Golf Ball Compositions Comprising Elastic Proteins

Abstract

The present invention is directed to golf balls having at least one layer formed from a composition comprising an elastic protein. Golf balls of the present invention include one-piece, two-piece, and multi-layer golf balls. In two-piece and multi-layer golf balls of the present invention, the elastic protein-containing composition may be present in a core layer, a cover layer, an intermediate layer (in the case of multi-layer balls), or a combination thereof.

1 . A golf ball having at least one layer formed from a composition comprising an elastic protein. 
   
   
       2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic protein comprises crosslinked recombinant resilin. 
   
   
       3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball is a one-piece golf ball having a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.815. 
   
   
       4 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the ball has an Atti compression of 90 or less. 
   
   
       5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises two or more layers, and wherein the innermost layer is formed from the composition comprising the elastic protein. 
   
   
       6 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the innermost layer has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.815. 
   
   
       7 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the innermost layer has an Atti compression of 90 or less. 
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises two or more layers, and wherein the outermost layer is formed from the composition comprising the elastic protein. 
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises an innermost layer, an outermost layer, and at least one intermediate layer, and wherein an intermediate layer is formed from the composition comprising the elastic protein. 
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising the elastic protein additionally comprises at least 75 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition. 
   
   
       11 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the plasticizer is water. 
   
   
       12 . A golf ball having at least one layer formed from a composition comprising an elastic protein, wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.815 and an Atti compression of 90 or less. 
   
   
       13 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein each of the golf ball layers is substantially free of conventional rubbers.