Method of making a golf ball product from fast-curling reaction injection molded polyurethane
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a cover on a golf ball product comprising:
- positioning a spherical uncovered golf ball product in the center of a mold, the mold having a spherical mold surface,closing the mold around the golf ball product,mixing a polyurethane prepolymer and a curing agent to form a thermoset reaction mixture,reaction injection molding the reaction mixture in the mold to form a golf ball cover layer over the golf ball product therein,allowing the reaction mixture to gel and form a golf ball, andopening the mold and removing the golf ball within about 10 to 60 seconds after the injecting step.
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Abstract
Golf ball products are made by reaction injection molding (RIM) fast curing thermoset polyurethane compounds. A polyurethane prepolymer and a curing agent are mixed and injected at low temperature and pressure into a closed mold where the reaction mixture gels. The mold is opened and the golf ball product is removed within 10–60 seconds after the injection step.
29 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of forming a cover on a golf ball product comprising:
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positioning a spherical uncovered golf ball product in the center of a mold, the mold having a spherical mold surface, closing the mold around the golf ball product, mixing a polyurethane prepolymer and a curing agent to form a thermoset reaction mixture, reaction injection molding the reaction mixture in the mold to form a golf ball cover layer over the golf ball product therein, allowing the reaction mixture to gel and form a golf ball, and opening the mold and removing the golf ball within about 10 to 60 seconds after the injecting step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
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10. The method of clam 1 in which the uncovered golf ball product comprises a solid core and a lattice structure over the core.
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13. A method of producing a golf ball having a golf ball cover layer including a polyurethane, said method comprising:
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providing a first reactant which is an isocyanate; providing a second reactant selected from the group consisting of a polyol, a polyamine, and combinations thereof; heating said first reactant to a temperature of from about 80°
to about 130°
F.;heating said second reactant to a temperature of from about 80°
to about 150°
F.;mixing said first reactant and said second reactant together to form a thermoset reaction mixture; providing a molding assembly defining a molded cavity and having a golf ball component positioned within said molding cavity; closing the molding assembly around the golf ball component; reaction injection molding said thermoset reaction mixture in said molding cavity; and molding a golf ball cover layer about said golf ball component from said thermoset reaction mixture, thereby producing said golf ball. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
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15. The method of clam 13 further comprising:
heating said molding assembly to a temperature of about 140°
to 170°
F.
Specification