Multi-layer golf ball

• US 8,444,507 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• 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:
  US13/397,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376
• 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 diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.4 inches, a center hardness (H_center) of about 40 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness of 60 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer having a diameter of about 1.4 inches to about 1.55 inches formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer core}) of about 80 Shore C or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness (H_{inner cover}) less than the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer; 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 H_{outer core}−

H_center≧

20 Shore C units.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{outer core}−

H_center≧

30 Shore C units.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_center is from about 50 Shore C to about 80 Shore C.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from about 65 Shore C to about 90 Shore C.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from about 70 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{outer core} is about 90 Shore C or greater.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{outer core} is greater than about 85 Shore C, and wherein H_{inner cover} is from about 80 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{outer core} is 85 Shore C or greater, and wherein H_{inner cover} is from 84 Shore C to 92 Shore C.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_center is from about 55 Shore C to about 75 Shore C, the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from about 75 Shore C to about 90 Shore C, and H_{outer core} is greater than about 85 Shore C.

11. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein H_{inner cover} is from about 80 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

12. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein H_{outer core} is greater than 87 Shore C, and wherein H_{inner cover} is from about 80 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

13. The golf ball of claim 12, wherein H_{outer core} is about 90 Shore C or greater.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core layer has a compression of about 40 or less.

15. The golf ball of claim 14, wherein the core has an overall dual core compression of from about 60 to about 95.

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

17. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.4 inches, a center hardness (H_center) of about 50 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness of about 65 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer having an outer diameter of about 1.4 to about 1.59 formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer core}) of about 75 Shore C or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material 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.

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein H_{outer core}−

H_center≧

20 Shore C units.

19. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein H_{outer core}−

H_center≧

25 Shore C units.

20. A golf ball comprising:

a core consisting of;

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.35 inches, a center hardness (H_center) of from about 50 Shore C to about 75 Shore C, and an outer surface hardness of from about 60 Shore C to about 85 Shore C; and

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer core}) of from about 80 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; and

a cover consisting of;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness (H_{inner cover}) of from about 75 Shore C to about 85 Shore C; and

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