# US 7,744,494 B2 · Multi-modal ionomeric golf ball compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,494 B2 - Document ID: US7744494B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/135,288 - Filed: 2005-05-24 - Published: 2006-11-30 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-24 - Assignees: Acushnet Company - Inventors: Michael D. Jordan; Murali Rajagopalan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744494B2 ## CPC - A63B 37/12: Special coverings {, i.e. outer layer material (balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023)} - A63B 37/0003: {Golf balls} - A63B 37/02: Special cores {(balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005)} - A63B 37/0033: {Thickness} - A63B 37/0037: {Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness} - A63B 37/0043: {Hardness} - A63B 37/0049: {Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness} - A63B 37/0064: {Diameter} - A63B 37/0074: {Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core} - 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 37/0086: {Flexural modulus; Bending stiffness} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract Compositions for golf balls including multi-modal ionomers that can be used in any layer of a golf ball, e.g., an outer cover layer or inner cover layer. The compositions of the invention can be a blend of a multi-modal ionomer and a conventional ionomer, highly neutralized polymer, acid copolymer, or other suitable thermoplastic polymer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf ball comprising: a core having a diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.60 inches; and a cover having a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.07 inches formed from a composition comprising: a multi-modal ionomer comprising a first copolymer having a molecular weight of about 70,000 or greater and acid groups having a first degree of neutralization and a second copolymer having a molecular weight of about 40,000 or less and acid groups having a second degree of neutralization, and wherein the first and second degrees of neutralization result in a flexural modulus of about 27,000 psi to about 90,000 psi after 2 weeks. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first and second copolymers are independently acid-containing ethylene copolymers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of ionomers, acid copolymers, highly neutralized polymers, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the multi-modal ionomer is present in an amount of about 10 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the composition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 60 Shore D to about 75 Shore D and a flexural modulus of about 60,000 to about 100,000 psi. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer, and wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The golf ball of claim 6, wherein the outer cover layer is formed from the composition, and wherein the inner cover layer has a hardness of about 40 Shore D to about 70 Shore D and a flexural modulus of about 60,000 psi to about 100,000 psi. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first copolymer has a molecular weight of about 75,000 to about 400,000. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the second copolymer has a molecular weight of about 1,500 to about 35,000. ### Claim 10 A golf ball comprising: a core having a diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.60 inches; an intermediate layer; and a cover having a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.07 inches, wherein the cover of the golf ball is formed from a composition comprising: a multi-modal ionomer present in an amount of about 10 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the composition and comprising a first copolymer having a molecular weight of about 70,000 or greater and a second copolymer having a molecular weight of about 40,000 or less; and a thermoplastic polymer present in an amount of about 60 percent to about 90 percent by weight of the composition, wherein the multi-modal ionomer has a flexural modulus of about 35,000 psi to about 65,000 psi after 2 weeks. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the first copolymer has a molecular weight of about 80,000 to about 200,000. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the second copolymer has a molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 30,000. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the composition further comprises a neutralizing agent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises ionomers, acid copolymers, highly neutralized polymers, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from the multi-modal ionomer. ### Claim 16 A golf ball comprising: a core having a diameter of about 1.50 inches to about 1.60 inches; and a cover having a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.07 inches, wherein the cover is formed from a composition comprising: an in-situ neutralized multi-modal polymer comprising a first acid copolymer having a molecular weight of about 70,000 or greater and a first degree of acid group neutralization, a second acid copolymer having a molecular weight of about 40,000 or less and a second degree of acid group neutralization, and wherein the first and second degree of acid neutralization results in a multi-modal polymer having a flexural modulus of about 27,000 psi to about 90,000 psi after 2 weeks. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the composition comprises at least one neutralizing agent comprising barium salts, lithium salts, sodium salts, zinc salts, copper salts, potassium salts, magnesium salts, cesium salts, aluminum salts, tin salts, calcium salts, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the composition further comprises a processing aid comprising fatty acids, fatty acid salts, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The golf ball of claim 16, further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 60 to about 75 Shore D.