Multi-layered coes for golf balls having foam and thermoset layers

1. A core assembly for a golf ball, comprising:

i) an inner core layer comprising a foamed composition, the inner core layer having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SG inner ), and an outer surface hardness (H inner core surface ) and a center hardness (H inner core center ), the H inner core surface being greater than the H inner core center to provide a positive hardness gradient;

ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a first thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, a specific gravity (SG intermediate ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of IC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of IC ), the H outer surface of IC being the same or less than the H inner surface of IC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient; and

iii) an outer core layer comprising a second thermoset material, the outer core layer being disposed about the intermediate core layer and having a thickness in the range of about 0.100 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SG outer ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of OC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of OC ), the H outer surface of OC being greater than the H inner surface of OC to provide a positive hardness gradient,

wherein the SG outer , is greater than the SG inner , and the SG intermediate is greater than the SG inner .

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core comprises a foamed polyurethane composition.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the foamed polyurethane composition is prepared from a mixture comprising polyisocyanate, polyol, and curing agent compounds, and blowing agent, the polyisocyanate being selected from the group consisting of toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), toluene 2,6-diisocyanate (TDI), 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), 2,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI), p-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI), m-phenylene diisocyanate (PDI), naphthalene 1,5-diisocynate (NDI), naphthalene 2,4-diisocyanate (NDI), p-xylene diisocyanate (XDI), and homopolymers and copolymers and blends thereof.

4. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the foamed polyurethane composition is prepared from a mixture comprising polyisocyanate, polyol, and curing agent compounds, and blowing agent, the polyisocyanate being selected from the group consisting of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (“H 12 MDI”), meta-tetramethylxylyene diisocyanate (TMXDI), trans-cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI), and homopolymers and copolymers and blends thereof.

5. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the foamed polyurethane composition is prepared from a mixture comprising polyisocyanate, polyol, and curing agent compounds, and blowing agent, the polyol being selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanate polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), polyethylene propylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.

6. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the foamed polyurethane composition is prepared by adding water to a mixture of polyisocyanate, polyol, and curing agent compounds, surfactant and catalyst, the water being added in a sufficient amount to cause the mixture to foam.

7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of zinc and tin-based catalysts and mixtures thereof.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core has a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 0.500 inches and specific gravity in the range of about 0.25 to about 1.25 g/cc.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core has a diameter in the range of about 0.40 to about 0.80 inches and specific gravity in the range of about 0.30 to about 0.95 g/cc.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the H inner core center is in the range of about 30 Shore C to about 78 Shore C and the H inner core surface is in the range of about 46 Shore C to about 95 Shore C.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the H inner core center is in the range of about 10 Shore C or less to about 50 Shore C and the H inner core surface is in the range of about 13 Shore C to about 60 Shore C.

12. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate core layer and outer core layer comprises at least one thermoset rubber material selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyalkenamers, butyl rubber, halobutyl rubber, polystyrene elastomers, copolymers of isobutylene and p-alkylstyrene, halogenated copolymers of isobutylene and p-alkylstyrene, copolymers of butadiene with acrylonitrile, polychloroprene, alkyl acrylate rubber, chlorinated isoprene rubber, acrylonitrile chlorinated isoprene rubber, and mixtures thereof.

13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate core layer and outer core layer comprises polybutadiene.

14. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate core layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.070 to about 0.130 inches and a specific gravity in the range of about 0.85 to about 3.10 g/cc.

15. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.200 to about 0.750 inches and specific gravity in the range of about 0.60 to about 2.90 g/cc.

16. A core assembly for a golf ball, comprising:

i) an inner core layer comprising a foamed composition, the inner core layer having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SG inner ), and an outer surface hardness (H inner core surface ) and a center hardness (H inner core center ), the H inner core surface being greater than the H inner core center to provide a positive hardness gradient;

ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a first thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, a specific gravity (SG intermediate ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of IC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of IC ), the H outer surface of IC being greater than the H inner surface of IC to provide a positive hardness gradient; and

iii) an outer core layer comprising a second thermoset material, the outer core layer being disposed about the intermediate core layer and having a thickness in the range of about 0.100 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SG outer ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of OC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of OC ), the H outer surface of OC being the same or less than the H inner surface of OC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient,

wherein the SG outer , is greater than the SG inner , and the SG intermediate is greater than the SG inner .

17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the H inner core center is in the range of about 10 Shore C or less to about 50 Shore C and the H inner core surface is in the range of about 13 Shore C to about 60 Shore C.

18. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the inner core comprises a foamed polyurethane composition.

19. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the thermoset material of the intermediate and outer core layers is polybutadiene rubber.

20. A core assembly for a golf ball, comprising:

i) an inner core layer comprising a foamed composition, the inner core layer having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SG inner ), and an outer surface hardness (H inner core surface ) and a center hardness (H inner core center ), the H inner core surface being greater than the H inner core center to provide a positive hardness gradient;

ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a first thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, a specific gravity (SG intermediate ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of IC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of IC ), the H outer surface of IC being greater than the H inner surface of IC to provide a positive hardness gradient; and

iii) an outer core layer comprising a second thermoset material, the outer core layer being disposed about the intermediate core layer and having a thickness in the range of about 0.100 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SG outer ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of OC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of OC ), the H outer surface of OC being greater than the H inner surface of OC to provide a positive hardness gradient,

wherein the SG outer , is greater than the SG inner , and the SG intermediate is greater than the SG inner .

21. The golf ball of claim 20 , wherein the H inner core center is in the range of about 10 Shore C or less to about 50 Shore C and the H inner core surface is in the range of about 13 Shore C to about 60 Shore C.

22. The golf ball of claim 20 , wherein the inner core comprises a foamed polyurethane composition.

23. The golf ball of claim 20 , wherein the thermoset material of the intermediate and outer core layers is polybutadiene rubber.

24. A core assembly for a golf ball, comprising:

i) an inner core layer comprising a foamed composition, the inner core layer having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, a specific gravity (SG inner ), and an outer surface hardness (H inner core surface ) and a center hardness (H inner core center ), the H inner core surface being the same or less than the H inner core center to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient;

ii) an intermediate core layer comprising a first thermoset material, the intermediate layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.050 to about 0.400 inches, a specific gravity (SG intermediate ) and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of IC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of IC ), the H outer surface of IC being the same or less than the H inner surface of IC to provide a zero or negative hardness gradient; and

iii) an outer core layer comprising a second thermoset material, the outer core layer being disposed about the intermediate core layer and having a thickness in the range of about 0.100 to about 0.750 inches, a specific gravity (SG outer ), and an outer surface hardness (H outer surface of OC ) and an inner surface hardness (H inner surface of OC ), the H outer surface of OC being greater than the H inner surface of OC to provide a positive hardness gradient,

wherein the SG outer , is greater than the SG inner , and the SG intermediate is greater than the SG inner .

25. The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein the H inner core center is in the range of about 10 Shore C or less to about 50 Shore C and the H inner core surface is in the range of about 5 Shore C to about 50 Shore C.

26. The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein the inner core comprises a foamed polyurethane composition.

27. The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein the thermoset material of the intermediate and outer core layers is polybutadiene rubber.