Multi-layer golf ball

• US 8,016,697 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Hebert, Edmund A., Ladd, Derek A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US12/947,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20110059812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376
• US Class Current: 473/376
• 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 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0046 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/005 Cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0091 Density distribution amongst the different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/04 : Rigid cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 : Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3644 : Vacuum bags; Details thereof, e.g. fixing or clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/146 : for making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/18 : incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. compression moulding around inserts or for coating articles B29C43/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/305 : Making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/70 : Completely encapsulating inserts B29C70/86 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/256 : Sheets, plates, blanks or films
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/52 : Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys B29L2031/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 : Balls
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/08 : Copolymers of ethene C08L23/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 : Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 : Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/24 : Graft or block copolymers according to groups C08L51/00, C08L53/00 or C08L55/02; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/02 : of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/02 : Polyureas
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 : Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/00 : Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons

Abstract

Multi-layer golf balls having a relatively hard outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core are provided. The inner core generally has a compression of less than 50 and the inner core and outer core generally have a combined dual core compression of 50 or greater. The outer core generally has a Shore C hardness of 80 or greater. A cover, which can be a single-, dual-, or multi-layer cover, is provided to surround the outer core. A moisture barrier layer is optionally provided between the outer core and the cover. The moisture vapor transmission rate of the moisture barrier layer is preferably less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core layer having a compression of less than 50, a diameter of 1.00 inch or greater, a center hardness of from 40 Shore C to 75 Shore C, a surface hardness of from 45 Shore C to 78 Shore C, and a specific gravity of 1.11 or greater;

a first outer core layer having a thickness of from 0.01 inches to 0.1 inches;

a second outer core layer having a thickness of from 0.01 inches to 0.1 inches, a hardness of 80 Shore C or greater, and a specific gravity less than or equal to the specific gravity of the inner core layer;

an inner cover layer formed from a partially or fully neutralized ionomer composition and having a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.100 inches; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from polyurethanes, polyureas, and blends and copolymers thereof, and having a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.080 inches;

wherein the difference between the hardness of the second outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is from 20 Shore C units to 45 Shore C units.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the inner core layer is from 1.00 inch to 1.30 inches.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of the inner core layer is 1.20 or greater.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the second outer core layer has a flex modulus of greater than 30,000 psi.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the compression of the inner core layer is 40 or less.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the difference between the hardness of the second outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is from 25 Shore C units to 45 Shore C units.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a Shore D hardness of from 60 to 80.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a Shore D hardness of from 65 to 75.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer has a Shore D hardness of 60 or less.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer has a Shore D hardness of less than 60.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer cover layer is from 0.020 inches to 0.055 inches.