Patent ID: 6290797
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: A63B,B29C,B29L

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a golf ball comprising:a) forming a pre-molded center;b) providing a press with a top mold, a slidable center plate, and a bottom mold;c) placing pre-moldcd hemispherical shells into the bottom mold and on top of the center plate;d) sliding the center plate between the top and bottom molds;e) closing the press with the top and bottom molds and the center plate that are in substantial alignment with respect to each other;f) hcating the press to a first temperature below the shells' crosslinking temperature such that the shells are pliable and form substantially hemispherical cups;g) retaining the hemispherical cups within the hemispherical cavities of the top and bottom molds by cooling the top and bottom molds while allowing the center plate to remain at a higher temperature than the temperature of the top and bottom molds after said cooling, opening the press, and removing the center plate;h) placing the pre-molded center within the henispherical cups;i) closing the press with the top and bottom molds to join the hemispherical cups around the pre-molded center to form a golf ball core; andj) forming a cover over the golf ball core.