US2015165276A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf ball incorporating casing layer for core having steep hardness gradient and methods relating thereto

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Assignee: ACUSHNET COPriority: Dec 16, 2013Filed: Dec 16, 2013Published: Jun 18, 2015
Est. expiryDec 16, 2033(~7.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark L. BinetteDerek A. Ladd
A63B 37/0087A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0063A63B 37/0065A63B 37/008A63B 37/0074A63B 37/0052A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0039A63B 37/0043A63B 45/00A63B 37/0092A63B 37/0046A63B 37/0044A63B 37/00622A63B 37/00621
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Claims

Abstract

Golf ball comprising a core wherein the geometric center has a hardness X of from about 40 Shore C to about 75 Shore C and the first outer surface has a hardness Y of from about 75 Shore C to about 95 Shore C such that (15 Shore C)<(Y−X)≦(55 Shore C). A casing layer, disposed about the core, is formed from a high acid divalent ionomeric composition, and has a second outer surface having a hardness Z of from about 90 Shore C to about 100 Shore C wherein (20 Shore C)<(Z−X)≦(60 Shore C). Core Atti compression A is from about 40 to about 100; Atti compression B of the core and the casing layer, combined, is from about 55 to about 115 such that 1.05≦(B/A)≦1.75; and the overall golf ball Atti compression is from about 65 to about 120. Also, to methods of making the inventive golf balls.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and a casing layer disposed between the core and the cover;
 wherein the core has a first outer surface and a geometric center;   the geometric center having a hardness X of from about 40 Shore C to about 75 Shore C and the first outer surface having a hardness Y of from about 75 Shore C to about 95 Shore C such that (15 Shore C)<(Y−X)≦(55 Shore C); and   wherein the casing layer is formed from a high acid divalent ionomeric composition and has an inner surface that is adjacent the first outer surface and a second outer surface surrounding the inner surface;   the second outer surface having a hardness Z of from about 90 Shore C to about 100 Shore C;   wherein (20 Shore C)<(Z−X)≦(60 Shore C); and   wherein the core has an Atti compression A of from about 40 to about 100, and wherein the core and the casing layer, combined, have an Atti compression B of from about 55 to about 115 such that 1.05≦(B/A)≦1.75; and   wherein the finished golf ball has an Atti compression of from about 60 to about 120.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is blended with a filler selected from the group consisting of fibers, flocks, flakes, glass flakes, microballoons, glass fibers, polymeric fiber, polymeric flock, silica and clay. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is partially neutralized with a divalent cation selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, calcium, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is an ethylene/methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer having 19% methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a cover inner surface adjacent the casing layer and a cover outer surface surrounding the cover inner surface, wherein the cover outer surface has a hardness Q of from about 70 Shore C to about 95 Shore C and wherein Q≦Z. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein hardness X is from about 45 Shore C to about 70 Shore C, Y is from about 77 Shore C to about 86 Shore C and Z is from about 90 Shore C to about 94 Shore C. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein hardness Q is from about 75 Shore C to about 94 Shore C. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein hardness X is from about 55 Shore C to about 74 Shore C, Y is from about 81 Shore C to about 90 Shore C and Z is from about 93 Shore C to about 96 Shore C. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein hardness Q is from about 80 Shore C to about 95 Shore C. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein hardness X is from about 65 Shore C to about 68 Shore C, Y is from about 84 Shore C to about 89 Shore C and Z is from about 97 Shore C to about 99 Shore C. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein hardness Q is from about 85 Shore C to about 95 Shore C. 
     
     
         12 . A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and a casing layer disposed between the core and the cover;
 wherein the core has a first outer surface and a geometric center;   the geometric center having a hardness X′ of from about 15 Shore D to about 54 Shore D and the first outer surface having a hardness Y′ of from about 35 Shore D to about 65 Shore D such that (10 Shore D)<(Y′−X′)≦(35 Shore D); and   wherein the casing layer is formed from a high acid divalent ionomeric composition and has an inner surface that is adjacent the first outer surface and a second outer surface surrounding the inner surface;   the second outer surface having a hardness Z′ of from about 60 Shore D to about 75 Shore D;   wherein (10 Shore D)<(Z′−X′)≦(55 Shore D); and   wherein the core has an Atti compression A of from about 40 to about 100, and wherein the core and the casing layer, combined, have an Atti compression B of from about 55 to about 115 such that 1.05≦(B/A)≦1.75; and   wherein the finished golf ball has an Atti compression of from about 60 to about 120.   
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is blended with a filler selected from the group consisting of fibers, flocks, flakes, glass flakes, microballoons, glass fibers, polymeric fiber, polymeric flock, silica, clay, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is neutralized with a divalent cation selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, calcium, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is an ethylene/methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer having 19% methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the cover has a cover inner surface adjacent the casing layer and a cover outer surface surrounding the cover inner surface, wherein the cover outer surface has a hardness Q′ of from about 50 shore D to about 68 Shore D and wherein Q′≦Z′. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein hardness X′ is from about 20 Shore D to about 45 Shore D, Y′ is from about 35 Shore D to about 56 Shore D and Z′ is from about 62 Shore D to about 73 Shore D. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein hardness Q′ is from about 50 Shore D to about 65 Shore D. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein hardness X′ is from about 30 Shore D to about 40 Shore D, Y′ is from about 41 Shore D to about 54 Shore D and Z′ is from about 65 Shore D to about 71 Shore D. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein hardness Q′ is from about 55 Shore D to about 65 Shore D. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein hardness X′ is from about 35 Shore D to about 38 Shore D, Y′ is from about 48 Shore D to about 50 Shore D and Z′ is from about 68 Shore D to about 73 Shore D. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein hardness Q′ is from about 60 Shore D to about 65 Shore D. 
     
     
         23 . A method of making a golf ball comprising:
 providing a core;
 wherein the core has a first outer surface and a geometric center; the geometric center having a hardness X of from about 40 Shore C to about 75 Shore C and the first outer surface having a hardness Y of from about 75 Shore C to about 95 Shore C such that (15 Shore C)<(Y−X)≦(55 Shore C); and 
 wherein the core has an Atti compression A of from about 40 to about 100; 
   forming a casing layer about the core;
 wherein the casing layer is formed from a high acid divalent ionomeric composition and has an inner surface that is adjacent the first outer surface and a second outer surface surrounding the inner surface; the second outer surface having a hardness Z of from about 90 Shore C to about 100 Shore C; 
 wherein (20 Shore C)<(Z−X)≦(60 Shore C); and 
 wherein the core and the casing layer, combined, have an Atti compression B of from about 55 to about 115 such that 1.05≦(B/A)≦1.75; and 
   forming a cover about the casing layer such that the finished golf ball has an Atti compression of from about 60 to about 120.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is blended with a filler selected from the group consisting of fibers, flocks, flakes, glass flakes, microballoons, glass fibers, polymeric fiber, polymeric flock, silica, clay, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is neutralized with a divalent cation selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium and calcium. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 23 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is an ethylene/methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer having 19% methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cover has a cover inner surface adjacent the casing layer and a cover outer surface surrounding the cover inner surface, wherein the cover outer surface has a hardness Q of from about 70 Shore C to about 95 Shore C and wherein Q≦Z. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein hardness X is from about 45 Shore C to about 70 Shore C, Y is from about 77 Shore C to about 86 Shore C and Z is from about 90 Shore C to about 94 Shore C. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein hardness Q is from about 75 Shore C to about 94 Shore C. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein hardness X is from about 55 Shore C to about 74 Shore C, Y is from about 81 Shore C to about 90 Shore C and Z is from about 93 Shore C to about 96 Shore C. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein hardness Q is from about 80 Shore C to about 95 Shore C. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein hardness X is from about 65 Shore C to about 68 Shore C, Y is from about 84 Shore C to about 89 Shore C and Z is from about 97 Shore C to about 99 Shore C. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein hardness Q is from about 85 Shore C to about 95 Shore C. 
     
     
         34 . A method of making a golf ball comprising:
 providing a core;
 wherein the core has a first outer surface and a geometric center; the geometric center having a hardness X′ of from about 15 Shore D to about 54 Shore D and the first outer surface having a hardness Y′ of from about 35 Shore D to about 65 Shore D such that (10 Shore D)<(Y′−X′)≦(35 Shore D); and 
 wherein the core has an Atti compression A of from about 40 to about 100; 
   forming a casing layer about the core;
 wherein the casing layer is formed from a high acid divalent ionomeric composition and has an inner surface that is adjacent the first outer surface and a second outer surface surrounding the inner surface; the second outer surface having a hardness Z′ of from about 60 Shore D to about 75 Shore D; 
 wherein (10 Shore D)<(Z′−X′)≦(55 Shore D); and 
 wherein the core and the casing layer, combined, have an Atti compression B of from about 55 to about 115; such that 1.05≦(B/A)≦1.75; and 
   forming a cover about the casing layer such that the finished golf ball has an Atti compression of from about 65 to about 120.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is blended with a filler selected from the group consisting of fibers, flocks, flakes, glass flakes microballoons, glass fibers, polymeric fiber, polymeric flock, silica, clay, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is neutralized with a divalent cation selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, calcium, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the high acid divalent ionomeric composition is an ethylene/methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer having 19% methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the cover has a cover inner surface adjacent the casing layer and a cover outer surface surrounding the cover inner surface, wherein the cover outer surface has a hardness Q′ of from about 50 shore D to about 68 Shore D and wherein Q≦Z. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein hardness X′ is from about 20 Shore D to about 45 Shore D, Y′ is from about 35 Shore D to about 56 Shore D and Z′ is from about 62 Shore D to about 73 Shore D. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein hardness Q′ is from about 50 Shore D to about 65 Shore D. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein hardness X′ is from about 30 Shore D to about 40 Shore D, Y′ is from about 43 Shore D to about 54 Shore D and Z′ is from about 65 Shore D to about 71 Shore D. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein hardness Q′ is from about 55 Shore D to about 65 Shore D. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein hardness X′ is from about 35 Shore D to about 38 Shore D, Y′ is from about 48 Shore D to about 50 Shore D and Z′ is from about 68 Shore D to about 73 Shore D. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein hardness Q′ is from about 60 Shore D to about 65 Shore D.

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