US2026077242A1PendingUtilityA1
Golf ball including protrusions on intermediate layer
Est. expiryJun 7, 2043(~16.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0043A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0033A63B 37/0045A63B 37/004
86
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims
Abstract
A golf ball is disclosed herein that includes an intermediate layer having protrusions. Among other advantages, the geometry and profile of the protrusions are optimized to provide increased stiffness on shots with higher club head speeds, while maintaining the volume of the softer cover material in order to maintain sufficient spin on wedge shots. The protrusions are further configured to transfer energy during high speed club impacts and more efficiently reduce long game spin.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1 . A golf ball comprising:
a core; an intermediate layer disposed around the core, the intermediate layer comprising:
a base portion defining a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface; and
a plurality of protrusions extending from the radially outer surface of the base portion, the plurality of protrusions each comprising:
a sidewall surface; and
a top surface having a spherical profile with a radius of curvature that is concentric with the radially outer surface of the base portion; and
a cover disposed around the intermediate layer,
wherein the intermediate layer has a mean radius (R μ ) that is at least 0.800 inches and no greater than 0.835 inches.
2 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the plurality of protrusions defines a maximum protrusion radius (R max ) defined by an outermost radial distance of at least one outermost radial point among the plurality of the protrusions, and wherein the maximum protrusion radius (R max ) is at least 0.805 inches and no greater than 0.835 inches.
3 . The golf ball according to claim 2 , wherein the maximum protrusion radius (R max ) is at least 0.815 inches and no greater than 0.835 inches.
4 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a base volume (V b ) defined by:
V
b
=
4
3
π
(
R
b
3
-
R
i
3
)
where (R b ) is a base outer surface radius defined by the radially outer surface of the base portion, and (R i ) is a base inner surface radius defined by the radially inner surface of the base portion,
wherein the intermediate layer has a volume (V L ) defined by:
V
L
=
V
b
+
V
p
where (V p ) is a volume of the plurality of protrusions, and
wherein a ratio of the volume of the protrusions to the volume of the base portion (V p :V b ) is 0.15-0.45.
5 . The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein the mean radius (R μ ) of the intermediate layer and the ratio of the volume of the protrusions to the volume of the base portion (V p :V b ) have the following relationship:
0.2
≤
V
p
:
V
b
R
μ
≤
0
.
6
0
.
6 . The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein the mean radius (R μ ) of the intermediate layer and the ratio of the volume of the protrusions to the volume of the base portion (V p :V b ) have the following relationship:
0.4
≤
V
p
:
V
b
R
μ
≤
0
.
6
0
.
7 . The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein the mean radius (R μ ) of the intermediate layer and the ratio of the volume of the protrusions to the volume of the base portion (V p :V b ) have the following relationship:
0.2
≤
V
p
:
V
b
R
μ
≤
0.3
.
8 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from an intermediate layer material having a flexural modulus (FM), and wherein a volume of the protrusions (V p ) and the flexural modulus (FM) of the intermediate layer material have the following relationship:
1.
≤
FM
×
V
p
≤
2
0
0
.
0
.
9 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer is formed from an intermediate layer material having a flexural modulus (FM), and wherein a volume of the protrusions (V p ) and the flexural modulus (FM) of the intermediate layer material have the following relationship:
15.
≤
FM
×
V
p
≤
55.
.
10 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a maximum protrusion height (h p ) is defined by:
h
p
=
R
max
-
R
b
where (R b ) is a base outer surface radius defined by the radially outer surface of the base portion, and (R max ) is a maximum protrusion radius defined by an outermost radial distance of at least one outermost radial point among the plurality of the protrusions,
wherein the maximum protrusion height (h p ) is at least 0.003 inches and no greater than 0.020 inches.
11 . The golf ball according to claim 10 , wherein the base portion has a thickness (t b ), and a ratio of the maximum protrusion height (h p ) to the thickness (t b ) of the base portion is defined by:
0.5
≤
h
p
t
b
≤
0
.
7
5
.
12 . The golf ball according to claim 10 , wherein the base portion has a thickness (t b ), and a ratio of the maximum protrusion height (h p ) to the thickness (t b ) of the base portion is defined by:
0.6
≤
h
p
t
b
≤
0
.
8
0
.
13 . The golf ball according to claim 10 , wherein the base portion has a thickness (t b ), and a ratio of the maximum protrusion height (h p ) to the thickness (t b ) of the base portion is defined by:
0.65
≤
h
p
t
b
≤
0
.
7
5
.
14 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewall surface of the plurality of protrusions has a profile that is at least one of: (i) normal relative to the radially outer surface of the base portion, (ii) angled relative to the radially outer surface of the base portion, (iii) curved, (iv) concave, or (v) convex.
15 . The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the core has a diameter of 1.53-1.57 inches, the intermediate layer being formed from a blend of high acid sodium ionomer and high acid zinc ionomer, and the cover being formed from a cast polyurethane.
16 . A golf ball comprising:
a core; an intermediate layer disposed around the core, the intermediate layer comprising:
a base portion defining a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface; and
a plurality of protrusions extending from the radially outer surface of the base portion, the plurality of protrusions each comprising:
a sidewall surface; and
a top surface having a spherical profile with a radius of curvature that is concentric with the radially outer surface of the base portion; and
a cover disposed around the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is formed from an intermediate layer material having a flexural modulus (FM), and wherein a volume of the plurality of protrusions (V p ) and the flexural modulus (FM) of the intermediate layer material have the following relationship:
1.
≤
FM
×
V
p
≤
2
0
0
.
0
.
17 . The golf ball according to claim 16 , wherein the intermediate layer has a mean radius (R μ ) and the intermediate layer has a base volume (V b ), and
a relationship between the mean radius (R μ ) of the intermediate layer and a ratio of the volume of the protrusions to the volume of the base portion (V p :V b ) is defined by:
0.2
≤
V
p
:
V
b
R
μ
≤
0.6
0
.
18 . The golf ball according to claim 17 , wherein:
0.4
≤
V
p
:
V
b
R
μ
≤
0.6
0
.
19 . The golf ball according to claim 16 , wherein the volume of the protrusions (V p ) and the flexural modulus (FM) of the intermediate layer material have the following relationship:
15.
≤
FM
×
V
p
≤
55.
.
20 . A golf ball comprising:
a core; an intermediate layer disposed around the core, the intermediate layer comprising:
a base portion defining a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface; and
a plurality of protrusions extending from the radially outer surface of the base portion, the plurality of protrusions each comprising:
a sidewall surface; and
a top surface having a spherical profile with a radius of curvature that is concentric with the radially outer surface of the base portion; and
a cover disposed around the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer has a contact surface coverage ratio (S r ) defined by:
S
r
=
S
p
4
π
R
max
2
where (S p ) is a surface area of all top surfaces of the plurality of protrusions, and (R max ) is a maximum protrusion radius defined by an outermost radial distance of at least one outermost radial point among the plurality of the protrusions,
wherein the intermediate layer has a mean radius (R μ ), and
wherein:
0.05
≤
S
r
≤
0.35
,
when
R
μ
≥
0.81
inches
,
or
0.35
≤
S
r
≤
0.7
,
when
R
μ
<
0.81
inches
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