IP Library Granted Patent US 8,915,799
Granted Patent B2
US 8,915,799 · App. 13/267,498 · Granted Dec 23, 2014

Variable moment of inertia golf ball

Inventors: Edmund A. Hebert (Mattapoisett, MA); Derek A. Ladd (Acushnet, MA); Nicholas M. Nardacci (Bristol, RI); Jeffrey L. Dalton (Larchmont, NY)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B37/0075A63B37/0043A63B37/0076A63B37/0003A63B37/0064A63B37/0045A63B37/0059A63B37/0077A63B37/0023A63B37/0039
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,915,799
App. No.
13/267,498
Granted
Dec 23, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf ball having a core that includes an aqueous solution contained by a boundary layer with a solid center suspended in the solution to modify the moment of inertia of the golf ball. The aqueous solution can be thixotropic, or rheopectic, or dilatant, or pseudoplastic in nature and the center formulated to simulate the specific gravity of the solution.

Claims (48)

1. A golf ball comprising:

a core and a cover, the core comprising:

a solid center suspended in an aqueous solution; and

a boundary layer containing the aqueous solution,

wherein a shift occurs in the moment of inertia of the ball when struck by a golf club, and wherein the aqueous solution is non-Newtonian and wherein the aqueous solution is thixotropic in nature; and

wherein the center is of a specific gravity that is within 0.08% of the specific gravity of the aqueous solution, thereby minimizing any settlement of the center within the aqueous solution.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center is formulated of a polybutadiene, ionomer/highly neutralized polymer or thermoplastic urethane.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic urethane, or thermoset polyurethane, or ionomer resins, or low modulus ionomers, or high modulus ionomers and blends thereof.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has an outer diameter of approximately 0.70 to 1.20 inches.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the boundary layer has an outer diameter of approximately 0.75 to 1.50 inches.

6. The golf ball of claim 5 , wherein the boundary layer has an outer diameter of approximately 1.00 to 1.30 inches.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ball further includes an intermediate layer encompassing the boundary layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from butyl rubber, or highly neutralized polymer, or an ionomer.

9. A golf ball comprising:

a core and a cover, the core comprising:

a solid center suspended in an aqueous solution; and

a boundary layer containing the aqueous solution,

wherein a shift occurs in the moment of inertia of the ball when struck by a golf club, and wherein the aqueous solution is rheopectic in nature; and

wherein the center is of a specific gravity that is within 0.08% of the specific gravity of the aqueous solution, thereby minimizing any settlement of the center within the aqueous solution.

10. A golf ball comprising:

a core and a cover, the core comprising:

a solid center suspended in an aqueous solution; and

a boundary layer containing the aqueous solution,

wherein a shift occurs in the moment of inertia of the ball when struck by a golf club, and wherein the aqueous solution is dilatant in nature; and

wherein the center is of a specific gravity that is within 0.08% of the specific gravity of the aqueous solution, thereby minimizing any settlement of the center within the aqueous solution.

11. A golf ball comprising:

a core and a cover, the core comprising:

a solid center suspended in an aqueous solution; and

a boundary layer containing the aqueous solution,

wherein a shift occurs in the moment of inertia of the ball when struck by a golf club, and wherein the aqueous solution is pseudoplastic in nature.

12. A golf ball comprising:

a core and a cover, the core comprising:

a solid center suspended in an aqueous solution; and

a boundary layer containing the aqueous solution, wherein a shift occurs in the moment of inertia of the ball when struck by a golf club, and wherein the aqueous solution is selected from a non-Newtonian group of materials consisting of corn starch and water, or silica and poly(ethylene glycol), or clay, or gypsum paste, or nano-cellulose, or benzene, or carbon tetrachloride, or ethanol, or pentane.

13. A golf ball having a core comprising: a hollow, spherical boundary layer; an aqueous liquid contained within the boundary layer; and, a solid spherical center suspended in the aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid has a first specific gravity, and the center has a second specific gravity which is within 0.05% of the first; and a cover of at least one layer surrounding the boundary layer,

wherein the aqueous solution is thixotropic in nature.

14. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the solid spherical center has an outer diameter of approximately 0.70 to 1.20 inches.

15. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the boundary layer has an outer diameter of approximately 0.75 to 1.50 inches.

16. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the boundary layer has an outer diameter of approximately 1.00 to 1.30 inches.

17. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the ball further includes an intermediate layer encompassing the boundary layer.

18. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed of butyl rubber, highly neutralized polymer, or an ionomer.

19. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the cover is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic urethane, or thermoset polyurethane, or ionomer resins, or low modulus ionomers, or high modulus ionomers and blends thereof.

20. A golf ball having a core comprising: a hollow, spherical boundary layer; an aqueous liquid contained within the boundary layer; and, a solid spherical center suspended in the aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid has a first specific gravity, and the center has a second specific gravity which is within 0.05% of the first; and a cover of at least one layer surrounding the boundary layer,

wherein the aqueous solution is rheopectic in nature.

21. A golf ball having a core comprising: a hollow, spherical boundary layer; an aqueous liquid contained within the boundary layer; and, a solid spherical center suspended in the aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid has a first specific gravity, and the center has a second specific gravity which is within 0.05% of the first; and a cover of at least one layer surrounding the boundary layer,

wherein the aqueous solution is dilatant in nature.

22. A golf ball having a core comprising: a hollow, spherical boundary layer; an aqueous liquid contained within the boundary layer; and, a solid spherical center suspended in the aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid has a first specific gravity, and the center has a second specific gravity which is within 0.05% of the first; and a cover of at least one layer surrounding the boundary layer,

wherein the aqueous solution is pseudoplastic in nature.

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 (027346/0897) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0169 →
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 8, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027346/0897 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2011
From: HEBERT, EDMUND A.; LADD, DEREK A.; NARDACCI, NICHOLAS M.; DALTON, JEFFREY L.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027047/0747 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130090187A1 · Apr 11, 2013