US4674751A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf ball having improved playability properties
Assignee: Spalding and Evenflo Companies Inc
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Filing: 1986-05-02
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Granted: 1987-06-23
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Expires: 2006-05-02
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a golf ball having improved short iron and wood playability and improved puttability relative to conventional, ionomer covered balls. The golf balls comprise a novel cover which is far more durable than balata-covered balls yet closely approach or exceed their playability characteristics. The cover comprises a blend of a thermoplastic urethane having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55. The relative amounts of the urethane and ionomer are set so that the cover has a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85, most preferably 72 to 76.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P. Molitor
- 👤 Terence Melvin
- 👤 John L. Nealon
- 👤 David W. Dreifus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:02
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B37/00; A63B37/12; A63B37/0003; A63B37/0023; A63B37/0029; A63B37/0031; A63B37/007; A63B37/0072; A63B37/0074; C; C08; C08L; C08L75/00; C08L75/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/22; Y10S273/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A composition of matter for molding a cover for a golf ball, said composition comprising a thermoplastic urethane polymer and said having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer comprising olefinic groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms copolymerized with a monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, said acid groups being at least partially neutralized with a metal ion, said ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55, the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer being sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A composition of matter for molding a cover for a golf ball, said composition comprising a thermoplastic urethane polymer and said having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer comprising olefinic groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms copolymerized with a monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, said acid groups being at least partially neutralized with a metal ion, said ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55, the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer being sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer are sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 80.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer are sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 72 to 76.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said ionomer is neutralized with a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium and zinc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 1 comprising 8 parts of said urethane polymer and between 1 and 4 parts of said ionomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
The composition of claim 1 further comprising titanium dioxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said urethane polymer has a tensile strength of at least 2500lb/in 2 and an elongation at break greater than 250 percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a golf ball having a core and a cover, the improvement wherein the cover comprises a blend of a thermoplastic urethane polymer having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55, said ionomer comprising olefinic groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms copolymerized with acrylic or methacrylic acid groups, said acid groups being at least partly neutralized with a metal ion, the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer being sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a golf ball having a core and a cover, the improvement wherein the cover comprises a blend of a thermoplastic urethane polymer having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55, said ionomer comprising olefinic groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms copolymerized with acrylic or methacrylic acid groups, said acid groups being at least partly neutralized with a metal ion, the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer being sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer are sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 80.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer are sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 72 to 76.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said core comprises a molded, resilient, solid sphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said ionomer is neutralized with a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium and zinc.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 8 comprising 8 parts of said urethane polymer and between 1 and 4 parts of said ionomer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 13 comprising about 2 parts of said ionomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said cover has a thickness no greater than 0.60 inch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved golf ball of claim 8 characterized in that it has a spin rate when hit with a nine iron greater than 9,000 rpm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A golf ball cover comprising a blend of a thermoplastic urethane polymer having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer comprising olefinic groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms copolymerized with a monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, said acid groups being at least partially neutralized with a metal ion, said ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55, the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer being sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
A golf ball cover comprising a blend of a thermoplastic urethane polymer having a Shore A hardness less than 95 and an ionomer comprising olefinic groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms copolymerized with a monocarboxylic acid having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, said acid groups being at least partially neutralized with a metal ion, said ionomer having a Shore D hardness greater than 55, the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer being sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 85.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cover of claim 17 wherein the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer are sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 70 to 80.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The cover of claim 17 wherein the relative amounts of said urethane polymer and said ionomer are sufficient to produce a cover having a Shore C hardness within the range of 72 to 76.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cover of claim 17 wherein said ionomer is neutralized with a metal selected from the group consisting of sodium and zinc.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cover of claim 17 comprising 8 parts of said urethane polymer and between 1 and 4 parts of said ionomer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
9 words
The cover of claim 17 further comprising titanium dioxide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cover of claim 17 wherein said urethane polymer has a tensile strength of at least 2500 lb/in 2 and an elongation at break greater than 250 percent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-22 | 1990-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-12-22 | 1999-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |