US2016193505A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf ball incorporating steep hardness gradient and high compression thermoset rubber core

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Assignee: ACUSHNET COPriority: Feb 16, 2007Filed: Mar 17, 2016Published: Jul 7, 2016
Est. expiryFeb 16, 2027(~0.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark L. BinetteDavid A. BulpettDouglas S. GoguenBrian ComeauRobert BlinkMichael J. Sullivan
A63B 37/0051A63B 37/0039A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0055A63B 37/0065A63B 37/0043A63B 43/008A63B 37/0027A63B 37/0024A63B 37/0074A63B 2209/02A63B 37/0093A63B 45/00A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0062A63B 37/0092A63B 37/00621A63B 37/00622
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Claims

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a core comprising at least one layer that consists of a mixture of a plurality of synthetic flocks and a thermoset rubber composition. The plurality of synthetic flocks has a melting temperature that is greater than a mixing temperature at which the mixture is formed. Additionally, the at least one layer comprises an outer surface having an outer surface hardness of about 80 Shore C or greater and the outer surface hardness is greater than a center hardness of a geometric center of the core by at least 20 Shore C. A cover having at least one layer is disposed about the core. The synthetic flocks may be included in the mixture in an amount of from about 0.5 parts to about 15 parts of the total mixture. Examples of suitable synthetic flocks include nylon, polyester, polypropylene, aramid, or acrylic flocks, or combinations thereof.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core comprising an inner core layer and an outer core layer;
 wherein the outer core layer consists of a mixture of a plurality of synthetic flocks and a first thermoset rubber composition; 
 wherein the plurality of synthetic flocks has a melting temperature that is greater than a mixing temperature at which the mixture is formed; and 
 wherein the outer core layer comprises an outer surface having an outer surface hardness of about 80 Shore C or greater; and 
 wherein the outer surface hardness is greater than a center hardness of a geometric center of the core by at least 20 Shore C; and 
   a cover having one or more layers disposed about the core.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic flocks are included in the mixture in an amount of from about 0.5 parts to about 15 parts of the total mixture. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the synthetic flocks are selected from the group consisting of nylon flocks, polyester flocks, or a combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermoset rubber composition comprises polybutadiene. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the first thermoset rubber composition comprises a blend of the polybutadiene and at least one of polyoctenemer, natural rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), cis-polyisoprene, trans-polyisioprene, and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermoset rubber composition is formed from at least one rubber and at least one of zinc oxide, reactive coagent(s), peroxide(s), soft and fast agent(s), fatty acid(s)/fatty acid salt(s), inorganic filler(s), antioxidant(s), and antiozonants. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer surrounds and is adjacent to the inner core layer. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer has a compression of greater than 72. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer has a compression of 75 or greater. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the outer surface hardness is greater than 82 Shore C. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface hardness is greater than 85 Shore C. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface hardness is about 90 Shore C or greater and is greater than the center hardness by greater than 30 Shore C. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the inner core layer consists of a thermoset composition. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the thermoset composition is different than the first thermoset rubber composition. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the inner core layer consists of a thermoplastic composition. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises an ionomer. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises a polyether-ester, a polyester-amide, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate core layer is disposed between the inner core layer and the outer core layer. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the intermediate core layer comprises a thermoplastic composition. 
     
     
         20 . 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. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of synthetic flocks has a length in the range of about 0.004 inches to about 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of synthetic flocks has a length in the range of about 0.02 inches to about 0.08 inches. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of synthetic flocks has a length in the range of about 0.02 inches to about 0.04 inches. 
     
     
         24 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core comprising at least one layer that consists of a mixture of a plurality of synthetic flocks and a thermoset rubber composition;
 wherein the plurality of synthetic flocks has a melting temperature that is greater than a mixing temperature at which the mixture is formed; and 
 wherein the at least one layer comprises an outer surface having an outer surface hardness of about 80 Shore C or greater; and 
 wherein the outer surface hardness is greater than a center hardness of a geometric center of the core by at least 20 Shore C; and 
   a cover disposed about the core.   
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the synthetic flocks are selected from the group consisting of nylon flocks, polyester flocks, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one layer has a compression of greater than 72. 
     
     
         27 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one layer has a compression of at least 75. 
     
     
         28 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein each of the plurality of synthetic flocks has a length in the range of about 0.004 inches to about 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         29 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein each of the plurality of synthetic flocks has a length in the range of about 0.02 inches to about 0.08 inches. 
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein each of the plurality of synthetic flocks has a length in the range of about 0.02 inches to about 0.04 inches. 
     
     
         31 . The golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein the outer surface hardness is greater than 82 Shore C. 
     
     
         32 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the outer surface hardness is greater than 85 Shore C.

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