Multi-layer golf ball

• US 6,595,873 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/776,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20030017889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/370, 473/371, 473/372, 473/376, 473/377, 473/378
• US Class Current: 473/374
• 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 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/08 Copolymers of ethene C08L23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/18 Polyesters or polycarbonates according to C08L67/00 - C08L69/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/00 Compositions of block copolymers containing at least one sequence of a polymer obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 69/00 Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved multi-layer golf ball comprising a core, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The inner cover layer is comprised of a low acid ionomer blend which may or may not include a filler such as zinc-stearate. The outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, non-ionomeric thermoplastic or thermosetting elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyesteramide. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known multi-layer golf balls.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core;

an inner cover layer disposed on said core, said inner cover layer having a thickness of from about 0.100 to about 0.010 inches, said inner cover layer comprising a blend of two or more ionomer resins, at least one of which contains no more than 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid; and

an outer cover layer disposed on said inner cover layer, said outer cover layer having a thickness of 0.010 to 0.070 inches, and said outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane material,

wherein said golf ball has an overall diameter of 1.680 inches or more, said inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60, and said outer cover layer having a Shore D hardness of less than 64.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.050 inches, and said outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.055 inches.

3. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a spherical core;

an inner cover layer having Shore D hardness of at least 60 disposed on said spherical core, said inner cover layer comprising an ionomeric resin including no more than 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and having a modulus of from about 15,000 to about 70,000 psi; and

an outer cover layer having a Shore D hardness of about 64 or less disposed about said inner cover layer and defining a plurality of dimples to form a multi-layer golf ball, said outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane based material and said outer cover layer having a thickness of from about 0.010 to about 0.070 inches.

4. A golf ball according to claim 3 wherein said inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.050 inches and said outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.055 inches, said golf ball having an overall diameter of 1.680 inches or more.

5. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:

a spherical core;

an inner cover layer disposed over said spherical core to form a spherical intermediate ball, said inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60, said inner cover layer comprising an ionomeric resin having no more than 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and having a modulus of from about 15,000 to about 70,000 psi, and said inner cover layer having a thickness from about 0.100 to about 0.010 inches; and

a dimpled outer cover layer disposed over said spherical intermediate ball to form a multi-layer golf ball, said outer cover having a Shore D hardness of 64 or less, said outer layer comprising a polyurethane, said outer cover layer having a modulus in a range of about 1,000 to about 30,000 psi, and said outer cover layer having a thickness of from about 0.010 to about 0.070 inches.

6. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 5 wherein the Shore D hardness of said outer cover layer is less than the Shore D hardness of said inner cover layer.