GOLF BALL COMPOSITIONS

• US 20080274829A1
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: BULPETT, DAVID A., COMEAU, BRIAN, LADD, DEREK A., GOGUEN, DOUGLAS S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,034,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0038 Intermediate layers, e.g. inner cover, outer core, mantle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0044 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00621 Centre hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00622 Surface hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers

Abstract

Golf balls comprising a core and a cover are disclosed. The core is a dual- or multi-layer core, wherein at least one layer is formed from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a resorcinol. The core layer formed from such rubber composition has a positive hardness gradient such that the difference between the layer'"'"'s outer surface hardness and inner surface hardness is 5 Shore C units or greater.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising an inner core layer and an outer core layer; and

a cover;

wherein the inner core layer is formed from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a resorcinol; and

wherein the inner core layer has a positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the inner core layer (H_{INNER CORE OUTER SURFACE}) and the Shore C hardness of the center of the inner core layer (H_CENTER)≧

5 Shore C units.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the resorcinol is 2-nitroresorcinol.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{INNER CORE OUTER SURFACE}-H_CENTER≧

10 Shore C units

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{INNER CORE OUTER SURFACE}-H_CENTER≧

15 Shore C units.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{INNER CORE OUTER SURFACE}-H_CENTER≧

20 Shore C units.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein H_{INNER CORE OUTER SURFACE}-H_CENTER≧

25 Shore C units.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core comprises an additional outer core layer.

8. A golf ball comprising:

a core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer; and

a cover;

wherein the outer core layer is formed from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a resorcinol; and

wherein the outer core layer has a positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the outer core layer (H_{OUTER SURFACE}) and the Shore C hardness of the inner surface of the outer core layer (H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE})≧

5 Shore C units.

9. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein the resorcinol is 2-nitroresorcinol.

10. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein H_{OUTER SURFACE}-H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE}≧

10 Shore C units

11. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein H_{OUTER SURFACE}-H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE}≧

15 Shore C units.

12. The golf ball of claim 8, wherein H_{OUTER SURFACE}-H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE}≧

20 Shore C units.

13. A golf ball comprising:

a core comprising an inner core layer, a first outer core layer, and a second outer core layer; and

a cover;

wherein at least one of the first and second outer core layers is formed from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a resorcinol; and

wherein the outer core layer formed from the rubber composition comprising the resorcinol has a positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the Shore C hardness of the outer surface of the outer core layer (H_{OUTER SURFACE}) and the Shore C hardness of the inner surface of the outer core layer (H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE})≧

5 Shore C units.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the resorcinol is 2-nitroresorcinol.

15. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein H_{OUTER SURFACE}-H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE}≧

10 Shore C units

16. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein H_{OUTER SURFACE}-H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE}≧

15 Shore C units.

17. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein H_{OUTER SURFACE}-H_{OUTER CORE INNER SURFACE}≧

20 Shore C units.