Multi-layer golf ball

• US 8,360,902 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• 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., Ladd, Derek A., Morgan, William E., Boehm, Herbert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US13/416,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20120165125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• 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 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers

Abstract

Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The dual core consists of an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition.

Claims

1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a center hardness (H_center) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness of 80 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer having a diameter of 1.4 inches to 1.55 inches and a specific gravity of from 0.95 g/cc to 0.99 g/cc, formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition comprised of a copolymer of an α

-olefin and a C₃-C₈ α

, β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and having a material hardness (H_{outer core material}) of 35 Shore D or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness (H_{inner cover material}) of 95 Shore C or less; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer core layer composition has a modulus within the range of 25,000 psi to 75,000 psi.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer core layer composition has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 8 g-mil/100in²/day or less.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_center is from 60 Shore C to 80 Shore C.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from 80 Shore C to 90 Shore C.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{outer core material} is 45 Shore D or greater.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover has a surface hardness (H_cover) from 40 Shore D to 65 Shore D.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a sphere formed from the outer core layer composition has a compression of 70 to 110.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core has an overall dual core diameter of from 1.5 inches to 1.55 inches.

10. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a center hardness (H_center) of about 50 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness of about 80 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer having an outer diameter of 1.51 to 1.54 and a specific gravity of from 0. 95 g/cc to 0.99 g/cc, formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having a material hardness (H_{outer core material}) of about 35 Shore D or greater;

an inner cover layer having a thickness of 0.03 inches to 0.045 inches and formed from a thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{inner cover}) of from about 75 Shore C to about 95 Shore C; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.