Multi-Layer Golf Ball with Interrelated Volume and Neutralization Ratios
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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 resulted in undesirable hardness.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design with multiple layers, each comprising ionomeric or HNP compositions, where the volume and percent neutralization ratios of adjacent layers are interrelated to produce unique playing characteristics, ensuring resilience without hardness issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If golf balls are made entirely of ionomeric and/or HNP materials in all layers, then manufacturing cost and material consistency are improved, but the ball feel becomes undesirably hard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct layers with different ionomeric/HNP material properties. Specifically, the cover layer uses ionomeric/HNP material with certain hardness characteristics, while the intermediate layer uses ionomeric/HNP material with different (softer) characteristics. This allows different regions of the ball to have optimized properties - the cover for durability and spin, the intermediate layer for feel moderation, and the core for resilience - resolving the contradiction between all-ionomer construction benefits and hard feel drawbacks.
2Strength
If ionomeric/HNP material is used in all layers, then impact resistance and durability are improved, but resilience without hardness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining ionomeric/HNP materials with different formulations across multiple layers. The cover layer uses ionomeric/HNP material optimized for impact resistance and durability, while the intermediate layer uses ionomeric/HNP material with modified properties to provide resilience and moderate feel. This composite approach within the ionomeric/HNP material system allows the ball to achieve both high strength/durability and reliable resilience without the hard feel associated with uniform all-ionomer construction.
Data Source
AI summary
Golf ball having at least three layers comprising ionomeric and/or HNP compositions, 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, a golf ball of the invention has T layers, wherein T≥3 and each of T layers has a different volume “V” and comprises an ionomeric and/or HNP composition having a different % neutralization “N”. Furthermore, 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 (Vn−V(n+1))/Vn≥(Nn−N(n+1))/N(n+1).