Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus – Distinct means to feed – support or manipulate preform stock... – Opposed registering coacting female molds
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-27
2004-11-16
Davis, Robert B. (Department: 1722)
Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
Distinct means to feed, support or manipulate preform stock...
Opposed registering coacting female molds
C425S125000, C425S577000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06817853
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to processes and apparatuses for forming golf balls, and more particularly to processes and equipment for forming golf balls having one or more deep dimples that extend through a cover layer to and/or into one or more layers or components thereunder. The present invention also relates to processes and apparatuses for forming golf balls with deep dimples by utilizing one or more specifically tailored “knock-out” pins that serve to support the core or ball assembly during molding, assist in removing the molded ball from the mold, and form deep dimples in the ball. These particularly tailored pins are preferably used in conjunction with other features in the mold to form deep dimples in the resulting ball. The various processes and apparatuses described herein are particularly well suited for use in conjunction with reaction injection molding techniques.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of two-piece (a solid resilient center or core with a molded cover) and multi-layer (liquid or solid center and multiple mantle and/or cover layers) golf balls have been produced. Different types of materials and/or processing parameters have been utilized to formulate the cores, covers, etc. of these balls, which dramatically alter the balls' overall characteristics. In addition, multi-layer covers of different materials have also been formulated in an attempt to produce a golf ball having the overall distance, playability and durability characteristics desired.
For certain applications it is desirable to produce a golf ball having a very thin cover layer. However, due to equipment limitations, it is often very difficult to mold a thin cover. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an apparatus and technique for producing a relatively thin outer cover layer.
Moreover, retractable pins have been utilized to hold, or center, the core or core and mantle and/or cover layer(s) in place while molding an outer cover layer thereon. However, these pins have only been utilized to support the core during molding and have not contributed to the outer appearance of the ball. In fact, conventional pins sometimes produce centering difficulties and cosmetic problems (i.e. pin flash, pin marks, etc.) during retraction, which in turn require additional handling to produce a golf ball suitable for use and sale. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for forming a cover layer on a golf ball with retractable pins that overcame the problems associated with conventional pins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide equipment and methods for forming a golf ball with a thin cover that has a favorable combination of playability properties yet which may be manufactured more cost effectively and without many of the problems associated with prior balls.
Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide equipment and methods for forming a golf ball having one or more deep dimples and a resulting favorable combination of spin, resiliency and durability characteristics.
A further aspect of the invention is to provide equipment and methods for forming a golf ball having a dimpled cover that is thinner than traditional cover layers with one or more deep dimples.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide equipment and methods for forming a golf ball having dimples in an outer cover layer that extend to, and/or into at least the next inner layer of the ball.
Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide equipment and methods for forming a golf ball core or intermediate ball assembly that in many instances may be readily removed from a molding assembly.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide novel molding equipment that simplifies manufacturing of golf balls and components thereof. The equipment utilizes one or more specifically tailored “knock-out” pins that serve to support the core or ball during molding, assist in removing the molded ball from the mold, and form deep dimples in the ball. These particularly tailored pins are preferably used in conjunction with other features in the mold to form deep dimples in the resulting ball.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a molding apparatus adapted for forming a golf ball having one or more deep dimples. The apparatus comprises an upper mold having a first hemispherical molding surface that defines a hemispherical molding cavity, and at least one aperture defined along the first molding surface. The upper mold further has, in each of the apertures, a selectively positionable pin having a distal end that may be extended into the cavity or retracted from the cavity. The molding apparatus further comprises a lower mold having a second hemispherical molding surface that defines a hemispherical molding cavity and at least one aperture defined along the second molding surface. The lower mold further has, in each of the apertures, a selectively positionable pin having a distal end that may be extended into the cavity or retracted therefrom. The upper mold and the lower mold are adapted to engage each other such that the first molding surface and the second molding surface form a generally spherical molding chamber. The pins in each of the apertures defined in the upper mold and lower mold extend into the molding chamber a distance of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.140 inches as measured from the respective first or second molding surface. The pins remain in the extended position during a molding operation so as to form a corresponding number of deep dimples in the resulting golf ball.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a molding apparatus adapted to form a golf ball with a plurality of deep dimples along an outer surface of the ball. The apparatus comprises a first mold including a first hemispherical molding surface defining a first molding cavity and at least one aperture defined along the first molding surface. The first molding surface has at least one raised protuberance adapted to form a deep dimple. The first mold further includes, in each of the apertures, a selectively positionable pin having a distal end that may be extended into the first cavity or retracted from the first cavity. The molding apparatus further includes a second mold having a second hemispherical molding surface that defines a second molding cavity and at least one aperture defined along the second molding surface. The second molding surface has at least one raised protuberance adapted to form a deep dimple. The second mold further includes, in each of the apertures, a selectively positionable pin having a distal end that may be extended into the second cavity or retracted from the second cavity. The first mold and the second mold are adapted to engage each other such that the first molding surface and the second molding surface form a generally spherical molding chamber. At least a portion of the raised protuberances in the first and second molding surfaces have a height, as measured from their respective molding surface, of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.140 inches.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a molding apparatus adapted for forming a golf ball with a plurality of deep dimples along an outer surface of the golf ball. The apparatus comprises a first mold including a first hemispherical molding surface defining a first molding cavity and at least one aperture defined along the first molding surface. The first molding surface has at least one raised protuberance adapted to form a deep dimple. The first mold further includes, in each of the apertures, a selectively positionable pin having a distal end that may be extended into the first cavity or retracted from the first cavity. Each of the pins associated with the first mold are positionable such that the distal end extends into the first molding chamber a distance of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.140 inches as measured from the first molding surface. The molding apparatus further comprises a second mold including a second hemispherical molding surfa
Shannon Kevin J.
Simonds Vincent J.
Veilleux Thomas A.
Callaway Golf Company
Davis Robert B.
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