EP0186933A2 - Golfball für kurze Entfernungen - Google Patents

Golfball für kurze Entfernungen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0186933A2
EP0186933A2 EP85303067A EP85303067A EP0186933A2 EP 0186933 A2 EP0186933 A2 EP 0186933A2 EP 85303067 A EP85303067 A EP 85303067A EP 85303067 A EP85303067 A EP 85303067A EP 0186933 A2 EP0186933 A2 EP 0186933A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
golf ball
ball
inch
short distance
thermoplastic polymer
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP85303067A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0186933A3 (en
Inventor
Troy L. Puckett
Lauro C. Cadorniga
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MacGregor Golf Co
Original Assignee
MacGregor Golf Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MacGregor Golf Co filed Critical MacGregor Golf Co
Publication of EP0186933A2 publication Critical patent/EP0186933A2/de
Publication of EP0186933A3 publication Critical patent/EP0186933A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004—Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0006—Arrangement or layout of dimples
    • A63B37/00065—Arrangement or layout of dimples located around the pole or the equator
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004—Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0018—Specified number of dimples
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/0023—Covers
    • A63B37/0029—Physical properties
    • A63B37/0033—Thickness
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/007—Characteristics of the ball as a whole
    • A63B37/0072—Characteristics of the ball as a whole with a specified number of layers
    • A63B37/0073—Solid, i.e. formed of a single piece
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/007—Characteristics of the ball as a whole
    • A63B37/0072—Characteristics of the ball as a whole with a specified number of layers
    • A63B37/0074—Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/007—Characteristics of the ball as a whole
    • A63B37/0077—Physical properties
    • A63B37/008—Diameter
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003—Golf balls
    • A63B37/007—Characteristics of the ball as a whole
    • A63B37/0077—Physical properties
    • A63B37/0083—Weight; Mass
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B43/00—Balls with special arrangements
    • A63B2043/001—Short-distance or low-velocity balls for training, or for playing on a reduced area

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with a short distance golf ball, that is a golf ball which has performance characteristics comparable to that of a conventional golf ball except that it plays from 30%-70% shorter in distance than a conventional golf ball.
  • a one-piece short distance golf ball which is a moulded mixture of a foamed thermoplastic polymer and a filler material, the ball having an increasing density gradient from the centre to the surface.
  • the ball preferably has a cellular core structure and a dense outer skin which preferably has a thickness of from 3.175 mm to 15.88 mm.
  • the filler material is preferably microscopic glass bubbles which are distributed uniformly throughout the thermoplastic polymer.
  • the golf ball described in our said application comprises from 0.5 to 155l of filler material, based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer and the ball has a diameter of approximately 1.68 inch (42.67 mm) and weighs from 15 to 30 grams.
  • the surface of the golf ball is preferably provided with dimples in any suitable dimple pattern such as is conventionally used on standard golf balls.
  • a one-piece short distance golf ball which is a moulded mixture of a foamed thermoplastic polymer and a filler material, the ball having an increasing density gradient from the centre to the surface and the surface having a bramble configuration.
  • the golf ball preferably has a cellular core structure and a dense outer skin, the latter preferably having a thickness of from 0.125 inch (3.175 mm) to 0.625 inch (15.88 mm).
  • the thickness of the dense outer skin determines the moment of inertia of the ball which, in turn, determines how much spin can be imparted to the ball when struck by a golf club.
  • the range of thicknesses mentioned corresponds to the preferred range of moments of inertia for the ball to have desirable playing characteristics.
  • the preferred filler material is microscopic glass bubbles and it is preferred to use from 0.5 to 15% of filler material, based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer.
  • the golf ball is preferably approximately 1.68 inch (42.67 mm) in diameter, the same size as a conventional golf ball, and weighs from 17 to 35 grams as compared to approximately 45 grams for a conventional golf ball (the golf ball according to this invention, is preferably about 159o heavier at 17 to 35 grams than that described in our said European application which preferably weighs 15 to 30 grams). It is made by injection moulding a mixture of thermoplastic material and a filler material together with a chemical blowing agent, as described in greater detail below. A cross section of the golf ball shows that the density of the ball material increases along the radius of the ball from the centre to the surface.
  • the ball has an outer dense skin which is preferably from 0.125 inch to 0.625 inch (3.175 to 15.88 mm) thickness.
  • the skin thickness which is inversely related to the amount of blowing agent used in making the golf ball, is most preferably approximately 0.250 inch (6.35 mm).
  • the core of the ball has a blown cellular structure. The boundary between the cellular core and the skin, while not sharply delineated, is observable from an inspection of a cross sectioned sample of a golf ball made in accordance with the present invention.
  • the weight and density distribution of the material of the ball ensures that the golf ball will perform in most respects in the same way as a conventional golf ball except that its playing distance will be shorter.
  • the short distance golf ball of the present invention has a rebound of from 50% to 80%, and preferably 67%, and it has a compression of from 0 to 100, preferably 10, as measured on the Atti compression tester.
  • the preferred material from which the ball is made comprises a thermoplastic polymer and microscopic glass bubbles distributed uniformly throughout the polymer.
  • the thermoplastic polymer is preferably the product of the reaction of an olefin and metallic salt of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid. Suitable ionomer resins for producing such thermoplastic polymers are sold by the Dupont Company, Polymer Products Department,
  • Surlyn resin is available both as a zinc ionic copolymer and as a sodium ionic copolymer. It has been found that each copolymer is useful in carrying out the present invention and that mixtures of the two copolymers are also useful in carrying out the present invention.
  • the thermoplastic material includes microscopic glass bubbles which serve as filler or extender.
  • the glass bubbles are distributed uniformly throughout the thermoplastic polymer.
  • Preferred glass bubbles for carrying out the present invention are manufactured by the 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 and range in density from 0.12 to 0.1.8 g/cc.
  • Other inorganic fillers such as titanium dioxide or calcium carbonate, can also be used.
  • Glass bubbles are, however, preferred because they improve impact resistance by functioning as microscopic shock absorbers to dissipate energy and thus help to reduce the distance the ball travels when struck.
  • Suitable blowing agents for use in the process according to the invention are volatile liquids or gases, such as Freon, nitrogen gas, and carbon dioxides, or chemical blowing agents which are thermally decomposed to release a gas; these may, in particular, be used with Surlyn.
  • the chemical blowing agent used should preferably have a decomposition temperature of from 230° to 435°F (110° to 224°C).
  • Two preferred chemical blowing agents are sold under the trade designation Celogen TSH and Celogen RA by Uniroyal Chemical, Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770. Norteck brand foam concentrate sold by Northern Petro Chemical Company, Clinton, Massachusetts 01510 also works well.
  • decomposition temperatures of from 350° to 450°F (177° to 232 0 C) are preferred.
  • the thickness of the skin of the finished golf ball is inversely proportional to the amount of blowing agent. For example, reducing the amount of Celogen TSH to 0.50 parts will produce a skin thickness of approximately 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) in the finished golf ball. Therefore a range of 0.50 to 2.00 parts of blowing agents should produce skin thickness of from 0.5 to 0.125 inch (12.7 to 3.88 mm) respectively.
  • the ingredients specified are first mixed together prior to injection moulding.
  • a conventional screw injection machine as used to manufacture conventional two-piece moulded golf balls is suitably modified for foam moulding as follows.
  • the injection nozzle is provided with a shut-off valve to ensure that only a predetermined amount of the mixture is injected into each mould cavity. In particular, it is preferred that only about 17 to 35 grams of the mixture per golf ball be injected.
  • the injection machine must generate sufficient injection pressure to be able to inject the material into the mould cavity in one second or less to minimize premature gas expansion. Also flow channels must be kept short and provide equi- distance flow to the extremities of the cavity to achieve uniform skin thickness for each ball moulded.
  • the initial temperature of the mixture is room temperature.
  • the mould cavity is chilled by 40°F (4.4°C) water to approximately 40° to 70°F (4.4 to 21.1°C).
  • the injection cylinder is provided with a temperature gradient along its length to the nozzle.
  • the rear part of the cylinder is kept at a lower temperature (preferably about 325°F; 163°C) to reduce premature gas expansion, and the nozzle is maintained at a higher temperature (preferably about 400 F; 204°C) to make rapid injection easier by reducing viscosity of the mixture.
  • the mould is then held closed (elapsed time) for from 60 to 240 seconds (depending on the skin thickness) while maintaining the mould temperature at approximately 40° to 70°F (4.4 to 21.1°C).
  • the process requires about 60 seconds per 0.125 inch (3.18 mm) of skin thickness to ensure that the skin is fully moulded before the mould is opened.
  • the mould is opened, the ball is removed and immediately quenched in cold water to curtain any further blowing.
  • the density of the thermoplastic material which forms the short distance golf ball will have the desired skin thickness to provide the performance characteristics required.
  • a preferred embodiment of golf ball according to the present invention is shown, by way of example, in the single Figure of the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of the golf ball (with only part of the surface configuration shown).
  • the surface of the golf ball 110 is provided with a plurality of rounded bumps 128; there are in all 398 bumps 128 constituting the "bramble” (blackberry) pattern.
  • the golf ball also comprises a raised band 130 round the "seam" of the ball.
  • the 398 bumps of the bramble pattern are approximately 0.010 inch (0.254 mm) high in the first row adjacent the raised band, 0.018 inch (0.457 mm) high in the second row adjacent the raised band, and 0.030 inch (0.762 mm) over the rest of the ball.
  • the bumps are arranged in a tetraicosahedron pattern (a delta hedron with 24 sides) which geometric pattern is the same geometric pattern used for dimples on some conventional golf balls, for example, the Muirfield brand golf ball manufactured by MacGregor Golf Company.
  • the raised band 130 is not crucial to the improved flight characteristics of the brambled ball but is merely provided so that the seam line left by the moulding process can be buffed smooth.
  • the inclusion of the bramble configuration in the golf ball 110 leads to the latter having a relatively higher drag than a corresponding dimpled ball as described in our said European application.
  • the velocity of the brambled ball 110 is rapidly reduced after it leaves the club face.
  • the weight of the brambled ball can be increased.
  • the weight of the brambled ball is preferably from 17 to 35 grams.
  • the brambled ball 110 is about 1530 heavier than a corresponding dimpled golf ball, its trajectory is not affected by wind as much as the lighter dimpled golf ball.
  • the bramble configuration with its surface roughness, its relatively high drag, and its turbulent air flow on the surface of the ball even at low velocities, is affected in flight even less by the wind than the smoother dimpled ball.
  • the bramble pattern also appears to eliminate the abrupt transition from turbulent air flow at high velocities to laminar air flow at low velocities across the ball and thus makes the brambled ball more stable in flight, especially under windy conditions, so that the bramble ball does not dart or flutter like a dimpled ball.
  • the bramble configuration on the golf ball 110 is produced by using moulds which have the requisite complementary surface configuration.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Porous Articles, And Recovery And Treatment Of Waste Products (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
EP85303067A 1984-12-28 1985-04-30 Short distance golf ball Withdrawn EP0186933A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US68696784A 1984-12-28 1984-12-28
US686967 1984-12-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0186933A2 true EP0186933A2 (de) 1986-07-09
EP0186933A3 EP0186933A3 (en) 1987-07-15

Family

ID=24758487

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85303067A Withdrawn EP0186933A3 (en) 1984-12-28 1985-04-30 Short distance golf ball

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0186933A3 (de)
JP (1) JPS61154683A (de)
KR (1) KR930006940B1 (de)
AU (1) AU569779B2 (de)
ZA (1) ZA852804B (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9419523U1 (de) * 1994-12-06 1995-02-02 URALAN Kunststoffverarbeitung, 72525 Münsingen Golfball
EP0609068A3 (de) * 1993-01-26 1995-11-08 Sumitomo Rubber Ind Dreiteiliger fester Golfball.
EP0687485A1 (de) * 1990-04-01 1995-12-20 Tamapack Co,Ltd. Golfball für Minigolfanlage
GB2296014A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-06-19 Inventa Ag Golf ball

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02295573A (ja) * 1989-05-09 1990-12-06 Sumitomo Rubber Ind Ltd 低飛距離ゴルフボール
JP2539212Y2 (ja) * 1990-06-08 1997-06-25 タマパック株式会社 ゴルフボール
JPH045858U (de) * 1990-04-30 1992-01-20
JP2918671B2 (ja) * 1990-10-12 1999-07-12 住友ゴム工業株式会社 ゴルフボール
AUPN597595A0 (en) * 1995-10-16 1995-11-09 Club Golf Pty Ltd Short range golf club, ball and course
US6383092B1 (en) * 1999-11-18 2002-05-07 Callaway Golf Company Golf ball with pyramidal protrusions

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1477516A (en) * 1923-10-05 1923-12-11 Thomas W Miller Golf ball
US1812285A (en) * 1929-10-12 1931-06-30 John A Christie Golf ball and method of manufacturing same
US3288469A (en) * 1963-11-05 1966-11-29 Edward K Shaw Practice golf ball
GB1136166A (en) * 1965-02-23 1968-12-11 Holley Plastics Company Ball and process for production thereof
JPS5111155B1 (de) * 1970-01-24 1976-04-09
US3940145A (en) * 1970-11-16 1976-02-24 Gentiluomo Joseph A Golf ball
JPS5747253Y2 (de) * 1974-07-25 1982-10-18
AU494732B2 (en) * 1975-07-28 1978-02-02 Nylex Corporation Limited Improvements in or relating to games balls
US4141559A (en) * 1976-12-27 1979-02-27 Uniroyal, Inc. Two-piece solid golf ball
US4244855A (en) * 1978-09-26 1981-01-13 Abbott Laboratories Liquid golf ball center
JPS5810069A (ja) * 1981-05-22 1983-01-20 ホ−ム・オブ・チヤンピオンズ・ソシエテ・アノニム ゲ−ム用ボ−ル
JPS587272A (ja) * 1981-07-03 1983-01-17 内山工業株式会社 硬式野球用プラスチツクボ−ル
JPS5836987A (ja) * 1981-08-29 1983-03-04 住友電気工業株式会社 耐熱性複合材料
AU564491B2 (en) * 1984-03-12 1987-08-13 Macgregor Golf Co. Short distance golf ball
JPH0412920U (de) * 1990-05-25 1992-02-03

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0687485A1 (de) * 1990-04-01 1995-12-20 Tamapack Co,Ltd. Golfball für Minigolfanlage
EP0476147B1 (de) * 1990-04-01 1996-07-03 Tamapack Co,Ltd. Minigolfkurs
EP0609068A3 (de) * 1993-01-26 1995-11-08 Sumitomo Rubber Ind Dreiteiliger fester Golfball.
DE9419523U1 (de) * 1994-12-06 1995-02-02 URALAN Kunststoffverarbeitung, 72525 Münsingen Golfball
GB2296014A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-06-19 Inventa Ag Golf ball

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU569779B2 (en) 1988-02-18
AU3985385A (en) 1986-07-03
JPS61154683A (ja) 1986-07-14
EP0186933A3 (en) 1987-07-15
KR860004641A (ko) 1986-07-11
KR930006940B1 (ko) 1993-07-24
ZA852804B (en) 1986-10-29

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Inventor name: CADORNIGA, LAURO C.