Golf ball

• US 6,612,940 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Binette, Mark L., Nealon, John L., Nesbitt, R. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/710,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 473/377, 473/351, 473/370, 473/371, 473/372, 473/376, 524/432
• US Class Current: 473/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/098 Metal salts of carboxylic acids
• 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 2666/04 Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/08 Homopolymers or copolymers according to C08L7/00 - C08L21/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/00 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a golf ball utilizing a core that comprises at least two particular types of polybutadiene. In one aspect, a combination of a polybutadiene obtained from a cobalt catalyst is used in conjunction with a polybutadiene obtained from a neodymium catalyst. Also disclosed are golf balls comprising particular cover compositions. In one aspect, a cover composition is disclosed that includes a sodium ionomer, a magnesium ionomer, and a zinc ionomer. The golf balls exhibit improved distance while providing a soft sound and feel.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core including (1) a first polybutadiene rubber obtained utilizing a nickel and/or cobalt catalyst and having a Mooney viscosity in the range of from about 65 to about 85 and a polydispersity in the range of about 1.9 to about 3.9 and (ii) a blend of a second and third or more polybutadiene rubbers wherein each is obtained by utilizing a lanthanide series catalyst and having a Mooney viscosity of from about 30 to about 65; and

a cover disposed about said core.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber includes at least 90% cis-1,4 polybutadiene.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber includes at least 95% cis-1,4 polybutadiene.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said first polyburadiene rubber has a polydispersity in the range of from about 2.4 to about 3.1.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said blend of polybutadiene rubbers comprises a first polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of about 40 and a second polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of about 60.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber is present in an amount of about 40% by weight of the rubber composition of the core.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said blend of polybutadiene rubbers is present in an amount of about 60% by weight of the rubber composition of the core.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 wherein said blend of polybutadiene rubbers is comprised of about 30% by weight of a first polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of about 40 and about 30% by weight of a second polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of about 60.

9. A golf ball comprising:

a core including a blend comprising of (i) about 45 parts by weight or less of a first polybutadiene rubber, wherein said first polybutadiene rubber is obtained utilizing a nickel and/or cobalt catalyst and having a Mooney viscosity in the range of from about 65 to about 85 and, (ii) about 55 parts by weight or more of at least a second or third polybutadiene rubber, wherein said second or third polybutadiene rubber is obtained utilizing a lanthanide series catalyst and having a Mooney viscosity of from about 30 to about 65; and

a cover disposed about said core.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber includes at least 90% cis-1,4 polybutadiene.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber includes at least 95% cis-1,4 polybutadiene.

12. The golf ball of claim 9 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber has a polydispersity in the range of from about 1.9 to about 3.9.

13. The golf ball of claim 12 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber has a polydispersity in the range of from about 2.4 to about 3.1.

14. A golf ball comprising:

a core including a blend comprising of (i) about 40 parts by weight or less of a first polybutadiene rubber obtained utilizing a nickel and/or cobalt catalyst and having a Mooney viscosity in the range of from about 70 to about 83 and, (ii) about 60 parts by weight or more of a second polybutadiene rubber obtained by utilizing lanthanide series catalyst and having a Mooney viscosity of from about 30 to about 70; and

a cover disposed about said core.

15. The golf ball of claim 14 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber includes at least 90% cis-1,4 polybutadiene.

16. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber includes at 95% cis-1,4 polybutadiene.

17. The golf ball of claim 14 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber has a polydispersity in the range of from about 1.9 to about 3.9.

18. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein said first polybutadiene rubber has a polydispersity in the range of from about 2.4 to about 3.1.