Multi-layer core golf ball having thermoset rubber cover

• US 7,654,918 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Bartsch, Eric D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/561,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473351-378
• US Class Current: 473/377
• 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 37/0035 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0091 Density distribution amongst the different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/06 Elastic cores
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 21/00 Compositions of unspecified rubbers

Abstract

An all rubber golf ball with one or more thermosetting rubber core layers and one or more thermosetting rubber cover layer. At least one of the ball'"'"'s layers has moisture vapor barrier property, and in one aspect the moisture vapor barrier layer is an intermediate layer. In one embodiment, the thermosetting rubber layers follow a cis- or a trans-polybutadiene gradient from the center of the ball to its cover.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising at least a core layer and an outer cover layer, each comprising a cross-linked thermoset rubber composition having a primary rubber component of polybutadiene in an amount of 80% by weight or greater, wherein the polybutadiene of said core layer has a first structure and the polybutadiene of the outer cover layer has a second structure, the first structure being different than the second structure;

the thermoset composition of each of the core layer and the outer cover layer further comprising balata in an amount of about 20% by weight or less; and

wherein said outer cover layer is a moisture vapor barrier layer that has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.95 grams·

mm/(m²·

day) and is comprised of metal flakes, wherein said outer cover layer has a specific gravity of about 1.2 g/cm³ or greater.

2. A golf ball comprising at least a core layer and an outer cover layer, each comprising a cross-linked thermoset rubber composition having a primary rubber component of polybutadiene in an amount of 80% by weight or greater, wherein the polybutadiene of said core layer has a first structure and the polybutadiene of the outer cover layer has a second structure, the first structure being different than the second structure;

the thermoset composition of each of the core layer and the outer cover layer further comprising balata in an amount of about 20% by weight or less; and

wherein said outer cover layer is a moisture vapor barrier layer that has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.95 grams·

mm/(m²·

day), and is comprised of metal flakes, wherein said outer cover layer has a specific gravity of about 1.5 g/cm³ or greater.

3. A golf ball comprising at least a core layer and an outer cover layer, each comprising a cross-linked thermoset rubber composition having a primary rubber component of polybutadiene in an amount of 80% by weight or greater, wherein the polybutadiene of said core layer has a first structure and the polybutadiene of the outer cover layer has a second structure, the first structure being different than the second structure;

the thermoset composition of each of the core layer and the outer cover layer further comprising balata in an amount of about 20% by weight or less; and

wherein said outer cover layer is a moisture vapor barrier layer that has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.95 grams·

mm/(m²·

day), wherein said outer cover layer has a specific gravity of about 2.0 g/cm³ or greater.

4. A golf ball comprising at least a core layer and an outer cover layer, each comprising a cross linked thermoset rubber composition having a primary rubber component of polybutadiene in an amount of about 80% by weight or greater, the polybutadiene of the core layer having a first structure and the polybutadiene of the outer cover layer having a second structure, the first structure being different than the second structure wherein the polybutadiene of the core layer comprises a cis-1,4-polybutadiene content (δ

_cr) and a trans-1,4-polybutadiene content (ε

_cr) such that (δ

_cr)>

(ε

_cr) and wherein the polybutadiene of the cover layer comprises a cis-1,4-polybutadiene content (δ

_cv) and a trans-1,4-polybutadiene content (ε

_cv) such that (δ

_cv)<

(ε

_cv);

said cross linked thermoset rubber composition of each of the core layer and the outer cover layer further comprising balata in an amount of 20% by weight or less; and

wherein the cover layer is a moisture vapor barrier layer comprising hydrophobic microparticles having a size of about 335 microns or lower, wherein the moisture barrier layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.95 grams·

mm/(m²·

day), and wherein said outer cover layer has a specific gravity of about 1.2 g/cm³ or greater.