Low deformation golf ball

• US 7,044,864 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• 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:
  US11/094,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20050170912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/378, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/374
• 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 comprising an innermost core, an outer core, and a cover is disclosed. At least a layer of the golf ball is made from a low compression, high coefficient of restitution material, and is being supported by a low deformation, high compression layer. The resulting golf ball has high coefficient of restitution at high and low impact speeds and low compression for controlled greenside play.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an innermost core comprising a rubber composition containing a halogenated organosulfur compound and having a diameter of from 0.800 inches to 1.400 inches and a compression of less than 30;

a cover comprising a thermoset polymer and having a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.040 inches and a Shore D hardness of from 45 to 60;

and an intermediate layer disposed between the innermost core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a flexural modulus of from 50,000 psi to 70,000 psi;

wherein the core and the intermediate layer have a compression of greater than 90, and wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.81 at 125 ft/s and a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.76 at 160 ft/s.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the rubber composition comprises about 2.2 phr to about 5.0 phr of halogenated organosulfur compound.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is at least about 0.090 inch.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is between about 0.090 inch and about 0.180 inch.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a blend of a fatty acid salt highly neutralized polymer and a high stiffness partially neutralized ionomer.