US 2018/0008866 A1Published application

Golf balls having multi-layered core with thermoplastic outer layer

AssigneeAcushnet Company

InventorsMichael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, an intermediate core layer, and a surrounding outer core layer. The layers of the core structure may have different hardness gradients. In one preferred embodiment, each core layer has a positive hardness gradient. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and alloys thereof. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene rubber, and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A golf ball, comprising:

a multi-layered core including i) an inner core comprising a metal material, the inner core having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SGinner), and an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) and a center hardness (Hcenter material), the Hcenter surface being the same or less than the Hcenter material to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient;
ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, and an outer surface hardness (Houter surface of IC) and an inner surface hardness (Hinner surface of IC), the Houter surface of IC being greater than the Hinner surface of IC to provide a positive hardness gradient;
and
iii) an outer core layer comprising a thermoplastic material, the outer core layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.200 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SGouter), and an outer surface hardness ((Houter surface of OC) of 40 to 85 Shore C and an inner surface hardness (Hinner surface of OC) of 42 to 87 Shore C, the Houter surface of OC being the same or less than the Hinner surface of OC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient, wherein the SGinner is greater than the SGouter, and the volume of the outer core layer is greater than the volume of each of the inner core and intermediate core layers;
and
a cover having at least one layer disposed about the multi-layered core.

3 more elements

A golf ball, comprising:

a multi-layered core including i) an inner core comprising a metal material, the inner core having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SGinner), and an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) and a center hardness (Hcenter material), the Hcenter surface being the same or less than the Hcenter material to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient;
ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, and an outer surface hardness (Houter surface of IC) and an inner surface hardness (Hinner surface of IC), the Houter surface of IC being the same or less than the Hinner surface of IC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient;
and
iii) an outer core layer comprising a thermoplastic material, the outer core layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.200 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SGouter), and an outer surface hardness ((Houter surface of OC) of 42 to 92 Shore C and an inner surface hardness (Hinner surface of OC) of 40 to 89 Shore C, the Houter surface of OC being greater than the Hinner surface of OC to provide a positive hardness gradient, wherein the SGinner is greater than the SGouter, and the volume of the outer core layer is greater than the volume of each of the inner core and intermediate core layers;
and
a cover having at least one layer disposed about the multi-layered core.

3 more elements

A golf ball, comprising:

a multi-layered core including i) an inner core comprising a metal material, the inner core having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SGinner), and an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) and a center hardness (Hcenter material), the Hcenter surface being greater than the Hcenter material to provide a positive hardness gradient;
ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, and an outer surface hardness (Houter surface of IC) and an inner surface hardness (Hinner surface of IC), the Houter surface of IC being the same or less than the Hinner surface of IC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient;
and
iii) an outer core layer comprising a thermoplastic material, the outer core layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.200 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SGouter), and an outer surface hardness ((Houter surface of OC) of 40 to 85 Shore C and an inner surface hardness (Hinner surface of OC) of 42 to 87 Shore C, the Houter surface of OC being the same or less than the Hinner surface of OC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient, wherein the SGinner is greater than the SGouter, and the volume of the outer core layer is greater than the volume of each of the inner core and intermediate core layers;
and
a cover having at least one layer disposed about the multi-layered core.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/687,613Filed 28 Aug 2017
Priority: 1 Nov 2012
Published: 11 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A63B 37/0076
With a specified number of layers: multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
A63B 37/0033
Physical properties: thickness
A63B 37/0044
Hardness: hardness gradient
A63B 37/0045
Physical properties: thickness

Family

Application13/666,100Division · filed 1 Nov 2012
Application14/736,485Division · filed 11 Jun 2015
Application15/687,613Division
US 10,213,656 B2Related patent
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US 2015/0273280 A1Published application
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US 2018/0008866 A1This patent

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