US 5,688,191 · Granted 1997-11-18
The Layered Golf Ball Patent That Changed How Balls Perform
This patent describes a golf ball made from multiple layers—a solid or hollow center, protective layers in the middle, and a tough outer cover. By stacking different rubber and plastic materials, manufacturers can fine-tune how the ball spins, flies, and feels off the club.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a golf ball with a specific internal architecture: a core at the center, one or more mantle layers wrapped around it (made from materials like dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer or styrene-butadiene rubber), and an outer cover layer on top. What's protected is the combination of these layers and the particular material blend used in each zone—someone making a competing ball with the same layered structure and material composition would be infringing.
Why it matters
Multi-layer golf balls became the industry standard because they let manufacturers optimize different properties at once: a soft core for distance, a firmer middle layer for control, and a durable cover for longevity. Before this patent, most balls were simpler two-piece designs. Acushnet (which owns Titleist and FootJoy) has dominated premium golf equipment partly through innovations in ball construction, and this patent represents the kind of material-science protection that keeps that competitive edge.
Real-world use
Every time a pro golfer or weekend player hits a premium golf ball, they're using technology descended from patents like this—the ball's ability to spin differently around the greens versus off the driver comes from those engineered internal layers.
Original USPTO abstract
The present invention is directed towards a multi-layer golf ball which comprises a core with one or more layers; at least one cover layer; and one or more mantle layers disposed between the core and cover layer, wherein the mantle layer comprises dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer, functionalized styrene-butadiene elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, metallocene polymer or blends thereof and thermoset materials.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,688,191
- Filing date
- 1995-06-07
- Grant date
- 1997-11-18
- Assignee
- Acushnet Company
- Inventor(s)
- CAVALLARO; CHRISTOPHER, RAJAGOPSIAN; MURALI, BOEHM; HERBERT C., HARRIS; KEVIN M.
- CPC class
- A63B37/12
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