Multi-layered core golf ball

• US 6,981,926 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J, Ladd, Derek A, DeSimas, Antonio U
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US10/797,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376, 473/373, 473/374, 473/367, 473/368
• US Class Current: 473/376
• 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 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/04 Rigid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3644 Vacuum bags; Details thereof, e.g. fixing or clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/146 for making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/18 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C43/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/305 Making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/70 Completely encapsulating inserts B29C70/86 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0042 Producing plain balls hollow balls B29D22/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/256 : Sheets, plates, blanks or films
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/52 : Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys B29L2031/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 : Balls

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a multi-layered core golf ball that comprises a center, a cover and at least two core layers formed around the center to create an inner ball, wherein the outermost core layer is relatively stiff and hard relative to the center. One intermediate core layer is comprised of a fully neutralized ionomer.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a multi-layer core having;

a center having a Shore C surface hardness of less than about 80 and a compression of less than 70,

at least one rigid outer core layer having a flex modulus greater than 40,000 psi and a Shore C hardness of greater than 80;

an intermediate core layer interposed between the center and the rigid outer core layer comprised of a fully neutralized ionomer, and having a flex modulus less than 20,000 psi and a Shore C hardness less than 60; and

a cover having a Shore D hardness of less than 65.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the ball is comprised of a plurality of intermediate core layer with flex moduli that progressively increase.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the center has a Shore C hardness of less than 60.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein at least one rigid outer core layer has a Shore C hardness of greater than 85.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 60.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layer core has a diameter greater than 1.60 inches.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein each core layer has a thickness from about 0.015 to 0.05 inches.

8. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the ionomer comprises a polymer fully neutralized by an organic salt.

9. The golf ball according to claim 8, wherein the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of barium, lithium, sodium, zinc, bismuth, potassium, strontium, magnesium or calcium salts.

10. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the ionomer comprises a polymer containing an acid group, a base, and an organic acid or a salt thereof, the base and the organic acid or salt thereof being present in sufficient amounts such that the polymer is fully neutralized.

11. The golf ball according to claim 10, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, stearnic, behenic, erucic, oleic, and linoleic acids.

12. A golf ball comprising:

a multi-layer core having;

a center,

at least one rigid outer core layer having a flex modulus greater than 40,000 psi and a Shore C hardness of greater than 80,

an intermediate core layer comprised of a fully neutralized ionomer, and interposed between the center and the rigid outer core layer, having a flex modulus less than 20,000 psi and a Shore C hardness less than 60; and

a cover having a Shore D hardness of less than 65.

13. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the center has a compression of less than 50.

14. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the center has a Shore C hardness of less than 60.

15. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein at least one rigid outer core layer has a Shore C hardness of greater than 85.

16. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 60.

17. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the multi-layer core has a diameter greater than 1.55 inches.

18. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the outer core layer has a thickness from about 0.015 to 0.05 inch.

19. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the center has a specific gravity of less than 1.1 g/cc.

20. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the core layers has a specific gravity of greater than 1.25 g/cc.

21. The golf ball according to claim 20, wherein the at least one of the core layers is the outermost core layer.

22. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the core layers has a specific gravity of greater than 1.50 g/cc.

23. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the core layers has a specific gravity of greater than 1.75 g/cc.

24. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the ionomer comprises a polymer fully neutralized by an organic salt.

25. The golf ball according to claim 24, wherein the organic salt is selected from the group consisting of barium, lithium, sodium, zinc, bismuth, potassium, strontium, magnesium or calcium salts.

26. The golf ball according to claim 12, wherein the ionomer comprises a polymer containing an acid group, a base, and an organic acid or a salt thereof, the base and the organic acid or salt thereof being present in sufficient amounts such that the polymer is fully neutralized.

27. The golf ball according to claim 26, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of caproic, caprylic, capric, lauric, stearnic, behenic, erucic, oleic, and linoleic acids.