Method for making golf ball
AssigneeCallaway Golf Company
InventorsMartin P. Wai, David L. Felker, William Priest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A geometric-shaped core (12) for a golf ball (10) has a plurality of outwardly extending projections (14) formed on a spherical central portion thereof. A layer (22) of a relatively less resilient material is applied in the interstitial space between the projections (14) on the surface of the core (12), and a cover (24) is applied over the core (12) and interstitial layer (22). The geometric-shaped core (12) is manufactured by first providing flexible, resilient, honeycombed inserts (42) to be used in a conventional compression mold (30). The inserts (42) are placed into the upper and lower mold cavities (30), the core material (40) is added, and the geometric-shaped golf ball core (12) is compression molded.
Claims5
A method for manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
- creating first half-shell insert and second half-shell insert, each half-shell insert composed of a thermoset or thermoplastic material, each half-shell insert having a honeycomb structure;
- placing the first half-shell insert in a lower cavity of a compression mold and the second half-shell insert in an upper cavity of the compression mold;
- placing a slug in the first half-shell insert which is in the lower cavity, the slug composed of a polybutadiene material;
- compression molding the slug into a core having a central portion with a plurality of projections extending outward therefrom, each of the projections having a top whereby the first half-shell insert and the second half-shell insert form an interstitial layer between the central portion and the top of each of the plurality of projections;
- and
- injection molding a cover over the core and the interstitial layer, the cover composed of an ionomer material.
A method for manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
- creating first half-shell insert and second half-shell insert, each half-shell insert composed of a thermoset or thermoplastic material, each half-shell insert having a honeycomb structure;
- placing the first half-shell insert in a lower cavity of a compression mold and the second half-shell insert in an upper cavity of the compression mold;
- placing a slug in the first half-shell insert which is in the lower cavity, the slug composed of a polybutadiene material;
- compression molding the slug into a core having a central portion with a plurality of projections extending outward therefrom, each of the projections having a top, the core having a Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 65;
- removing the first half-shell insert and the second half-shell insert from the core to create an interstitial space defined by a surface of the central portion and the top of each of the projections;
- filling the interstitial space with a polyurethane material to create an interstitial layer between the surface and the top of each of the plurality of projections, the interstitial layer having a Shore D hardness ranging from 40 to 60, and the Shore D hardness of the interstitial layer being lower than the Shore D hardness of the core;
- and
- injection molding a cover over the core and the interstitial layer, the cover composed of an ionomer material.
A method for manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
- creating first half-shell insert and second half-shell insert, each half-shell insert composed of a thermoset or thermoplastic material, each half-shell insert having a honeycomb structure;
- placing the first half-shell insert in a lower cavity of a compression mold and the second half-shell insert in an upper cavity of the compression mold;
- placing a slug in the first half-shell insert which is in the lower cavity, the slug composed of a polybutadiene material;
- compression molding the slug into a core having a central portion with a plurality of projections extending outward therefrom, each of the projections having a top whereby the first half-shell insert and the second half-shell insert form an interstitial layer between the surface and the top of each of the plurality of projections;
- molding an intermediate layer over the core and the interstitial layer, the intermediate layer formed of an ionomer material or a polyurethane material;
- and
- injection molding a cover over the intermediate layer, the cover composed of an ionomer material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.