Thread wound golf ball

Details Thread wound golf ball Thread wound golf ball

1999-05-21

2001-05-08

Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3729)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Ball

C473S361000, C473S362000, C473S363000, C473S364000, C473S365000, C473S357000, C473S359000, C473S373000, C473S376000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227987

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thread wound golf ball. More particularly, it relates to a thread wound golf ball having long flight distance, and high spin amount and excellent controllability when hit by a short iron club, while keeping the characteristics inherent to the conventional thread wound golf ball, i.e. good shot feel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many golf balls are commercially selling, but they are typically classified into solid golf balls such as two-piece golf ball, three-piece golf ball and the like, and thread wound golf balls. The solid golf ball consists of a solid core of molded rubber material and a cover of thermoplastic resin (e.g. ionomer resin) covering on the solid core. The thread wound golf ball consists of a solid or liquid center, a thread wound layer formed on the center and a cover of ionomer resin or balata etc. having a thickness of 1 to 2 mm covering on the thread wound layer.
The thread wound golf ball, when compared with the solid golf ball, has better shot feel at the time of hitting and better controllability at approach shot. The thread wound golf ball is generally approved of or employed by high level golfers, especially professional golfers, who regard the characteristics of the thread wound golf balls as most important. On the other hand, the thread wound golf ball is inferior in flight distance to the solid golf ball. Therefore, it is required to provide the thread wound golf ball having sufficient flight distance, while keeping the advantage of having good shot feel and excellent controllability.
In the thread wound golf balls, there are two types, such as one comprising a solid center formed from integrally molded rubber material and the other comprising a liquid center composed of a hollow rubber sphere and liquid encapsulated in the sphere. The thread wound golf ball comprising the solid center has the advantage of having no deterioration of performance depending on temperature change, although the thread wound golf ball comprising the liquid center has poor rebound characteristics at low temperature.
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 253236/1997 suggests that a thread wound golf ball comprises a solid center of two-layer structure composed of an inner center and an outer center. The inner center has a Shore D hardness of 10 to 35 and a diameter of 18 to 28 mm, the outer center has a Shore D hardness of 36 to 63, the hardness of the outer center is larger than that of the inner center by not less than 5, and the solid center has a diameter of 29 to 39.5 mm. The thread wound golf ball has short flight distance, because the diameter of the inner center is small and spin amount is high. The thread wound golf ball has poor shot feel, because a thickness of the outer center having high hardness is large.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide a thread wound golf ball having long flight distance, while keeping the characteristics inherent to the conventional thread wound golf ball, i.e. good shot feel and excellent controllability.
According to the present invention, the object described above has been accomplished by employing a thread wound core which comprises a solid center composed of an inner center and a center outer layer, and a thread rubber layer formed on the solid center, and adjusting a diameter of the inner center and the solid center, a center hardness of the inner center, a hardness of the center outer layer and a hardness of thermoplastic resin for forming the cover to a specified range, thereby providing a thread wound golf ball having long flight distance, while keeping the characteristics inherent to the conventional thread wound golf ball, i.e. good shot feel and excellent controllability.
This object as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5772531 (1998-06-01), Ohsumi
patent: 5779562 (1998-07-01), Melvin
patent: 5797808 (1998-08-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 5816937 (1998-10-01), Shimosaka
patent: 5816942 (1998-10-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 5885172 (1999-03-01), Herbert
patent: 6054550 (2000-04-01), Umezawa
patent: 2317834A (1998-04-01), None
patent: 9253236 (1997-09-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Thread wound golf ball does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Thread wound golf ball, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thread wound golf ball will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2485690