US2016101324A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf ball incorporating an innermost hollow portion

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Assignee: ACUSHNET COPriority: Jan 9, 2013Filed: Dec 16, 2015Published: Apr 14, 2016
Est. expiryJan 9, 2033(~6.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael J. SullivanMark L. BinetteBrian Comeau
A63B 37/0044A63B 37/0051A63B 37/0064A63B 37/0056A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0075A63B 37/008A63B 37/0041A63B 37/0043A63B 37/0027A63B 37/006A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0024A63B 37/0039A63B 37/0092A63B 37/0032A63B 37/00776A63B 37/00922
42
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Claims

Abstract

Golf ball incorporating: spherical or aspherical innermost hollow portion; shell layer, one or more outer core layers, and at least one cover layer. Shell layer has outer surface hardness greater than inner surface hardness by up to about 7 Shore C to define first hardness gradient. Outer core layer has a second hardness gradient. A shell layer surrounding a spherical hollow portion may have an inner surface with a non-uniform contour defining a phantom spherical circumference of the innermost spherical hollow portion at symmetrically spaced locations about the golf ball's geometric center. In golf balls including a spherical or aspherical innermost hollow portions, the outer surface can have non-uniform contour bordering and defining a contour of a second inner surface of outer core layer. The outer surface hardness and a second inner surface hardness of second inner surface differ and alternate symmetrically and circumferentially about the shell layer inner surface.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a hollow core comprising:
 an innermost spherical hollow portion having a diameter of about 0.15 inches to about 1.1 inches; surrounded by a shell layer formed from a thermoplastic composition; and at least one outer core layer formed from a thermoset composition disposed about the shell layer;
 wherein the shell layer has a non-uniform thickness, an inner surface having an inner surface hardness, and an outer surface having an outer surface hardness greater than the inner surface hardness by up to about 7 Shore C to define a first hardness gradient; and 
 
 an outer core layer formed about the outer surface and having a second hardness gradient; and 
   at least one cover layer disposed about the core.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface has a non-uniform contour that defines a phantom spherical circumference of the innermost spherical hollow portion at symmetrically spaced locations about a geometric center of the golf ball. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface has a non-uniform contour that borders and defines a contour of a second inner surface of the outer core layer, wherein the outer surface hardness and a second inner surface hardness of the second inner surface differ. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first hardness gradient is about 1 to 5 Shore C. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the second hardness gradient is a negative hardness gradient of about 3 to 25 Shore C. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the second hardness gradient is a positive hardness gradient of about 3 to 25 Shore C. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer disposed about the outer core layer and comprising an ionomeric material and having a first hardness; and an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer and comprising a polyurea or a polyurethane and having a second hardness less than the first. 
     
     
         8 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core comprising:
 an innermost aspherical hollow portion having a volume V ahp ; 
 surrounded by a shell layer that is formed from a thermoplastic composition and has an inner surface comprising a plurality of symmetrically spaced extensions that border and define a shape of the innermost aspherical hollow portion;
 wherein the plurality of extensions and innermost aspherical hollow portion, combined, form a phantom sphere having a diameter of from about 0.15 inches to about 1.1 inches; and 
 wherein the plurality of extensions have a combined total volume E TV  such that V ahp ≧E TV >0.20 (E TV +V ahp ); and 
 wherein an outer surface of the shell layer has a non-uniform contour and an outer surface hardness greater than an inner surface hardness of the inner surface by up to about 7 Shore C to define a first hardness gradient; and 
 
 an outer core layer disposed about the outer surface and having a second hardness gradient; and 
   at least one cover layer disposed about the outer core layer.   
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the aspherical hollow portion has a shape that is axially symmetric. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the aspherical hollow portion is at least one of non-spherical or irregularly-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of extensions and innermost aspherical hollow portion, combined, form a spherical phantom sphere having a diameter of from about 0.30 inches to about 0.90 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the non-uniform contour borders and defines a contour of a second inner surface of the outer core layer, wherein the outer surface hardness and a second inner surface hardness of the second inner surface differ. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the first hardness gradient is about 1 to 5 Shore C. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one cover layer comprises an inner cover layer disposed about the outer core layer and comprising an ionomeric material and having a first hardness; and an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer and comprising a polyurea or a polyurethane and having a second hardness less than the first. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the innermost aspherical hollow portion, shell layer and outer core layer, combined, have an outer diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.62 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the second hardness gradient is a negative hardness gradient of about 3 to 25 Shore C. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the second hardness gradient is a positive hardness gradient of about 3 to 25 Shore C. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the outer core layer is formed from a thermoset composition. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein at least one outer core layer is formed from a thermoplastic composition. 
     
     
         20 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core comprising:
 a shell layer that is formed from a thermoplastic composition and has an inner surface comprising a plurality of symmetrically spaced extensions that border and define a shape of an innermost aspherical hollow portion;
 wherein the innermost aspherical hollow portion comprise from about 2% to about 30% of a total volume of the golf ball; 
 wherein an outer surface of the shell layer has a non-uniform contour and an outer surface hardness greater than an inner surface hardness of the inner surface by up to about 7 Shore C to define a first hardness gradient; and 
 
 an outer core layer disposed about the outer surface and having a second hardness gradient; and 
   at least one cover layer disposed about the core.   
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the innermost aspherical hollow portion has a shape that is axially symmetric. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein the innermost aspherical hollow portion is at least one of non-spherical or irregularly-shaped. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of extensions and innermost aspherical hollow portion, combined, form a phantom sphere having a diameter of from about 0.15 inches to about 1.1 inches. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the non-uniform contour borders and defines a contour of a second inner surface of the outer core layer, wherein the outer surface hardness and a second inner surface hardness of the second inner surface differ. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the first hardness gradient is about 1 to 5 Shore C. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one cover layer comprises an inner cover layer disposed about the outer core layer, and an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer, wherein the inner cover layer comprises an ionomeric material and has a first hardness, and the outer cover layer comprises a polyurea or a polyurethane and has a second hardness less than the first. 
     
     
         27 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the innermost aspherical hollow portion, shell layer and outer core layer, combined, have an outer diameter of from about 0.75 inches to about 1.62 inches. 
     
     
         28 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the second hardness gradient is a negative hardness gradient of about 3 to 25 Shore C. 
     
     
         29 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein the second hardness gradient is a positive hardness gradient of about 3 to 25 Shore C. 
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein at least one outer core layer is formed from a thermoset composition. 
     
     
         31 . The golf ball of  claim 20 , wherein at least one outer core layer is formed from a thermoplastic composition.

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