CA2149968A1 - Golf ball cover - Google Patents
Golf ball coverInfo
- Publication number
- CA2149968A1 CA2149968A1 CA 2149968 CA2149968A CA2149968A1 CA 2149968 A1 CA2149968 A1 CA 2149968A1 CA 2149968 CA2149968 CA 2149968 CA 2149968 A CA2149968 A CA 2149968A CA 2149968 A1 CA2149968 A1 CA 2149968A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- carboxylic acid
- ionomer resin
- golf ball
- neutralized
- cover material
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
A cover material for a golf ball having a specific blend of ionomer resins, including one or more magnesium ionomer resins, one or more sodium ionomer resins and one or more zinc ionomer resins, the cover material exhibiting improved physical properties.
Description
GOLF BALL COVER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to golf balls and, more particularly, to a golf ball having an improved cover material.
The assembly of a golf ball generally involves molding a cover around a solid or wound core. Golf balls with wound cores are typically referred to as "three piece" balls because they consist of three basic components: (1) a solid or liquid-filled center; (2) rubber winding around the center, and (3) the cover.
Similarly, solid cores are referred to as having a "two piece"
construction, since they consist solely of a solid core and a cover. A third type of ball, known as a "one-piece" ball is also known in the art. As the name suggests, one piece balls are solid balls of homogeneous construction made by any conventional molding method suitable for the purpose. The present invention relates particularly to two piece golf balls.
The majority of modern golf balls use a two piece construction with covers made of a durable synthetic thermoplastic resin such as Surlyn, a product of E. I. DuPont-de Nemours Company, Incorporated. Synthetic thermoplastic cover materials have been used with limited success. They are durable and produce satisfactory flight distance. It is desirable, however, to utilize a synthetic cover material for improved process manufacturing and to increase durability and resilience performance.
Ionomer resins are olefin polymers in which the linkage is ionic. They are popular for use in golf balls because they provide toughness and resilience.
Typically, for golf ball covers, there are two kinds of ionomer resins that are most commonly used commercially. One is an ionomer resin in which carboxyl groups are neutralized with sodium (hereinafter sodium neutralized ionomer resin) and the other is an ionomer resin in which carboxyl groups are neutralized with zinc (hereinafter zinc neutralized ionomer resin). It has been found that the sodium neutralized ionomer 21~9968 resin is superior in impact resistance to the zinc neutralized one, but is inferior in low temperature durability. Certain mixtures of these two neutralized ionomer resins have not been found to overcome the problems in physical properties of the resulting covers made from either resin alone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,375 teaches that an oxide of zinc or magnesium be formulated into the sodium neutralized ionomer resin to neutralize r~m~ining free~carboxyl groups of the sodium neutralized ionomer resin with zinc or magnesium. The resulting ionomer resin has improved low temperature durability without sacrifice of impact resilience properties. There is still a need, however, to improve impact resilience and ambient temperature durability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,804 describes a golf ball cover material prepared by mixing three ionomer resins in specific amount ratios. The three ionomer resins are a sodium neutralized ionomer resin, a zinc or magnesium neutralized ionomer resin and a sodium and zinc or magnesium neutralized ionomer resin. As described in that reference, the cover material blend will be a sodium/sodium/zinc blend of ionomer resins or a sodium/sodium/magnesium blend. All physical properties of a cover produced from this blend are not optimized.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball having a synthetic cover material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved synthetic cover material for a golf ball.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf ball having a synthetic cover material that achieves the click, feel, playability, impact resilience and flight performance qualities of a high performance golf ball.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a cover material that has improved process manufacturing as well as ambient and cold pound temperature durability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a cover material for a golf ball, especially a two piece golf ball. The cover material includes a blend of ionomer resins, including magnesium neutralized ionomer(s), zinc ion neutralized ionomer(s) and sodium ion neutralized ionomer(s). The result is a golf ball cover with cover hardness and feel comparable to high performance golf balls and yielding improved COR/initial velocity, improved impact resilience, durability and cut resistance.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The cover composition of the present invention includes, in its broadest form, a blend of ionomers, magnesium ion neutralized ionomer(s), zinc ion neutralized ionomer(s) and sodium ion neutralized ionomer(s).
For the purposes of the present invention, the term "magnesium ionomer" shall be defined as a copolymer having 80-85%
by weight of an olefin, and 15-20% by weight of an a, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with magnesium metal ions. The magnesium ionomer shall have a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 60 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi.
The term "zinc ionomer" shall be defined as a copolymer having 80-85% by weight of an olefin, and 15-20% by weight of an a, ~ ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with zinc metal ions. The zinc ionomer shall have a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 60 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi.
Additionally, the term "sodium ionomer" shall be defined as a copolymer having 80-85~ by weight of an.olefin, and 15-20% by weight of an a, ~ ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. with 10-90~ of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with sodium metal ions. The sodium ionomer shall have a melt index of 0.S to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 65 or greater, and 2l~9968 a flexural modulus of 40,000-80,000 psi.
For each of the above ionomers, the preferred olefin shall be ethylene and the preferred carboxylic acids shall be acrylic acid, methacrylic acids and combinations of acrylic and methacrylic acids.
Suitable ionomer resins for use in the present invention are listed below, along with the relevant physical properties. These ionomers are listed for illustrative purposes.
Flexural Shore Material Ion TYPe % Acid Modulus D
Surlyn AD8172 Mg 15 44,000 61 Surlyn SEP 503-2 Mg 20 50,000 66 Surlyn 8240 Na 20 75,000 75 Surlyn 9220 Zn 20 45,000 67 Accordingly, the present invention is a cover material for a golf ball including 10-45% of one or more magnesium ionomers, each of said magnesium ionomers having 80-85% by weight of ethylene, and 15-20% by weight of a carboxylic acid, 10-90% of which are neutralized with magnesium metal ions, having a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" of 60 or greater, and flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi;
10-50% of one or more zinc ionomers, each of said zinc ionomers having 80-85% by weight of ethylene and 15-20% by weight of a carboxylic acid, 10-90% of which are neutralized with zinc metal ions, having a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D"
hardness of 60 or greater, and flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi; and 30-80% of one or more sodium ionomers, each of said sodium ionomers having 80-85% by weight of ethylene, and 15-20% by weight of a carboxylic acid, 10-90% of which are neutralized with sodium metal ions, having a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 65 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 40,000-80,000 psi.
It may be desirable for the cover material of the present invention to include a colorant. The colorant may be present in the composition in an amount up to 5 parts per hundred polymer (p.h.p.) of the composition. Typically, the colorant will 2I~9968 consist of titanium dioxide, ultramarine blue, ultramarine violet and an ionomeric carrier. A suitable colorant is available from AMERICHEM Inc. of Cuyahuga, Ohio.
The blends are made and produced into a golf ball cover by processes known in the art for producing golf ball covers, processes such as extrusion molding or injection molding. It is within the skill of those in the field to produce a blend from the components of the present invention.
Golf balls are typically designed and manufactured to yield PGA Compression values of over 120 to attain initial velocity that will approach 255 ft/sec. The preferred range of PGA
Compression, however, is 90 to 110, so as to obtain the benefit of the desirable sensation during club and ball impact by the player, that is, a soft feel. The present invention offers a range of PGA Compression that will provide the desired soft feel, and still maximize the initial velocity that is very important in providing the maximum flight distance performances of the golf ball.
Balls manufactured with covers of the material of the present invention exhibit superior COR/initial velocity, softer PGA Compression and Shore D Hardness, with excellent cold pound properties. COR represents the coefficient of restitution and is taken as a measure of the rebound velocity versus the forward velocity. The test balls are launched by hitting or propelling it at certain impact velocity from a club or blank shell driven pneumatically. The ball velocity is measured immediately after impact. Under current USGA standards, the ball must not exceed 255 ft/sec initial velocity. PGA Compression measures deformation under a fixed static load of 200 lbs. Shore D =
Shore D hardness, ASTM 2240.
Golf balls produced according to the present invention will have COR values ranging from 0.738-0.740, PGA Compression values from 105-115 and Shore "D" hardness values from 68-70.
For purposes of the present invention, low temperature durability and ambient temperature durability are tested with an impact tester, as known in the art. Low temperature durability was determined in a "cold pound testn, in which six (6) balls are 2lq9968 conditioned to -20CF for 24 hours and placed at the impact tester to hit once. If the balls does not split or crack, it was returned to the freezer and hit again after 24 hours. This cycle was repeated for up to 10 days or 10 hits.
Ambient temperature durability was tested in an impact durability test. Twelve (12) balls are conditioned to 72F for 24 hours and placed at the impact tester to hit continuously up to 100 hits, which is a minimum requirement of the industry.
Golf balls produced according to the present invention exhibited superior ambient temperature durability and low temperature durability.
The present invention will be described by way of the following examples, which are provided for illustration, but are not to be considered as limiting.
Ion1 2 3 4 Surlyn 8240 Na33 40 40 50 Surlyn 9220 Zn33 50 30 10 Surlyn SEP 503-2B Mg33 10 30 40 Surlyn AD8172 Mg -- -- -- --Ball ProPerties:
COR 0.738 0.739 0.739 0.739 PGA Compression 111 111 110 111 Shore "D" 69 70 69 70 Cold Pound Test 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+
Impact Durability 150+ 150+ 150+ 150+
Ion5 6 7 8 Surlyn 8240 Na80 60 30 100 Surlyn 9220 Zn10 20 35 --Surlyn SEP 503-2B Mg10 20 -- --Surlyn AD8172 Mg -- -- 35 --Ball ProPerties:
COR 0.739 0.740 0.738 0.737 PGA Compression 112 111 106 114 Shore "D" 70 70 68 73 Cold Pound Test 10+ 10+ 10+
Impact Durability 150+ 150+ 150+ 28 21~9968 Ion 9 10 11 12 Surlyn 8240 Na -- --Surlyn 9220 Zn 100 -- 50 --Surlyn SEP 503-2B Mg -- 100 50 50 Surlyn AD8172 Mg -- -- -- --Ball ProPerties:
COR 0.725 0.7260.728 0.736 PGA Compression 106 110 110 113 Shore "D" 69 69 68 70 Cold Pound Test 5 3 3 3 Impact Durability 120 122 110 110 Examples 1-7 shown in Table I represent different embodiments of the present invention. The results of testing of physical properties of all examples indicates that a cover made with a blend of the three specified ionomers is superior to those made in other ratios.
The golf balls of Examples 1-7 show superior cold pound and impact durability testing properties to the remaining Examples 8-12, examples of golf balls having cover blends known in the art. Additionally, a golf ball with a cover made according to the present invention exhibits consistently higher COR, even with lower PGA compression. Currently, in this field, it is expected that COR will reduce once the PGA compression reduces.
Accordingly, the discovery with the present invention represents a true breakthrough in the general trend previously known.
The golf balls of Examples 8-12 have covers of ionomer that are known in the art. Examples 8 and 12 show suitable COR
properties to perform competitively, but lack the cold pound and impact durability resistance required for an acceptable golf ball. Examples 9-11 show cover materials that lack the COR to perform competitively, as well as the cold pound properties required of a high performance golf ball.
Additionally, golf balls utilizing cover materials as described in the present invention have been tested to determine their playability. A 20 player testing has shown that the golf balls of Examples 1-7 provide a softer feel and a "click" during club/ball impact, making it a much more desirable golf ball than 2l~9968 balls containing cover blends known in the art, and currently used in the game.
In short, the compositions of the present invention produce a cover for a golf ball that is cost effective to produce, and yet yields the playability and flight performance qualities of a high performance ball.
It will be appreciated that the instant specification and claims are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to golf balls and, more particularly, to a golf ball having an improved cover material.
The assembly of a golf ball generally involves molding a cover around a solid or wound core. Golf balls with wound cores are typically referred to as "three piece" balls because they consist of three basic components: (1) a solid or liquid-filled center; (2) rubber winding around the center, and (3) the cover.
Similarly, solid cores are referred to as having a "two piece"
construction, since they consist solely of a solid core and a cover. A third type of ball, known as a "one-piece" ball is also known in the art. As the name suggests, one piece balls are solid balls of homogeneous construction made by any conventional molding method suitable for the purpose. The present invention relates particularly to two piece golf balls.
The majority of modern golf balls use a two piece construction with covers made of a durable synthetic thermoplastic resin such as Surlyn, a product of E. I. DuPont-de Nemours Company, Incorporated. Synthetic thermoplastic cover materials have been used with limited success. They are durable and produce satisfactory flight distance. It is desirable, however, to utilize a synthetic cover material for improved process manufacturing and to increase durability and resilience performance.
Ionomer resins are olefin polymers in which the linkage is ionic. They are popular for use in golf balls because they provide toughness and resilience.
Typically, for golf ball covers, there are two kinds of ionomer resins that are most commonly used commercially. One is an ionomer resin in which carboxyl groups are neutralized with sodium (hereinafter sodium neutralized ionomer resin) and the other is an ionomer resin in which carboxyl groups are neutralized with zinc (hereinafter zinc neutralized ionomer resin). It has been found that the sodium neutralized ionomer 21~9968 resin is superior in impact resistance to the zinc neutralized one, but is inferior in low temperature durability. Certain mixtures of these two neutralized ionomer resins have not been found to overcome the problems in physical properties of the resulting covers made from either resin alone.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,375 teaches that an oxide of zinc or magnesium be formulated into the sodium neutralized ionomer resin to neutralize r~m~ining free~carboxyl groups of the sodium neutralized ionomer resin with zinc or magnesium. The resulting ionomer resin has improved low temperature durability without sacrifice of impact resilience properties. There is still a need, however, to improve impact resilience and ambient temperature durability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,804 describes a golf ball cover material prepared by mixing three ionomer resins in specific amount ratios. The three ionomer resins are a sodium neutralized ionomer resin, a zinc or magnesium neutralized ionomer resin and a sodium and zinc or magnesium neutralized ionomer resin. As described in that reference, the cover material blend will be a sodium/sodium/zinc blend of ionomer resins or a sodium/sodium/magnesium blend. All physical properties of a cover produced from this blend are not optimized.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball having a synthetic cover material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved synthetic cover material for a golf ball.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf ball having a synthetic cover material that achieves the click, feel, playability, impact resilience and flight performance qualities of a high performance golf ball.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having a cover material that has improved process manufacturing as well as ambient and cold pound temperature durability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a cover material for a golf ball, especially a two piece golf ball. The cover material includes a blend of ionomer resins, including magnesium neutralized ionomer(s), zinc ion neutralized ionomer(s) and sodium ion neutralized ionomer(s). The result is a golf ball cover with cover hardness and feel comparable to high performance golf balls and yielding improved COR/initial velocity, improved impact resilience, durability and cut resistance.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The cover composition of the present invention includes, in its broadest form, a blend of ionomers, magnesium ion neutralized ionomer(s), zinc ion neutralized ionomer(s) and sodium ion neutralized ionomer(s).
For the purposes of the present invention, the term "magnesium ionomer" shall be defined as a copolymer having 80-85%
by weight of an olefin, and 15-20% by weight of an a, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with magnesium metal ions. The magnesium ionomer shall have a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 60 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi.
The term "zinc ionomer" shall be defined as a copolymer having 80-85% by weight of an olefin, and 15-20% by weight of an a, ~ ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with zinc metal ions. The zinc ionomer shall have a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 60 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi.
Additionally, the term "sodium ionomer" shall be defined as a copolymer having 80-85~ by weight of an.olefin, and 15-20% by weight of an a, ~ ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. with 10-90~ of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with sodium metal ions. The sodium ionomer shall have a melt index of 0.S to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 65 or greater, and 2l~9968 a flexural modulus of 40,000-80,000 psi.
For each of the above ionomers, the preferred olefin shall be ethylene and the preferred carboxylic acids shall be acrylic acid, methacrylic acids and combinations of acrylic and methacrylic acids.
Suitable ionomer resins for use in the present invention are listed below, along with the relevant physical properties. These ionomers are listed for illustrative purposes.
Flexural Shore Material Ion TYPe % Acid Modulus D
Surlyn AD8172 Mg 15 44,000 61 Surlyn SEP 503-2 Mg 20 50,000 66 Surlyn 8240 Na 20 75,000 75 Surlyn 9220 Zn 20 45,000 67 Accordingly, the present invention is a cover material for a golf ball including 10-45% of one or more magnesium ionomers, each of said magnesium ionomers having 80-85% by weight of ethylene, and 15-20% by weight of a carboxylic acid, 10-90% of which are neutralized with magnesium metal ions, having a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" of 60 or greater, and flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi;
10-50% of one or more zinc ionomers, each of said zinc ionomers having 80-85% by weight of ethylene and 15-20% by weight of a carboxylic acid, 10-90% of which are neutralized with zinc metal ions, having a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D"
hardness of 60 or greater, and flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi; and 30-80% of one or more sodium ionomers, each of said sodium ionomers having 80-85% by weight of ethylene, and 15-20% by weight of a carboxylic acid, 10-90% of which are neutralized with sodium metal ions, having a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 65 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 40,000-80,000 psi.
It may be desirable for the cover material of the present invention to include a colorant. The colorant may be present in the composition in an amount up to 5 parts per hundred polymer (p.h.p.) of the composition. Typically, the colorant will 2I~9968 consist of titanium dioxide, ultramarine blue, ultramarine violet and an ionomeric carrier. A suitable colorant is available from AMERICHEM Inc. of Cuyahuga, Ohio.
The blends are made and produced into a golf ball cover by processes known in the art for producing golf ball covers, processes such as extrusion molding or injection molding. It is within the skill of those in the field to produce a blend from the components of the present invention.
Golf balls are typically designed and manufactured to yield PGA Compression values of over 120 to attain initial velocity that will approach 255 ft/sec. The preferred range of PGA
Compression, however, is 90 to 110, so as to obtain the benefit of the desirable sensation during club and ball impact by the player, that is, a soft feel. The present invention offers a range of PGA Compression that will provide the desired soft feel, and still maximize the initial velocity that is very important in providing the maximum flight distance performances of the golf ball.
Balls manufactured with covers of the material of the present invention exhibit superior COR/initial velocity, softer PGA Compression and Shore D Hardness, with excellent cold pound properties. COR represents the coefficient of restitution and is taken as a measure of the rebound velocity versus the forward velocity. The test balls are launched by hitting or propelling it at certain impact velocity from a club or blank shell driven pneumatically. The ball velocity is measured immediately after impact. Under current USGA standards, the ball must not exceed 255 ft/sec initial velocity. PGA Compression measures deformation under a fixed static load of 200 lbs. Shore D =
Shore D hardness, ASTM 2240.
Golf balls produced according to the present invention will have COR values ranging from 0.738-0.740, PGA Compression values from 105-115 and Shore "D" hardness values from 68-70.
For purposes of the present invention, low temperature durability and ambient temperature durability are tested with an impact tester, as known in the art. Low temperature durability was determined in a "cold pound testn, in which six (6) balls are 2lq9968 conditioned to -20CF for 24 hours and placed at the impact tester to hit once. If the balls does not split or crack, it was returned to the freezer and hit again after 24 hours. This cycle was repeated for up to 10 days or 10 hits.
Ambient temperature durability was tested in an impact durability test. Twelve (12) balls are conditioned to 72F for 24 hours and placed at the impact tester to hit continuously up to 100 hits, which is a minimum requirement of the industry.
Golf balls produced according to the present invention exhibited superior ambient temperature durability and low temperature durability.
The present invention will be described by way of the following examples, which are provided for illustration, but are not to be considered as limiting.
Ion1 2 3 4 Surlyn 8240 Na33 40 40 50 Surlyn 9220 Zn33 50 30 10 Surlyn SEP 503-2B Mg33 10 30 40 Surlyn AD8172 Mg -- -- -- --Ball ProPerties:
COR 0.738 0.739 0.739 0.739 PGA Compression 111 111 110 111 Shore "D" 69 70 69 70 Cold Pound Test 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+
Impact Durability 150+ 150+ 150+ 150+
Ion5 6 7 8 Surlyn 8240 Na80 60 30 100 Surlyn 9220 Zn10 20 35 --Surlyn SEP 503-2B Mg10 20 -- --Surlyn AD8172 Mg -- -- 35 --Ball ProPerties:
COR 0.739 0.740 0.738 0.737 PGA Compression 112 111 106 114 Shore "D" 70 70 68 73 Cold Pound Test 10+ 10+ 10+
Impact Durability 150+ 150+ 150+ 28 21~9968 Ion 9 10 11 12 Surlyn 8240 Na -- --Surlyn 9220 Zn 100 -- 50 --Surlyn SEP 503-2B Mg -- 100 50 50 Surlyn AD8172 Mg -- -- -- --Ball ProPerties:
COR 0.725 0.7260.728 0.736 PGA Compression 106 110 110 113 Shore "D" 69 69 68 70 Cold Pound Test 5 3 3 3 Impact Durability 120 122 110 110 Examples 1-7 shown in Table I represent different embodiments of the present invention. The results of testing of physical properties of all examples indicates that a cover made with a blend of the three specified ionomers is superior to those made in other ratios.
The golf balls of Examples 1-7 show superior cold pound and impact durability testing properties to the remaining Examples 8-12, examples of golf balls having cover blends known in the art. Additionally, a golf ball with a cover made according to the present invention exhibits consistently higher COR, even with lower PGA compression. Currently, in this field, it is expected that COR will reduce once the PGA compression reduces.
Accordingly, the discovery with the present invention represents a true breakthrough in the general trend previously known.
The golf balls of Examples 8-12 have covers of ionomer that are known in the art. Examples 8 and 12 show suitable COR
properties to perform competitively, but lack the cold pound and impact durability resistance required for an acceptable golf ball. Examples 9-11 show cover materials that lack the COR to perform competitively, as well as the cold pound properties required of a high performance golf ball.
Additionally, golf balls utilizing cover materials as described in the present invention have been tested to determine their playability. A 20 player testing has shown that the golf balls of Examples 1-7 provide a softer feel and a "click" during club/ball impact, making it a much more desirable golf ball than 2l~9968 balls containing cover blends known in the art, and currently used in the game.
In short, the compositions of the present invention produce a cover for a golf ball that is cost effective to produce, and yet yields the playability and flight performance qualities of a high performance ball.
It will be appreciated that the instant specification and claims are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (6)
1. A golf ball having a novel cover material, said cover material comprising:
a. 10-45% of at least one first ionomer resin, each of said at least one first ionomer resin including an olefin and a carboxylic acid, the carboxylic acid neutralized with magnesium ions;
b. 10-50% of at least one second ionomer resin, each of said at least one second ionomer resin including an olefin and a carboxylic acid, the carboxylic acid neutralized with zinc ions; and c. 30-80% of at least one third ionomer resin, each of said at least one third ionomer resin including an olefin and a carboxylic acid, the carboxylic acid neutralized with sodium ions.
a. 10-45% of at least one first ionomer resin, each of said at least one first ionomer resin including an olefin and a carboxylic acid, the carboxylic acid neutralized with magnesium ions;
b. 10-50% of at least one second ionomer resin, each of said at least one second ionomer resin including an olefin and a carboxylic acid, the carboxylic acid neutralized with zinc ions; and c. 30-80% of at least one third ionomer resin, each of said at least one third ionomer resin including an olefin and a carboxylic acid, the carboxylic acid neutralized with sodium ions.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein in the cover material each of the at least one first ionomer resin comprises 80-85% by weight of an olefin, 15-20% by weight of an a, .beta. ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with magnesium metal ions and wherein, the at least one first ionomer resin has a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 60 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi.
3. The golf ball of claim 2 wherein in the cover material each of the at least one second ionomer resin comprises 80-85% by weight of an olefin, 15-20% by weight of an a, .beta. ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with zinc metal ions and wherein the at least one second ionomer resin has a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 60 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 30,000-60,000 psi.
4. The golf ball of claim 3 wherein in the cover material each of the at least one third ionomer resin comprises 80-85% by weight of an olefin, 15-20% by weight of an a, .beta. ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, with 10-90% of the carboxylic acid groups being neutralized with sodium metal ions and wherein the at least one third ionomer resin has a melt index of 0.5 to 5.0 g/10 min, Shore "D" hardness of 65 or greater, and a flexural modulus of 40,000-80,000 psi.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein in the cover material, the olefin in the at least one first, second and third ionomer resin comprises ethylene and the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid. methacrylic acids and mixtures thereof.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the cover material further comprises a colorant in amounts up to 5 parts per hundred polymer.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US29144694A | 1994-08-16 | 1994-08-16 | |
| US08/291,446 | 1994-08-16 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2149968A1 true CA2149968A1 (en) | 1996-02-17 |
Family
ID=23120322
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2149968 Abandoned CA2149968A1 (en) | 1994-08-16 | 1995-05-23 | Golf ball cover |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2149968A1 (en) |
-
1995
- 1995-05-23 CA CA 2149968 patent/CA2149968A1/en not_active Abandoned
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5538794A (en) | Golf ball cover | |
| US5873796A (en) | Multi-layer golf ball comprising a cover of ionomer blends | |
| US6623381B2 (en) | Multi-layer golf ball | |
| US5328959A (en) | Golf ball cover compositions | |
| AU620578B2 (en) | Improved golf ball | |
| US4674751A (en) | Golf ball having improved playability properties | |
| US5324783A (en) | Golf ball cover compositions | |
| US5688191A (en) | Multilayer golf ball | |
| AU667267B2 (en) | Golf ball with cover formed from hard and soft ionomer resins | |
| KR100286916B1 (en) | Three-piece solidgolfball | |
| US5321089A (en) | Golf ball cover | |
| US20010031671A1 (en) | Multi layer golf ball | |
| US20030017889A1 (en) | Multi-layer golf ball | |
| WO2000043076A1 (en) | Multi-layered golf ball and composition | |
| US6416424B2 (en) | Multi-layer golf ball | |
| US5762568A (en) | Golf ball | |
| WO1998031431A1 (en) | Golf ball compositions containing high crystalline acid copolymers and their ionomer derivatives | |
| JPH07194737A (en) | Golf ball | |
| US5605967A (en) | Golf ball | |
| US20040058751A1 (en) | Polyurethane covered golf ball | |
| CA2149968A1 (en) | Golf ball cover | |
| US5721319A (en) | Golf ball cover | |
| JPH1176460A (en) | Three-piece solid golf ball | |
| US20010039219A1 (en) | Golf ball having multi-layer cover with unique inner cover characteristics | |
| JP3496847B2 (en) | Golf ball |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |