Multi-layer core golf ball

• US 8,556,748 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J., Ladd, Derek A., Hebert, Edmund A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US13/656,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20130045820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 473/376, 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 473/376
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2037/085 liquid, jellylike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0049 Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0059 Ionomer
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0061 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0062 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 37/00776 Slab hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00922 : whereby hardness of the cover is lower than hardness of the intermediate layers
• 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

A golf ball comprising: an inner core having a compression of less than about 60; at least one outer core layer (surrounding the inner core or an optional intermediate layer) having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D and a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of the inner core; and a cover surrounding the outer core layer; at least one of the inner core, intermediate layer and outer core layer comprising a partially or fully neutralized ionomer; and the inner core having a hardness less than a hardness of the at least one outer core layer. Additionally, either the cover has a Shore D hardness of at least 60 and a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the at least one outer core layer, or the inner core comprises a partially or fully neutralized ionomer and a specific gravity less than 1.0.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core having a compression of less than about 60;

at least one intermediate layer surrounding the inner core;

at least one outer core layer surrounding the intermediate layer, having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D and a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of the inner core; and

a cover surrounding the at least one outer core layer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60;

wherein at least one of the inner core, intermediate layer and outer core layer comprises a partially or fully neutralized ionomer;

wherein the inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the at least one outer core layer; and

wherein a specific gravity of the cover is less than the specific gravity of the at least one outer core layer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the partially or fully neutralized ionomer is a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the inner core comprises the highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.

4. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein intermediate layer comprises the highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.

5. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the outer core layer comprises the highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the compression of the inner core is less than about 40.

7. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core having a compression of less than about 60;

at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core, having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D and a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of the inner core; and

a cover surrounding the outer core layer;

wherein the inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the outer core; and

wherein the inner core comprises a partially or fully neutralized ionomer having a specific gravity of less than 1.0.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the partially or fully neutralized ionomer is a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.

9. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the outer core layer comprises a partially or fully neutralized ionomer.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the partially or fully neutralized ionomer is a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.

11. The golf ball of claim 7, further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the inner core and the outer core layer, wherein at least one of the outer core layer and the intermediate layer comprises a partially or fully neutralized ionomer.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein the partially or fully neutralized ionomer is a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer.