US2014357415A1PendingUtilityA1

Multi-layer golf ball

53
Assignee: NIKE INCPriority: May 31, 2013Filed: Nov 11, 2013Published: Dec 4, 2014
Est. expiryMay 31, 2033(~6.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Chien-Hsin ChouChen-Tai Liu
A63B 37/0047A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0066A63B 37/0037A63B 37/0023A63B 37/0064A63B 37/0091A63B 37/0034C08L 75/04A63B 37/0046A63B 37/0049A63B 37/0059A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0045A63B 37/0065A63B 37/0069A63B 37/0051
53
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Claims

Abstract

A golf ball has an ionomer resin core center, a cured rubber layer made from (a) an at least 70% cis-1,4 polybutadiene with Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.))≧40, (b) an unsaturated carboxylic acid or metal salt, and (c) a free radical initiator; and a cover including a thermoplastic material. The core center has a diameter of 21-29 mm and a 10-130 kg compression deformation (C) ≧4 mm. The core layer is ≧5 mm thick with a specific gravity ≧0.1 g/cm 3 greater than that of the core center. The cover may have a flexural modulus ≧15,000 psi or ≦35,000 psi. Also disclosed is a golf ball with an ionomer core center having C1 ≧3.5 mm, a cured rubber core layer ≧5 mm thick with C2 ≧3 mm, and a cover with C3 ≧2.8 mm, with C2/C1 and C3/C2 about 0.8-1.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core center with a diameter of from about 21 mm to about 29 mm, a 10-130 kg compression deformation of at least about 4 mm, and comprising an ionomer resin and a polyolefin elastomer;   a core layer disposed radially outward from the core center, wherein the core layer has a thickness of at least about 5 mm and comprises a cured product of a rubber composition comprising a polybutadiene, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and a free radical initiator, wherein the polybutadiene has a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.)) of at least about 40 and has at least about 70% cis-1,4 bonds;   a cover comprising a thermoplastic material having a flexural modulus of at least about 15,000 psi;   wherein the specific gravity of the core layer is at least about 0.1 g/cm 3  greater than the specific gravity of the core center.   
     
     
         2 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the ionomer resin comprises a monomeric organic acid or salt thereof and wherein the ionomer resin is neutralized from at least about 40% to about 100%. 
     
     
         3 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the core center has a diameter of from about 23 mm to about 27 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the 10-130 kg compression deformation of the core center is from about 4 mm to about 8 mm. 
     
     
         5 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the polybutadiene has Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.)) of from about 50 to about 85. 
     
     
         6 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the polybutadiene has at least about 80% of cis-1,4 bonds. 
     
     
         7 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the core layer has a thickness of from about 5 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a flexural modulus of from about 20,000 psi to about 50,000 psi. 
     
     
         9 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core center with a diameter of from about 21 mm to about 29 mm, a 10-130 kg compression deformation of at least about 4 mm, and comprising an ionomer resin and a polyolefin elastomer;   a core layer disposed radially outward from the core center, wherein the core layer has a thickness of at least about 5 mm, a 10-130 kg compression deformation of at least about 3 mm, and comprises a cured product of a rubber composition comprising a polybutadiene, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and a free radical initiator, wherein the polybutadiene has Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.)) of at least about 40 and at least about 70% cis-1,4 bonds;   a cover comprising a thermoplastic material and having a flexural modulus of up to about 35,000 psi;   wherein the specific gravity of the core layer is at least about 0.1 g/cm 3  greater than the specific gravity of the core center.   
     
     
         10 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the ionomer resin comprises a monomeric organic acid or salt thereof and wherein the ionomer resin is neutralized from at least about 40% to about 100%. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the core center has a diameter of from about 23 mm to about 27 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the 10-130 kg compression deformation of the core center is from about 4 mm to about 8 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the polybutadiene has Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.)) of from about 50 to about 85. 
     
     
         14 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the polybutadiene has at least about 80% of cis-1,4 bonds. 
     
     
         15 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the core layer has a thickness of from about 5 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the cover has a flexural modulus of from about 10,000 psi to about 30,000 psi. 
     
     
         17 . A golf ball according to  claim 9 , wherein the 10-130 kg compression deformation of the core layer is from about 3 mm to about 8 mm. 
     
     
         18 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core center with a diameter of from about 21 mm to about 29 mm, a first 10-130 kg compression deformation C1 of at least about 3.5 mm, and comprising an ionomer resin;   a core layer disposed radially outward from the core center, wherein the core layer has a thickness of at least about 5 mm, a second 10-130 kg compression deformation C2 of at least about 3 mm, and comprises a cured product of a rubber composition comprising a polybutadiene, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and a free radical initiator, wherein the polybutadiene has Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.)) of at least about 40 and at least about 70% cis-1,4 bonds;   a cover comprising a thermoplastic material, wherein the cover has a third 10-130 kg compression deformation C3 of at least about 2.8 mm and a surface Shore D hardness of at least 60;   wherein a ratio of C2/C1 is from about 0.8 to about 1, a ratio of C3/C2 is from about 0.8 to about 1, and the specific gravity of the core layer is at least about 0.1 g/cm 3  greater than the specific gravity of the core center.   
     
     
         19 . A golf ball according to  claim 18 , wherein the ratio of C2/C1 is from about 0.9 to about 1. 
     
     
         20 . A golf ball according to  claim 18 , wherein the ratio of C3/C2 is from about 0.9 to about 1. 
     
     
         21 . A golf ball according to  claim 18 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises at least two ionomer resins that are different from one another. 
     
     
         22 . A golf ball according to  claim 18 , wherein the cover has a surface Shore D hardness of at least about 65. 
     
     
         23 . A golf ball according to  claim 18 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         24 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core center with a diameter of from about 21 mm to about 29 mm, a first 10-130 kg compression deformation C1 of at least about 3.5 mm, and comprising an ionomer resin;   a core layer disposed radially outward from the core center, wherein the core layer has a thickness of at least about 5 mm, a second 10-130 kg compression deformation C2 of at least about 3 mm, and comprises a cured product of a rubber composition comprising a polybutadiene, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and a free radical initiator, wherein the polybutadiene has Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4 (100° C.)) of at least about 40 and at least about 70% cis-1,4 bonds;   a cover on the surface of the golf ball comprising a thermoplastic material, wherein the cover has a third 10-130 kg compression deformation C3 of at least about 2.8 mm and a surface Shore D hardness of less than 60;   wherein a ratio of C2/C1 is from about 0.8 to about 1, a ratio of C3/C2 is from about 0.8 to about 1, and the specific gravity of the core layer is at least about 0.1 g/cm 3  greater than the specific gravity of the core center.   
     
     
         25 . A golf ball according to  claim 24 , wherein the ratio of C2/C1 is from about 0.9 to about 1. 
     
     
         26 . A golf ball according to  claim 24 , wherein the ratio of C3/C2 is from about 0.9 to about 1. 
     
     
         27 . A golf ball according to  claim 24 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises at least two ionomer resins that are different from one another. 
     
     
         28 . A golf ball according to  claim 24 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         29 . A golf ball according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover has a surface Shore D hardness up to about 55. 
     
     
         30 . A golf ball according to  claim 29 , wherein the cover has a surface Shore D hardness up to about 35.

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