Golf balls having at least two core layers formed from HNP compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427630-B2
Application number	US-201314145593-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2013
Priority date	Dec 15, 2005
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft or low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard or high modulus HNP composition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches and a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 90 Shore C;
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a first highly neutralized polymer composition; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 90 Shore C and formed from a second highly neutralized polymer composition;
wherein H<I and S<I;
wherein H<S, and wherein S−H=D, wherein D is an integer from 1 to 22;
wherein the material hardness of the second highly neutralized polymer composition is less than the material hardness of the first highly neutralized polymer composition; and
wherein at least one of the first highly neutralized polymer composition and the second highly neutralized polymer composition comprises:
an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, optionally including a softening monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates and methacrylates;
a non-acid polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polyethers, polyurethanes, metallocene-catalyzed polymers, single-site catalyst polymerized polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrenic block copolymer rubbers, alkyl acrylate rubbers, and functionalized derivatives thereof;
an organic acid or salt thereof; and
a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize greater than 80% of all acid groups present in the composition.

2. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches and a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 90 Shore C;
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a first highly neutralized polymer composition; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 90 Shore C and formed from a second highly neutralized polymer composition;
wherein H<I and S<I;
wherein the material hardness of the second highly neutralized polymer composition is less than the material hardness of the first highly neutralized polymer composition; and
wherein at least one of the first highly neutralized polymer composition and the second highly neutralized polymer composition comprises:
an acid copolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, wherein the acid copolymer does not include a softening monomer selected from alkyl acrylates and methacrylates;
an alkyl acrylate rubber selected from ethylene-alkyl acrylates and ethylene-alkyl methacrylates;
magnesium oleate present in an amount of 20 parts or greater per 100 parts of acid copolymer and alkyl acrylate rubber combined; and
a cation source present in an amount sufficient to neutralize 110% or greater of all acid groups present in the composition.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A63B37/008

  Diameter · CPC title

• A63B37/0063

  Hardness gradient · CPC title

• C08L23/0876

  Salts thereof, i.e. ionomers · CPC title

• A63B2209/00

  Characteristics of used materials · CPC title

• A63B37/0043

  Hardness · CPC title