The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2002
Stanley W. Brown, North Attleboro, MA (US);
David W. Sauerbrey, Marion, MA (US);
Robert N. Lammi, Norton, MA (US);
Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US);
Abstract
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.