Golf ball having layers with specified moduli and hardnesses
View Patent ↗A golf ball includes four layers. The first, third, and fourth layers are made from thermoplastic materials and the second is made of a thermoset material. The third layer is the hardest and is at least 10 Shore D harder than the fourth layer. The flexural modulus of the third layer is greater than that of the first layer, and the flexural modulus of the first layer is greater than that of the fourth layer.
1. A ball, comprising:
a first layer, the first layer having a first flexural modulus;
a second layer, the second layer disposed radially outward of the first layer;
a third layer, the third layer disposed radially outward of the second layer, wherein the third layer has a second flexural modulus;
a fourth layer, the fourth layer disposed radially outward of the third layer, wherein the fourth layer has a third flexural modulus;
wherein the second flexural modulus is greater than the first flexural modulus and the first flexural modulus is greater than the third flexural modulus; and
wherein the first layer has a first coefficient of restitution, the ball has a second coefficient of restitution, and the first coefficient of restitution is greater than the second coefficient of restitution;
wherein the first flexural modulus is between about 5000 PSI and about 40000 PSI, the second flexural modulus is between about 20000 PSI and about 100000 PSI, and the third flexural modulus is between about 1000 PSI and about 10000 PSI.
2. The ball according to claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a first thermoplastic material, the third layer comprises a second thermoplastic material, and the fourth layer comprises a third thermoplastic material.
3. The ball according to claim 2 , wherein
the first thermoplastic material comprises at least one of an ionomer resin, a highly neutralized acid polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a combination thereof;
the second thermoplastic material comprises at least one of an ionomer resin, a highly neutralized acid polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a combination thereof; and
the third thermoplastic material comprises at least one of an ionomer resin, a highly neutralized acid polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a combination thereof.
4. The ball according to claim 3 , wherein the second thermoplastic material is the same type of material as the third thermoplastic material.
5. The ball according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises a thermoset material.
6. The ball according to claim 1 , wherein the second flexural modulus is at least three times the first flexural modulus.
7. The ball according to claim 1 , further comprising a mantle layer between the first layer and the fourth layer.
8. A ball, comprising:
a first layer, the first layer having a first flexural modulus;
a second layer, the second layer disposed radially outward of the first layer;
a third layer, the third layer disposed radially outward of the second layer, wherein the third layer has a second flexural modulus;
a fourth layer, the fourth layer disposed radially outward of the third layer, wherein the fourth layer has a third flexural modulus;
wherein the second flexural modulus is greater than the first flexural modulus and the first flexural modulus is greater than the third flexural modulus; and
wherein the first layer has a first coefficient of restitution, the ball has a second coefficient of restitution, and the first coefficient of restitution is greater than the second coefficient of restitution;
wherein the ball has a moment of inertia between about 80 g*cm 2 and about 90 g*cm 2 .
9. The ball according to claim 8 , wherein the first layer comprises a first thermoplastic material, the third layer comprises a second thermoplastic material, and the fourth layer comprises a third thermoplastic material.
10. The ball according to claim 9 , wherein
the first thermoplastic material comprises at least one of an ionomer resin, a highly neutralized acid polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a combination thereof;
the second thermoplastic material comprises at least one of an ionomer resin, a highly neutralized acid polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a combination thereof; and
the third thermoplastic material comprises at least one of an ionomer resin, a highly neutralized acid polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, and a combination thereof.
11. The ball according to claim 10 , wherein the second thermoplastic material is the same type of material as the third thermoplastic material.
12. The ball according to claim 8 , wherein the second layer comprises a thermoset material.
13. The ball according to claim 8 , wherein the second flexural modulus is at least three times the first flexural modulus.
14. The ball according to claim 8 , further comprising a mantle layer between the first layer and the fourth layer.