Golf balls having translucent covers formed of aromatic and aliphatic polyurethanes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016263443-A1
Application number	US-201615160146-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2009
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Golf balls having multi-layered covers, wherein at least one of the cover layers is substantially transparent, are provided. The cover includes an inner cover layer made of an ionomer composition; an intermediate cover layer made of an aromatic polyurethane composition; and outer cover layer made of an aliphatic polyurethane composition, wherein the total thickness of the multi-layered cover is no greater than 0.110 inches. In one version, the outer cover layer is substantially transparent and the underlying intermediate cover layer is colored. In another version, both the outer and intermediate cover layers are substantially transparent. Light-reflective fillers such as pearlescent pigments, glitter, and metallics may be added to the cover layers. The resulting ball has pleasing decorative effects.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A golf ball, comprising:
a core, and a multi-layered cover having three layers, the multi-layered cover comprising:
i) an inner cover layer comprising an ionomer composition containing ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that at least 30% of the acid groups are neutralized, the ethylene acid copolymer being present in an amount of at least 10 weight percent;
ii) a substantially transparent outer cover layer comprising a first polyurethane composition containing aliphatic polyurethane and light-reflective fillers, the aliphatic polyurethane being present in an amount of at least 75 weight percent based on weight of composition; and
iii) a colored intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner cover layer and outer cover layer the intermediate layer comprising a second polyurethane composition containing an aromatic polyurethane, the aromatic polyurethane being present in an amount of at least 75 weight percent based on weight of composition, and a sufficient amount of colorant so that the intermediate layer is visible to a person looking at the exterior of the ball, wherein the total thickness of the multi-layered cover is no greater than 0.110 inches.

2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the light-reflective fillers in the first polyurethane composition are selected from the group consisting of pearlescent pigments, glitter, metalized films and foils, and mixtures thereof.

3 . The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the light-reflective fillers are pearlescent pigments selected from the group consisting of metalized pigments, mica-based pigments, borosilicate pigments, titanium dioxide pigments, iron oxide pigments, and mixtures thereof.

4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the colorant in the intermediate cover layer is selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments, and mixtures thereof.

5 . The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein the intermediate cover layer further comprises light-reflective fillers selected from the group consisting of pearlescent pigments, glitter, metalized films and foils, and mixtures thereof.

6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the total thickness of the cover is no greater than 0.095 inches.

7 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the inner cover layer is about 0.010 to about 0.050 inches.

8 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the outer cover layer is about 0.004 to about 0.020 inches.

9 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the intermediate cover layer is about 0.010 to about 0.040 inches.

10 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer hardness is greater than the intermediate cover layer hardness by at least 5 Shore D units and the inner cover layer hardness is greater than the outer cover layer hardness by at least 5 Shore D units.

11 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer hardness is 60 Shore D units or greater.

12 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer hardness is 68 Shore D units or greater.

13 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the flex modulus of the inner cover layer is greater than the flex modulus of the intermediate cover layer by at least 5,000 psi and the flex modulus of the inner cover layer is greater than the flex modulus of the outer cover layer by at least 5,000 psi.

14 . A golf ball, comprising:
a core, and a multi-layered cover having three layers, the multi-layered cover comprising:
i) a substantially transparent inner cover layer comprising an ionomer composition containing ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that at least 30% of the acid groups are neutralized, the ethylene acid copolymer being present in an amount of at least 10 weight percent;
ii) a substantially transparent outer cover layer comprising a first polyurethane composition containing aliphatic polyurethane and light-reflective fillers, the aliphatic polyurethane being present in an amount of at least 75 weight percent based on weight of composition; and
iii) a substantially transparent intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner cover layer and outer cover layer the intermediate layer comprising a second polyurethane composition containing aromatic polyurethane and light-reflective fillers, the aromatic polyurethane being present in an amount of at least 75 weight percent based on weight of composition so that the core is visible to a person looking at the exterior of the ball, wherein the total thickness of the multi-layered cover is no greater than 0.110 inches.

15 . The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the light-reflective fillers in the first and second polyurethane compositions are selected from the group consisting of pearlescent pigments, glitter, metalized films and foils, and mixtures thereof.

16 . The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the light-reflective fillers are pearlescent pigments selected from the group consisting of metalized pigments, mica-based pigments, borosilicate pigments, titanium dioxide pigments, iron oxide pigments, and mixtures thereof.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Sullivan Michael J
• Binette Mark L

Classifications

• A63B37/0023

  Covers · CPC title

• A63B37/0076 Primary

  Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers · CPC title

• A63B37/12

  Special coverings {, i.e. outer layer material (balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball covers A63B37/0023)} · CPC title

• A63B37/0024

  Materials other than ionomers or polyurethane · CPC title

• A63B37/0033

  Thickness · CPC title