# US 2014/0194227 A1 · Golf ball having a hollow center > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194227 A1 - Document ID: US20140194227A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/145,633 - Filed: 2013-12-31 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Acushnet Company - Applicants: Acushnet Company - Inventors: Michael J. Sullivan; David A. Bulpett; Robert Blink; Mark L. Binette; Brian Comeau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194227A1 ## CPC - A63B 37/0056: {Hollow; Gas-filled} - A63B 37/0039: {characterised by the material} - A63B 37/0041: {Coefficient of restitution} - A63B 37/0045: {Thickness} - A63B 37/0061: {Coefficient of restitution} - A63B 37/00622: {Surface hardness} - A63B 37/0064: {Diameter} - A63B 37/0076: {Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers} - A63B 37/0077: {Physical properties} - A63B 37/0092: {Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract Golf balls including a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a thermoset or thermoplastic composition are provided. The shell layer has an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center. A thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer is formed about the shell layer and optional intermediate layer(s) disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer. A cover is formed about the outer core layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a thermoset rubber composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition; and optionally an intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoplastic composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 3 Shore C to 25 Shore C; and wherein at least one of the first thermoplastic composition and the second thermoplastic composition is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 4 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a first thermoset rubber composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition; and optionally an intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoset composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 3 Shore C to 25 Shore C; and wherein the thermoplastic composition of the outer core layer is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 7 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a thermoplastic composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a first thermoset composition; and optionally an intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoset composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 0 Shore C to 5 Shore C; and wherein the thermoplastic composition of the shell layer is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 10 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a thermoset composition; and optionally an intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoplastic composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 0 Shore C to 5 Shore C; and wherein at least one of the first thermoplastic composition and the second thermoplastic composition is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 13 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a second thermoplastic composition; and optionally an intermediate core layer formed from a third thermoplastic composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 0 Shore C to 5 Shore C; and wherein at least one of the first thermoplastic composition, the second thermoplastic composition, and the third thermoplastic composition is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 16 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a first thermoplastic composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a second thermoplastic composition; and optionally an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoset composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 0 Shore C to 5 Shore C; and wherein at least one of the first thermoplastic composition and the second thermoplastic composition is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 19 A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the core comprising: a spherical inner core shell layer formed from a first thermoset rubber composition, the shell layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, and an inner diameter to define a hollow center; an outer core layer formed from a second thermoset composition; and an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and disposed between the shell layer and the outer core layer; wherein the hollow center has a diameter of from 0.15 inches to 1.1 inches, the difference in Shore C surface hardness between the outer surface of the shell layer and the inner surface of the shell layer is from 10 Shore C to 25 Shore C; and wherein the thermoplastic composition of the intermediate core layer is a highly neutralized polymer composition comprising: an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates; a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof; an organic acid or salt thereof; and a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid does not include a softening monomer, the non-acid polymer is an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates, and the organic acid salt is magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and non-acid copolymer combined. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the cation source is present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition.