Granted Patent B2

US 8,002,646 · App. 12/795,086 · Granted Aug 23, 2011

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

(a) a center having a diameter of from 1.20 inches to 1.30 inches, a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, 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 outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 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;

(c) an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer; and

(d) an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition;

wherein the material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is at least 20 Shore C units greater than the center hardness.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer has a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has a center hardness of from 55 Shore C to 70 Shore C.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 85 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 90 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has an overall dual core compression of from 75 to 90.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has an overall dual core diameter of from 1.52 inches to 1.59 inches.

9. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.75 inches to 1.19 inches, a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, 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 outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 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;

(c) an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer; and

(d) an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition;

wherein the material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is at least 20 Shore C units greater than the center hardness.

11. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the outer cover layer has a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer.

12. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the center has a center hardness of from 55 Shore C to 70 Shore C.

13. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 85 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.

14. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 90 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.

15. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the core has an overall dual core compression of from 75 to 90.

16. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the diameter of the center is from 0.850 inches to 1.150 inches.

17. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the diameter of the center is from 0.875 inches to 1.125 inches.

18. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the core has an overall dual core diameter of from 1.52 inches to 1.59 inches.

Assignments (6)