US2015011332A1PendingUtilityA1

Multi-layer golf ball

49
Assignee: NIKE INCPriority: Jul 5, 2013Filed: Jul 5, 2013Published: Jan 8, 2015
Est. expiryJul 5, 2033(~6.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Hideyuki IshiiNicholas YontzJun IchinoseChien-Hsin ChouChen-Tai Liu
A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0043A63B 37/0069A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0039A63B 37/0037A63B 37/0064A63B 37/0065A63B 37/0045A63B 37/0024A63B 37/0059A63B 37/0062A63B 37/0087A63B 37/0018A63B 37/0097
49
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Claims

Abstract

A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, and intermediate layer, and a cover. The core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of protrusions extending from a spherical land portion. Each protrusion has a maximum height relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The intermediate layer surrounds the core and has a radially outward surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core. The cover layer surrounds the intermediate layer and defines an outermost portion of ball.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-layer golf ball comprising:
 a core having an outer surface that includes:
 a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from a spherical land portion; 
 wherein each protrusion has a maximum height relative to the spherical core of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm; and 
 wherein the spherical land portion has a diameter of between 24 mm and 32 mm; 
   an intermediate layer surrounding the core and having a radially inward surface that is bonded to the outer surface of the core across the entire outer surface, the intermediate layer having a minimum radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm;   a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer and defining an outermost portion of ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core is formed from an ionomeric material and has a hardness measured on the JIS-C scale of between 34 and 70; and
 wherein the intermediate layer is formed from a rubber, and has a hardness measured on the Shore D scale of between 56 and 64.   
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each protrusion has a width measured at the spherical land portion; and
 wherein each protrusion has a width/maximum height ratio of between 2 and 8.   
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer includes one or more of an ionomer resin, a polyethylene, and a polyester resin. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is formed from a thermoplastic material having a hardness measured on the Shore-D scale of up to about 72. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyurethane having a flexural modulus of up to about 1000 psi. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is a first intermediate layer; and
 further comprising a second intermediate layer disposed between the first intermediate layer and the cover layer.   
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the second intermediate layer has a hardness measured on the Shore-D scale of greater than 63 and greater than a hardness of the cover layer. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of between 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm.;
 wherein the core and the intermediate layer define an intermediate ball; and   wherein the intermediate ball has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of between 2.7 and 5.5 mm, and less than the 10-130 kg compression deformation of the core.   
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is bonded to the core through an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive layer includes an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer-based adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the ionomeric material has a flexural modulus of less than 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from a rubber material that includes:
 a main rubber containing a polybutadiene;   an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof; and   an organic peroxide.   
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions includes between 50 and 80 protrusions that are symmetrically disposed about the core. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-layer golf ball comprising:
 a core formed from an ionomeric material and has a hardness measured on the JIS-C scale of between 34 and 70, the core having an outer surface that includes:
 between 50 and 80 of protrusions extending radially outward from a spherical land portion; 
 wherein each protrusion has a maximum height relative to the spherical core of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm; and 
 wherein the spherical land portion has a diameter of between 24 mm and 32 mm; 
   an intermediate layer formed from a rubber, and having a hardness measured on the Shore D scale of between 56 and 64, the intermediate layer surrounding the core and having a radially inward surface that is bonded to the outer surface of the core across the entire outer surface, the intermediate layer having a minimum radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm;   a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer and defining an outermost portion of ball.   
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein each protrusion has a width measured at the spherical land portion; and
 wherein each protrusion has a width/maximum height ratio of between 2 and 8.   
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the cover layer includes one or more of an ionomer resin, a polyethylene, and a polyester resin. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the cover layer is formed from a thermoplastic material having a hardness measured on the Shore-D scale of up to about 72. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermoplastic polyurethane having a flexural modulus of up to about 1000 psi. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate layer is a first intermediate layer; and
 further comprising a second intermediate layer disposed between the first intermediate layer and the cover layer.   
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the second intermediate layer has a hardness measured on the Shore-D scale of greater than 63 and greater than a hardness of the cover layer. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the core has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of between 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm;
 wherein the core and the intermediate layer define an intermediate ball; and   wherein the intermediate ball has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of between 2.7 and 5.5 mm, and less than the 10-130 kg compression deformation of the core.   
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate layer is bonded to the core through an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 23 , wherein the adhesive layer includes an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer-based adhesive. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the ionomeric material has a flexural modulus of less than 10,000 psi. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein rubber material includes:
 a main rubber containing a polybutadiene;   an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof; and   an organic peroxide.

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