# US 2013/0157781 A1 · Golf ball with single layer core having specific regions of varying hardness > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157781 A1 - Document ID: US20130157781A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/761,202 - Filed: 2013-02-07 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-03 - Assignees: Acushnet Company - Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan; Brian Comeau; David A. Bulpett; Douglas S. Goguen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157781A1 ## CPC - A63B 37/0062: {Hardness} - A63B 37/0063: {Hardness gradient} - A63B 37/0092: {Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers} - A63B 37/0064: {Diameter} - A63B 37/0075: {Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core} - A63B 37/0076: {Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising: a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core; the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface wherein the outer surface has a hardness greater than a hardness of the geometric center; the single layer core further comprising: an inner core region disposed about the geometric center; an outer core region disposed about the inner core region and adjacent the outer surface; and a boundary disposed between the inner core region and the outer core region at about 12 mm or less from the outer surface; wherein the boundary has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and greater than the hardness of the outer surface. In another embodiment, the boundary has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and less than the hardness of the outer surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf ball comprising: a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core; the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface wherein the outer surface has a hardness greater than a hardness of the geometric center; the single layer core further comprising: an inner core region disposed about the geometric center; an outer core region disposed about the inner core region and adjacent the outer surface; and a boundary disposed between the inner core region and the outer core region at about 12 mm or less from the outer surface; wherein the boundary has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and greater than the hardness of the outer surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core region comprises a plurality of hardnesses which increase radially from the geometric center to the boundary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer core region has at least one hardness that is greater than the hardness of the boundary and the hardness of the outer surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the single layer core is from about 30 mm to about 42 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core region has a diameter of from about 12 mm to about 25 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the outer surface is greater than the hardness of the geometric center by about 30 Shore C or less. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the outer surface is greater than the hardness of the geometric center by about 23 Shore C or less. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the outer surface is greater than the hardness of the geometric center by about 18 Shore C or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, comprising at least a second cover layer disposed between the single core layer and the cover layer. ### Claim 10 A golf ball comprising: a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core; the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface wherein the outer surface has a hardness greater than a hardness of the geometric center; the single layer core further comprising: an inner core region disposed about the geometric center; an outer core region disposed about the inner core region and adjacent the outer surface; and a boundary disposed between the inner core region and the outer core region at about 12 mm or less from the outer surface; wherein the boundary has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and less than the hardness of the outer surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the single core layer comprises a plurality of hardnesses which increase radially from the geometric center to the outer surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the inner core region comprises at least one hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and less than the hardness of the boundary. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the outer core region has at least one hardness that is greater than the hardness of the boundary and less than the hardness of the outer surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein all hardnesses within the outer core region are greater than each hardness within the inner core region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the diameter of the single layer core is from about 30 mm to about 42 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the inner core region has a diameter of from about 12 mm to about 25 mm.