IP Library Granted Patent US 7,582,026
Granted Patent B2
US 7,582,026 · App. 11/785,205 · Granted Sep 1, 2009

Golf ball

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,582,026
App. No.
11/785,205
Granted
Sep 1, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Golf ball 2 has a spherical core 4 , a reinforcing layer 6 positioned outside of the core 4 and a cover 8 positioned outside of the reinforcing layer 6 . The core 4 has a inner sphere 10 , a first mid layer 12 positioned outside of the inner sphere 10 , and a second mid layer 14 positioned outside of the first mid layer 12 . The principal component of the first mid layer 12 and the second mid layer 14 is an ionomer resin. The principal component of the cover 8 is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer. The second mid layer 14 has a hardness Hs which is greater than a hardness Hf of the first mid layer 12 and a hardness Hc of the cover 8 . The hardness Hc of the cover 8 is equal to or less than 50. A product (Tc·Hc) of a thickness Tc (mm) and a hardness Hc of the cover 8 is equal to or less than 25.

Claims (15)

1. A golf ball which comprises a spherical core and a cover positioned outside of the core and formed by a thermoplastic resin composition,

said core having an inner sphere, a first mid layer positioned outside of the inner sphere and formed by a thermoplastic resin composition, and a second mid layer positioned outside of the first mid layer and formed by a thermoplastic resin composition,

said second mid layer having a hardness Hs which is greater than a hardness Hf of the first mid layer and a hardness Hc of the cover,

said cover having the hardness Hc of equal to or less than 50, and a product (Tc·Hc) of a thickness Tc (mm) of the cover and a hardness Hc of the cover being equal to or less than 25, wherein a sum (Tf+Ts+Tc) of a thickness Tf of said first mid layer, a thickness Ts of said second mid layer and a thickness Tc of said cover is 0.5 mm or greater and 3.7 mm or less, and wherein the hardness Hc of said cover is smaller than a central hardness Hi of the inner sphere.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio (Hs/Hc) of a hardness Hs of the second mid layer to a hardness Hc of said cover is 1.4 or greater and 3.7 or less.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a difference (Hs−Hf) of the hardness Hs of said second mid layer and the hardness Hf of the first mid layer is 3 or greater.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a principal component of a base polymer of said first mid layer is an ionomer resin,

a principal component of a base polymer of said second mid layer is an ionomer resin, and

a principal component of a base polymer of said cover is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 , which further has a reinforcing layer with a thickness of 3 μm or greater and 50 μm or less and positioned between said second mid layer and said cover.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness Tc of said cover is equal to or less than 1.0 mm.

7. A golf ball which comprises a spherical core and a cover positioned outside of the core and formed by a thermoplastic resin composition, said core having an inner sphere, a first mid layer positioned outside of the inner sphere and formed by a thermoplastic resin composition, and a second mid layer positioned outside of the first mid layer and formed by a thermoplastic resin composition,

said second mid layer having a hardness Hs which is greater than a hardness Hf of the first mid layer and a hardness Hc of the cover,

said cover having the hardness Hc of equal to or less than 50, and

a product (Tc·Hc) of a thickness Tc (mm) of the cover and a hardness Hc of the cover being equal to or less than 25, and wherein the hardness Hc of said cover is smaller than a central hardness Hi of the inner sphere.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Apr 17, 2018
From: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
To: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 045959/0204 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
To: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 045932/0024 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2007
From: KAMINO, KAZUYA; ENDO, SEIICHIRO; HIRAU, TSUTOMU
To: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 019271/0455 →