# US 10,500,444 B2 · Golf balls incorporating thermoplastic blend(s) of ionomer(s), thermoplastic polymer(s), and PEPA

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- Number: US 10,500,444 B2
- Document ID: US10500444B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/188,127
- Filed: 2018-11-12
- Published: 2019-03-21
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-20
- Assignees: Acushnet Company
- Applicants: Acushnet Company
- Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan; Brian Comeau; Michael Michalewich; Mark L. Binette
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500444B2

## CPC

- A63B 37/0024: {Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane}
- A63B 37/0074: {Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core}
- A63B 1/00: Horizontal bars
- A63B 37/0031: {Hardness}
- A63B 37/0032: {Hardness gradient}
- A63B 37/0033: {Thickness}
- A63B 37/0038: {Intermediate layers, e.g. inner cover, outer core, mantle}
- A63B 37/0043: {Hardness}
- A63B 37/0044: {Hardness gradient}
- A63B 37/0075: {Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core}
- C08L 23/0876: Salts thereof, i.e. ionomers
- C08L 75/04: Polyurethanes
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

Golf ball incorporating thermoplastic blend of (i) ionomer(s); (ii) different thermoplastic polymer(s) selected from thermoplastic polyurethane(s), thermoplastic urea(s), and/or thermoplastic urea-urethane hybrid(s); and (iii) polyester elastomer(s) and/or polyamide elastomer(s) (“PEPA”). Ionomer is present in amount of about 45 wt % or greater and PEPA present in amount of from about 2 wt % to about 35 wt %. Thermoplastic polymer(s) may be present in amount of from about 8 wt % to about 50 wt %; or from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %; or from about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %. Ionomer amount may be greater than amount of thermoplastic polymer. Thermoplastic polymer may be a polyurethane present in amount of greater than 20 wt % and to about 40 wt %; while the PEPA is present in amount of from about 5 wt % to about 30 wt %. PEPA is sometimes present in an amount of from about 15 wt % to about 35 wt %.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A golf ball comprising a core and at least one layer comprising a thermoplastic blend of: (i) at least one ionomer; (ii) at least one thermoplastic polyurethane; and (iii) at least one polyester elastomer; wherein the ionomer is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of about 45 wt % or greater and the at least one polyester elastomer is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 2 wt % to about 35 wt %.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 8 wt % to about 50 wt %.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 25 wt % to about 45 wt %.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the ionomer is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount greater than the amount of thermoplastic polyurethane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ionomer is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount of from about 45 wt % to about 70 wt %.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane is present in the thermoplastic blend and layer in an amount greater than 20 wt % and up to about 40 wt %; and the at least one polyester elastomer is present in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 30 wt %.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic blend has a material hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 65 Shore D.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic blend has a material hardness that is different than the material hardness of the thermoplastic polyurethane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic blend has a material hardness greater than about 20 Shore D and up to about 70 Shore D.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer is a cover layer that surrounds the core and has a hardness H that differs from a hardness H(ii) of (ii) by at least about 5 Shore D hardness points; wherein (ii) has a hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 70 Shore D.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer is an inner cover layer that surrounds the core and is surrounded by an outer cover layer and has a hardness H that differs from a hardness H(ii) of (ii) by at least about 5 Shore D hardness points; wherein (ii) has a hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 70 Shore D.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one layer consists of the thermoplastic blend.