US 10,010,764 B2Granted

Golf balls having multi-layered foam cores with structural inserts

AssigneeAcushnet Company

InventorsMichael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, Brian Comeau, Michael Michalewich, Douglas S. Goguen

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

Multi-layered, golf balls having a core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. The core also includes a structural insert such as, for example, a solid shell, perforated shell, a lattice or mesh, or a central hub with extending arms, and the like. The core layers have different hardness gradients and specific gravity values. The ball further includes a cover having at least one layer. By adjusting the respective specific gravity values of the core layers, the Moment of Inertia (MOI) of the ball can be increased or decreased. In one embodiment, the ball has generally good flight distance and low spin rate.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A golf ball, comprising a core assembly and a cover, the core assembly comprising:

i) an inner core comprising a foam composition having a geometric center and outer surface, the inner core having a specific gravity (SGinner core) and an outer surface hardness (Hinner core surface) and a center hardness (Hinner core center), the Hinner core surface being greater than the Hinner core center to provide a positive hardness gradient across the inner core;
and
ii) a non-continuous outer core layer, the outer core layer having a specific gravity (SGouter core) and an outer surface hardness (Houter surface of OC), wherein the SGouter core>SGinner core to provide a positive specific gravity gradient and the Hinner core center is in the range of about 10 to about 60 Shore C and the Houter surface of OC is in the range of about 66 to about 96 Shore C to provide a positive hardness gradient across the core assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/346,916Filed 9 Nov 2016 · continuation in part
Priority: 29 Apr 2013
Published: US 2017/0050087 A123 Feb 2017
Granted: 3 Jul 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

A63B 37/0051
Cores: materials other than polybutadienes; Constructional details
A63B 37/0032
Hardness: hardness gradient
A63B 37/0033
Physical properties: thickness
A63B 37/0039
Intermediate layers, e.g. inner cover, outer core, mantle: characterised by the material

Family

Application13/872,354Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Apr 2013
Application14/184,785Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Feb 2014
Application15/017,888Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Feb 2016
US 9,254,422 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Feb 2016
US 9,302,156 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Apr 2016
US 2017/0050087 A1Pre-grant publication · published 23 Feb 2017
US 9,492,717 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application15/017,888Parent of this continuation
Application14/184,785Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2014/0323244 A1Published application
US 2014/0323245 A1Published application
US 2016/0151678 A1Published application
US 10,010,764 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.