Low deformation golf ball

• US 7,041,009 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Jordan, Michael D., Ladd, Derek A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US10/950,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20050037870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/376, 473/368, 473/377
• 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 37/0041 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• 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 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/37 Thiols
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 21/00 Compositions of unspecified rubbers

Abstract

A golf ball including a core comprised of a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer; a cover; and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer including a base rubber and an organosulfur compound; wherein the core has a PGA compression of 60 or greater and the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of about 125 ft/s.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a single, solid layer core comprised of a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer, the core having a diameter of greater than 1.450 inches and a compression of greater than 90;

an outer cover layer; and

an inner cover layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer, the inner cover layer comprising a base rubber and an organosulfur compound and having a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.100 inches;

wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of about 125 ft/s.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the organosulfur compound is halogenated.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the organosulfur compound comprises pentachlorothiophenol or the zinc or magnesium salt thereof.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.090 inches.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.070 inches.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.81 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of about 125 ft/s.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the coefficient of restitution is 0.75 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of about 160 ft/s.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core has a compression of greater than 100.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball additionally comprises an intermediate cover layer.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the combined thickness of the inner cover layer, the intermediate cover layer, and the outer cover layer is less than 0.125 inches.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.76 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the coefficient of restitution of the golf ball when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s is at least 95% of the coefficient of restitution of the golf ball when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a compression of greater than 80.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a compression of greater than 90.