GOLF BALL

• US 20070293352A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: BERGIN, THOMAS, VEILLEUX, THOMAS, MURPHY, DANIEL, SIMONDS, VINCENT
• Application Number:
  US11/846,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/378
• 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 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.

2. The method according to claim 1 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.

3. The method according to claim 1 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.