Low spin golf ball utilizing perimeter weighting

• US 6,648,778 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Nesbitt, R. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL D
• Application Number:
  US09/903,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/359, 473/365, 473/383, 473/378, 473/384
• US Class Current: 473/377
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0062 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0083 Weight; Mass
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/008 with means for improving visibility, e.g. special markings or colours illuminating or reflecting means A63B43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3688 Balls, ball substitutes, or attachments on balls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/02 containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/025 Copolymer of an unspecified olefin with a monomer other than an olefin
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a soft core and a hard cover to produce a resulting golf ball having a reduced spin rate. In this regard, a core is provided and metal particles, or other heavy weight filler materials, are included in the cover compositions. This results in a golf ball exhibiting enhanced perimeter weighting. Preferably, the particles are included in a relatively thick inner cover layer (or mantle) of a solid, three-piece multi-layered golf ball. In another preferred version, one or more patterns of weighting material are incorporated in the ball, and most preferably along the outer periphery of the ball so that the pattern is visible along the ball'"'"'s exterior. The size and weight of the core is reduced in order to produce an overall golf ball which meets, or is less than, the 1.62 ounce maximum weight limitation specified by the United States Golf Association. It has been found that the present invention produces a golf ball with an increased moment of inertia and/or a greater radius of gyration and thus generates lower spin. The golf ball of the present invention may also utilize an enlarged diameter which serves to further reduce spin rate. The resulting golf ball exhibits properties of reduced spin without sacrificing durability, playability and resilience.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core having a Riehle compression of at least about 75; and

an outer layer disposed around said core, said outer layer including at least one discrete region of weighting material that serves to increase the moment of inertia of said golf ball, wherein said at least one region of weighting material is visible along the exterior of said golf ball, said outer layer having a Shore D hardness of at least about 65, wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a perimeter weighting pattern selected from the group consisting of a visible star-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a visible contour-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a visible pentagon-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a visible radiused pentagon-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a visible single stripe-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a double stripe-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a multi-stripe-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a stripe and dimple-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, a ring-shaped perimeter weighting pattern, and a spiral-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a visible contoured-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a visible pentagon-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a visible radiused pentagon-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a visible single stripe-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a double stripe-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a multi-stripe-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a stripe and dimple-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a ring-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said at least one discrete region of weighting material is in the form of a spiral-shaped perimeter weighting pattern.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said layer disposed about said core is comprised of at least one high acid ionomer resin comprising a copolymer of about 17% to about 25% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid, and an alpha olefin of which about 10 to about 90% of the carboxyl groups of the copolymer are neutralized with a metal cation.