IP Library Granted Patent US 8,444,507
Granted Patent B2
US 8,444,507 · App. 13/397,906 · Granted May 21, 2013

Multi-layer golf ball

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,444,507
App. No.
13/397,906
Filed
Feb 16, 2012
Granted
May 21, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3711
USPC
473/376
Abstract

Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The dual core consists of an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition.

Claims (34)

1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.4 inches, a center hardness (H center ) of about 40 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness of 60 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer having a diameter of about 1.4 inches to about 1.55 inches formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H outer core ) of about 80 Shore C or greater;

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

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core −H center ≧20 Shore C units.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core −H center ≧30 Shore C units.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H center is from about 50 Shore C to about 80 Shore C.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from about 65 Shore C to about 90 Shore C.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from about 70 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core is about 90 Shore C or greater.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core is greater than about 85 Shore C, and wherein H inner cover is from about 80 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core is 85 Shore C or greater, and wherein H inner cover is from 84 Shore C to 92 Shore C.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H center is from about 55 Shore C to about 75 Shore C, the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer is from about 75 Shore C to about 90 Shore C, and H outer core is greater than about 85 Shore C.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein H inner cover is from about 80 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

12. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein H outer core is greater than 87 Shore C, and wherein H inner cover is from about 80 Shore C to about 85 Shore C.

13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein H outer core is about 90 Shore C or greater.

14. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has a compression of about 40 or less.

15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the core has an overall dual core compression of from about 60 to about 95.

16. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has an overall dual core diameter of from about 1.5 inches to about 1.55 inches.

17. A golf ball consisting essentially of:

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.4 inches, a center hardness (H center ) of about 50 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness of about 65 Shore C or greater;

an outer core layer having an outer diameter of about 1.4 to about 1.59 formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H outer core ) of about 75 Shore C or greater;

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness (H inner cover ) of from about 75 Shore C to about 95 Shore C; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.

18. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein H outer core −H center ≧20 Shore C units.

19. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein H outer core −H center ≧25 Shore C units.

20. A golf ball comprising:

a core consisting of:

an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and having a diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.35 inches, a center hardness (H center ) of from about 50 Shore C to about 75 Shore C, and an outer surface hardness of from about 60 Shore C to about 85 Shore C; and

an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H outer core ) of from about 80 Shore C to about 90 Shore C; and

a cover consisting of:

an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness (H inner cover ) of from about 75 Shore C to about 85 Shore C; and

an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.

Assignments (3)
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2012
From: SULLIVAN, MICHAEL J.; LADD, DEREK A.; MORGAN, WILLIAM E.; BOEHM, HERBERT C.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027715/0635 →