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US 7,731,607 B2Granted
Golf balls having at least two core layers formed from HNP compositions
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsMichael J. Sullivan, Derek A. Ladd, Edmund A. Hebert, Douglas E. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is preferably thin relative to the center and the outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition.
Claims24
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches and a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- wherein H<I and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the second HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the first HNP composition;
- and
- wherein H<S, and wherein S−H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches and a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- wherein H<I, and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the second HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the first HNP composition;
- and
- wherein S<H, and wherein H−S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C;
- wherein H<I and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition;
- and
- wherein H<S, and wherein S−H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer:
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C:
- wherein H<I and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition;
- and
- wherein S<H, and wherein H−S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- wherein H<I and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition;
- and
- wherein H<S, and wherein S−H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of;
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- wherein H<I and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition;
- and
- wherein S<H, and wherein H−S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- wherein H<I and S<I;
- wherein the material hardness of the second HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the first HNP composition;
- and
- wherein H<S, and wherein S−H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
- (a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a first HNP composition, the first HNP composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer;
- (b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater;
- and
- (c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a second HNP composition, the second HNP composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer;
- wherein H<I and S<I:
- wherein the material hardness of the second HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the first HNP composition:
- and
- wherein S<H, and wherein H−S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.