Golf balls having a multi-layered cover with a thermoplastic inner cover layer
First Claim
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1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
- an inner core layer formed from a thermoset rubber composition and having a diameter of 1.2 inches or greater, a center hardness (Hcenter material) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) of 80 Shore C or greater;
an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (Hintermediate core material) of 83 Shore C or greater;
an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having a material hardness (Houter core material) of 35 Shore D or greater, wherein the inner core, intermediate core, and outer core layers form a core structure having a diameter of 1.40 to 1.55 inches;
an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (Hinner 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.
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Abstract
Multi-piece golf balls having a multi-layered solid core and multi-layered cover are provided. In one version, a five-piece ball is formed, wherein the inner cover layer is made of a thermoplastic composition such as a highly neutralized (HNP) composition. The outer cover layer is made of a composition comprising a polyurethane, polyurea, or copolymer or blend thereof. In a second version, a six-piece ball having inner and intermediate cover layers that also can be made of HNP compositions is produced. The five and six-piece balls also include multi-layered core structures with a center made of a thermoset rubber. The finished balls have high resiliency and rebounding properties.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
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an inner core layer formed from a thermoset rubber composition and having a diameter of 1.2 inches or greater, a center hardness (Hcenter material) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) of 80 Shore C or greater; an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (Hintermediate core material) of 83 Shore C or greater; an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having a material hardness (Houter core material) of 35 Shore D or greater, wherein the inner core, intermediate core, and outer core layers form a core structure having a diameter of 1.40 to 1.55 inches; an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (Hinner 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
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an inner core layer formed from a thermoset rubber composition and having a diameter of 1.100 inches to 1.400 inches;
a center hardness (Hcenter material) of 50 Shore C to 75 Shore C; and
an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) of 60 Shore C to 85 Shore C;an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (Hintermediate core material) of 83 Shore C or greater; an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (Houter core surface) of 70 Shore C to 95 Shore C; an inner cover layer formed from a formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (Hinner cover material) of 80 Shore C to 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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification