IP Library Granted Patent US 6,852,042
Granted Patent B2
US 6,852,042 · App. 10/157,679 · Granted Feb 8, 2005

Golf ball

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,852,042
App. No.
10/157,679
Granted
Feb 8, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A high CoR golf ball having predetermined moment of inertia is provided. A portion of the golf ball preferably contains substantially no filler, which contributes to the increased resilience of the ball. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the portion with substantially no filler is the core of the ball. The remaining portions of the ball preferably contribute to the moment of inertia of the ball.

Claims (36)

1. A golf ball comprising

a thin dense layer encasing a core, wherein the thin dense layer is encased by a cover, wherein the thin dense layer has a specific gravity of greater than 1.5 and a thickness from about 0.001 to about 0.050; and

wherein the core is a non-wound core having a specific gravity of less than about 0.9 and less than the specific gravity of the thin dense layer, a diameter from about 1.54 to about 1.64 inches and wherein the core has substantially no filler

wherein the thin dense layer comprises a densified loaded film.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity of the thin dense layer is greater than 1.8.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the specific gravity of the thin dense layer is greater than 2.0.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the thin dense layer is from about 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch.

5. The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein the thickness of the thin dense layer is from about 0.010 inch to 0.020 inch.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a core layer and a second core layer.

7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the core layer surrounds the second core layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the second core layer is a liquid filled innermost core.

9. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the second core layer is a hollow core.

10. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the second core layer has a diameter of less than about 0.75 inch.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the second core layer has a diameter from about 0.25 inch to about 0.5 inch.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the second core layer has a diameter from about 0.40 inch to about 0.50 inch.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer.

14. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover is a sandwich cover and wherein the sandwich cover comprises an inner cover layer and outer cover layer comprising a first polymeric material and an intermediate cover layer comprising a second polymeric material.

15. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, partially or fully neutralized ionomer, polyurea, polyurethane ionomer, metallocene or other catalyzed polymer, silicone, metal salt of a fatty acid and melt processible composition, which comprises a highly neutralized ethylene copolymer and one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms of salts thereof, wherein greater than 90% of all the acid of the ethylene copolymer is neutralized.

16. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.010 inch to about 0.040 inch.

17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the cover has a thickness of about 0.010 inch to about 0.030 inch.

18. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of natural rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene or styrene-propylene-diene rubber, ionomer resins, polyamides, polyesters, thermoplastic elastomer, polyether amide copolymers, polyether ester copolymers, thermoplastic urethane, styrenic block copolymers elastomers, metal salt of a fatty acid, partially or fully neutralized ionomer, metallocene or other catalyzed polymer, castable material, urethane, polyurea, epoxy, silicone, IPN, and a melt processible composition, which comprises a highly neutralized ethylene copolymer and one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms of salts thereof, wherein greater than 90% of all the acid of the ethylene copolymer is neutralized.

19. A golf ball comprising

a thin dense layer encasing a core, wherein the thin dense layer is encased by a cover, wherein the thin dense layer has a specific gravity of greater than 1.5 and a thickness from about 0.001 to about 0.050 inch, and the thin dense layer is positioned at a radial distance outside of the centroid radius;

wherein the core is a non-wound core having a specific gravity of less than the specific gravity of the thin dense layer, a diameter from about 1.54 to about 1.64 inches and a compression of less than 90;

wherein the core comprises an inner core having a diameter from about 0.50 inch to about 1.54 inches and a specific gravity of less than 0.9.

20. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the inner core comprises substantially no filler.

21. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 65.

22. The golf ball of claim 20 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 60.

23. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the core further comprises an outer core, wherein the outer core has thickness of about 0.05 inch to about 0.575 inch and a specific gravity of about 0.5 to 1.05.

24. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the outer core comprises substantially no filler.

25. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the outer core has a specific gravity of about 0.8 to about 0.96.

26. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the specific gravity of the outer core is higher than the specific gravity of the inner core.

27. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the core comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of partially or fully neutralized ionomer, metallocene or other catalyzed polymer, polyurethane, silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, thermosetting elastomer, metal salt of a fatty acid, and melt processible composition, which comprises a highly neutralized ethylene copolymer and one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms of salts thereof, wherein greater than 90% of all the acid of the ethylene copolymer is neutralized.

28. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the cover comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, partially or fully neutralized ionomer, polyurea, polyurethane ionomer, metallocene or other catalyzed polymer, silicone, metal salt of a fatty acid and melt processible composition, which comprises a highly neutralized ethylene copolymer and one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms of salts thereof, wherein greater than 90% of all the acid of the ethylene copolymer is neutralized.

29. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the cover comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of compression molded thermoset polyurethane, compression molded thermoplastic polyurethane, compression molded thermoset polyurethane copolymer, compression molded thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, injection molded thermoset polyurethane, injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane, injection molded thermoset polyurethane copolymer, injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, reaction injection molded thermoset polyurethane, reaction injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane, reaction injection molded thermoset polyurethane copolymer, reaction injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, cast thermoplastic polyurethane, cast thermosetting polyurethane, cast thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, and cast thermosetting polyurethane copolymer.

30. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein in the core comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of chemically foamed thermoplastic, physically foamed thermoplastic, chemically foamed thermoset and physically foamed thermoset.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (ASSIGNS 039506-0030) Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0414 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027331/0725) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039938/0923 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 7, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027331/0725 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2002
From: SULLIVAN, MICHAEL J.; LADD, DEREK A.; DESIMAS, ANTONIO U.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 012949/0662 →