Multilayer golf ball

• US 7,458,904 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Boehm, Herbert C., Hebert, Edmund A., Ladd, Derek A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US11/353,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 473/354, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/354
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/085 liquid, jellylike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0052 Liquid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0056 Hollow; Gas-filled
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• 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 37/08 Liquid cores; Plastic 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 2043/023 having a plurality of grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/0022 Multi-cavity moulds B29C33/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/00 Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor by liberation of internal stresses B29C61/006
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/027 having an axis of symmetry B29C43/102 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/146 for making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/22 using layers or sheathings having a shape adapted to the shape of the article B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 : using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4835 : Heat curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/484 : Moisture curing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/485 : Multi-component adhesives, i.e. chemically curing as a result of the mixing of said multi-components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1142 : Single butt to butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12443 : having the tongue substantially in the middle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12461 : being rounded, i.e. U-shaped or C-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12882 : comprising at least three monotone curved joint-segments
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/24221 : being circular B29C66/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 : Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 : joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 : one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73756 : the to-be-joined areas of both parts to be joined being fully cured
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73774 : the to-be-joined areas of both parts to be joined being semi-crystalline
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7392 : characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 : characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7394 : characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoset
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73941 : characterised by the materials of both parts being thermosets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 : Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83221 : cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/04 : Spherical articles, e.g. balls B29D22/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0042 : Producing plain balls hollow balls B29D22/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/06 : SB polymers, i.e. butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 : Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/02 : Polyureas
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 : Balls
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/545 : Football balls

Abstract

The present invention encompasses a golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, and a first, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an a,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid. Preferably, the rate of spin decay is at least 10% of an initial spin rate of the golf ball over the entire ball flight.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, and a first, solid, non-wound layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an α

,β

-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid, and a less hydrophilic cation source, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first layer acid being neutralized by contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 90% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein about 100% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin;

silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and

metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a thickness of about 0.04 to 0.56 inches.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball further comprises a second layer encompassing the first layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first layer further comprises polybutadiene.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the fluid mass is a gas, liquid, gel, paste or a combination thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the fluid mass is about 1.3 to 1.55.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the fluid mass is about 100 to 1500 cps.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and a thin outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer comprises a thermoset material formed from a castable, reactive liquid and the inner cover layer comprises a high flexural modulus material.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has a COR of at least 0.8.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a Shore C of 45 to 90.

15. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core has a compression of 87 or less.

16. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 8 g-mil/100 in²/day or less.

17. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 2 g-mil/100 in²/day or less.

18. A golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, a shell encompassing the fluid mass, and a first, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding the shell, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an α

,β

-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid, and a less hydrophilic cation source, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid.

19. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the polymer composition acid being neutralized by contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 90% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein about 100% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

21. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

22. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin;

silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and

metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

23. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the first mantle layer has a thickness of about 0.04 to 0.35 inches.

24. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the first mantle layer further comprises polybutadiene.

25. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the fluid mass is a gas, liquid, gel, paste or a combination thereof.

26. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the specific gravity of the fluid mass is about 1.3 to 1.55.

27. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the viscosity of the fluid mass is about 100 to 1500 cps.

28. The golf ball of claim 18, where the golf ball has a rate of spin decay of at least 10% of the initial spin rate over the entire ball flight.

29. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the first layer has a Shore C of 45 to 90.

30. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the core has a compression of 87 or less.

31. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 8 g-mil/100 in²/day or less.

32. The golf ball of claim 31, wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 2 g-mil/100 in²/day or less.

33. A golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, and a first, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an α

, β

-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid and a less hydrophilic cation source, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid, wherein the rate of spin decay is at least 10% of an initial spin rate of the golf ball over the entire ball flight.

34. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the polymer composition acid being neutralized by contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 90% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

35. The golf ball of claim 34, wherein about 100% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

36. The golf ball of claim 34, wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

37. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin;

silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and

metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

38. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the first mantle layer has a thickness of about 0.04 to 0.56 inches.

39. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the first mantle layer further comprises polybutadiene.

40. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the golf ball further comprises a shell encompassing the fluid mass.

41. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the fluid mass is a gas, liquid, gel, paste or a combination thereof.

42. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the specific gravity of the fluid mass is about 1.3 to 1.55.

43. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the viscosity of the fluid mass is about 100 to 1500 cps.

44. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and a thin outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer comprises a thermoset material formed from a castable, reactive liquid and the inner cover layer comprises a high flexural modulus material.

45. The golf ball of claim 33, where the golf ball has a rate of spin decay of at least 15% of the initial spin rate over the entire ball flight.