Method for forming a golf ball
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for forming a golf ball or components of a golf ball is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of forming a die having an opening having a perimeter comprising plurality of inwardly convex surfaces; preparing a golf ball component material; extruding the golf ball component material through the opening of the die to form a component prep; placing the component prep into a mold cavity; and molding the golf ball component. An apparatus for forming a golf ball may be configured in accordance with this method.
1. A method of forming a golf ball component comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a die having an opening having a perimeter comprising a plurality of inwardly convex surfaces;
(b) extruding a golf ball component material through the opening of the die to form a component prep, wherein the component prep has six sides having approximately the same dimensions;
(c) placing the component prep into a jig at a random orientation;
(d) loading the jig into a mold; and
(e) molding the component prep into a golf ball component.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball component is at least a portion of a single piece golf ball.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball component is at least a portion of a core.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of molding comprises forming the component prep into a hemisphere shape.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the hemisphere shape forms a portion of a cover.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the die has an opening with a cross-section that is substantially circular at its inlet end and has a perimeter comprising three to five inwardly convex surfaces at its outlet end.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the die has an opening that is substantially circular at its inlet end and has a perimeter comprising four inwardly convex surfaces at its outlet end.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the die has a predetermined first length and an outlet section of substantially constant cross-sectional area.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the die outlet section has a second length that is less than about one-half the first length and greater than one-tenth the first length.
10. A method of forming a golf ball component comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a die having an opening having a perimeter comprising a plurality of inwardly convex surfaces;
(b) extruding a material through the opening of the die to form a plurality of preps, wherein each prep comprises six sides;
(c) loading each prep into a jig at a random orientation and placing the jig into a mold cavity;
(d) molding each prep into a half shell;
(e) positioning two half shells around an inner core; and
(f) pressing the two half shells against each other and the inner core.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of pressing the two half shells further comprises forming dimples on the two half shells.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the die has an opening with a cross-section that is substantially circular at its inlet end and has a perimeter comprising three to five inwardly convex surfaces at its outlet end.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the die has an opening that is substantially circular at its inlet end and has a perimeter comprising four inwardly convex surfaces at its outlet end.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the opening of the die has a predetermined first length and an outlet section of substantially constant cross-sectional area.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the die outlet section has a second length that is less than about one-half the first length and greater than one-tenth the first length.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein each prep has an extruded length that differs from the length of a side of a square cross-section of a face of the prep.
17. A method of forming a golf ball component comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a die having an opening with a perimeter comprising three to five convex surfaces;
(b) extruding a material through the opening of the die to form a prep, wherein the prep has six sides and a square-shaped or rectangular-shaped cross-section;
(c) loading the prep into a jig at a random orientation and placing the jig into a mold; and
(d) molding the prep into a golf ball component.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of molding the prep into a golf ball component comprises forming a hemisphere shape.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the die has an opening with a cross-section that is substantially circular at its inlet end and has a perimeter comprising three to five inwardly convex surfaces at its outlet end.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the die has an opening that is substantially circular at its inlet end and has a perimeter comprising four inwardly convex surfaces at its outlet end.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the opening of the die has a predetermined first length and an outlet section of substantially constant cross-sectional area.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the die outlet section has a second length that is less than about one-half the first length and greater than one-tenth the first length.