Mold and method of molding golf ball having dimples on the equator

• US 6,893,362 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US10/340,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378, 473/383, 473/384
• US Class Current: 473/378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00065 located around the pole or the equator
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0021 Occupation ratio, i.e. percentage surface occupied by dimples
• 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 33/301 Modular mould systems [MMS], i.e. moulds built up by stacking mould elements, e.g. plates, blocks, rods B29C33/0088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0042 Producing plain balls hollow balls B29D22/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/52 Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys B29L2031/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls

Abstract

A method and mold for making a multi-parting line golf ball by compressing a dimple arrangement about a pre-formed sphere. The mold comprises at least three mold inserts having dimple producing projections on their inner spherical surfaces. Upon the dimples being molded to the pre-formed sphere, the resulting parting lines which are offset to the equator of the sphere, are visually inconspicuous, due to the pre-formed sphere being of a net size and weight very similar to the finished golf ball. The method of the invention allows for dimples to be located at and on the equator of the ball.

Claims

1. A golf ball manufactured by compressing dimples in an arrangement about a pre-molded sphere, the ball comprising:

the pre-molded sphere of a net weight and size similar to the ball, the sphere having an equator;

a plurality of parting lines offset from the equator; and

dimples located on the equator.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the parting lines comprise dual parting lines, the lines comprising of:

an upper parting line and a lower parting line;

the upper parting line being spaced from a first pole by a first distance; and

the lower parting line being spaced from an opposite pole by a second distance which is less than the first distance.

3. The golf ball according to claim 2, wherein the first distance is between about 30 to 49 percent of the diameter of the pre-molded sphere.

4. The golf ball according to claim 2, wherein the second distance is between about 3 to 20 percent of the diameter of the pre-molded sphere.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the parting lines comprise four parting lines, a top parting line, a bottom parting line and a pair of vertical parting lines, each vertical parting line extending between the top and bottom parting lines.

6. The golf ball mold according to claim 5, wherein two of the parting lines are continuous and two of the parting lines are partial.

7. The golf ball according to claim 6, wherein the partial parting lines are on an equator.