Selectively weighted golf ball

• US 6,929,567 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Boehm, Herbert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIMIEW, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US10/414,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 473/355, 473/367, 473/368, 473/370, 473/371, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0005 Protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0009 Polygonal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0055 with non-spherical insert(s)
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0097 Layers interlocking by means of protrusions or inserts, lattices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005

Abstract

A golf ball comprising an inner core, an outer core, and a cover is disclosed. The outer core surrounds the inner core, and the cover encases the cores. The inner core is preferably a pre-formed selectively weighted symmetrical, but non-spherical insert, which may be made from either a high or low specific gravity material to control the moment of inertia and spin rate of the ball. The outer core is over-molded around the pre-formed insert to form a spherical core. Alternatively, the inner core insert has outer pockets defined thereon. These pockets are adapted to receive the outer core materials, which may have either a high specific gravity or a low specific gravity.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a pre-formed selectively weighted inner core insert comprised of a hub having a specific gravity of greater than 1.2 and a plurality of outer elements having a specific gravity of less than 0.9 that are connected together;

an outer core molded over the inner core insert; and

a cover disposed around the outer core.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the hub has a specific gravity of greater than 1.5.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the hub has a specific gravity of greater than 1.8.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer elements have a specific gravity of less than 0.8.

5. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the outer elements are hollow.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer elements are coupled together by webbed legs.

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the webbed legs align and center the hub.

8. A golf ball comprising:

a pre-formed selectively weighted inner core insert comprised of a hub having a specific gravity of less than 0.9, a plurality of outer elements having a specific gravity of greater than 1.2 and means for coupling the outer elements;

an outer core molded over the inner core insert; and

a cover disposed around the outer core.

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the means for coupling the outer elements are a plurality of webbed legs.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the webbed legs align and center the hub.

11. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the outer elements have a specific gravity greater than 1.5.

12. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the outer elements have a specific gravity greater than 1.8.