Multi-layer core golf ball

• US 9,199,131 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US14/564,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20150094169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, wherein the inner core comprises a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer; at least one intermediate layer surrounding the inner core, having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D, a specific gravity and a flexural modulus such that each of the hardness, specific gravity and flexural modulus of the intermediate layer is greater than a hardness, a specific gravity, and a flexural modulus of the inner core; and a cover surrounding the at least one intermediate layer, having a flexural modulus and a Shore D hardness that are greater than a flexural modulus and a hardness of the inner core, and a Shore D hardness of the cover is at least 60.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core having a compression of less than about 60, wherein the inner core comprises a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer;

at least one intermediate layer surrounding the inner core, having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D, a specific gravity and a flexural modulus such that each of the hardness, specific gravity and flexural modulus of the intermediate layer is greater than a hardness, a specific gravity, and a flexural modulus of the inner core; and

a cover surrounding the at least one intermediate layer, having a flexural modulus and a Shore D hardness that are greater than a flexural modulus and a hardness of the inner core; and

wherein the Shore D hardness of the cover is at least 60.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer comprises polybutadiene rubber.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a thermoplastic ionomer.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a polyurethane composition.

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

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cover has a thickness of 0.03 to 0.5 inches.