Golf Ball

• US 20060205536A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Bergin, Thomas F., Simonds, Vincent J., Murphy, Daniel, Veilleux, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/377
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0013 The dimple being formed in both the cover and the underlying layer
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0021 Occupation ratio, i.e. percentage surface occupied by dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0022 Coatings, e.g. paint films; Markings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14131 using positioning or centering means forming part of the insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/545 Football balls

Abstract

Pinless molding of a cover (24) for a golf ball (20), and an apparatus and method for manufacturing a golf ball precursor product (22) for use in pinless molding is disclosed herein. Preferably the golf ball precursor product (22) comprises a core (26) and a mantle layer (28). The golf ball precursor product (22) preferably has a plurality of lobes (30) extending from an innersphere (27). The plurality of lobes (30) allow the golf ball precursor product (22) to be centered within a cover mold without the use of pins for centering.

Claims

1. A method for forming a cover on a golf ball, the method comprising:

positioning a golf ball precursor product within a mold cavity, the golf ball precursor product having a plurality of lobes extending outward from an innersphere of the golf ball precursor product;

dispensing a cover material into the mold cavity to form a cover around the golf ball precursor product;

flowing the cover material around each of the plurality of lobes to provide a cover with each of the plurality of lobes extending to an unfinished surface of the golf ball; and

applying a coating to the unfinished surface of the golf ball.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball precursor product is a core and mantle layer, the plurality of lobes extend from a surface of the mantle layer.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golf ball precursor product is a core and the plurality of lobes extend from a surface of the core.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of lobes has a height ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.100 inch and the innersphere of golf ball precursor product has a diameter ranging from 1.45 inches to 1.69 inches.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lobes comprises a first lobe positioned on a first hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product and a second lobe positioned on a second hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lobes comprises a first group of three lobes positioned on a first hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product and a second group of three lobes positioned on a second hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein dispensing a cover material into the mold cavity comprises reaction injecting a material into the mold cavity, the material comprising a reaction mixture of a polyol reactant and a isocyanate reactant.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein dispensing a cover material into the mold cavity comprises injecting a thermoplastic material into the mold cavity.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the coating is a paint.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first plurality of retractable pins that retractably extend through a first plurality of apertures about a pole of the hemispherical surface of the first mold half, and a second plurality of retractable pins that retractably extend through a second plurality of apertures about a pole of the hemispherical surface of the second mold half.

10. A golf ball comprising:

a golf ball precursor product having a plurality of lobes, each of the plurality of lobes extending outward from an innersphere of the golf ball precursor product;

a cover, the cover covering a non-lobe area of the golf ball precursor product;

a coating disposed on the cover and a top of each of the plurality of lobes.

11. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the golf ball precursor product comprises a core and a mantle, each of the plurality of lobes extending from a surface of the mantle layer.

12. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the coating comprises a paint layer and a top coat layer.

13. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the coating comprises a first paint layer, a second paint layer and a top coat layer.

14. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the coating comprises a top coat layer.

15. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the golf ball precursor product comprises a core, each of the plurality of lobes extending from a surface of the core.

16. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein wherein each of the plurality of lobes has a height ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.100 inch and the innersphere of golf ball precursor product has a diameter ranging from 1.45 inches to 1.69 inches.

17. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of lobes comprises a first lobe positioned on a first hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product and a second lobe positioned on a second hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product.

18. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of lobes comprises a first group of three lobes positioned on a first hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product and a second group of three lobes positioned on a second hemisphere of the golf ball precursor product.

19. The golf ball according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of lobes cover 5% to 25% of the surface area of the innersphere of the golf ball precursor product.

20. An apparatus for forming a golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes, the apparatus comprising:

a first mold half having a hemispheric surface comprising a smooth portion and a plurality of deep depressions;

a second mold half having a hemispheric surface comprising a smooth portion and a plurality of deep depressions;

wherein the depth of each of the plurality of deep depressions of the first mold half and the second mold half ranges from 0.010 inch to 0.100 inch.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of deep depressions of the first mold half comprise three deep depressions positioned equidistant from each other and the plurality of deep depressions of the second mold half comprise three deep depressions positioned equidistant from each other.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein each of the plurality of deep depressions of the first mold half is positioned within an a first latitudinal region of the hemispherical surface of the first mold half, the first latitudinal region ranging from 10 degrees latitude from an edge of the hemispherical surface to 60 degrees latitude from the edge of the hemispherical surface, and each of the plurality of deep depressions of the second mold half is positioned within an a first latitudinal region of the hemispherical surface of the second mold half, the first latitudinal region ranging from 10 degrees latitude from an edge of the hemispherical surface to 60 degrees latitude from the edge of the hemispherical surface.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of deep depressions of the first mold half has a triangular cross-section, and each of the plurality of deep depressions of the second mold half has a triangular cross-section.

25. A method for forming a golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes, the method comprising:

placing a spherical core or pre-core slug within a cavity of a mold assembly, the cavity defined by a hemispheric surface of the first mold half and a hemispheric surface of a second mold half, the hemispheric surface of the first mold half comprising a smooth portion and a plurality of deep depressions and the hemispheric surface of the second mold half comprising a smooth portion and a plurality of deep depressions; and

forming a golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes from the spherical core or pre-core slug.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein a spherical core is placed within the cavity and forming the golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes comprises injecting a thermoplastic material into the cavity to form a mantle layer with a plurality of lobes extending from a surface of the mantle layer, each of the plurality of lobes formed from thermoplastic material flowing into a deep depression.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein a pre-core slug is placed within the cavity and forming the golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes comprises compressing molding the pre-core slug within the cavity to form a core with a plurality of lobes extending from a surface of the core, each of the plurality of lobes formed from material of the pre-core slug flowing into a deep depression.