Acushnet Company

Stanley W Brown

Robert N Lammi

David W Sauerbrey

A method of surface treating a golf ball by applying a thin coat of a lubricant having a hydrophilic/hydrophobic character, such as oleic acid. Prior to the stamping of indicia onto the surface of a ball having been prepped with a water-based primer coat, a lubricant is required to aid the ball in a spinning action which is necessary for properly orienting the equator of the ball in a holding mold. After the stamping of indicia, the ball is then painted with a solvent-based clear finishing coat. A thin chemical interface is created wherein the hydrophilic nature of the oleic acid attaches to the primer coat and the hydrophobic nature attaches to the solvent-based finishing topcoat, thereby avoiding compatibility issues between the water and solvent based paints.

Golf ball

A method for preheating golf ball covers prior to painting. The process comprises forming a golf ball with a cover, then heating the cover from about 90&#xb0; F. to about 150&#xb0; F. for 1 to 3 hours in a heated enclosure prior to applying a coat of primer or paint to the ball. This is done to accelerate the evaporation of paint solvents, immediately after the paint is applied. The painted balls are subsequently dried in a heated enclosure at about 105&#xb0; F. to 108&#xb0; F. All additional coats of primer or paint are applied in a similar fashion, wherein the balls are painted while still in the heated state and not cooled down.

Heating of golf balls prior to painting

A method and apparatus for preheating golf balls prior to painting. The process includes forming golf balls with covers, heating, coating, and further heating the golf balls in a heated enclosure. The apparatus includes a ventilated holding tray that in addition to supporting the golf balls with a minimum of contact between balls and tray will allow for a thorough flow of heat about the balls for quick and uniform heating. This also will aid in reducing blemishes to the golf balls, by suspending freshly painted golf balls on conical pins set at right angles to the balls, thereby reducing the physical contact between the tray and freshly painted golf balls. The tray comprises replaceable ball support inserts. The inserts will generally be made from injection molded plastic and will be friction-fitted to the tray, and if damaged can be easily and inexpensively replaced.

The present invention relates to a method for forming indicia on golf balls. More specifically, the present invention is directed toward the use of a low-power CO laser beam to machine alphanumeric characters, three-dimensional figures, machine-readable coded markings and the like into golf ball covers, without significant discoloration of the exposed cover layer. In the present method, surface material is physically removed, or ablated, from the golf ball cover, leaving an image engraved or machined within the cover layer. The present method, which employs a deflected-beam, computer-controlled laser source, is flexible and readily and easily adapted to the formation of various indicia on the surface of golf balls. Covers machined using this process may be coated with one or more layers of opaque paint, and may be further sealed, as necessary or desired, with one or more transparent layers.

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North Attleboro, MA, United States of America

Stanley W Brown