Golf ball with multi-layer cover utilizing polyurethane materials

Abstract

A golf ball is described having a core with a multi-layer cover that includes one or more polyurethane materials and which exhibits a Shore D hardness of at least 60. The one or more polyurethane materials may be utilized in one, all, or in only some of the individual cover layers that form the multi-layer cover.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core;    a first cover layer disposed about said core, said first cover layer comprising a majority proportion by weight of a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyureas and blends thereof, said first cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness of less than 60; and    a second outermost cover layer disposed on said first cover layer, said second cover layer comprising a majority proportion by weight of a polyurethane, said second cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness of less than 60.    
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein said first cover layer and said second cover layer each exhibit a Shore D hardness less than 55.  
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2  wherein said first cover layer and said second cover layer each exhibit a Shore D hardness less than 50.  
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein said core exhibits a PGA compression of from 20 to 85.  
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4  wherein said core exhibits a PGA compression of from 40 to 60.  
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein said polyurethane is the product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol.  
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 6  wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, cyclohexane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, bitolylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, 3-isocyanato-methyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclo-hexyl isocyanate, trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate, m-tetramethyl-xylylene, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 6  wherein said polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyester polyol, polyether polyol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein said polyurethane is a thermoset.  
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein said polyurethane is a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1  further comprising a third cover layer disposed between said first cover layer and said second cover layer.  
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the difference between the Shore D hardness of said first layer and the Shore D hardness of said second layer is less than 5.  
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the difference between the Shore D hardness of said first layer and the Shore D hardness of said second layer is less than 2.  
     
     
         14 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core;    a first cover layer disposed about said core, said first cover layer comprising a majority proportion by weight of a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyureas and blends thereof, said first cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness less than 60; and    a second outermost cover layer disposed on said first cover layer, said second cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness of less than 60.    
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein said first cover layer and said second cover layer each exhibit a Shore D hardness less than 55.  
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15  wherein said first cover layer and said second cover layer each exhibit a Shore D hardness less than 50.  
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein said core exhibits a PGA compression of from 20 to 85.  
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 17  wherein said core exhibits a PGA compression of from 40 to 60.  
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein said polyurethane is the product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol.  
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19  wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, cyclohexane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, bitolylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, 3-isocyanato-methyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclo-hexyl isocyanate, trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate, m-tetramethyl-xylylene, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 19  wherein said polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyester polyol, polyether polyol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein said polyurethane is a thermoset.  
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein said polyurethane is a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 14  further comprising a third cover layer disposed between said first cover layer and said second cover layer.  
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein the difference between the Shore D hardness of said first layer and the Shore D hardness of said second layer is less than 5.  
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 14  wherein the difference between the Shore D hardness of said first layer and the Shore D hardness of said second layer is less than 2.  
     
     
         27 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core;    a first cover layer disposed on said core, said first cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness of less than 60; and    a second outermost cover layer disposed on said first cover layer, said second cover layer comprising a majority proportion by weight of a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyureas and blends thereof, said second cover layer exhibiting a Shore D hardness of less than 60.    
     
     
         28 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein said first cover layer and said second cover layer each exhibit a Shore D hardness less than 55.  
     
     
         29 . The golf ball of  claim 28  wherein said first cover layer and said second cover layer each exhibit a Shore D hardness less than 50.  
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein said core exhibits a PGA compression of from 20 to 85.  
     
     
         31 . The golf ball of  claim 30  wherein said core exhibits a PGA compression of from 40 to 60.  
     
     
         32 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein said polyurethane is the product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol.  
     
     
         33 . The golf ball of  claim 32  wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, cyclohexane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The golf ball of  claim 32  wherein said polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyester polyol, polyether polyol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein said polyurethane is a thermoset.  
     
     
         36 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein said polyurethane is a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         37 . The golf ball of  claim 27  further comprising a third cover layer disposed between said first cover layer and said second cover layer.  
     
     
         38 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein the difference between the Shore D hardness of said first layer and the Shore D hardness of said second layer is less than 5.  
     
     
         39 . The golf ball of  claim 27  wherein the difference between the Shore D hardness of said first layer and the Shore D hardness of said second layer is less than 2.