Crosslinked foam as filler in an inner layer or core of a multi-component golf ball
AssigneeSpalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multi-component golf balls comprising one or more interior mantle layers are described in which at least one of the mantle layers includes a plurality of relatively small foam granules dispersed within a polymeric matrix. In another aspect, the multi-component golf balls may instead, or in addition to utilizing foam granules in one or more mantle layers, comprise a plurality of foamed granules dispersed within a core of the ball. The golf balls described herein provide the distance and durability characteristics typically associated with two piece balls while also providing desirable playing characteristics associated with three piece or wound balls.
Claims53
A golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- at least one cover layer disposed about said core;
- and
- a mantle layer disposed about said core and between said core and said cover layer, said mantle layer comprising a polymeric matrix material and a plurality of foam granules dispersed within said polymeric matrix material, said granules having a mean diameter of from about 0.001 inches to about 0.200 inches and defining a plurality of cells within their interior.
A golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- a cover layer disposed about said core;
- and
- an interior mantle layer surrounding said core and disposed between said core and said cover layer, said mantle comprising a plurality of foam particles dispersed within a polymeric matrix material, said particles defining a plurality of chambers within an interior region of each said particle, said particles comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of ionomers, non-ionomeric polyolefins, metallocene catalyzed polymer, polyethylene ethyl or methyl acrylate, styrene butadiene elastomer, thermoplastic polyester, thermoplastic polyetherester, thermoplastic polyetheramide, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane, silicone elastomer, dynamically vulcanized elastomer, and combinations or blends thereof.
A golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- at least one cover layer disposed about said core;
- an interior primary mantle layer surrounding said core and disposed between said core and said cover layer, said primary mantle including a matrix material and a plurality of foam granules dispersed within said matrix material, the weight ratio of said granules to said matrix material being in a range of from about 10 to 95% of said matrix material to about 5 to 90% of said granules, and said foam granules comprising a material different than said matrix material.
A nonwound golf ball comprising:
- a core;
- at least one cover layer disposed about said core;
- and
- a plurality of foam granules dispersed in said core, said granules having a mean diameter of from about 0.001 inches to about 0.200 inches and defining a plurality of cells within their interior.
A golf ball comprising:
- a core including a first matrix material
- at least one cover layer disposed about said core;
- an interior mantle layer surrounding said core and disposed between said core and said cover, said mantle layer including a second matrix material;
- and
- a plurality of foam particles dispersed within at least one of said first matrix material of said core and said second matrix material of said mantle layer, said particles comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of ionomers, non-ionomeric polyolefins, metallocene catalyzed polymer, polyethylene ethyl or methyl acrylate, styrene butadiene elastomer, thermoplastic polyester, thermoplastic polyetherester, thermoplastic polyetheramide, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane, silicone elastomer, dynamically vulcanized elastomer, and combinations or blends thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.