U.S. patent application number 12/230272 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for multilayer solid golf ball.
This patent application is currently assigned to FENG TAY ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hsin Cheng, Chien-Hsin Chou.
Application Number | 20100056302 12/230272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41726306 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100056302 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Hsin ; et
al. |
March 4, 2010 |
Multilayer solid golf ball
Abstract
The present invention provides a multilayer solid golf ball
having an enclosing layer between a core and a cover. The core has
a coefficient of restitution (COR) greater than 0.750, and the
enclosing layer has a thermal conductivity less than or equal to
0.20 W/m-K. The enclosing layer with low thermal conductivity may
reduce the decrease of the COR of the ball in a cold weather that
improves the ball control and the flying distance.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Hsin; (Yun-Lin Hsien,
TW) ; Chou; Chien-Hsin; (Yun-Lin Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE, FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314-1176
US
|
Assignee: |
FENG TAY ENTERPRISES CO.,
LTD.
YUN LIN HSIEN
TW
|
Family ID: |
41726306 |
Appl. No.: |
12/230272 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/376 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 37/02 20130101;
A63B 37/0061 20130101; A63B 37/0064 20130101; A63B 37/0045
20130101; A63B 37/0051 20130101; A63B 37/0003 20130101; A63B 37/004
20130101; A63B 37/0039 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/376 |
International
Class: |
A63B 37/02 20060101
A63B037/02; A63B 37/12 20060101 A63B037/12 |
Claims
1. A multilayer solid golf ball comprising: a core having a
coefficient of restitution greater than 0.750; a cover surrounding
said core; and an enclosing layer, which is provided between said
core and said cover, having a thermal conductivity less than or
equal to 0.20 W/m-K.
2. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an intermediate layer, which is provided between said
enclosing layer and said cover, having an inner surface facing said
enclosing layer, wherein said enclosing layer has an outer surface
contacting said inner surface of said intermediate layer.
3. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said enclosing layer has an inner surface, and said core has an
outer surface contacting said inner surface of said enclosing
layer.
4. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising an intermediate layer, which is provided between said
enclosing layer and said core, having an outer surface facing said
enclosing layer, wherein said enclosing layer has an inner surface
contacting said outer surface of said intermediate layer.
5. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 4, wherein
said cover has an inner surface, and said enclosing layer has an
outer surface contacting said inner surface of said cover.
6. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said cover has a thermal conductivity greater than said thermal
conductivity of said enclosing layer.
7. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 4, wherein
said cover has a thermal conductivity greater than said thermal
conductivity of said enclosing layer.
8. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said intermediate layer has a thermal conductivity greater than
said thermal conductivity of said enclosing layer.
9. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said thermal conductivity of said enclosing layer is in a range
between 0.04 W/m-K and 0.15 W/m-K.
10. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said thermal conductivity of said enclosing layer is in a range
between 0.06 W/m-K and 0.15 W/m-K.
11. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said enclosing layer is made from a material selected from the
group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurethane,
polyester, polyamide, polyisoprene, polyvinyl chloride,
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinylidene fluoride,
polyimide, and a mixture thereof.
12. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said enclosing layer has a thickness less than or equal to 1
mm.
13. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said enclosing layer has a thickness between 0.005 mm and 0.70
mm.
14. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said enclosing layer has a thickness between 0.005 mm and 0.40
mm.
15. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said coefficient of restitution of said core is greater than
0.770.
16. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said coefficient of restitution of said core is greater than
0.790.
17. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said core is made from a thermoplastic material.
18. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 17, wherein
said thermoplastic material is made from a material selected from
the group consisting of ionomer resin, polyamide resin, polyester
resin, polyurethane resin, and a mixture thereof.
19. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said core has a diameter between 19.0 mm and 37.0 mm.
20. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said core has a diameter between 21.0 mm and 35.0 mm.
21. The multilayer solid golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said core has a diameter between 23.0 mm and 32.0 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a golf ball and, more
particularly, to a multilayer solid golf ball having an enclosing
layer with a low thermal conductivity therein.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The flying distance is an important index that we evaluate a
golf ball. There are three main elements affecting the flying
distance of the golf ball and they are "initial velocity", "spin
rate", and "launch angle". Initial velocity is one of the primary
physical properties affecting the flying distance of the golf ball.
The coefficient of restitution (COR) is an alternate parameter of
initial velocity of the golf ball, and the temperature will affect
the COR. Taking 24.degree. C. as the standard temperature, the
physical properties, including the COR, of the golf ball will be
affected when the temperature is lower than 24.degree. C. We find
that the COR is significantly positive relative to the temperature,
so the golf ball usually flies shorter in a cold weather.
[0005] When playing golf in a cold weather, 0.degree. C. for
example, a golfer may take one or more ways to warm the ball,
including using body temperature or a golf ball heater, to raise
the temperature of the golf ball so as to raise the COR of the golf
ball that the golfer may drive the ball further. However, above
warming ways cannot keep the raised temperature of the golf ball
for a long time. Therefore, the raised COR of the golf ball cannot
be kept for a long time by using above-mentioned ways. The
temperature will drop quickly when the ball leaves the golfer's
body or the golf ball heater, which will deteriorate the COR of the
ball too. The sudden changes of the COR make it difficult for the
golfer to predict and control the flying distance of the ball.
Therefore, there is still a need to reduce the affection of the low
temperature to the COR of the golf ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a multilayer solid golf ball, which has better properties in flying
distance and ball control in a cold weather.
[0007] To achieve the objective of the present invention, a
multilayer solid golf ball includes a core having a COR greater
than 0.750, a cover surrounding the core, and an enclosing layer
between the core and the cover. The enclosing layer has the thermal
conductivity less than or equal to 0.20 W/m-K.
[0008] The present invention provides the enclosing layer with the
low thermal conductivity between the core and the cover to improve
the COR deterioration of the ball in a cold weather that may help
the ball control and the flying distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first preferred embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, a multilayer solid golf ball 100 of the
first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a core
10, a cover 20, an intermediate layer 30, and an enclosing layer
40.
[0012] The core 10 has the COR greater than 0.750, more preferably
greater than 0.770, and most preferably greater than 0.790. The
core 10 may be made from a thermoplastic material or a
thermosetting material, and the thermoplastic material is
preferred. The thermoplastic material of the core 10 may be
selected from the group consisting of ionomer resin, polyamide
resin, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, and a mixture thereof.
In the present embodiment, ionomer resin is preferred for the core
10. The suitable ionomer resin includes HPF and Surlyn.RTM., both
commercially available from E. I. Dupont de Nemous and Company, and
IOTEK.RTM., commercially available from Exxon Corporation. To get
the greater COR, a main composition of the core 10 is preferably
HPF, and Surlyn.RTM. and/or IOTEK.RTM. are sub-compositions which
are optionally added therein. The sub-composition of the core 10 is
in an amount of 0 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by
weight of the main composition of the core 10. The core 10 may be
made by hot-press molding or injection molding, and injection
molding is preferred. The core 10 of the present invention may be
single layer or multilayer construction, and except for the
aforementioned materials, any other materials may be also used to
make the core 10, as long as the core 10 has the COR greater than
0.750. A diameter of the core 10 may be in a range between 19.0 mm
and 37.0 mm, a preferred diameter range is between 21.0 mm and 35.0
mm, and a more preferred diameter range is between 23.0 mm and 32.0
mm. The core 10 has an outer surface 11.
[0013] There is no specific limitation for the material of the
cover 20. Any conventional material that is used to make the cover
20 may be used in the present invention.
[0014] The intermediate layer 30 has an inner surface 31 facing the
enclosing layer 40 and an outer surface 32 facing the cover 20. The
intermediate layer 30 may be made from a thermoplastic material or
a thermosetting material. In the present invention, the
thermosetting material is preferred, such as rubber composition.
There are some base rubber that may be used in the rubber
composition, such as 1,4-cis-polybutadiene, polyisoprene,
styrene-butadiene copolymers, natural rubber, and a mixture
thereof. To have a better resilient performance,
1,4-cis-polybutadiene is preferred. Alternatively,
1,4-cis-polybutadiene can be used as the base material for the
intermediate layer 30 and mixed with other ingredients. However,
the amount of 1,4-cis-polybutadiene should be at least 50 parts by
weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber composition.
[0015] Except for the base rubber of 1,4-cis-polybutadiene, other
additives, such as a crosslinking agent and a filler with a greater
specific gravity may be added to the rubber composition. The
suitable crosslinking agent can be selected from the group
consisting of zinc acrylate, magnesium acrylate, zinc methacrylate,
and magnesium methacrylate. To get greater resilience, zinc
acrylate is preferred. To increase a specific gravity, a suitable
filler may be added in the rubber composition, such as zinc oxide,
barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate, and in
the present invention, zinc oxide is preferred. In addition, a
metal powder with a greater specific gravity may also be used as
the filler, such as tungsten. By means of adjusting the added
amount of the filler, the specific gravity of the intermediate
layer 30 can reach the desired level. The thickness of the
intermediate layer 30 is in a range between 2.0 mm and 11.0 mm,
more preferably in a range of 2.1 mm and 9.5 mm, and most
preferably in a range between 3.6 mm and 8.5 mm.
[0016] The enclosing layer 40 is between the core 10 and the
intermediate layer 30. To keep the COR of the multilayer solid golf
ball 100, the thickness of the intermediate layer 30 is less than
or equal to 1 mm, more preferably in a range between 0.005 mm and
0.70 mm, and most preferably in a range between 0.01 mm and 0.4 mm.
If the thickness of the enclosing layer 40 is less than 0.005 mm,
the low thermal conductivity effect of the intermediate layer 40 is
not significant. In the present embodiment, the enclosing layer 40
directly covers the outer surface 11 of the core 10. In other
words, the enclosing layer 40 has an inner surface 41 contacting
the outer surface 11 of the core 10 and an outer surface 42
contacting the inner surface 31 of the intermediate layer 30. The
enclosing layer 40 is made from a material with a lower thermal
conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the enclosing layer 40 is
lower than that of the cover 20 or that of the intermediate layer
30. In the present embodiment, a value of the thermal conductivity
of the enclosing layer 40 is less than or equal to 0.20 W/m-K so
that the enclosing layer 40 will have a superior performance in
reducing the conductivity of the cold from the cover 20 to the core
10. The thermal conductivity of the enclosing layer 40 is preferred
between 0.04 W/m-K and 0.15 W/m-K, and is more preferred between
0.06 W/m-K and 0.15 W/m-K. In the present embodiment, the material
of the enclosing layer 40 can be selected from the group consisting
of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide,
polyisoprene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene,
polyvinylidene fluoride, polyimide, and a mixture thereof. The
material of the enclosing layer 40 is not limited to the above
materials, any material having a thermal conductivity within the
limitation of the present invention may be used.
[0017] As shown in table 1 to table 5, please compare with the
Examples 1 and 3 and the Comparative Examples 1 and 3. The COR of
the multilayer solid golf ball 100 of the present invention with
the enclosing layer 40 will drop slower in a cold environment than
the conventional multilayer golf ball without the enclosing layer,
which proves that the multilayer solid golf ball 100 of the present
invention has the higher COR in a cold environment to get a further
flying distance and a better ball control.
[0018] There are still many ways to provide the enclosing layer 40.
FIG. 2 shows a multilayer solid golf ball 200 of the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which an
alternate enclosing layer 80 is provided. The multilayer solid golf
ball 200, as same as the multilayer solid golf ball 100 of the
first preferred embodiment, includes a core 50, a cover 60, an
intermediate layer 70, and the enclosing layer 80. The different
part is that the enclosing layer 80 is provided between the
intermediate layer 70 and the cover 60. The enclosing layer 80 has
an inner surface 82 contacting an outer surface 71 of the
intermediate layer 70 and an outer surface 81 contacting an inner
surface 61 of the cover 60. The performance of the multilayer solid
golf ball 200 of the second preferred embodiment is shown in table
5 also. Please compare with the Examples 2 and 4 and the
Comparative Examples 2 and 4, the COR of the multilayer solid golf
ball 200 of the present invention with the enclosing layer 80 will
drop slower in a cold environment than the conventional multilayer
solid golf ball without the enclosing layer, which proves that the
multilayer solid golf ball 200 of the present invention has the
higher COR in a cold environment to get a further flying distance
and a better ball control.
[0019] The location of the enclosing layer is not limited in above
preferred embodiments. As long as the enclosing layer is provided
between the core and the cover, it may achieve the objective of the
present invention.
[0020] In conclusion, the present invention provides a multilayer
solid golf ball having an enclosing layer with lower thermal
conductivity between the core and the cover of the multilayer solid
golf ball that may reduce the conductivity of the cold from the
cover to the core to make the golf ball still keep a sufficient COR
in a cold environment.
[0021] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Core Resin Blend A HPF 2000* 100 *HPF 2000
is trade name of ionomeric resin by E. I. DuPont de Nemours and
Company
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Intermediate layer Rubber compound B C
TAIPOL BR0150* 100 100 Zinc acrylate 28 26 Zinc oxide 6 4.5 Barium
sulfate 39.5 32 Peroxide 1 1 *TAIPOL BR0150 is the trade name of
rubber by Taiwan Synthetic Rubber Corp.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Enclosing layer D E Methyl ethyl ketone 31
33 Methyl cyclohexane 57 58 ethylene vinyl acetate 12 9
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Cover Resin blend F Surlyn .RTM. 8940* 50
Surlyn .RTM. 9910* 50 *Surlyn .RTM. 8940 and Surlyn .RTM. 9910 are
trade names of ionomeric resin by E. I. DuPont de Nemours and
Company
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Example Comparative Example 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Core Blend A A A A A A A A Diameter (mm) 24 24 28 28 24 24 28 28
Weight (g) 7.0 7.0 11.1 11.1 7.0 7.0 11.1 11.1 Specific gravity
0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 0.96 Surface Shore D hardness 53
53 53 53 53 53 53 53 Compression, 10-130 kg 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6
2.6 2.6 (mm) Core COR* 0.8471 0.8474 0.8459 0.8461 0.8472 0.8474
0.8460 0.8459 Intermediate layer Compound C C B B C C B B Diameter
(mm)** 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 Weight (g)** 36.8
36.8 36.8 36.8 36.8 36.8 36.8 36.8 Specific gravity** 1.17 1.17
1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 Surface Shore D hardness 41 41 43 43
41 41 43 43 Compression, 10-130 kg 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2
(mm)** Enclosing layer Blend E E D D None None None None Thickness
(mm) 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 -- -- -- -- Thermal conductivity 0.12 0.12
0.10 0.10 -- -- -- -- (W/m-K)*** Enclosing core Yes -- Yes -- -- --
-- -- Enclosing intermediate -- Yes -- Yes -- -- -- -- layer Cover
Blend F F F F F F F F Thickness 1.71 1.71 1.71 1.71 1.7 1.7 1.74
1.74 Specific gravity 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99
Surface Shore D hardness 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 Ball Weight (g)
45.4 45.4 45.4 45.4 45.4 45.4 45.4 45.4 Diameter (mm) 42.7 42.7
42.7 42.7 42.7 42.7 42.7 42.7 Compression, 10-130 kg 2.8 2.8 2.9
2.9 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9 (mm) Ball COR* 24.degree. C. 0.8101 0.8105
0.8123 0.8124 0.8112 0.8110 0.8128 0.8132 0.degree. C. .times. 10
mins 0.7828 0.7825 0.7871 0.7830 0.7751 0.7781 0.7795 0.7804
0.degree. C. .times. 20 mins 0.7717 0.7713 0.7789 0.7748 0.7648
0.7683 0.7712 0.7720 0.degree. C. .times. 30 mins 0.7663 0.7660
0.7736 0.7685 0.7601 0.7635 0.7667 0.7670 *For the COR test of the
present invention, the initial velocity is 40 m/sec. **Value of
core + intermediate layer + enclosing layer. ***Thermal
conductivity is measured by a thermal conductivity analyzer, Hot
Disk TPS 2500 with thin film module, commercially available from
Hot Disk AB company, Sweden.
* * * * *