Multi-layer golf ball

• US 9,795,837 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• 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:
  US15/083,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20160206928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 473376
• 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 37/004 Physical properties
• 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: A63B 37/0094 Rebound resilience
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/20 : Carboxylic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0876 : Neutralised polymers, i.e. ionomers

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 45 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of from 55 Shore C to 90 Shore C;

an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H_{intermediate core material}) of 98 Shore C or less;

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 (R_{inner 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;

wherein a core structure consisting of the inner core layer, the intermediate core layer, and the outer core layer has a diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.55 inches.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is greater than H_{outer core material}.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition of the intermediate core layer is a partially neutralized ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that the amount of neutralized acid groups is less than 80%.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the highly neutralized polymer composition of the outer core layer is an ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that the amount of neutralized acid groups is 80% or greater.

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

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is 96 Shore C or less.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface hardness of the intermediate core layer is greater than the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the difference between the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is at least 20 Shore C units.

9. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the difference between the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is at least 25 Shore C units.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{intermediate core material} is greater than H_{inner cover material} and H_{intermediate core material} is 96 Shore C or less and H_{inner cover material} is from 84 Shore C to 92 Shore C.