Mold for a golf ball

• US 6,632,078 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Wilbur, Donn A., Ogg, Steven S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US09/683,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 425/116, 425/120, 425/125, 425/129.1
• US Class Current: 425/116
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/0034 Mould parting lines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/005 characterised by the location of the parting line of the mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/00 Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor by liberation of internal stresses B29C61/006
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/26 Moulds
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/545 Football balls

Abstract

A golf ball mold having non-planar parting lines and a method for forming a cover using such mold are disclosed herein. The mold has a pair of mold halves, and each mold half has a non-planar perimeter. The non-planar perimeter has alternating extensions and indentations. Each of the extensions has an apex that may be curved, and each of the indentations has a depression that may be curved. The mold may be used in compression molding, injection molding and cast molding a layer on a golf ball. The mold may be used to produce golf balls having non-dimpled surfaces.

Claims

1. A mold for casting a thermosetting polyurethane cover for a golf ball, the mold comprising:

a first mold half comprising a body having an internal cavity with an inverse pattern for a thermosetting polyurethane golf ball cover and a perimeter having a non-planar surface with alternating extensions and indentations, wherein there are from 30 to 40 extensions and from 30 to 40 indentations; and

a second mold half comprising a body having an internal cavity and a perimeter having a non-planar surface with alternating extensions and indentations, wherein there are from 30 to 40 extensions and from 30 to 40 indentations;

wherein each of the extensions of the first mold half and the second mold half has triangular shape with a curved apex, and each of the indentations of the first mold half and the second mold half has triangular shaped with a curved depression;

whereby extensions of the first mold half engage with corresponding indentations of the second mold half, and indentations of the first mold half engage with corresponding extensions of the second mold half.

2. The mold according to claim 1 wherein each extension of the first mold half and the second mold half corresponds to a portion of a hexagon of a plurality of hexagons on a golf ball.

3. The mold according to claim 1 wherein each extension of the first mold half and the second mold half corresponds to an edge point of a pyramidal projection of a plurality of pyramidal projections on a golf ball.

4. The mold according to claim 1 wherein the perimeter has a wall with a thickness in the range of 0.75 inches to 2.00 inches.