Rubber cores for golf balls based on ethylene-propylene diene copolymers
OwnerMichael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau +2inventors
InventorsMichael J. Sullivan, Brian Comeau, Derek A. Ladd, Dennis Britton
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Abstract
A multi-piece golf ball comprising at least one component made of an ethylene-propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) rubber is provided. The multi-piece golf ball includes a center and at least one surrounding core layer. The inner core is preferably made of polybutadiene rubber and the outer core layer is preferably made of an EPDM rubber composition. Preferably, the center hardness of the inner core is greater than the surface hardness of the outer core layer. The golf ball includes a cover of at least one layer, preferably a dual-cover having inner and outer cover layers. The resulting ball has high resiliency and a soft feel.
Claims24
A golf ball, comprising:
- a dual-core comprising an inner core and outer core layer, the inner core having an outer surface and geometric center and the outer core layer having an outer surface and inner surface;
- the inner core being formed from a first rubber composition comprising polybutadiene rubber and the outer core being formed from a second rubber composition comprising ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber, wherein the center of the inner core and surface of the outer core layer each has a hardness, and the center hardness of the inner core is greater than the surface hardness of the outer core layer;
- and
- a cover disposed about the outer core layer.
A golf ball, comprising:
- a multi-layered core comprising a center, intermediate core layer, and outer core layer, the core having an overall diameter of about 1.40 to about 1.62 inches, and the center being formed from a first rubber composition comprising polybutadiene rubber and having a center hardness of 70 Shore C or greater,
- an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness of 80 Shore C or greater;
- and
- an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, the outer core layer being formed from a second rubber composition comprising ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber, wherein the center hardness of the inner core is greater than the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer;
- and
- a cover disposed about the outer core layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.