US2009325731A1PendingUtilityA1

Highly-neutralized thermoplastic copolymer center for improved multi-layer core golf ball

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 26, 2001Filed: Sep 4, 2009Published: Dec 31, 2009
Est. expiryJun 26, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael J. SullivanDerek A. LaddMichael D. Jordan
A63B 37/00622A63B 37/00621A63B 37/0092A63B 37/0046A63B 37/0064A63B 37/0056A63B 37/0061A63B 37/0065A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0049A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0043A63B 37/0087A63B 37/0033A63B 37/0059A63B 37/0045A63B 37/0091A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0039A63B 37/0047
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Claims

Abstract

A golf ball includes a core formed from a thermosetting rubber composition; a cover; and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover. The intermediate layer is formed from a highly-neutralized thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid, and sufficient cation source to bring the neutralization to 80% or greater. A sphere resulting from a combination of the core and the intermediate layer has an Atti compression of 60 or greater.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core comprising a thermosetting rubber composition;   a cover; and   an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover;   wherein the intermediate layer comprises a highly-neutralized thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid, and sufficient cation source to bring the neutralization to 80% or greater;   and wherein a sphere resulting from a combination of the core and the intermediate layer has an Atti compression of 60 or greater.   
   
   
       2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a flexural modulus of 50,000 psi or greater. 
   
   
       3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the flexural modulus of the intermediate layer is from 60,000 psi to 70,000 psi. 
   
   
       4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a diameter of about 0.80 inches to about 1.40 inches, and the cover comprises a thermoset polymer having a hardness of about 45 Shore D to about 60 Shore D and a thickness of about 0.02 inches to about 0.04 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.76 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s. 
   
   
       6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of about 40 Shore D to about 70 Shore D. 
   
   
       7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the neutralization is 90% or greater. 
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the neutralization is 100%. 
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises an inner core layer and an outer core layer. 
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the inner core layer has an Atti compression of 30 or less. 
   
   
       11 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core;   a cover; and   a first intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover;   wherein the core comprises a thermosetting polybutadiene rubber and the first intermediate layer comprises a highly-neutralized thermoplastic copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being 100% neutralized by a salt of an organic acid, a suitable base of the organic acid, and sufficient a cation source;   and wherein a sphere resulting from a combination of the center and the intermediate layer has an Atti compression of 60 or greater.   
   
   
       12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the compression of the combination of the center and the intermediate layer is 80 or greater. 
   
   
       13 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the first intermediate layer has a hardness of about 40 Shore D to about 70 Shore D. 
   
   
       14 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the core has a diameter of 1.40 inches or less. 
   
   
       15 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the core has an Atti compression of 60 or less. 
   
   
       16 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the first intermediate layer has a flexural modulus of 50,000 psi or greater. 
   
   
       17 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the cover is injection molded, cast, reaction injection molded, or compression molded over the core. 
   
   
       18 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the core comprises an inner core layer and an outer core layer. 
   
   
       19 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the golf ball further comprises a second intermediate layer disposed between the core and the first intermediate layer or the cover and the first intermediate layer. 
   
   
       20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the second intermediate layer comprises an ionomeric composition.

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