Multi-piece solid golf ball

Details Multi-piece solid golf ball Multi-piece solid golf ball

1999-09-03

2001-10-09

Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Ball

Reexamination Certificate

active

06299551

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising at least three layers, a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. The golf ball has a soft pleasant feel upon approach shots and putting and an increased flight distance upon full shots with a driver.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many two-piece solid golf balls are known in the art. As compared with the wound golf balls, the-solid golf balls have the advantage of an increased total flight distance on both driver and iron shots, because of a so-called straight line trajectory and a low spin receptivity due to their structure, which allows for a long run. On the other hand, two-piece solid golf balls are more difficult to control than wound golf balls in that they do not stop short on the green because of low spin receptivity on iron shots.
Like flight distance, a soft feel when hit is essential for golf balls. The absence of a soft feel represents a substantial loss of commodity value of a golf ball. As compared with the two-piece solid golf balls, the wound golf balls have the structural characteristics ensuring a soft and pleasant feel.
For two-piece solid golf balls consisting of a core and a cover, attempts have been made to soften the ball structure in order to accomplish a soft feel upon impact. A soft core is often used to obtain such soft-feel two-piece solid golf balls, but making the core softer lowers the resilience of the golf ball, compromises flight performance, and also markedly reduces durability. As a result, not only do these balls lack the excellent flight performance and durability characteristic of ordinary two-piece solid golf balls, but they are often in fact unfit for actual use.
Various three-piece solid golf balls having a three-layer construction in which an intermediate layer is situated between a solid core and a cover have been proposed to resolve these problems as disclosed, for example, in JP-A 7-24084, 6-23069, 4-244174, 9-10358, and 9-313643.
Golf balls having the cover and the intermediate layer made soft according to these proposals have a soft feel, but a shorter flight distance on full shots with a driver. To insure distance, the cover and the intermediate layer must be formed hard at the sacrifice of the feel upon approach shots and putting. None of prior art solid golf balls fully meet their demands. A further improvement is thus desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising at least three layers, a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, which has a very soft pleasant feel upon approach shots and putting and improved flight performance upon full shots with a driver.
Regarding a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising at least three layers, a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the inventor has found that by combining a relatively soft core with a very soft intermediate layer and a relatively hard cover, there is obtained the multi-piece solid golf ball giving a very soft pleasant feel upon approach shots and putting and exhibiting improved flight performance upon full shots with a driver. It has also been found that the ball is given high durability against impact by blending an inorganic filler in the cover.
Specifically, the invention in a first aspect provides a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer of at least one layer around the core, and a cover of at least one layer around the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed mainly of a thermoplastic resin having a Shore D hardness of 8 to 35, and said cover is formed mainly of another thermoplastic resin and has a Shore D hardness which is at least 25 units higher than the Shore D hardness of the intermediate layer.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer of at least one layer around the core, and a cover of at least one layer around the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed mainly of a thermoplastic resin having a Shore D hardness of 8 to 35, and the cover is formed of a cover stock comprising another thermoplastic resin as a base component and an inorganic filler and has a Shore D hardness which is at least 25 units higher than the Shore D hardness of the intermediate layer.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5556098 (1996-09-01), Higuchi et al.
patent: 244174 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 6-23069 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 7-24084 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 9-10358 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 9-313643 (1997-12-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Multi-piece solid 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 Multi-piece solid golf ball, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-piece solid golf ball will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2589107