Multi-layer core golf ball

• US 7,255,656 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., DeSimas, Antonio U., Ladd, Derek A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US10/773,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/376, 473/378, 473/368, 473/377
• 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 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/005 Cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• 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 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0091 Density distribution amongst the different ball 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
• 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 53/02 : of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/02 : Polyureas
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 : Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/00 : Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core. The inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the outer core and a specific gravity less than or equal to the outer core specific gravity. Overall the inner core compression and outer core are formulated to provide a combined overall core compression of greater than about 50, preferably greater than about 70. A cover layer is provided to surround and to cover the outer core layer. A moisture barrier layer is provided between the outer core layer and the cover layer to protect the inner and outer cores from degradation due to exposure to water. The moisture vapor transmission rate of the moisture barrier layer is selected to be less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover layer.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core having a compression of less than about 65;

at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core having a specific gravity greater than or equal to a specific gravity of the inner core; and

a cover surrounding the outer core layer;

wherein the inner core hardness is about 78 Shore C and the outer core hardness is greater than about 90 Shore C; and

wherein the inner core has a diameter of from about 1.4 inches to about 1.5 inches and the outer core has a thickness of from about 0.05 inches up to about 0.1 inches.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover layer comprises polyurea or polyurethane.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a moisture barrier layer disposed between the outer core layer and the cover layer, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises a moisture vapor transmission rate that is less than a moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover layer.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the moisture barrier layer has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 2, and a thickness of less than about 0.03 inches.

5. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises a styrene block copolymer and aluminum flake.

6. A golf ball comprising:

a multi-layer core comprising;

an inner core having a Shore C hardness less than about 80 and a compression of less than about 70; and

at least one outer core layer having a Shore C hardness of greater than about 80,

an amount of zinc diacrylate of greater than about 35 pph; and

a cover layer having a Shore D hardness of less than about 65;

wherein at least one outer core layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is lower than that of the cover layer, and the multi-layer core has a diameter of greater than about 1.58 inches.

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the outer core layer has a Shore C hardness of greater than about 90.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the zinc diacrylate level in the outer core layer is greater than about 40 pph.

9. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the multi-layer core diameter is greater than about 1.6 inches.

10. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the inner core comprises about 100 pph of a polybutadiene rubber, greater than about 25 pph of a zinc diacrylate, greater than about 0.5 pph of an organic peroxide and a sufficient amount of filler to produce the inner core specific gravity, the outer core comprises about 100 pph of a polybutadiene rubber, greater than about 0.6 pph of an organic peroxide, a sufficient amount of filler to produce the outer core specific gravity, and the cover layer comprises polyurea or polyurethane.

11. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core having a compression of less than about 65;

at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core and having a hardness of at least 80 Shore C and a specific gravity greater than or equal to a specific gravity of the inner core; and

a cover surrounding the outer core layer;

wherein the inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the outer core, and

wherein the cover layer comprises polyurea or polyurethane.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the inner core has a diameter of from about 1.4 inches to about 1.5 inches and the outer core has a thickness of from about 0.05 inches up to about 0.1 inches.

13. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.03 inches to about 0.04 inches.

14. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the inner core has a compression of less than about 50.

15. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the outer core layer has a specific gravity of at least 1.1.

16. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the golf ball further comprises a moisture barrier layer disposed between the outer core layer and the cover layer, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises a moisture vapor transmission rate that is less than a moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover layer.

17. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the moisture barrier layer has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 2.

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the moisture barrier layer has a thickness of less than about 0.03 inches.

19. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the moisture barrier layer comprises a styerene block copolymer and aluminum flake.