IP Library Granted Patent US 8,956,249
Granted Patent B2
US 8,956,249 · App. 13/939,574 · Granted Feb 17, 2015

Golf ball having specific spin, moment of inertia, lift, and drag relationship

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,956,249
App. No.
13/939,574
Granted
Feb 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Golf ball with a novel combination of spin rate, lift coefficient, drag coefficients, and optionally moment of inertia: a golf ball with a low spin rate, a high lift coefficient, a low drag coefficient, and optionally a high moment of inertia; and a golf ball with a high spin rate, a low lift coefficient, a low drag coefficient, and optionally a low moment of inertia.

Claims (32)

1. A golf ball consisting of a foamed core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer is cast from polyurethane or polyurea, and wherein the golf ball comprises a moment of inertia of about 0.46 oz/in 2 or greater, a lift coefficient greater than about 0.20, and a drag coefficient less than about 0.22 at a Reynolds Number of about 145000 and a spin rate of about 3100 rpm, and wherein the core has a compression of about 70 or less and the cover has a hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a hardness of about 65 Shore D or greater.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a hardness of about 61 Shore D to about 67 Shore D.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a spin rate of about 3100 rpm or less at a launch angle of greater than about 10°.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the moment of inertia is about 0.49 oz/in 2 or greater.

6. A golf ball consisting of a foamed core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, wherein the golf ball comprises a moment of inertia of about 0.48 oz/in 2 or greater, a lift coefficient greater than about 0.20, and a drag coefficient less than about 0.22 at a Reynolds Number of about 145000 and a spin rate of about 3100 rpm.

7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the core has a compression of about 90 or less.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the core has a compression of about 70 or less.

9. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the cover has a hardness of about 60 Shore D or more.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the cover has a hardness of about 65 Shore D or more.

11. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the golf ball has a spin rate of about 3100 rpm or less at a launch angle of greater than about 10°.

12. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a cast polyurethane or polyurea comprising hollow spheres.

13. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the moment of inertia is about 0.49 oz/in 2 or greater.

14. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the cover comprises ionomer.

15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the cover has a flexural modulus of about 60,000 psi to about 70,000 psi.

16. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the intermediate layer has a specific gravity of less than about 0.8.

17. A golf ball consisting of a foamed core, an intermediate layer formed from a composition comprising polyurethane, polyurea, or a combination thereof, and a cover, wherein the golf ball comprises a moment of inertia of about 0.46 oz/in 2 or greater, a lift coefficient greater than about 0.20, and a drag coefficient less than about 0.22 at a Reynolds Number of about 145000 and a spin rate of about 3100 rpm.

18. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises hollow spheres.

19. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from polyurethane foam.

20. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the cover comprises an ionomer.

21. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the cover comprises an ionomer blend comprising a first ionomer neutralized with lithium and a second ionomer neutralized with sodium.

22. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the intermediate layer has a specific gravity of less than about 0.8.

23. A golf ball consisting of a foamed core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a specific gravity of less than about 0.8, and wherein the golf ball comprises a moment of inertia of about 0.46 oz/in 2 or greater, a lift coefficient greater than about 0.20, and a drag coefficient less than about 0.22 at a Reynolds Number of about 145000 and a spin rate of about 3100 rpm.

24. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from a composition comprising polyurethane or polyurea.

25. The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein the composition further comprises hollow spheres.

26. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from polyurethane foam.

27. The golf ball of claim 23 , wherein the cover comprises an ionomer blend.

28. The golf ball of claim 27 , wherein the ionomer blend comprises a first ionomer neutralized with lithium and a second ionomer neutralized with sodium.

29. A golf ball consisting of a foamed core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, wherein the intermediate layer has a specific gravity of less than about 0.8 and is cast from polyurethane or polyurea comprising hollow spheres, and wherein the golf ball comprises a moment of inertia of about 0.46 oz/in 2 or greater, a lift coefficient greater than about 0.20, and a drag coefficient less than about 0.22 at a Reynolds Number of about 145000 and a spin rate of about 3100 rpm, and wherein the core has a compression of about 70 or less and the cover has a hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater.

30. The golf ball of claim 29 , wherein the cover has a hardness of about 65 Shore D or greater.

31. The golf ball of claim 29 , wherein the cover has a hardness of about 61 Shore D to about 67 Shore D.

32. The golf ball of claim 29 , wherein the golf ball has a spin rate of about 3100 rpm or less at a launch angle of greater than about 10°.

Assignments (6)
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 Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (032019/0075) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0405 →
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 Jan 14, 2014
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 032019/0075 →
PATENT OWNERSHIP Recorded Aug 13, 2013
From: SULLIVAN, MICHAEL J.; LADD, DEREK A.; HEBERT, EDMUND A.; BISSONNETTE, LAURENT
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 031004/0645 →