Golf ball
AssigneeSpalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsR. Dennis Nesbitt, Michael J. Sullivan, Terence Melvin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a solid core component that includes a relatively hard central portion and a relatively soft skin portion surrounding the central portion. Various preferred embodiment golf balls are disclosed utilizing this core configuration. A golf ball comprising the noted core component having a wound layer disposed about the core skin portion is described. Another preferred embodiment relates to the use of the noted core component having a multi-layer cover assembly surrounding the core. Various methods for producing such golf ball core components are disclosed.
Claims12
A method for producing a golf ball including a cover component, a core component having a central portion and a skin portion disposed about said central portion, said central portion being harder than said skin portion, said central portion and said skin portion being formed in-situ from the same material or different material, and a wound layer disposed between said skin portion of said core component and said cover component, said method comprising:
- providing a molding apparatus having cooling and heating provisions and a chamber adapted for molding;
- providing a slug of polymeric material capable of undergoing an exothermic curing reaction;
- depositing said slug of polymeric material in said chamber of said molding apparatus;
- curing at least a portion of said polymeric material thereby causing the temperature within the interior of said slug to increase;
- and
- cooling said chamber of said molding apparatus thereby causing the temperature at the surface of said slug to be less than said temperature within the interior of said slug;
- whereby said golf ball core component having said central portion and said soft skin portion is produced.
A method for producing a golf ball including a cover component, a core component having a central portion and a skin portion disposed about said central portion, said central portion being harder than said skin portion, said central portion and said skin portion being formed in-situ from the same material or different material, and a wound layer disposed between said skin portion of said core component and said cover component, method comprising:
- providing a molding apparatus having heating provisions and a chamber adapted for molding;
- providing a slug of curable polymeric material;
- exposing said slug to water to enable said slug to absorb water;
- depositing said slug exposed to the water in said chamber of said molding apparatus;
- and
- curing at least a portion of said polymeric material;
- whereby said golf ball core component having said central portion and said soft skin portion is produced.
A method for producing a golf ball including a cover component, a core component having a central portion and a skin portion disposed about said central portion, said central portion being harder than said skin portion, said central portion and said skin portion being formed in-situ from the same material or different material, and a wound layer disposed between said skin portion of said core component and said cover component, said method comprising:
- providing a molding apparatus having heating provisions and a chamber adapted for molding;
- providing a slug of curable polymeric material;
- depositing a cross-linking retardant agent on the surface of said slug;
- disposing said slug having said cross-linking retardant agent thereon in said chamber of said molding apparatus;
- and
- curing at least a portion of said polymeric material;
- whereby said golf ball core component having said central portion and said soft skin portion is produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.