IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,935,004
Granted Patent B2
US 7,935,004 · App. 12/204,913 · Granted May 3, 2011

Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,935,004
App. No.
12/204,913
Granted
May 3, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of an inner core layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition and an outer core layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition. The outer core layer has an outer surface hardness less than the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer.

Claims (30)

1. A golf ball consisting of a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.400 inches to 1.660 inches and consists of:

an inner core layer having a diameter of from 0.125 inches to 0.750 inches, an outer surface hardness of 70 Shore C or greater, and formed from a high modulus HNP composition, the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi; and

an outer core layer having an outer surface hardness less than the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi;

wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer has a specific gravity greater than or equal to the inner core layer specific gravity.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.510 inches to 1.600 inches.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has a diameter of from 0.250 inches to 0.375 inches.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has an outer surface hardness of 85 Shore C or greater.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer has an outer surface hardness of 80 Shore C or less.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover consists of a single layer having an outer surface hardness of 60 Shore D or less and a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.100 inches.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover consists of:

an inner cover layer having an outer surface hardness of 65 Shore D or greater and a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.080 inches; and

an outer cover layer having an outer surface hardness of 60 Shore D or less and a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.055 inches.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover consists of:

an inner cover layer formed from a partially or fully neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness of 65 Shore D or greater and a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.035 inches; and

an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition and having a material hardness of 50 Shore D or less and a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.035 inches.

10. A golf ball consisting of:

a core having an overall diameter of from 1.400 inches to 1.620 inches and consisting of:

an inner core layer having a diameter of from 0.250 inches to 0.500 inches, an outer surface hardness of 81 Shore C or greater, and formed from a high modulus HNP composition, the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi; and

an outer core layer having an outer surface hardness of 90 Shore C or less and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi; and

a cover consisting of:

an inner cover layer having an outer surface hardness of 65 Shore D or greater and a thickness of from 0.020 inches to 0.080 inches; and

an outer cover layer having a surface hardness of 60 Shore D or less and a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.055 inches;

wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.

11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the outer core layer has a specific gravity greater than or equal to the inner core layer specific gravity.

12. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.510 inches to 1.600 inches.

13. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the inner core layer has a diameter of from 0.250 inches to 0.375 inches.

14. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the inner core layer has an outer surface hardness of 85 Shore C or greater.

15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the outer core layer has an outer surface hardness of 80 Shore C or less.

16. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer is less than the outer surface hardness of the inner core layer.