Golf ball with multiple cover layers

• US 7,927,233 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US12/890,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 207 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378, 473/370, 473/377, 473/376, 73/9, 738/59, 738/60, 204/164
• 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 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 having a first hardness, a first coefficient of friction, and a first flexural modulus, wherein the inner cover comprises an ionomer; and

an outer cover layer disposed on the inner cover having a second hardness, a second coefficient of friction, and a second flexural modulus, wherein the second hardness differs from the first hardness by about 5 points or less, wherein the second coefficient of friction is greater than the first coefficient of friction, and wherein the outer cover layer comprises polyurethane.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first coefficient of friction differs from the second coefficient of friction by about 0.1 or greater.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the first coefficient of friction differs from the second coefficient of friction by about 0.15 or greater.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the first coefficient of friction differs from the second coefficient of friction by about 0.2 or greater.

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

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane is thermoset.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer further comprises 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, or combinations thereof.

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 first and second hardnesses range from about 25 to about 75 Shore D.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches, and wherein the outer cover layer has a thickness if about 0.005 inches to about 0.035 inches.

11. A golf ball comprising:

a core;

a cover disposed about the core, consisting essentially of;

an inner cover layer having a first hardness, a first coefficient of friction, and a first flexural modulus, wherein the inner cover layer is formed from an ionomer; and

an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover having a second hardness, a second coefficient of friction, and a second flexural modulus, wherein the second hardness differs from the first hardness by about 3 points or less, wherein the second coefficient of friction is greater than the first, wherein the second flexural modulus differs from the first flexural modulus by about 5,000 psi or less, and wherein the outer cover layer is formed from a castable reactive liquid material.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the castable reactive liquid material comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a mixture thereof.

13. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the first and second hardnesses range from about 25 to about 75 Shore D.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the first and second hardnesses range from about 35 to about 65 Shore D.

15. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.02 inches to about 0.05 inches.

16. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the outer cover layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.005 inches to about 0.035 inches.

17. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the castable reactive liquid material further 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, or combinations thereof.

18. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the first coefficient of friction differs from the second coefficient of friction by about 0.1 or greater.

19. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the first coefficient of friction differs from the second coefficient of friction by about 0.15 or greater.

20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the first coefficient of friction differs from the second coefficient of friction by about 0.2 or greater.