Golf ball including organic plant-based filler additive

Abstract

A golf ball core composition is disclosed herein that includes a base rubber, as well as a filler that is comprised of a plant-based, organic material. In one example, the plant-based organic material can include hulls, such as soybean hulls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core;   a cover disposed about the core,   wherein the core is comprised of a first composition comprising a base rubber and at least one plant-based organic filler comprising at least one hull.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plant-based organic filler is carbonized. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plant-based organic filler is non-carbonized. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hull consists of peanut hulls. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hull consists of soybean hulls. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hull is comprised of at least one of: barley hulls, corn hulls, peanut hulls, rice hulls, or soybean hulls. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hull is comprised of at least one of: fruit hulls, vegetable hulls, nut hulls, or seed hulls. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one plant-based organic filler has a specific gravity of 1.04-1.06. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the first composition comprises a content of 3.0 phr to 10.0 phr of the at least one plant-based organic filler. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the first composition comprises a content of at least 5.0 phr of the at least one plant-based organic filler. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the first composition comprises a content of no greater than 10.0 phr of the at least one plant-based organic filler. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the first composition lacks any carbon black. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , further comprising a casing surrounding the core. 
     
     
         14 . A golf ball comprising:
 a core; and   a cover disposed about the core,   wherein the core is comprised of a first composition including at least one base rubber and at least one plant-based organic filler comprising at least one hull,   wherein the at least one hull is comprised of at least one of: barley hulls, corn hulls, peanut hulls, rice hulls, or soybean hulls,   wherein a content of the at least one plant-based organic filler content is 3.0 phr to 10.0 phr in the first composition, and   wherein the at least one plant-based organic hull has a specific gravity of 1.04-1.06.   
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one hull consists of soybean hulls. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one hull is carbonized. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a golf ball core, the method comprising:
 adding at least one plant-based organic filler comprising at least one hull to a rubber composition for the golf ball core; and   curing the rubber composition to form the golf ball core.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one plant-based organic filler is carbonized. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one hull is comprised at least one of: barley hulls, corn hulls, peanut hulls, rice hulls, or soybean hulls. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one plant-based organic filler has a specific gravity of 1.04-1.06, and the rubber composition has a content of 3.0 phr to 10.0 phr of the at least one plant-based organic filler.