Golf balls having two or more core layers formed from HNP compositions
First Claim
1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core comprises:
- (a) a fluid mass at the center;
(b) a first outer core layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first outer core layer is solid, non-wound, and formed from a relatively soft HNP composition, the relatively soft HNP composition having a Shore D hardness of 55 or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; and
(c) a second outer core layer surrounding the first outer core layer, wherein the second outer core layer is solid, non-wound, and formed from a relatively hard HNP composition, the relatively hard HNP composition having a Shore D hardness of 45 or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
wherein the Shore D hardness of the relatively soft HNP composition is less than the Shore D hardness of the relatively hard HNP composition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a fluid-filled center surrounded by an outer core, wherein the outer core comprises a layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. The present invention is not limited by which outer core layer is formed from the relatively soft HNP composition and which layer is formed from the relatively hard HNP composition, so long as both layers are present in the outer core of the golf ball. Relatively soft HNP compositions of the present invention have a Shore D hardness of 55 or less and comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer. Relatively hard HNP compositions of the present invention have a Shore D hardness of 45 or greater and comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer. The material hardness of the relatively soft HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the relatively hard HNP composition.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core comprises:
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(a) a fluid mass at the center; (b) a first outer core layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first outer core layer is solid, non-wound, and formed from a relatively soft HNP composition, the relatively soft HNP composition having a Shore D hardness of 55 or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; and (c) a second outer core layer surrounding the first outer core layer, wherein the second outer core layer is solid, non-wound, and formed from a relatively hard HNP composition, the relatively hard HNP composition having a Shore D hardness of 45 or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer; wherein the Shore D hardness of the relatively soft HNP composition is less than the Shore D hardness of the relatively hard HNP composition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core comprises:
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(a) a fluid mass at the center; (b) a first outer core layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first outer core layer is solid, non-wound, and formed from a relatively hard HNP composition, the relatively hard HNP composition having a Shore D hardness of 45 or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer; and (c) a second outer core layer surrounding the first outer core layer, wherein the second outer core layer is solid, non-wound, and from a relatively soft HNP composition, the relatively soft HNP composition having a Shore D hardness of 55 or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer; wherein the Shore D hardness of the relatively soft HNP composition is less than the Shore D hardness of the relatively hard HNP composition. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification