Method of providing a moisture vapor barrier layer to a core of a golf ball

• US 8,161,903 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hogge, Matthew F., Cavallaro, Christopher, Foukes, Richard, Sullivan, Michael J., Morgan, William E., Harris, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Robert B
• Application Number:
  US12/904,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20110023774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 118/409, 118/416, 118/423
• US Class Current: 118/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/005 Cores
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0093 Moisture vapour transmission rate [MVTR]
• 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: B05C 11/08 Spreading liquid or other fluent material by manipulating the work, e.g. tilting
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 3/05 by applying vibrations thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 3/10 the articles being moved through the liquid or other fluent material conveying articles through baths B65G, e.g. B65G49/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 9/14 the auxiliary operation involving heating or cooling

Abstract

A method of forming a water vapor barrier layer to a core of a golf ball is provided. The method includes placing the core of the golf ball into a vapor barrier composition, withdrawing the lifting device, and spinning and optionally oscillating the core within the composition for a time sufficient for the composition to form a layer on the core. The present invention also provides an apparatus that can be used to form a water vapor barrier layer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a layer on a core of a golf ball comprising:

a lifting device to place the core on a holder;

a vessel comprising the holder and a composition capable of forming the layer on the core; and

a spinning device is capable of spinning the holder inside the vessel, wherein the lifting device is refrained from entering the composition, and

wherein the lifting device comprises at least one prong for acquiring the core.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises butyl rubber, elastomers, polyisobutylene, styrenic polymers and derivatives or mixtures thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the composition further comprises particles.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the particles comprise metal flakes.

5. An apparatus for forming a layer on a core of a golf ball comprising:

a lifting device to place the core on a holder;

a vessel comprising the holder and a composition capable of forming the layer on the core;

a spinning device capable of spinning the holder inside the vessel, wherein the lifting device is refrained from entering the composition; and

a force applicator to hold the core to the holder.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the spinning device is capable of moving the core in a direction other than spinning.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the spinning device oscillates the core.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the holder is a rotatable platform.

9. An apparatus for forming a layer on a core of a golf ball comprising:

a lifting device to place the core on a holder;

a vessel comprising the holder and a composition capable of forming the layer on the core; and

a spinning device capable of spinning the holder inside the vessel, wherein the lifting device is refrained from entering the composition, and

wherein the spinning device is a magnetic spinning device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the composition has a temperature of from about 25°

C. to about 100°

C. when in the vessel.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the composition has a viscosity of from about 25 cP to about 10,000 cP when in the vessel.