| US 8,308,586 B2 | ||
| Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer | ||
| Michael J. Sullivan, Barrington, R.I. (US); Derek A. Ladd, Acushnet, Mass. (US); Edmund A. Hebert, Mattapoisett, Mass. (US); and Douglas E. Jones, Dartmouth, Mass. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, Mass. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 18, 2011, as Appl. No. 13/212,301. | ||
| Application 13/212,301 is a continuation of application No. 12/946,024, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, granted, now 8,057,324. | ||
| Application 12/946,024 is a continuation of application No. 12/125,239, filed on May 22, 2008, granted, now 7,833,112. | ||
| Application 12/125,239 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/102,515, filed on Apr. 14, 2008, granted, now 7,513,838. | ||
| Application 12/102,515 is a continuation of application No. 11/694,029, filed on Mar. 30, 2007, granted, now 7,357,736. | ||
| Application 12/125,239 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/972,240, filed on Jan. 10, 2008, granted, now 7,722,482. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2011/0300970 A1, Dec. 8, 2011 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A63B 37/06 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 473—376 | 20 Claims |
| 1. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches
and consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a surface hardness of 65 Shore C or greater, and a center
hardness (H);
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition,
the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of
from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a low modulus HNP composition,
the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer
having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi;
wherein H<I and S<I, and
wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus
of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.
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