Golf ball with multiple cover layers

• US 7,601,079 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, THANH P
• Application Number:
  US11/505,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378, 473/370, 473/376, 473/377
• US Class Current: 473/378
• 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 37/0037 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023

Abstract

A golf ball having a core and two or more cover layers, wherein the multiple cover layers are formed from materials that are substantially the same composition with the same Shore hardness, but are modified in some way to alter the processing or performance characteristics of the golf ball, or the layers have the same Shore hardness and at least one cover layer is formed of a polymer blend including a polyurethane composition, and at least one cover layer is formed of a different polymer blend.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core;

a cover disposed about the core, consisting essentially of;

an inner cover layer formed from a first composition having a first hardness, a first thickness of about 0.01 inches to about 0.25 inches, and a first flexural modulus;

an outer cover layer disposed on the inner cover formed from a second composition having a second hardness, a second thickness, and a second flexural modulus, wherein the second hardness differs from the first hardness by about 5 points or less, wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness and from about 0.005 inches to about 0.1 inches, and wherein the second flexural modulus is less than the first flexural modulus.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first flexural modulus differs from the second flexural modulus by about 5,000 psi or less.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first flexural modulus differs from the second flexural modulus by about 1,000 psi to about 2,500 psi or less.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first composition is different than the second composition.

5. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the first composition comprises a metallocene-catalyzed polymer, a partially neutralized ionomer, a fully neutralized ionomer, or thermoplastic polyester and the second composition comprises a polyurethane, polyurea, silicone, or epoxy.

6. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the second composition comprises a filler selected from the group consisting of precipitated hydrated silica, clay, talc, asbestos, glass fibers, aramid fibers, mica, calcium metasilicate, barium sulfate, zinc sulfide, lithopone, silicates, silicon carbide, diatomaceous earth, polyvinyl chloride, carbonates, metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, particulate carbonaceous materials, micro balloons, fly ash, and combinations thereof.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first and second compositions are substantially similar.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the second hardness differs from the first hardness by about 3 points or less.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the second hardness is from about 35 to about 65 Shore D.