Compositions for use in golf balls

• US 7,138,460 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Morgan, William E., Sullivan, Michael J., Ladd, Derek A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buttner, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/845,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 525/261
• 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 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• 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 37/06 Elastic cores

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a core having a diameter of at least 1.5 inches, at least one inner cover layer encasing the core, and an outer cover layer encasing the inner cover layer. The inner cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and is formed from a material selected from polyamides, polyesters, fluoropolymers, silicones, ionomers, crosslinked rubbers, and mixtures thereof. The outer cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches, is softer than the inner cover layer, and is formed from a composition comprising polybutadiene, an organosulfur compound, and a co-crosslinking agent.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a core, at least one inner cover layer encasing the core, and an outer cover layer encasing the inner cover layer, wherein:

the outer cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and is formed from a composition comprising crosslinkable polybutadiene, a co-crosslinking agent, and an organosulfur compound, wherein the organosulfur compound is selected from pentachlorothiophenol and metal salts thereof and is present in the composition in an amount of at least 2.2 parts per 100 parts of polybutadiene;

the inner cover layer has a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and is formed from a composition comprising at least one inner cover layer material selected from polyamides, polyesters, fluoropolymers, silicones, ionomers, crosslinked rubbers, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the outer cover layer is softer than the inner cover layer;

and wherein the core has a diameter of at least 1.5 inches.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core has an Atti compression of greater than 60.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer has a flexural modulus of 30,000 psi or less and a Shore D hardness of 20 to 60.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer is coated with at least one topcoat selected from the group consisting of white pigment impregnated polyurethane and polyurea topcoats.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein said inner cover layer material has a flexural modulus of 100,000 psi or less and a Shore D hardness of from 55 to 80.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer are adjoined at least via interfacial carbon-carbon crosslinks or ionic crosslinks.