Two-stage reaction injection molded golf ball
First Claim
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1. A two stage reaction method for forming a layer on a golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a first mold defining a recessed molding surface;
providing a second mold defining a recessed retaining surface;
positioning a golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly within at least one of the recessed molding surface of the first mold and the recessed retaining surface defined by the second mold;
closing the first mold and the second mold whereby a first molding cavity is defined along a first region of the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly;
introducing an initially flowable material into the first molding cavity to thereby form a first molded layer portion on the first region;
opening the first mold and the second mold to thereby at least partially expose the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly;
providing a third mold defining a recessed molding surface;
positioning the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly containing the first molded layer portion within at least one of the recessed molding surface of the first mold and the recessed molding surface of the third mold;
closing the first mold and the third mold whereby a second molding cavity is defined along a second region of the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly;
introducing an initially flowable material into the second molding cavity to thereby form a second molded layer portion on the second region;
opening the first mold and the third mold;
removing the golf ball core or the intermediate golf ball assembly containing the first and second molded layer portions, from at least one of the first mold and the third mold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various reaction injection molding (“RIM”) processes and molding equipment are disclosed. In particular, a multi-stage molding process and molding assembly is disclosed for the production of layers or cores on golf balls. The process utilizes a collection of molds, including shuttle molds and/or molding assist members, that readily enables reaction injection molding of layer(s) on golf ball cores or intermediate golf ball assemblies.
106 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A two stage reaction method for forming a layer on a golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a first mold defining a recessed molding surface;
providing a second mold defining a recessed retaining surface;
positioning a golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly within at least one of the recessed molding surface of the first mold and the recessed retaining surface defined by the second mold;
closing the first mold and the second mold whereby a first molding cavity is defined along a first region of the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly;
introducing an initially flowable material into the first molding cavity to thereby form a first molded layer portion on the first region;
opening the first mold and the second mold to thereby at least partially expose the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly;
providing a third mold defining a recessed molding surface;
positioning the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly containing the first molded layer portion within at least one of the recessed molding surface of the first mold and the recessed molding surface of the third mold;
closing the first mold and the third mold whereby a second molding cavity is defined along a second region of the golf ball core or intermediate golf ball assembly;
introducing an initially flowable material into the second molding cavity to thereby form a second molded layer portion on the second region;
opening the first mold and the third mold;
removing the golf ball core or the intermediate golf ball assembly containing the first and second molded layer portions, from at least one of the first mold and the third mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 43)
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9. A molding assembly adapted for two stage reaction injection molding, the molding assembly comprising:
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a first mold defining a recessed molding surface;
a second mold defining a recessed retaining surface, wherein the first mold and the second mold are adapted to engage each other to form a first molding cavity; and
a third mold defining a recessed molding surface, wherein the first mold and the third mold are adapted to engage each other to form a second molding cavity. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of molding a layer formed of at least one flowable reactive material about a golf ball product, comprising:
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holding a first portion of the golf ball product in a retaining cavity of a retaining member to expose a second portion of the golf ball product;
positioning the exposed second portion of the golf ball product in a first mold cavity of a first mold portion;
injecting the reactive material at a mating surface between the retaining member and the first mold portion into the first mold cavity to mold a first portion of the layer over the second portion of the golf ball product;
disengaging the retaining member from the golf ball product to expose the first portion thereof while holding the molded first portion of the layer by the first mold portion;
positioning the exposed first portion of the golf ball product in a second mold cavity of a second mold portion;
injecting the reactive material at a mating surface between the first and second mold portions into the second mold cavity to mold a second portion of the layer over the first portion of the golf ball product; and
removing the golf ball product with the molded layer from the first and second molded portions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 42)
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32. A method of molding a layer formed of at least one reaction injection molding material about each golf ball product in a multi-array of golf ball products comprising:
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holding a first portion of each golf ball product in a retaining cavity of a multi-array of a retaining member to expose a second portion of each golf ball product;
positioning the exposed second portion of each golf ball product in a first mold cavity of a multi-array of first mold portions;
molding a first portion of the layer from a reaction injection molding material over the second portion of each golf ball product;
disengaging the retaining member array from the golf ball product array to expose the first portion of each golf ball product while holding the molded first portions of the layers by the first mold portion array;
positioning the exposed first portion of each golf ball product in a second mold cavity of a multi-array of second mold portions;
molding a second portion of the layer from the reaction injection molding material over the first portion of each golf ball product; and
removing the golf ball product with the molded layer from the first and second molded portions. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of molding a layer formed of at least one reaction injection molding material about a golf ball product, comprising:
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holding a bottom portion of the golf ball product horizontally in a retaining cavity of a retaining member to expose a top portion of the golf ball product;
positioning the exposed top portion of the golf ball product in a top mold cavity of a top mold portion;
injecting the reaction injection molding material at a mating surface between the retaining member and the top mold portion into the top mold cavity to mold a top portion of the layer over the top portion of the golf ball product;
disengaging the retaining member from the golf ball product to expose the bottom portion thereof while holding the molded top portion of the layer by the top mold portion;
positioning the exposed bottom portion of the golf ball product in a bottom mold cavity of a bottom mold portion;
injecting the reaction injection molding material at a mating surface between the top and bottom mold portions into the bottom mold cavity to mold a bottom portion of the layer over the bottom portion of the golf ball product; and
removing the golf ball product with the molded layer from the first and second molded portions. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification