IP Library Granted Patent US 7,306,529
Granted Patent B2
US 7,306,529 · App. 11/245,757 · Granted Dec 11, 2007

Multi-layer golf ball

Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,306,529
App. No.
11/245,757
Granted
Dec 11, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf ball comprises a molded core, one or more ionomer mantles, and a thermoset polyurethane cover. The core is a high cis-polybutadiene crosslinked with zinc diacrylate and may also comprise a halogenated thiophenol and metal thiosulfate. One or more of the ionomer mantles comprises an ionomer neutralized to 80% or greater.

Claims (35)

1. A golf ball, comprising:

a molded core comprising a high cis-polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of from about 20 to about 70 and an Instron compression of greater than 0.0880;

an inner mantle comprising an ionomer neutralized to 80% or more and having a Shore D hardness of from about 30 to about 85, the inner mantle molded on the molded core;

an outer mantle comprising an ionomer having a Shore D hardness of from about 30 to about 85, the outer mantle molded on the inner mantle, the outer mantle having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.065 inch;

and a thermoset polyurethane/polyurea cover formed over the outer mantle, the thermoset polyurethane/polyurea cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.040 inch.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has a COR of from about 0.600 to about 0.850.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the core further comprises a peptizer.

4. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the core further comprises a metal thiosulfate.

5. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the peptizer is pentachlorothiophenol or a metallic salt thereof.

6. The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein the metal thiosulfate is disodium hexamethylene thiosulfate dihydrate.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer of the inner mantle is neutralized to about 90% or more.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer of the inner mantle is neutralized to about 100%.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ionomer of the inner mantle is modified with a fatty acid or a salt thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the fatty acid is stearic acid, oleic acid, a metal stearate, or a metal oleate.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the starting material of the inner mantle comprises an ethylene copolymer, an ethylene terpolymer or blends thereof.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the starting material of the inner mantle comprises a copolymer of ethylene and ethylene acrylate.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer mantle has a flex modulus of from about 0.5 to about 310 kpsi.

14. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane/polyurea cover is a cast or reaction-injection-molded cover.

15. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane/polyurea cover has a Shore C hardness of from about 10 to about 95.

16. A golf ball, comprising:

a molded core comprising a high cis-polybutadiene having a Mooney viscosity of from about 20 to about 70 and an Instron compression of greater than 0.0880;

an inner mantle comprising an ionomer having a Shore D hardness of from about 30 to about 85, the inner mantle molded on the molded core;

an outer mantle comprising an ionomer neutralized to 80% or more and having a Shore D hardness of from about 30 to about 85, the outer mantle molded on the inner mantle, the outer mantle having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.065 inch;

and a therinoset polyurethane/polyurea cover fonned over the outer mantle, the thermoset polyurethane/polyurea cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.040 inch.

17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the core has a COR of from about 0.600 to about 0.850.

18. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the core further comprises a peptizer.

19. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the ionomer of the outer mantle is neutralized to about 90% or more.

20. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the ionomer of the outer mantle is neutralized to about 100%.

21. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the ionomer of the outer mantle is modified with a fatty acid or a salt thereof.

22. The golf ball of claim 21 , wherein the fatty acid is stearic acid, oleic acid, a metal stearate, or a metal oleate.

23. A golf ball, comprising:

a molded core comprising a high cis-polybutadiene, pentachlorothiophenol or a metallic salt thereof and an optional disodium hexamethylene thiosulfate dehydrate;

an inner mantle including an ionomer resin comprising a copolymer of ethylene and ethylene acrylate neutralized to 80% or greater;

an ionomer skin having a flex modulus of from about 0.5 to about 310 kpsi, the ionomer skin molded on the inner mantle, the ionomer skin having a thickness ranging from 0.025 inch to 0.065 inch;

and a thermoset polyurethane/polyurea cover produced by reaction-injection molding formed over the ionomer skin, the thermoset polyurethane/polyurea cover having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.040 inch.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063692/0009 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (FORMERLY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063665/0176 →
RELEASE (REEL 048172 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (F/K/A CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 063622/0187 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048110/0352 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048172/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2018
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045350/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2005
From: KENNEDY, THOMAS J., III; BINETTE, MARK L.; SIMONDS, VINCENT J.; TZIVANIS, MICHAEL J.; MELANSON, DAVID M.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 017080/0132 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070105659A1 · May 10, 2007