Multi-Layer Golf Ball with Interdependent Volume and Neutralization Gradients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls composed entirely of ionomeric and/or HNP materials face challenges in achieving resilience without an undesirably hard feel, as previous attempts to use these materials in all layers result in undesirable hardness.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design with multiple layers, each comprising ionomeric and/or HNP compositions, where the volume and percent neutralization ratios of adjacent layers are interrelated to produce unique playing characteristics, ensuring a balance between hardness and resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If golf balls are made entirely of ionomeric and/or HNP materials in all layers, then impact resistance and durability are improved, but the feel becomes undesirably hard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the percent neutralization across different layers of the golf ball. Each layer has a specific neutralization percentage (first layer: 50-80%, second layer: 80-95%, third layer: 95-110%) that creates localized property gradients. This allows the inner layers to provide resilience while outer layers provide durability, resolving the contradiction between hard feel and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of percent neutralization across different layers to achieve the desired balance. By systematically varying this parameter from the core outward, the patent transforms the uniform hard feel into a gradient structure that provides both resilience and durability, directly addressing the technical contradiction.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the percent neutralization is increased to improve durability, then impact resistance is improved, but the feel and spin characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different neutralization percentages to different layers. The outermost layer has high neutralization (95-110%) for durability, while inner layers have lower neutralization (50-80%) for maintaining spin characteristics. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between durability and spin consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where multiple ionomeric layers with different neutralization levels work together. This composite approach allows the ball to exhibit both high durability from the outer layers and consistent spin from the inner layers, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single layer composition is used to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but playing characteristics cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the golf ball into multiple layers, each with specific neutralization percentages. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's properties to achieve desired playing characteristics while using a repeatable multi-layer manufacturing process that balances complexity with performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite ionomeric materials with different neutralization levels in each layer. This composite structure enables tailored playing characteristics for different course conditions and player preferences, achieving high adaptability while maintaining a systematic manufacturing approach.
Data Source
AI summary
Golf ball having at least three layers comprising an ionomeric and/or HNP composition, wherein for each two adjacent layers, a relationship is established between a ratio of the volumes of the two adjacent layers and a ratio of the percent neutralizations of those two layers such that the volumes and % neutralizations of all layers are interrelated and interdependent to produce unique and desirable playing characteristics. In one embodiment, each of T layers, wherein T≥3, has a different volume “V” and comprises an ionomeric/HNP composition having a different % neutralization “N”; and wherein each of n inner layers of the T layers (n<T) has an adjacent surrounding layer n+1 such that a volume Vn and a % neutralization Nn of each inner layer and a volume V(n+1) and % neutralization N(n+1) of each adjacent surrounding layer n+1 satisfy the relationship (V(n+1)−Vn)/V(n+1)≤(N(n+1)−Nn)/Nn.