Three-piece solid golf ball

• US RE42,752 E1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Hiroshi, Yamagishi, Hisashi, Egashira, Yoshinori, Yamada, Tadatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US11/111,974
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 473/351, 473/373, 473/374, 473/367, 473/368, 473/370, 473/371, 473/376, 473/377, 473/378
• US Class Current: 473/373
• 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 37/0039 characterised by the material
• 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 37/0062 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• 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 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005

Abstract

A three-piece solid golf ball comprising a center core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. The center core (1) has a diameter of at least 29 mm, a hardness in the range of 45-80 JIS C and a specific gravity of less than 1.4. The intermediate layer (2) has a thickness of at least 1 mm, a specific gravity of less than 1.2, and a hardness of at least 85 on JIS C scale. The cover (3) has a thickness of 1-3 mm and a hardness of 50-85 JIS C. The ball has a good total balance of properties in that feeling and controllability are improved at no sacrifice of flying performance and durability.

Claims

1. A three-piece solid golf ball comprising;

a center core, an intermediate layer, and a cover enclosing the core through the intermediate layer,

said center core having a diameter of at least 29 mm and a specific gravity of less than 1.4,

said intermediate layer having a thickness of at least 1 mm, a specific gravity of less than 1.2, and a hardness of at least 85 on JIS C scale, the specific gravity of said intermediate layer being lower than the specific gravity of said center core, and

said cover having a thickness of 1 to 3 mm and being softer than said intermediate layer.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said intermediate layer is formed of a high repulsion ionomer resin base composition.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said center core has a hardness of 45 to 80 on JIS C scale and said cover has a hardness of 50 to 85 on JIS C scale.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said center core is comprised of a polybutadiene base rubber composition.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said center core is in the range of 29-37 mm.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein a difference in the specific gravity between the center core and the intermediate layer is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the specific gravity of said intermediate layer is in the range of 0.9 to 1.0.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the hardness of said intermediate layer is in the range of 85-100 on JIS C.

9. A three-piece solid golf ball, comprising:

a center core, an intermediate layer, and a cover enclosing said center core through the intermediate layer;

said center core having a diameter of at least 29 mm and a specific gravity of less than 1.4;

said intermediate layer formed of an ionomer resin and having a thickness of at least 1 mm, a specific gravity of less than 1.2, and a hardness of at least 85 on JIS C scale, the specific gravity of said intermediate layer being lower than the specific gravity of said center core; and

said cover having a thickness of 1 to 3 mm and being softer than said intermediate layer; and

wherein said cover comprises thermoplastic polyester.