Multilayer golf ball with hoop-stress layer

Abstract

The invention includes a golf ball having a center, a hoop-stress layer of high tensile elastic modulus material wrapped or wound about the core, at least one layer of a resilient elastomeric material, and a cover of at least one layer. The center in the golf ball can be a fluid with an encapsulating shell or a solid. A binding material can be used in conjunction with the hoop-stress layer to facilitate positioning of the hoop-stress layer around the center for easier manufacturing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1  A golf ball comprising four or more layers, wherein one of the layers is a hoop-stress layer, comprising at least one material with a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 10,000 kpsi, situated between two of the three innermost layers.  
     
     
         2  The golf ball of  claim 1  comprising the following layers: 
 a fluid-filled center;  
 an encapsulating shell comprising at least one layer to contain the fluid;  
 a hoop-stress layer comprising at least one material with a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 10,000 kpsi disposed about or within the at least one layer of the encapsulating shell;  
 at least one layer comprising a resilient elastomeric component disposed about the hoop-stress layer; and  
 a cover comprising at least one layer and being disposed about the at least one layer including a resilient elastomeric component.  
 
     
     
         3  The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the hoop-stress layer comprises a wire, thread, or filament.  
     
     
         4  The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the hoop-stress layer comprises glass, aromatic polyamid, carbon, metal, shape memory alloy, natural fiber, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5  The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer is wound or wrapped in a criss-cross, basket weave, or open pattern.  
     
     
         6  The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer comprises a plurality of braided elements.  
     
     
         7  The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer has a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 20,000 kpsi.  
     
     
         8  The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the wire, thread, or filament has a first cross-sectional area that is coated with a binding material to create a second cross-sectional area greater than the first.  
     
     
         9  The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one layer forming the encapsulating shell comprises two layers and the material forming the hoop-stress layer is disposed therebetween.  
     
     
         10  The golf ball of  claim 1  comprising: 
 a fluid-filled center;  
 an encapsulating shell comprising at least one layer to contain the fluid;  
 at least one layer comprising a first resilient elastomeric component;  
 a hoop-stress layer comprising at least one material with a tensile elastic modulus of at least 10,000 kpsi disposed about or within the at least one layer of the first resilient elastomeric component;  
 at least one layer comprising a second resilient elastomeric component disposed about the hoop-stress layer; and  
 a cover comprising at least one layer and being disposed about the at least one layer including a second resilient elastomeric component.  
 
     
     
         11  The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the first resilient elastomeric component is the same as the second resilient elastomeric component.  
     
     
         12  The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the first resilient elastomeric component differs from the second resilient elastomeric component.  
     
     
         13  The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer comprises a wire, thread, or filament.  
     
     
         14  The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer comprises glass, aromatic polyamid, carbon, metal, shape memory alloy, natural fiber, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         15  The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one material forming hoop-stress layer is wound or wrapped in a criss-cross, basket weave, or open pattern.  
     
     
         16  The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer comprises a plurality of braided elements.  
     
     
         17  The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer has a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 20,000 kpsi.  
     
     
         18  The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the wire, thread, or filament has a first cross-sectional area that is coated with a binding material to create a second cross-sectional area greater than the first.  
     
     
         19  The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein at least one layer comprising a first resilient elastomeric component comprises two layers and the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer is disposed therebetween.  
     
     
         20  The golf ball of  claim 1  comprising: 
 at least one core layer comprising a first resilient elastomeric component;  
 a hoop-stress layer comprising at least one fibrous material with a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 10,000 kpsi wound about the at least one core layer;  
 at least one intermediate layer comprising a second resilient elastomeric component disposed about the hoop-stress layer; and  
 a cover comprising at least one layer and being disposed about the at least one intermediate layer.  
 
     
     
         21  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the first resilient elastomeric component has a compression of greater than about 50.  
     
     
         22  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the first resilient elastomeric component is the same as the second resilient elastomeric component.  
     
     
         23  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the first resilient elastomeric component differs from the second resilient elastomeric component.  
     
     
         24  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one material forming forming the hoop-stress layer comprises a wire, thread, or filament.  
     
     
         25  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer comprises glass, aromatic polyamid, carbon, metal, shape memory alloy, natural fiber, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         26  The golf ball of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer is wound or wrapped in a criss-cross, basket weave, or open pattern.  
     
     
         27  The golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer comprises a plurality of braided elements.  
     
     
         28  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer has a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 20,000 kpsi.  
     
     
         29  The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the wire, thread, or filament has a first cross-sectional area that is coated with a binding material to create a second cross-sectional area greater than the first.  
     
     
         30  The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein at least one core layer comprising a first resilient elastomeric component comprises two layers and the at least one material forming the hoop-stress layer is disposed therebetween.  
     
     
         31  A golf ball having four or more layers comprising: 
 a center;  
 a cover comprising at least one layer; and  
 a hoop-stress layer comprising at least one material with a tensile elastic modulus of at least about 10,000 kpsi, situated between two of the three innermost layers, wherein the material has a first cross-sectional area and the material is coated with a binding material to provide a coated material with a second cross-sectional area greater than the first.  
 
     
     
         32  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the center is a solid.  
     
     
         33  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the center is comprised of a fluid-filled.  
     
     
         34  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the center has a diameter from about 0.5 inch to 1.55 inches.  
     
     
         35  The golf ball of  claim 34 , wherein the center has a diameter from about 1.1 inches to 1.5 inches.  
     
     
         36  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the center is surrounded by an elastic wound layer.  
     
     
         37  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is at least about 5 percent larger than the first cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         38  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the hoop-stress layer is comprised of a continuous strand having a diameter from about 0.004 to 0.02 inches.  
     
     
         39  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the binding material comprises of thermoplastic polyvinyl butyral, thermoplastic epoxy, thermoplastic polyester phenolic, thermoplastic polyamide, thermosetting adhesive epoxy, thermoplastic polyamide-imide, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         40  The golf ball of  claim 31 , wherein the cover material has a hardness of less then about 75 Shore D.  
     
     
         41  The golf ball of claim  40 , wherein the cover material has a hardness of less than about 65 Shore D.