Multi-layer golf ball

• US 9,919,188 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• 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:
  US15/139,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20160236041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 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 37/0032 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0044 Hardness gradient
• 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 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/20 Carboxylic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 21/00 : Compositions of unspecified rubbers
• 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 comprising:

an inner core layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition and having a diameter of 0.500 inches or greater, a center hardness (H_center) of 40 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of 45 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{intermediate core surface}) of 50 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer core surface}) of 55 Shore C or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a third thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{inner cover surface}) of 60 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate cover layer formed from a fourth thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{intermediate cover surface}) of 65 Shore C or greater;

and an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of ionomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends of polyurethanes and polyureas, and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer cover surface}) of 70 Shore C or greater;

wherein H_{center surface}<

H_{intermediate core surface}<

H_{outer core surface}<

H_{inner cover surface}<

H_{intermediate cover surface}<

H_{outer cover surface}.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first thermoplastic composition, the second thermoplastic composition, the third thermoplastic composition, and the fourth thermoplastic composition are independently selected from partially neutralized ionomer compositions and highly neutralized polymer compositions.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first thermoplastic composition, the second thermoplastic composition, the third thermoplastic composition, and the fourth thermoplastic composition are independently selected from highly neutralized polymer compositions.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first thermoplastic composition is selected from partially neutralized ionomer compositions, and the second thermoplastic composition, the third thermoplastic composition, and the fourth thermoplastic composition are independently selected from highly neutralized polymer compositions.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first thermoplastic composition, the second thermoplastic composition, the third thermoplastic composition, and the fourth thermoplastic composition is a non-ionomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, styrenic copolymers and styrenic block copolymers, and non-ionomeric E/X- and E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene (E), a C₃-C₈ α

,β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid (X), and an optional softening monomer (Y).

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first thermoplastic composition is selected from highly neutralized polymer compositions, and the second thermoplastic composition is a non-ionomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, styrenic copolymers and styrenic block copolymers, and non-ionomeric E/X- and E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene (E), a C₃-C₈ α

,β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid (X), and an optional softening monomer (Y).

7. The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the third thermoplastic composition is a non-ionomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, styrenic copolymers and styrenic block copolymers, and non-ionomeric E/X- and E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene (E), a C₃-C₈ α

,β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid (X), and an optional softening monomer (Y).

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first thermoplastic composition is a non-ionomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, styrenic copolymers and styrenic block copolymers, and non-ionomeric E/X- and E/X/Y-type acid copolymers of ethylene (E), a C₃-C₈ α

,β

-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid (X), and an optional softening monomer (Y).

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the second thermoplastic composition, the third thermoplastic composition, and the fourth thermoplastic composition are independently selected from partially neutralized ionomer compositions and highly neutralized polymer compositions.

10. A golf ball comprising:

an inner core layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition and having a diameter of 0.750 inches or greater, a center hardness (H_center) of 30 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H_{center surface}) of 35 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoplastic composition and having a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.070 inches and an outer surface hardness (H_{intermediate core surface}) of 40 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer core surface}) of 45 Shore C or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a third thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{inner cover surface}) of 50 Shore C or greater;

an intermediate cover layer formed from a fourth thermoplastic composition and having an outer surface hardness (H_{intermediate cover surface}) of 60 Shore C or greater;

and an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of ionomers, polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends of polyurethanes and polyureas, and having an outer surface hardness (H_{outer cover surface}) of greater than 60 Shore C;

wherein H_{center surface}<

H_{intermediate core surface}<

H_{outer core surface}<

H_{inner cover surface}<

H_{intermediate cover surface}<

H_{outer cover surface}.