to precisely control the moment of inertia of the ball. In accordance to one aspect of the present invention, the innermost core of the ball is made from a specific gravity reduced material, and a thin dense layer is accurately located either inside or outside of the centroid radius to create a high spin ball or a low spin ball, respectively, with a high compression and soft feel.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a solid inner core having a specific gravity of less than 0.9,

a high-specific-gravity layer disposed around the core, said layer having a thickness between about 0.001 and about 0.05 inches and a specific gravity of greater than 1.8,

and a cover of at least one layer disposed around the high-specific-gravity layer,

wherein said inner core comprises a specific-gravity-reducing agent.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the specific-gravity-reducing agent is a foamed particulate;

a filler;

microspheres;

a nucleated reaction injection molded polymer;

a densified loaded film;

polyurethanes;

epoxies;

polyesters;

silicones and rubber latex;

a thermoplastic polymer loaded with a specific gravity increasing agent;

polybutadiene with tungsten powder, and mixtures thereof.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the high-specific-gravity layer is formed by compression or injection molding, reaction injection molding, casting, spraying, dipping or powder coating.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core has a specific gravity of less than 0.8.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the inner core and the cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a specific gravity of less than 0.9 and is made from a material containing a specific-gravity-reducing agent.

6. The golf ball of claim 5, further comprising an inner cover disposed between the intermediate layer and the cover.

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the inner cover is a wound layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the specific gravity of the inner core is less than the specific gravity of the intermediate layer and the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is less than the specific gravity of the inner cover.

9. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the specific gravity of the inner core is more than the specific gravity of the intermediate layer and the specific gravity of the intermediate layer is more than the specific gravity of the inner cover.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the high-specific-gravity layer is disposed at a radial distance between the center of the ball and the centroid radius.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the high-specific-gravity layer is disposed at a radial distance outside of the centroid radius.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the high-specific-gravity layer has a thickness from about 0.001 inch to about 0.03 inch.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ball has a weight between about 1.48 oz and about 1.58 oz.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ball has a weight between about 1.60 oz and about 1.62 oz.