Golf ball with high coefficient of restitution

• US 6,595,872 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Dewanjee, Pijush K., Ogg, Steven S., Bartels, David M., Yagley, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/063,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351-377
• US Class Current: 473/371
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0084 Initial velocity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005

Abstract

The present invention is a golf ball that has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second that is greater than 0.8015, and an USGA initial velocity less than 255.0 feet per second. The golf ball is preferably a solid three-piece golf ball with a thermosetting polyurethane cover, an ionomer blend intermediate layer and a polybutadiene core.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a solid core having a PGA compression ranging from 75 points to 120 points, the solid core composed of a polybutadiene blend and having a diameter in the range of 1.35 inches to 1.64 inches;

an intermediate layer disposed about the core; and

a cover disposed over the intermediate layer, the cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.044 inch;

wherein the golf ball has a ball Shore D hardness ranging from 45 points to 75 points as measured on the surface of the golf ball, the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second greater than 0.7964, and the golf ball has an USGA initial velocity less than 255.0 feet per second.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 points to 75 points as measured on the curved surface of the intermediate layer.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising a thread layer wound around the intermediate layer.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball has a diameter of 1.68 inches to 1.70 inches.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the cover is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of thermosetting polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, ionomer, polyether amide, polybutadiene, and any mixture thereof.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball has a ball Shore D hardness of approximately 65 points as measured on the surface of the golf ball.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball has a ball Shore D hardness of approximately 60 points as measured on the surface of the golf ball.

8. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the core has a diameter in the range of 1.45 inches to 1.55 inches.

9. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate layer is composed of an ionomer blend of fifty parts of a sodium neutralized high acid methacrylic acid ionomer and fifty parts of a zinc neutralized high acid methacrylic acid.

10. A golf ball comprising:

a solid core composed of a polybutadiene blend and having a PGA compression ranging from 75 points to 120 points;

an intermediate layer disposed about the core, the intermediate having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 points to 75 points as measured on the curved surface of the intermediate layer;

a cover disposed over the intermediate layer, the cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.044 inch;

wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second greater than 0.7964, and an USGA initial velocity less than 255.0 feet per second, and the golf ball has a ball Shore D hardness ranging from 45 points to 75 points as measured on the surface of the golf ball.

11. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second greater than 0.8015.

12. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second greater than 0.8150.

13. A golf ball comprising:

a solid core composed of a polybutadiene blend, having a PGA compression ranging from 90 points to 120 points, and having a diameter ranging from 1.35 inches to 1.64 inches;

an intermediate layer disposed about the core, the intermediate layer composed of a blend of ionomers, having a Shore D hardness ranging from 50 points to 75 points as measured on the curved surface of the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer having a thickness ranging from 0.040 inch to 0.09 inch; and

a cover disposed over the intermediate layer, the cover composed of a polyurethane material, the cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.044 inch;

wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second greater than 0.7964, and an USGA initial velocity less than 255.0 feet per second, and the golf ball has a ball Shore D hardness ranging from 50 points to 75 points as measured on the surface of the golf ball.

14. The golf ball according to claim 13 wherein the cover has a thickness ranging from 0.020 inch to 0.0375 inch.

15. The golf ball according to claim 13 wherein the cover has a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.035 inch.

16. The golf ball according to claim 13 wherein the cover has a thickness of 0.030 inch.

17. The golf ball according to claim 13 wherein the core has a PGA compression ranging from 100 to 110 points.

18. The golf ball according to claim 13 wherein the core has a PGA compression of 110 points.

19. The golf ball according to claim 13 wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 feet per second greater than 0.8150.