Method of in-mold coating golf balls
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorMitchell E. Lutz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of applying a coating material to an outer surface of a golf ball, the method comprising molding a golf ball having an outer dimpled surface under a pressure greater than ambient pressure within a mold cavity; formulating a golf ball coating composition; introducing a sufficient amount of the coating composition into the mold cavity between the golf ball outer surface and an inner surface of the mold cavity to substantially surround and coat the entire outer surface of the golf ball; curing the coating composition upon the ball outer surface and removing the coated ball from the mold cavity.
Claims25
A method of applying a coating material to an outer dimpled surface of a golf ball, which method comprises:
- forming a mold cavity between upper and lower mold dies, said mold cavity configured and adapted for molding a golf ball;
- molding within said mold cavity a golf ball having an outer dimpled surface under a first pressure greater than ambient pressure until the golf ball is sufficiently cured to receive a coating that will not substantially penetrate the outer surface of the ball;
- preparing an in-mold golf ball coating composition;
- introducing a sufficient amount of said coating composition into the mold cavity between the outer dimpled surface of the golf ball and an inner surface of said mold cavity to substantially surround and coat the dimpled outer surface of said golf ball;
- curing said coating composition to form a coated golf ball having a dimple pattern thereon, said coated golf ball having at least one layer of said coating composition;
- and
- removing said coated golf ball having a dimple pattern thereon from the mold cavity.
A method of applying a urethane coating material to an outer dimpled surface of a golf ball, which method comprises:
- forming a mold cavity between upper and lower mold dies, said mold cavity configured and adapted for molding a golf ball;
- formulating a polyurethane coating composition by mixing a first component including at least one polyol or polyamine and a second composition comprising a substantially solvent-free isocyanate prepolymer;
- forming within said mold cavity a golf ball with an outer dimpled surface at a first pressure greater than ambient pressure;
- allowing the formed golf ball to cure within said mold cavity until the golf ball is sufficiently cured to receive a coating that will not substantially penetrate the outer surface of the ball;
- reducing the first pressure to a value substantially less than that used in forming said ball;
- introducing a sufficient amount of said polyurethane coating composition into said mold cavity between the outer dimpled surface of the golf ball and an inner surface of the mold cavity at a second pressure in excess of the first pressure to substantially surround and coat the outer dimpled surface of the golf ball;
- curing said polyurethane coating composition to form a coated golf ball having a dimple pattern thereon, said coated golf ball having at least one layer of said polyurethane coating composition;
- and
- removing said coated golf ball having a dimple pattern thereon from the mold cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.