US2012115638A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf ball compositions

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Assignee: BULPETT DAVID APriority: Nov 8, 2010Filed: Sep 8, 2011Published: May 10, 2012
Est. expiryNov 8, 2030(~4.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David A. BulpettMichael J. SulivanRobert BlinkMark L. BinetteBrian ComeauMurali Rajagopalan
A63B 37/0043A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0049A63B 37/0003A63B 37/0039A63B 37/0024A63B 37/0037
46
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Claims

Abstract

Disclosed herein are hard and flexible compositions, i.e., compositions which have a flexural modulus that is less than the value that is expected based on the composition's hardness. The compositions preferably have a hardness/modulus relationship represented by the formula H ≧11.889 Ln( M )+47, where H is the hardness of the composition, in JIS-C, and M is the flexural modulus of the composition, in ksi; or a softness/stiffness relationship represented by the formula if M <110, then H ≧8.5218 Ln( M )+32.5 if M ≧110, then H ≧72.5, where H is the hardness of the composition, in Shore D, and M is the flexural modulus of the composition, in ksi. The compositions preferably comprise an ionomer and a functionalized elastomer.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A golf ball comprising at least one layer formed from a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising an ionomer and a functionalized elastomer, the thermoplastic composition having a JIS-C hardness (H) and a flexural modulus in ksi (M) wherein H≧11.889 Ln(M)+47. 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein H≧11.889 Ln(M)+49. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein H≧65. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized elastomer is present in an amount of 20 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized elastomer is present in an amount of 25 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized elastomer is present in an amount of 30 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized elastomer. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers, ethylene propylene diene rubbers, ethylene acrylic ester copolymers, and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized elastomer is a maleic anhydride functionalized styrenic block copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the functionalized elastomer has a Shore A hardness of 75 or less. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ionomer is a high acid ionomer partially neutralized with a sodium cation source and the functionalized elastomer is a maleic anhydride functionalized elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers, ethylene propylene diene rubbers, ethylene acrylic ester copolymers, and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball comprising at least one layer formed from a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising an ionomer and 20 wt % or greater of a functionalized styrenic block copolymer, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized styrenic block copolymer, the thermoplastic composition having a JIS-C hardness (H) and a flexural modulus in ksi (M) wherein H≧11.889 Ln(M)+47. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the functionalized styrenic block copolymer has a Shore A hardness of 75 or less. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the functionalized styrenic block copolymer is present in the thermoplastic composition in an amount of 25 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized styrenic block copolymer. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the functionalized styrenic block copolymer is present in the thermoplastic composition in an amount of 30 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized styrenic block copolymer. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein H≧11.889 Ln(M)+49. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein H≧65. 
     
     
         17 . A golf ball comprising at least one layer formed from a thermoplastic composition, the thermoplastic composition comprising an ionomer and 20 wt % or greater of a functionalized ethylene propylene diene rubber, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized rubber, the thermoplastic composition having a JIS-C hardness (H) and a flexural modulus in ksi (M) wherein H≧11.889 Ln(M)+47. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein the functionalized rubber is present in the thermoplastic composition in an amount of 25 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized rubber. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein the functionalized rubber is present in the thermoplastic composition in an amount of 30 wt % or greater, based on the combined weight of the ionomer and the functionalized rubber. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein H≧11.889 Ln(M)+49.

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