Golf ball compositions

• US 9,227,109 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Michalewich, Michael, Comeau, Brian, Ricci, Shawn, Kuntimaddi, Manjari, Hogge, Matthew F., Nardacci, Nicholas M., Madson, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/613,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20140073458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 473351-385
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0009 Polygonal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00221 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0033 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0051 Materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0063 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/12 Special coverings , i.e. outer layer material balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023
• 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: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3868 : the sulfur atom belonging to a sulfide group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 : Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7671 : containing only one alkylene bisphenyl group
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/005 : Stabilisers against oxidation, heat, light, ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/08 : from polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/08 : from polyethers

Abstract

Disclosed herein are polyurethane golf ball compositions. The compositions are prepared by adding a UV absorber to a polyol prior to reacting the polyol with an isocyanate to form a prepolymer, which is then reacted with a curing agent to form the polyurethane.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core layer formed from a diene rubber composition and having a diameter of from 0.950 inches to 1.015 inches, an Atti compression of 30 or less, a center Shore C hardness of from 65 to 75, a surface Shore C hardness of from 50 to 65, and a zero hardness gradient or a negative hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the inner core layer and the Shore C hardness of the center of the inner core layer is from −

15 to −

5;

an outer core layer formed from a diene rubber composition and having a thickness of from 0.250 inches to 0.300 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 85 to 95;

an inner cover layer formed from an ionomer composition and having a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.040 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of 93 or greater;

an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane composition and having a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.035 inches and an outer surface Shore C hardness of from 75 to 90;

a pigmented solvent-borne primer coat; and

a solvent-borne top coat;

wherein the polyurethane outer cover layer composition comprises a reaction product of a prepolymer and a curing agent, wherein the prepolymer is a reaction product of a polyol mixture and a diisocyanate, and wherein the polyol mixture comprises a UV absorber in an amount such that the final polyurethane comprises from 4 wt % to 6 wt % of the UV absorber; and

wherein a core assembly consisting of the inner core layer and the outer core layer has an Atti compression of from 80 to 95.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the UV absorber is 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer cover layer of the golf ball comprises a plurality of dimples having an effective edge angle and an edge radius, wherein the effective edge angle is greater than and the edge radius is less than that of a corresponding golf ball identical in all respects except that the primer coat is a pigmented waterborne primer coat.