US 2006/0038323 A1 · APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING A GOLF BALL

Abstract

An apparatus for making a golf ball is disclosed. The apparatus is a molding assembly for making a golf ball which includes a mold body that defines a molding cavity. The molding cavity is adapted to accommodate and preferably retain a golf ball core during a molding operation of one or more layers about the core. The molding assembly includes at least one material flow inlet, at least one material flow channel extending between and providing fluid communication with a material flow inlet and the molding cavity. At least one portion of the material flow channel has a plurality of bends and at least one branching intersection adapted to promote turbulence in a liquid flowing therethrough. A method of making a golf ball is also disclosed. A golf ball made from the disclosed molding apparatus and/or process is also disclosed.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of making a golf ball comprising:

providing a molding assembly including a mold defining a molding cavity adapted to receive a golf ball core and a material flow channel providing fluid communication between the molding cavity and a source of flowable molding material, the material flow channel having at least one turbulence-promoting fan gate;
obtaining a golf ball core;
positioning the core within the molding cavity;
introducing an effective amount of the flowable molding material through the material flow channel and into the molding cavity thereby causing the flowable molding material to pass through the turbulence-promoting fan gate;
and
forming a layer of the molding material about the core.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/163,532Filed 21 Oct 2005

Priority

18 Mar 1998

Published

23 Feb 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A63B 45/00
Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls
A63B 37/0003
Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles: golf balls
A63B 37/12
Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles: special coverings , i.e. outer layer material
B01F 25/421
In which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions: by…

Family

Application09/040,798Continuation in part · filed 18 Mar 1998

Application09/690,487Continuation in part · filed 17 Oct 2000

Application09/812,878Division · filed 20 Mar 2001

Application09/812,878Continuation in part · filed 20 Mar 2001

Application10/390,296Division · filed 17 Mar 2003

Application11/163,532Division · filed 21 Oct 2005

US 2001/0012805 A1Published application

US 2003/0176239 A1Published application

US 6,533,566 B2Related patent

US 6,855,073 B1Related patent

US 2006/0038323 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Apparatus and method for making a golf ball

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for making a golf ball

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20