Solid golf ball

Details Solid golf ball Solid golf ball

2000-07-10

2002-07-16

Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Ball

C473S371000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06419595

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multilayer structure solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of at least four layers formed therearound.
2. Related Art
The solid golf ball structures which have heretofore been proposed include multilayer structure solid golf balls comprising a core and a cover which are of multiple layers (see JP-A 8-336617, 8-336618, 9-56848, 9-299510, 11-417, and 11-4916).
One of the purposes of increasing the number of layers in solid golf balls is to obtain a feel equivalent to that of wound golf balls and another is to increase flight distance. In most cases, however, it often occurs that a preference for the feel leads to an unsatisfactory flight distance whereas the satisfaction of flight distance leads to a poor feel. Also, most prior art proposals mainly target golf players with a high head speed capability. Thus, there is a desire to have a golf ball which offers a satisfactory flight distance and a pleasant feel even when hit at low head speeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer solid golf ball which offers a satisfactory flight distance and a pleasant feel not only when hit at high head speeds, but also when hit at low head speeds.
To achieve this and other objects, the present invention provides a golf ball as defined below.
(1) A multilayer solid golf ball comprising a core and a cover of four layers, characterized in that a first layer of the cover enclosing the core has a Shore D hardness of up to 60, a second layer of the cover enclosing the first layer has a Shore D hardness of at least 45, a third layer of the cover enclosing the second layer has a Shore D hardness of up to 45, the second layer is made harder than the first layer, and a fourth layer of the cover enclosing the third layer is made harder than the third layer.
(2) The solid golf ball of (1) wherein the first and third layers of the cover each have a Shore D hardness of 10 to 45, and the second layer of the cover has a Shore D hardness of 45 to 70.
(3) The solid golf ball of (1) or (2) wherein the core has a diameter of 26 to 35 mm, the core at its surface has a Shore D hardness of at least 40, and the fourth layer of the cover has a thickness of 0.5 to 3.0 mm.
(4) The solid golf ball of any one of (1) to (3) wherein the first and third layers of the cover each are formed of at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyurethane resins, and thermoplastic polyamide elastomers.
(5) The solid golf ball of any one of (1) to (4) wherein the fourth layer of the cover is formed of an ionomer resin.
Making extensive investigations in the light of the above object, the inventor has found that the sandwich structure of hard and soft layered cover can be doubled by forming a cover from the above-described four layers. In this case, the soft cover layer sandwiched between hard cover layers, because of restraint at its interface with the hard cover layer, exhibits a hard material-like behavior despite a soft material so that the amount of deformation is optimized. Consequently, there is obtained a ball which is highly resilient although it is soft. In addition, the use of two soft layers in the cover contributes to a pleasant feel and even optimized spin properties.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5730665 (1998-03-01), Shimosaka et al.
patent: 5816937 (1998-10-01), Shimosaka et al.
patent: 5919100 (1999-07-01), Boehm et al.
patent: 6068561 (2000-05-01), Renard et al.
patent: 6117025 (2000-09-01), Sullivan
patent: 6159110 (2000-12-01), Sullivan et al.
patent: 6162134 (2000-12-01), Sullivan et al.
patent: 6204331 (2001-03-01), Sullivan et al.
patent: 6302808 (2001-10-01), Dalton et al.
patent: 8-336617 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 8-336618 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 9-56848 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 9-299510 (1997-11-01), None
patent: 11-417 (1999-01-01), None
patent: 11-4916 (1999-01-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

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

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2840348