Golf ball with large center core

• US 7,115,049 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J, Ladd, Derek A
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US10/665,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376, 473/377, 473/351
• US Class Current: 473/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0027 Polyurea
• 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 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface 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 37/04 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
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/04 : Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/08 : Copolymers of ethene C08L23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 : Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 : Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/24 : Graft or block copolymers according to groups C08L51/00, C08L53/00 or C08L55/02; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/00 : Compositions of polyureas or polyurethanes; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/00 : Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons

Abstract

A golf ball is disclosed that provides a softer feel, resilient core for decreased spin rate. The golf ball has a dual-layered core surrounded by a dual-layered cover. The volume of the inner layer of the dual layer core is at least about 70% of the total volume of the inner core layer and the outer core layer. The inner core has a diameter from about 1.25 inches up to about 1.55 inches. The outer core has a diameter from about 1.55 inches up to about 1.62 inches. The compression of the dual core is from about 60 to about 100. The outer core layer is constructed from materials that provide for a Shore C hardness of at least about 80. The dual-layer cover includes an inner layer having a Shore D hardness of at least about 60 and a thickness of about 0.015 inches to about 0.055 inches. The outer core layer has a Shore D hardness of about 62 or less and a thickness less than about 0.035 inches.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core comprising an inner core and an outer core and a cover comprising an inner cover and an outer cover wherein the inner core is encased by an outer core and the inner core comprises at least about 70% of the total volume of the core, wherein the inner core has an outer diameter of about 1.30 inches to about 1.50 inches, a compression from about 15 to about 55, and wherein the outer core has a Shore C hardness of at least 80 and is comprised of a rubber material, a cross-linking agent, at least one filler, an organic peroxide, and a stiffening agent, such that the core has a compression of between 60 and 100.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core comprises at least about 75% of the total volume of the core.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core comprises at least about 80% of the total volume of the core.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core comprises a rubber material, a cross-linking agent, at least one filler, and an organic peroxide.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer core has a diameter from about 1.55 inches up to about 1.62 inches.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the outer core is at least about 85 Shore C.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover has a Shore D hardness of at least about 60.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the hardness of the inner cover is at least about 65 Shore D.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover has a thickness of about 0.015 inches to about 0.055 inches.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the thickness of the inner cover is about 0.020 inches to about 0.040 inches.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover has a Shore D hardness about 62 or less, such that the ball has a compression from about 80 to about 90.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the hardness of the outer cover is about 55 Shore D or less.

13. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the outer cover has a thickness of less than about 0.045 inches.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the thickness of the outer cover is less than about 0.35 inches.

15. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover comprises an ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer or an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, and the outer cover comprises a castable polyurethane or polyurea.