Method of molding a low spin golf ball comprising silicone material

• US 6,676,876 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Top-Flite Golf Company (Callaway Golf Company)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Nesbitt, R. Dennis, Binette, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Edmund H.
• Application Number:
  US09/740,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 264/255, 264/248, 264/275, 264/278, 264/279.1
• US Class Current: 264/255
• 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 37/0034 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• 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 23/025 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 golf ball having a reduced spin rate. The present invention is also directed to an improved golf ball comprising at least one interior layer and/or a core comprising a silicone material. It is preferred to also utilize a multi-layer cover in conjunction with the silicone materials. 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 method of forming a golf ball, said method comprising:

providing a core having a PGA compression of about 70 to about 80;

providing a silicone material;

forming an interior layer comprising said silicone material about said core; and

molding a cover layer about said interior layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material is a silicone polymer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material is a silicone elastomer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material is a silicone resin.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, has a tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 600 psi.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, exhibits an elongation of from about 350% to about 650%.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises a step of curing said silicone material.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said curing step is performed by heating said interior layer to a temperature of from about 100°

C. to about 180°

C.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of, prior to forming said interior layer, adding a catalyst to said silicone material.

10. A method of manufacturing a golf ball, said method comprising:

providing a silicone material;

forming a core including said silicone material; and

molding a cover layer about said core such that said cover layer exhibits a Shore D hardness of at least 65.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material is a silicone polymer.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material is a silicone elastomer.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material is a silicone resin.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, has a tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 600 psi.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, exhibits an elongation of from about 350% to about 650%.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein said method further comprises a step of curing said silicone material.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said curing step is performed by heating said core to a temperature of from about 100°

C. to about 180°

C.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of, prior to forming said core, adding a catalyst to said silicone material.

19. A method of making a golf ball, said method including:

providing a core;

providing a silicone material;

forming an interior layer comprising said silicone material about said core; and

molding a cover layer about said interior layer such that said cover layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 65.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material is a silicone polymer having a formula (R_nSiO_(4-n)/2)m, wherein n ranges from 1 to 3, m is at least 2, and R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, fluoroalkyl, phenyl, vinyl, hydrogen, chlorine, alkoxy, acyloxy, alkylamino, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material is a silicone elastomer, which elastomer results from crosslinking said silicone material.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material is a silicone resin formed from a chlorosilane selected from the group consisting of monomethylchlorosilane, dimethylchlorosilane, diphenylchlorosilane, methylchlorosilane, phenylchlorosilane, monovinylchlorosilane, methylvinylchlorosilane, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, has a tensile strength of from about 300 psi to about 600 psi.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said silicone material, upon curing, exhibits an elongation of from about 350% to about 650%.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said method further comprises a step of curing said silicone material.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said curing step is performed by heating said interior layer to a temperature of from about 100°

C. to about 180°

C.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprising a step of, prior to forming said interior layer, adding a catalyst to said silicone material.

28. A method of preparing a golf ball, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a core having a PGA compression of less than 85;

providing a silicone material selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers, silicone fluids, silicone elastomers, silicone resins, and combinations thereof;

forming an interior layer comprising said silicone material about said core; and

molding a cover layer on said interior layer.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of curing said silicone material.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said curing step includes heating said silicone material to a temperature of from about 100°

C. to about 180°

C.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising adding a catalyst to said silicone material.

32. A method of making a golf ball, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a silicone material selected from the group consisting of silicone polymers, silicone fluids, silicone elastomers, silicone resins, and combinations thereof;

forming a core that includes said silicone material such that said core exhibits a PGA compression of less than 85;

forming an interior layer on said core; and

molding a cover layer about said interior layer.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising a step of curing said silicone material.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said curing step includes heating said silicone material to a temperature of from about 100°

C. to about 180°

C.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising adding a catalyst to said silicone material.