US2014045623A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf Ball With Hard Cover Layer

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Assignee: NIKE INCPriority: Aug 13, 2012Filed: Aug 9, 2013Published: Feb 13, 2014
Est. expiryAug 13, 2032(~6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Arthur MolinariNicholas YontzChien-Hsin ChouChen-Tai Liu
A63B 37/0023A63B 37/00776A63B 37/0092A63B 37/0045A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0064A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0051A63B 37/0033A63B 37/0039A63B 37/004A63B 37/0096
49
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A golf ball is provided that has a cover layer with an increased hardness. The golf ball may have an inner core made from a highly neutralized polymer. The golf ball may have a four-piece construction, including an inner core, an outer core, a mantle layer, and the cover layer. The cover layer may be made of a thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic polyurethane cover layer may be formed of a material having a plaque hardness of at least about 44 Shore D. For example, the cover layer may be formed of a material having a plaque hardness of from about 44 to about 50 Shore D, or about 46 Shore D in particular.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 an inner core, the inner core encompassing a center of the golf ball and being comprised of a highly neutralized polymer;   an outer core, the outer core being positioned radially outward of the inner core and substantially surrounding the inner core;   a mantle layer, the mantle layer being positioned radially outward of the outer core and substantially surrounding the outer core; and   a cover layer, the cover layer being positioned radially outward of the mantle layer and substantially surrounding the mantle layer;   wherein the cover layer is made from a material having a plaque hardness of at least about 44 Shore D.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is made from a material having a plaque hardness of from about 44 to about 50 Shore D. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is made from a material having a plaque hardness of from about 46 to about 50 Shore D. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 4 , wherein the cover layer has a hardness on the ball in a range of from about 60 to about 70 Shore D. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 4 , wherein the cover layer has a hardness on the ball in a range of from about 63 to about 66 Shore D. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball according to  claim 4 , wherein the golf ball has a launch angle of at least 10.0 degrees, and a back spin of less than 3,000 rpm. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the mantle layer comprises a high acid ionomer. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner core comprises a mixture of at least two different types of highly neutralized polymers. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball according to  claim 8 , wherein the mantle layer has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the cover layer. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball comprising:
 an inner core, the inner core encompassing a center of the golf ball and being comprised of a highly neutralized polymer;   an outer core, the outer core being positioned radially outward of the inner core and substantially surrounding the inner core, the outer core being comprised of a thermoset polybutadiene rubber;   a mantle layer, the mantle layer being positioned radially outward of the outer core and substantially surrounding the outer core, the mantle layer being comprised of an ionomer; and   a cover layer, the cover layer being positioned radially outward of the mantle layer and substantially surrounding the mantle layer, the cover layer being comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane;   wherein the cover layer is made from a material having a plaque hardness of from about 44 to about 50 Shore D.   
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover layer is made from a material having a plaque hardness of from about 46 to about 50 Shore D. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover layer is made from a material having a plaque hardness of about 46 Shore D. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer core has a thickness of at least 4.8 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner core has a diameter of about 28.25 mm, the outer core has a thickness of about 5.20 mm, the mantle layer has a thickness of about 0.95 mm, and the cover layer has a thickness of about 1.10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner core comprises a blend of two highly neutralized polymers. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane of the cover layer is a crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover layer and the mantle layer have a ball hardness difference of less than 10 Shore D. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 12 , wherein the inner core has a diameter of from about 20 mm to about 30 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball according to  claim 16 , wherein the mantle layer has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the cover layer.

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