Multi-layer golf ball

• US 9,409,063 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US14/865,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20160008668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 473/476
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0027 Polyurea
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0059 Ionomer
• 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 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00922 whereby hardness of the cover is lower than hardness of the intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/20 Carboxylic acid amides

Abstract

Multi-piece golf balls having a multi-layered solid core and multi-layered cover are provided.

Claims

1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a diameter of 1.2 inches or greater, a center hardness (H_center) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of 80 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate core material}) of 83 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition having a material hardness (H_{outer core material}) of 35 Shore D or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{inner cover material}) of 95 Shore C or less;

an intermediate cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate cover material}) of 80 Shore C or greater;

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

wherein H_{intermediate cover material} is greater than H_{outer core material}.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the intermediate core layer has a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.070 inches.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is 87 Shore C or greater.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the intermediate core layer has a surface hardness (H_{intermediate core surface}) and the outer core layer has a surface hardness (H_{outer core surface}), and H_{intermediate core surface} is greater than H_{outer core surface}.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the intermediate core layer has a surface hardness of 87 Shore C or greater and the outer core layer has a surface hardness of 85 Shore C or greater.

6. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a diameter of 1.2 inches or greater, a center hardness (H_center) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of 80 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate core material}) of 83 Shore C or greater, the intermediate core layer having a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.070 inches;

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition having a material hardness (H_{outer core material}) of 35 Shore D or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{inner cover material}) of 95 Shore C or less;

an intermediate cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate cover material}) of 80 Shore C or greater, the intermediate cover layer having a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.150 inches; and

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

wherein the inner core layer, the intermediate core layer, and the outer core layer form a multi-layer core having a diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.55 inches; and

wherein H_{intermediate cover material} is greater than H_{outer core material}.

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is 87 Shore C or greater.

8. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the intermediate core layer has a surface hardness (H_{intermediate core surface}) and the outer core layer has a surface hardness (H_{outer core surface}), and H_{intermediate core surface} is greater than H_{outer core surface}.

9. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the intermediate core layer has a surface hardness of 87 Shore C or greater and the outer core layer has a surface hardness of 85 Shore C or greater.