Acushnet Company

Ajay P Vora

John M Thornton

Robert A Wilson

Thomas L Mydlack

Donald A Serino

Thomas Edward Moore

John Rulevich

Kevin J Rice

Improved injection molding methods and molds, for forming TPU layers, especially thin TPU covers, into golf ball constructions, and having improved number, shape and placement of both the injection gates and the cold slugs within the mold in order to minimize/eliminate damage to dimples strategically positioned close to the parting line of a mold in order to maximize aerodynamic properties of the resulting golf ball.

Injection molding method and mold

Golf ball methods and molds for quickly and efficiently eliminating air/gas from within a mold during golf ball manufacture and the improved golf balls resulting therefrom.

Methods and molds for molding golf balls incorporating a thermoplastic polyurethane cover

Golf ball methods and molds for quickly and efficiently eliminating air/gas from within a mold while better centering a subassembly in the mold during golf ball manufacture and the improved golf balls resulting therefrom.

Golf ball molds and methods for molding golf balls, particularly golf balls having thermoplastic polyurethane covers, are provided. The molds and methods are particularly suitable for manufacturing covers for golf balls. Multi-piece golf balls having inner cores, outer cores, inner covers, and intermediate layers can be made. Retractable pins are used for holding the golf ball within the mold, wherein each retractable pin has a primary vent section, secondary vent section, and tertiary vent section for removing air and other gasses from the interior spherical cavity of the mold.

Molds and methods for molding golf balls having a thermoplastic polyurethane cover

Method of making golf ball comprising aligning thermoformed depressions with dimpled mold cups and applying sufficient heat and suction to the thermoformed depressions without exposing any preselected subassembly to the heat and suction to soften the polymeric material of each thermoformed depression and draw air outward from a volume located between an inner surface of the dimpled mold cup and an outer surface of the thermoformed depression to form a thermoformed pre-form half-shell having an outer surface with the size, shape and contour of the inner surface of the dimpled mold cup(s) and an inner surface with the size, shape and contour of the outer surface of a preselected subassembly. Afterwards, a preselected subassembly is loaded between a pair of thermoformed pre-form half-shells and molded under sufficient short-term heat and suction to form the golf ball. The thickness of each thermoformed depression and thermoformed pre-form half-shell may be tapered.

Method of molding outer layers about a subassembly without exposing the subassembly to prolonged heat and pressure

Golf ball having CoR of at least 0.700 and comprising: a substantially spherical subassembly having diameter of 1.3 inches or greater and compression of from about 15-60; and a thin outer layer having a compression molded thickness of about 0.015-0.055 inches and consisting of first and second hemispherical cups consisting of a polymer composition having a melt flow index at 190&#xb0; C. under a 2.16-kg load of from about 0.8 g/10 min. to about 4 g/10 min. and having a cup thickness ratio of from about 1.10 to 1.70 as well as an inner surface that is sized, shaped and contoured to receive and conformally and adhesively mate onto and about the subassembly during compression molding such that the subassembly in the finished golf ball is substantially spherical and disposed concentrically within the thin outer layer. Also, the novel hemispherical cups and the method of making the golf ball.

Golf ball incorporating pair of thin hemispherical cups having targeted configuration/geometry and being compression molded about large, soft subassembly/core

A method for compression molding a thin cover layer over a large or soft core golf ball, wherein the process includes mold press speed of closure, pressure within the mold cavities, temperature of materials being molded, and the movement of the compression press is controlled by as the mold position rather than any fixed amounts of time. A Ram press is moved in a very controlled fashion during the low pressure stage by a servo controller, and is governed by data fed to a control computer by a linear potentiometer, which allows for a very deliberate movement, especially over the last 0.4 inches of closing. A pressure transducer and thermocouples determine the flow point of the cover layer. Once the cover material starts to flow, the Ram press is triggered into a high pressure close wherein the cover layer is formed and then finally cooled.

Method for molding golf ball cover over soft core

A replaceable cavity insert for use in a multi-cavity compression mold, wherein each cavity insert is friction fitted into a respective mold recess. Each insert has a substantially semi-spherical insert surface and defined in the surface is an inverted dimple pattern of a golf ball. Each cavity insert has an O-ring recessed in the upper perimeter to limit the flow of heating and cooling fluids beyond the perimeter. The cavity insert and the O-ring are retained in the recess of the frame by a pair of removable cavity retainer screws and washers, which are countersunk into the frame and have an edge of the washer disposed in a cut-out section of the insert. Each cavity insert may be separately and individually removed from the frame by just loosening the retaining screws without the need to remove the entire frame from the press or disconnecting the utility lines leading to the frame.

Growing community of inventors

Randolph, MA, United States of America

Ajay P Vora