Method of making a golf ball with lattice reinforced layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616630-B2
Application number	US-201314080125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2013
Priority date	May 30, 2012
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Methods of making a golf ball that includes a lattice reinforced layer, which is a layer made of at least two materials with different properties, includes various injection and compression molding steps. In some embodiments, the lattice reinforced layer is manufactured using a shutoff molding technique so that the entire lattice reinforced layer is molded in the same mold. In other embodiments, a grid for the lattice layer is formed first, then filled using an injection molding technique.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a golf ball, the method comprising:
providing a mold having a cavity, a mold surface, and telescoping members;
positioning the telescoping members in an extended position, so that the telescoping members are in contact with the mold surface;
injecting a first material into the cavity;
ceasing injecting the first material into the cavity;
moving the telescoping members to a retracted position; and
injecting a second material into the cavity to produce a lattice portion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of cooling the first material prior to injecting the second material.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of
making a core; and
positioning the lattice portion around the core.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming a cover layer to encompass the lattice portion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lattice portion is a hemispherical cup and wherein two lattice portions are joined together to form a complete lattice layer.

6. A method of making a golf ball, the method comprising:
providing a mold having a first mold half having a cavity and a first mold surface, and a second mold half having a second mold surface and elongated members extending away from the second mold surface;
closing the mold so that the elongated members are in contact with the first mold surface and a first gap is formed between the first mold surface and the second mold surface;
injecting a first material into the first gap so that the first material flows around the elongated members to leave at least one opening in a first molded part;
replacing the second mold half with a third mold half while leaving the first molded part in the first mold, the third mold half having a third mold surface;
closing the mold so that a second gap is formed between the first molded part and the third mold surface; and
injecting a second material into the second gap so that the second material flows into the second gap and the at least one opening in the first molded part to form a lattice layer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first gap and the second gap are substantially hemispherical in shape.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of
making a core; and
positioning the lattice layer around the core.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of
making a second lattice layer;
positioning the core between the lattice layer and the second lattice layer; and
joining the second lattice layer to the lattice layer to enclose the core.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Kennedy Iii Thomas J

Classifications

• B29C45/14344

  Moulding in or through a hole in the article, e.g. outsert moulding · CPC title

• B29C45/2628

  with mould parts forming holes in or through the moulded article, e.g. for bearing cages · CPC title

• B29L2031/546

  Golf balls · CPC title

• B29D99/0042 Primary

  Producing plain balls (hollow balls B29D22/04) · CPC title

• B29C45/1675

  using exchangeable mould halves · CPC title