US20020173385A1 - Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold and golf ball formed therefrom - Google Patents
Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold and golf ball formed therefrom Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020173385A1 US20020173385A1 US10/190,876 US19087602A US2002173385A1 US 20020173385 A1 US20020173385 A1 US 20020173385A1 US 19087602 A US19087602 A US 19087602A US 2002173385 A1 US2002173385 A1 US 2002173385A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- golf ball
- pin
- injection mold
- cavity
- passage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/26—Moulds
- B29C45/34—Moulds having venting means
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/0004—Surface depressions or protrusions
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/0004—Surface depressions or protrusions
- A63B37/0006—Arrangement or layout of dimples
- A63B37/00065—Arrangement or layout of dimples located around the pole or the equator
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/0004—Surface depressions or protrusions
- A63B37/0007—Non-circular dimples
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B37/00—Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
- A63B37/0003—Golf balls
- A63B37/0023—Covers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B45/00—Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
- B29C45/14065—Positioning or centering articles in the mould
- B29C45/14073—Positioning or centering articles in the mould using means being retractable during injection
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/54—Balls
- B29L2031/545—Football balls
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S425/00—Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
- Y10S425/812—Venting
Definitions
- a mold comprising a pair of parallel plates containing opposed hemispherical cavities is used to form a spherical cavity within which a golf ball core is suspended by retractable pins.
- Thermoplastic material is supplied to the cavity along a parting line defined where the hemispherical cavities terminated at the surface of the molding plates.
- the thermoplastic material surrounds the core to form the cover layer of the ball. Vent pins in the bottom of the hemispherical cavities, i.e. at the poles of the golf ball, allow air to exit the cavity as thermoplastic material is applied thereto. Following evacuation, the vent pins plug the vent openings and form pole dimples on the ball.
- Injection molds for forming golf balls are well-known in the patented prior art.
- 5,827,548 improves on the earlier Lavallee et al patent by providing a retractable pin golf ball injection mold wherein a cooling circuit is provided in the mold plates to decrease the setting time of the thermoplastic material and a two-stage ejector mechanism is provided to independently eject excess thermoplastic material from the runners used to supply the material to the cavities and to eject the finished golf ball from the mold cavity.
- vent pins to allow air to be evacuated from the cavities as thermoplastic material is being supplied thereto to allow even distribution of the thermoplastic material around the golf ball centers. Because the vent pins have a circular cross-sectional configuration, the pole dimples on the ball are always circular. It has not been possible, therefore, with prior golf ball injection molds to form a dimpled golf ball without having circular dimples at the poles. However, owing to the realization of the influence of dimple configurations on ball flight, many golf balls today are formed with noncircular dimples. It is thus desirable to be able to form a golf ball with an injection molded cover layer wherein all of the dimples, including those at the poles of the ball, have a non-circular configuration.
- a vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold containing a spherical cavity in which a cover layer is applied to a golf ball core to form a dimpled golf ball.
- the mold contains a vent passage communicating with the spherical cavity and a vent pin is arranged within the passage.
- the passage extends from the cavity along a radius of the golf ball through one of the poles thereof.
- the passage has a non-circular end communicating with the cavity, and the pin is operable between a normal position wherein an end of the pin closes the passage lower end and a retracted position wherein the pin end is arranged within the passage and spaced from the cavity to allow air to enter the passage from the cavity as thermoplastic material is supplied to the cavity to form the cover layer on the ball.
- the pin end has a noncircular cross-sectional configuration corresponding with that of the passage end so that a dimple formed by the pin at the pole of the golf ball has a non-circular configuration.
- the pin is also operable between an extended position wherein the pin end is arranged within the cavity to eject the golf ball therefrom.
- Another object of the invention is form a golf ball having a cover layer containing all non-circular dimples.
- the cover layer includes two hemispherical surfaces formed by hemispherical cavities of an injection mold.
- the hemispherical surfaces are identical and are joined at the equator of the golf ball.
- Each hemispherical surface includes a plurality of first non-circular dimples formed by projections on the surfaces of the hemispherical cavities and a second non-circular dimpled formed at the pole of the golf ball, the pole dimple being formed by a noncircular vent pin of the mold.
- none of the dimples overlap. They may have the same or different configurations and sizes.
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a golf ball injection mold apparatus including a non-circular vent pin according to the invention
- FIGS. 2 A- 2 C are partial schematic views showing the displacement of the vent of the invention between retracted, normal, and extended positions, respectively;
- FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the vent pin showing an oblong configuration of the pin end
- FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the vent pin showing an elliptical configuration of the pin end
- a golf ball injection mold includes upper 2 and lower 4 plates which can be displace relative to one another in a conventional manner between the contiguous position shown and a spaced position.
- the lower plate 4 includes at least one hemispherical cavity 6 in the upper surface thereof, while the upper plate 2 includes a corresponding hemispherical cavity 8 in the lower surface thereof.
- a parting line is defined where each hemispherical cavity terminates with the corresponding surface.
- Each hemispherical cavity includes a patterned surface 10 which will define a dimple pattern in the outer surface of the golf ball.
- the upper hemispherical cavity 8 also includes a plurality of retractable core pins 12 and the lower hemispherical cavity 6 includes a plurality of retractable core pins 14 .
- the pins have axes perpendicular to the parting line of the respective plates and are extensible into the spherical cavity to support a golf ball core during the injection molding process. Extension and retraction of the core pins is accomplished through displacement of a conventional piston mechanism (not shown).
- thermoplastic material is supplied to the cavity at various locations around the parting line for even distribution about the core of the golf ball.
- Vent pins 20 are provided at the bottom of the upper and lower hemispherical cavities to evacuate air from the spherical cavity as thermoplastic material is supplied thereto.
- a vacuum 22 may be connected with each vent pin 20 to assist in drawing air from the cavity so that the thermoplastic material may more evenly be distributed around the ball core for even coverage thereof.
- a coolant such as water is supplied adjacent to each cavity via channels 24 , 26 in the upper and lower plates, respectively.
- the pin end protrudes slightly into the spherical cavity to form a dimple on the pole of the golf ball.
- the pin end bottom surface thus is preferably convex.
- the pin of the present invention is non-circular, as is the opening to the passage from the spherical cavity. Accordingly, non-circular dimples are formed at the poles of the golf ball. Examples of non-circular pins are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein oblong and elliptical vent pins are shown, respectively. Of course, any desired non-circular shape may be provided for the pin, including star, tear-drop, and geometrical configurations to form correspondingly shaped dimples at the poles.
- the resulting golf ball is shown in FIG. 5.
- the ball has two hemispherical surfaces 34 , 36 formed by the hemispherical cavities 6 , 8 in the mold plates. The surfaces meet at the equator E of the ball where the parting line is formed.
- the pole dimples P formed by the non-circular vent pins are also non-circular. In the example of FIG. 5, the pole dimple is elliptical.
- Non-circular dimples 38 are formed in the ball surface by the patterns 10 in the hemispherical cavities. If desired, all of the dimples on the ball surface may have the same configuration and size. Alternatively, different sized dimples may be provided.
- the golf ball according to the invention having all non-circular dimples, including the pole dimples, has different flight characteristics than traditional golf balls having circular dimples. These characteristics reduce hooking or slicing of the ball in flight and also increase the distance that a ball will carry.
Abstract
An improved vent pin for a golf ball injection mold is characterized by a non-circular configuration so that a non-circular dimple can be formed at one or both poles of the golf ball. The vent pin is coaxially arranged within a passage in the injection mold which is aligned with a radius of the ball which passes through one of the poles thereof. The pin is operable between a normal position where the end of the pin closes the passage lower end and a retracted position where the pin end is withdrawn into the passage so that air from a cavity of the mold where the cover layer of the ball is formed can be vented during delivery of thermoplastic material to the cavity to form the golf ball cover.
Description
- In the golf ball manufacturing process, it is common practice to form the cover of the ball using injection molding. A mold comprising a pair of parallel plates containing opposed hemispherical cavities is used to form a spherical cavity within which a golf ball core is suspended by retractable pins. Thermoplastic material is supplied to the cavity along a parting line defined where the hemispherical cavities terminated at the surface of the molding plates. The thermoplastic material surrounds the core to form the cover layer of the ball. Vent pins in the bottom of the hemispherical cavities, i.e. at the poles of the golf ball, allow air to exit the cavity as thermoplastic material is applied thereto. Following evacuation, the vent pins plug the vent openings and form pole dimples on the ball.
- Injection molds for forming golf balls are well-known in the patented prior art. The Lavallee et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,046, for example, discloses a retractable pin golf ball injection mold wherein the clearance at the parting line is reduced to prevent a flash line from being formed at the equator of the ball when the mold plates are separated to eject a finished ball therefrom. The Lavallee et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,548 improves on the earlier Lavallee et al patent by providing a retractable pin golf ball injection mold wherein a cooling circuit is provided in the mold plates to decrease the setting time of the thermoplastic material and a two-stage ejector mechanism is provided to independently eject excess thermoplastic material from the runners used to supply the material to the cavities and to eject the finished golf ball from the mold cavity.
- Most golf ball injection molds of the prior art include a vent pin to allow air to be evacuated from the cavities as thermoplastic material is being supplied thereto to allow even distribution of the thermoplastic material around the golf ball centers. Because the vent pins have a circular cross-sectional configuration, the pole dimples on the ball are always circular. It has not been possible, therefore, with prior golf ball injection molds to form a dimpled golf ball without having circular dimples at the poles. However, owing to the realization of the influence of dimple configurations on ball flight, many golf balls today are formed with noncircular dimples. It is thus desirable to be able to form a golf ball with an injection molded cover layer wherein all of the dimples, including those at the poles of the ball, have a non-circular configuration.
- Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold containing a spherical cavity in which a cover layer is applied to a golf ball core to form a dimpled golf ball. The mold contains a vent passage communicating with the spherical cavity and a vent pin is arranged within the passage. The passage extends from the cavity along a radius of the golf ball through one of the poles thereof. The passage has a non-circular end communicating with the cavity, and the pin is operable between a normal position wherein an end of the pin closes the passage lower end and a retracted position wherein the pin end is arranged within the passage and spaced from the cavity to allow air to enter the passage from the cavity as thermoplastic material is supplied to the cavity to form the cover layer on the ball. The pin end has a noncircular cross-sectional configuration corresponding with that of the passage end so that a dimple formed by the pin at the pole of the golf ball has a non-circular configuration.
- According to a further object of the invention, the pin is also operable between an extended position wherein the pin end is arranged within the cavity to eject the golf ball therefrom.
- Another object of the invention is form a golf ball having a cover layer containing all non-circular dimples. The cover layer includes two hemispherical surfaces formed by hemispherical cavities of an injection mold. The hemispherical surfaces are identical and are joined at the equator of the golf ball. Each hemispherical surface includes a plurality of first non-circular dimples formed by projections on the surfaces of the hemispherical cavities and a second non-circular dimpled formed at the pole of the golf ball, the pole dimple being formed by a noncircular vent pin of the mold. Preferably, none of the dimples overlap. They may have the same or different configurations and sizes.
- Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a golf ball injection mold apparatus including a non-circular vent pin according to the invention;
- FIGS.2A-2C are partial schematic views showing the displacement of the vent of the invention between retracted, normal, and extended positions, respectively;
- FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the vent pin showing an oblong configuration of the pin end;
- FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the vent pin showing an elliptical configuration of the pin end; and
- FIG. 5 is a plan view of a golf ball according to the invention with noncircular dimples on the ball surface, including at the poles of the ball.
- As shown in FIG. 1, a golf ball injection mold according to the invention includes upper2 and lower 4 plates which can be displace relative to one another in a conventional manner between the contiguous position shown and a spaced position. The
lower plate 4 includes at least onehemispherical cavity 6 in the upper surface thereof, while theupper plate 2 includes a corresponding hemispherical cavity 8 in the lower surface thereof. A parting line is defined where each hemispherical cavity terminates with the corresponding surface. When the plates are brought together in contiguous relation as shown, the respective upper and lower hemispherical cavities cooperate to define a spherical cavity for forming a golf ball. - Each hemispherical cavity includes a patterned
surface 10 which will define a dimple pattern in the outer surface of the golf ball. The upper hemispherical cavity 8 also includes a plurality ofretractable core pins 12 and the lowerhemispherical cavity 6 includes a plurality ofretractable core pins 14. The pins have axes perpendicular to the parting line of the respective plates and are extensible into the spherical cavity to support a golf ball core during the injection molding process. Extension and retraction of the core pins is accomplished through displacement of a conventional piston mechanism (not shown). - In order to supply thermoplastic material to the cavity, a runner is provided in the upper and lower plates. The
runner 16 comprises a network of feeder lines in the surfaces of the upper and lower plates which define flow channels when the plates are in contiguous relation. The runner is connected with each cavity viagates 18 at the parting line. Accordingly, thermoplastic material is supplied to the cavity at various locations around the parting line for even distribution about the core of the golf ball.Vent pins 20 are provided at the bottom of the upper and lower hemispherical cavities to evacuate air from the spherical cavity as thermoplastic material is supplied thereto. If desired, avacuum 22 may be connected with eachvent pin 20 to assist in drawing air from the cavity so that the thermoplastic material may more evenly be distributed around the ball core for even coverage thereof. To decrease the time required for cooling and setting of the thermoplastic material on the golf ball core, a coolant such as water is supplied adjacent to each cavity viachannels - Each vent pin is arranged in a passage in the mold plates, the passage and the axis of the pins being aligned with a radius of the golf ball that passes through the poles of the ball. All of the vent pins have a similar structure, so only one vent pin will be described in greater detail in connection with FIGS.2A-2C. The interior of the
passage 28 has two widths, W1 and W2. The greater width W1 is spaced from thespherical cavity 30 and the narrower width W2 is adjacent the spherical cavity. The pin also has two widths W3 and W4. The width W3 is remote from the free end of the pin and is less than the width W4 which is at the end of the pin. The width W4 corresponds generally with the width W2 so that the pin end can pass through or close the end of the passage. - More particularly, the pin is displaced relative to the
passage 28 by adisplacement mechanism 32 between a retracted position shown in FIG. 2A where the pin is within the passage and the pin end is spaced from the spherical cavity, a normal position shown in FIG. 2B were the pin end closes the end of the passage, and an extended position shown in FIG. 2C where the pin end is arranged beyond the passage and in the spherical cavity. With the pin in the retracted position shown in FIG. 2A, air from thecavity 30 is vented into the passage during delivery of thermoplastic material to the cavity to form the golf ball cover layer. When the cavity has been filled, thedisplacement mechanism 32 moves the pin to its normal position shown in FIG. 2B to close the opening to the passage. Following curing of the cover layer, thedisplacement mechanism 32 moves the pin to the extended position to eject a golf ball from the cavity. - Preferably, when the pin is in the normal position of FIG. 2B, the pin end protrudes slightly into the spherical cavity to form a dimple on the pole of the golf ball. The pin end bottom surface thus is preferably convex. Unlike conventional vent pins, however, the pin of the present invention is non-circular, as is the opening to the passage from the spherical cavity. Accordingly, non-circular dimples are formed at the poles of the golf ball. Examples of non-circular pins are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein oblong and elliptical vent pins are shown, respectively. Of course, any desired non-circular shape may be provided for the pin, including star, tear-drop, and geometrical configurations to form correspondingly shaped dimples at the poles.
- The resulting golf ball is shown in FIG. 5. The ball has two
hemispherical surfaces hemispherical cavities 6, 8 in the mold plates. The surfaces meet at the equator E of the ball where the parting line is formed. The pole dimples P formed by the non-circular vent pins are also non-circular. In the example of FIG. 5, the pole dimple is elliptical.Non-circular dimples 38 are formed in the ball surface by thepatterns 10 in the hemispherical cavities. If desired, all of the dimples on the ball surface may have the same configuration and size. Alternatively, different sized dimples may be provided. Moreover, a combination of differently configured dimples may be provided on the ball surface. In FIG. 5, thedimples 38 a are elliptical and thedimples 38 b are oblong. The dimples can be arranged in a repeatable pattern in each hemisphere, so long as both hemispheres have the same pattern and configurations of dimples. - The golf ball according to the invention having all non-circular dimples, including the pole dimples, has different flight characteristics than traditional golf balls having circular dimples. These characteristics reduce hooking or slicing of the ball in flight and also increase the distance that a ball will carry.
- While the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.
Claims (19)
1. A vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold containing a spherical cavity in which a cover layer is applied to a golf ball core to form a dimpled golf ball, comprising
a solid pin coaxially arranged within a passage in the injection mold, the passage extending from the cavity along a radius of the golf ball through one of the poles thereof and having a non-circular end communicating with the cavity, said pin being operable between a normal position wherein an end of said pin closes said passage lower end and a retracted position wherein said pin end is arranged within said passage and spaced from the cavity to allow air to enter said passage from the injection mold cavity, said pin end having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration corresponding with that of said passage end, whereby a dimple formed by said pin at the pole of the golf ball has a non-circular configuration.
2. A vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold as defined in claim 1 , wherein said pin end has a convex configuration.
3. A vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold as defined in claim 2 , wherein said pin is further operable between an extended position wherein said pin end is arranged within the cavity to eject a golf ball therefrom.
4. A vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold as defined in claim 3 , and further comprising means for displacing said pin between said extended, normal and retracted positions.
5. A vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold as defined in claim 4 , wherein said pin end has an oblong cross-sectional configuration.
6. A vent mechanism for a golf ball injection mold as defined in claim 4 , wherein said pin end has an elliptical cross-sectional configuration.
7. An injection mold for applying a cover layer to golf balls, comprising
(a) upper and lower support plates each containing at least one hemispherical cavity, said upper and lower hemispherical cavities being adapted to mate to define at least one spherical cavity in which a core of a golf ball is supported when said plates are brought together;
(b) means for supplying thermoplastic material to said cavities to form a cover on the golf ball core; and
(c) means for venting air from said cavities as thermoplastic material is supplied thereto, each of said venting means comprising a pin arranged within a vent passage of said plates communicating with said spherical cavities, respectively, said pin having an axis extending along a radius of said cavity through a pole of the golf ball being formed therein, said pin being operable between a normal position wherein an end of said pin closes an end of said passage adjacent to said cavity and a retracted position wherein said pin end is arranged within said passage and spaced from said cavity to allow air to enter said passage from the cavity, said pin end having a noncircular cross-sectional configuration, whereby a dimple formed by said pin at the pole of the golf ball has a non-circular configuration.
8. An injection mold as defined in claim 7 , wherein said pin end has a convex configuration.
9. An injection mold as defined in claim 8 , wherein said pin is further operable between an extended position wherein said pin end is arranged in said cavity to eject a golf ball therefrom.
10. An injection mold as defined in claim 9 , and further comprising means for displacing said pin between said extended, normal and retracted positions.
11. An injection mold as defined in claim 10 , wherein said pin end has an oblong cross-sectional configuration.
12. An injection mold as defined in claim 10 , wherein said pin end has an elliptical cross-sectional configuration.
13. A dimple pattern for a golf ball having a cover layer formed by an injection mold, the cover layer comprising
two hemispherical surfaces formed by hemispherical cavities of the injection mold, said hemispherical surfaces being joined at an equator of the golf ball, each of said hemispherical surfaces being identical and including a plurality of first non-circular dimples formed by projections on surfaces of the hemispherical cavities and a second non-circular dimple formed at the pole of the golf ball, the pole dimple being formed by a non-circular vent pin of the mold.
14. A dimple pattern for a golf ball as defined in claim 13 , wherein none of said dimples overlap.
15. A dimple pattern as defined in claim 14 , wherein said first and second dimples have the same configuration.
16. A dimple pattern as defined in claim 15 , wherein said first and second dimples have an elongated configuration.
17. A dimple pattern as defined in claim 15 , wherein said first and second dimples have an elliptical configuration.
18. A dimple pattern as defined in claim 14 , wherein the dimples of said first group of dimples have a different dimension.
19. A dimple pattern as defined in claim 18 , wherein the dimples of said first group of dimples have at least two different configurations.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/190,876 US20020173385A1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2002-07-08 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold and golf ball formed therefrom |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US09/692,502 US6422850B1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2000-10-19 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold |
US10/190,876 US20020173385A1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2002-07-08 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold and golf ball formed therefrom |
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US09/692,502 Division US6422850B1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2000-10-19 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold |
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US20020173385A1 true US20020173385A1 (en) | 2002-11-21 |
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US09/692,502 Expired - Lifetime US6422850B1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2000-10-19 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold |
US10/190,876 Abandoned US20020173385A1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2002-07-08 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold and golf ball formed therefrom |
Family Applications Before (1)
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US09/692,502 Expired - Lifetime US6422850B1 (en) | 2000-10-19 | 2000-10-19 | Non-circular vent pin for golf ball injection mold |
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US (2) | US6422850B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002211800A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2426340A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2386088B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002032513A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
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US20090140463A1 (en) * | 2004-06-07 | 2009-06-04 | Puniello Paul A | Golf ball mixing and dispensing process |
US20120161363A1 (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2012-06-28 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Golf ball mold and golf ball manufacturing method |
US20120302377A1 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2012-11-29 | Tomohiko Sato | Golf Ball with Non-Circular Dimples Having Circular Arc-Shaped Outer Peripheral Edges |
US20120302378A1 (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2012-11-29 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Golf ball |
US20130065708A1 (en) * | 2008-10-31 | 2013-03-14 | Acushnet Company | Dimple patterns for golf balls |
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US6817852B2 (en) * | 2001-01-04 | 2004-11-16 | Callaway Golf Company | Direct cavity gate golf ball injection mold |
US6776942B2 (en) * | 2001-11-20 | 2004-08-17 | Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. | Mold for making golf balls and methods for using it |
US20030206984A1 (en) * | 2002-05-01 | 2003-11-06 | Bellasalma Gerard Jay | Air introduction valve for a mold assembly |
US7198479B2 (en) * | 2004-11-04 | 2007-04-03 | Industrial Technology Research Institute | Ejector with multi-ejection pins |
CN1986186A (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2007-06-27 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Mold air exhausting structure and mold structure using it |
US20080054510A1 (en) * | 2006-09-01 | 2008-03-06 | Lear Corporation | Mold and method for making a trim component |
US20080054049A1 (en) * | 2006-09-01 | 2008-03-06 | Lear Corporation | Mold and method for making a trim component |
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US11406878B2 (en) | 2019-10-01 | 2022-08-09 | Acushnet Company | Methods and molds for molding golf balls incorporating a thermoplastic polyurethane cover |
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US11679307B2 (en) | 2021-04-05 | 2023-06-20 | Acushnet Company | Method of forming a plurality of golf balls |
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- 2001-10-18 CA CA002426340A patent/CA2426340A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-10-18 WO PCT/US2001/032549 patent/WO2002032513A1/en active Application Filing
- 2001-10-18 GB GB0311364A patent/GB2386088B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-10-18 AU AU2002211800A patent/AU2002211800A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20090140463A1 (en) * | 2004-06-07 | 2009-06-04 | Puniello Paul A | Golf ball mixing and dispensing process |
US7655171B2 (en) * | 2004-06-07 | 2010-02-02 | Acushnet Company | Golf ball mixing and dispensing process |
US20130065708A1 (en) * | 2008-10-31 | 2013-03-14 | Acushnet Company | Dimple patterns for golf balls |
US20120302377A1 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2012-11-29 | Tomohiko Sato | Golf Ball with Non-Circular Dimples Having Circular Arc-Shaped Outer Peripheral Edges |
US20120161363A1 (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2012-06-28 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Golf ball mold and golf ball manufacturing method |
US8408891B2 (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2013-04-02 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd | Golf ball mold and golf ball manufacturing method |
US9108347B2 (en) | 2010-12-23 | 2015-08-18 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Golf ball mold and golf ball manufacturing method |
US20120302378A1 (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2012-11-29 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Golf ball |
US8771104B2 (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2014-07-08 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Golf ball |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0311364D0 (en) | 2003-06-25 |
GB2386088B (en) | 2004-07-14 |
CA2426340A1 (en) | 2002-04-25 |
GB2386088A (en) | 2003-09-10 |
US6422850B1 (en) | 2002-07-23 |
AU2002211800A1 (en) | 2002-04-29 |
WO2002032513A1 (en) | 2002-04-25 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: THE TOP-FLITE GOLF COMPANY, MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SPALDING SPORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:013753/0072 Effective date: 20030528 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY, CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TOP-FLITE GOLF COMPANY, THE;REEL/FRAME:014007/0688 Effective date: 20030915 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |