Multi-layer golf ball

• US 7,494,427 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Tzivanis, Michael J., Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Binette, Mark L., Keller, Viktor, Risen, William M. Jr., Nealon, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US11/874,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20080096692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/373
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/087 Wound cores or layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0021 Occupation ratio, i.e. percentage surface occupied by dimples
• 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 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has an inner cover layer with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 55 or less, and more preferably 50 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises one or more polyurethane materials. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less, and particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a solid core formed from materials comprising at least one polybutadiene and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of zinc diacrylate, zinc acrylate and zinc methacrylate, the solid core having a coefficient of restitution of 0.770 or more, a mass ranging from 30 grams to 40 grams, and having a diameter of 1.2 inches to 1.6 inches;

an inner cover layer molded on the solid core, the inner cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.03 inch to 0.07 inch, the inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60 as measured on the curved outer surface thereof, and comprising a metal fatty acid salt and a blend of ionomers, the blend of ionomers having at least one ionomer with an acid content by weight of 17% to 25%, and 10% to 100% neutralization of the acids by metal ions selected from the group consisting of zinc, sodium and magnesium, the solid core and inner cover layer forming an inner ball having a coefficient of restitution of 0.790 or more, and a diameter of 1.48 inches to 1.66 inches; and

an outer cover layer molded about the inner ball, the outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane material, the outer cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch;

wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.770, a dimple pattern having at least 65% or more surface coverage, and a diameter of 1.680 inches or more.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the polyurethane material of the outer cover layer is composed of a thermoplastic polyester polyurethane.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the polyurethane material of the outer cover layer is composed of a thermoset polyurethane.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the polyurethane material of the outer cover layer is composed of a reaction-injection molded polyurethane.

5. A golf ball comprising:

a thread wound core having a liquid-filled center, the core having a coefficient of restitution of 0.770 or more, a mass ranging from 30 grams to 40 grams, and having a diameter of 1.2 inches to 1.6 inches;

an inner cover layer molded on the core, the inner cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.03 inch to 0.07 inch, the inner cover layer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60 as measured on the curved outer surface thereof, and comprising metal fatty acid salt and a blend of ionomers, the blend of ionomers having at least one ionomer with an acid content by weight of 17% to 25%, and 10% to 100% neutralization of the acids by metal ions selected from the group consisting of zinc, sodium and magnesium, the core and inner cover layer forming an inner ball having a diameter of 1.48 inches to 1.66 inches; and

an outer cover layer molded about the inner ball, the outer cover layer having a thickness ranging from 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch;

wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.770, and a diameter of 1.680 inches or more.

6. The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the polyurethane material of the outer cover layer is composed of a thermoplastic polyester polyurethane.

7. The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the polyurethane material of the outer cover layer is composed of a thermoset polyurethane.

8. The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the out cover layer is composed of a blend of ionomers having at least two ionomers with an acid content by weight of 17% to 25%, and 10% to 100% neutralization of the acids by metal ions selected from the group consisting of zinc, sodium and magnesium.

9. The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein the metal fatty acid salt of the inner cover layer is a metal stearate.

10. The golf ball according to claim 9 wherein the metal stearate is a zinc stearate.