Golf balls comprising a plasticized polyurethane layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016287947-A1
Application number	US-201514691720-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein at least one of the core or cover layer comprises a plasticized polyurethane composition comprising at least one polyurethane and at least one plasticizer.

First claim

1 . A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer having a diameter of 1.10 inches or less, a center Shore C hardness (H center ) of from 10 to 50, and formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane and from 2 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition, of a plasticizer; an outer core layer having a thickness of 0.200 inches or greater, an outer surface Shore C hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 70 to 95, and formed from a thermoplastic composition; and a single layer cover; wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧40.

2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate.

3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition.

4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧50.

5 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧60.

6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H inner core interface ) such that −5≦H inner core interface −H center ≦5.

7 . The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface ≦H outer core surface −H center .

8 . The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface >H outer core surface −H center .

9 . (canceled)

10 . A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer having a diameter of 1.10 inches or less, a center Shore C hardness (H center ) of from 10 to 50, and formed from a thermoplastic composition; an outer core layer having a thickness of 0.200 inches or greater, an outer surface Shore C hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 70 to 95, and formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising a polyurethane and from 2 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer core layer composition, of a plasticizer; and a single layer cover; wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧40.

11 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate.

12 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the outer core layer composition.

13 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧50

14 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧60.

15 . The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the inner core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H inner core interface ) such that −5≦H inner core interface −H center ≦5.

16 . The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface ≦H outer core surface −H center .

17 . The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface >H outer core surface −H center .

18 . (canceled)

19 . A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer having a diameter of 1.10 inches or less, a center Shore C hardness (H center ) of from 10 to 40, and formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising a polyurethane and from 2 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition, of a plasticizer; an outer core layer having a thickness of 0.200 inches or greater, an outer surface Shore C hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 75 to 95, and formed from a thermoset composition; and a single layer cover; wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧50.

20 . The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol-dibenzoate, ethyl oleate and propylene carbonate.

21 . The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount of from 3 wt % to 40 wt %, based on the total weight of the inner core layer composition

22 . The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧60.

23 . The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein H outer core surface −H center ≧70.

24 . The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the inner core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H inner core interface ) such that −5≦H inner core interface −H center ≦5.

25 . The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface ≦H outer core surface −H center .

26 . The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein the outer core layer has an interface Shore C hardness (H outer core interface ) such that H outer core interface −H inner core interface >H outer core surface −H center .

27 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Sullivan Michael J
• Binette Mark L
• Blink Robert
• Bulpett David A
• Comeau Brian
• Goguen Douglas S

Classifications

• A63B37/0076

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

• A63B37/0064

  Diameter · CPC title

• A63B37/0063

  Hardness gradient · CPC title

• A63B37/0044

  Hardness gradient · CPC title

• A63B37/0075

  Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core · CPC title