Patent ID: 8262972
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: A63B,B05D

Abstract:
1. A golf ball comprising: an inner consisting essentially of a thermoplastic material, and having an outer surface and a geometric center, each having a hardness; an outer core layer comprising a rubber-based composition; an outer cover layer; and the dual core having an outer diameter of 1.51 inches to 1.59 inches an inner cover layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer; wherein the thermoplastic inner core has been exposed to a gradient-initiating solution comprising a solvent, free radical initiator, and a reactive co-agent comprising a metal salt of an acrylic or methacrylic acid, a mono- or multi-functional acrylate or methacrylate, or having the chemical structure where R=linear, branched, C 1 -C 14 or aromatic and n=1-5, such that the hardness of the outer surface is different than the hardness of the geometric center to define a positive or negative hardness gradient of 5 Shore C or greater.