Patent Publication Number: US-2015086717-A1

Title: Mass-production method of real spin golf ball

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mass-production method of a real spin golf ball, capable of ensuring real straightness of the golf ball when the golf ball is putted. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It has been reported according to the experiment by Dave Pelz who is an American famous pro-golfer that, when a golf ball having an offset center of gravity is putted by a distance of 3 m, an error of 6.5 cm occurs. However, since all golf balls, which are currently manufactured, have offset centers of gravity, errors may occur as shown in the experiment, so that even a golfer who excellently determines a putting line and represents a superior performance may not easily put the golf ball in a hole. 
     In order to solve the above problem, there is suggested Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-80080 titled “Apparatus For Measuring Eccentric Amount Of Spherical Member” (filed on Apr. 16, 2009) and disclosing a technology of measuring an eccentric amount of a golf ball using a solution, such as saline solution, having a specific gravity greater than that of the golf ball. However, the conventional technology is to only measure the eccentric amount of the golf ball without displaying the center (putting line) of the golf ball. 
     In addition, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 199671 titled “Apparatus for marking a rotation center of a golf ball” (issued on Aug. 3, 2000) discloses an apparatus for making a rotation center of a golf ball, which includes a body having an inner space; a rotating plate installed in the inner space of the body and having a top surface on which the golf ball is placed for the rotation of the golf ball; and a unit for applying rotational force to the rotating plate. The unit for applying the rotational force includes a switch mounted on an outer circumference of a body thereof; a battery for applying power according to an on/off state of the switch; and a motor installed in the body to receive the power from the battery for the rotation thereof and having a shaft used to apply the rotational shaft to the rotating plate. 
     However, the apparatus for marking the rotation center of the golf ball according to the related art has a fundamental problem that the structure is significantly complex, particularly, the rotation center of the golf ball is individually marked, so that the mass-production of golf balls are difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to a mass production method of a real spin golf ball, capable of ensuring real straightness of the golf ball when putting the golf ball to realize putting accuracy. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, there is provided a mass-production method of a real spin golf ball. The mass-production method including (a) preparing a plurality of golf balls securely mounted in a frame and installed at a level state in a water tub, (b) filling salt water having specific gravity higher than specific gravity of water in the water tub until the golf balls are separated from the frame to float, (c) discharging the salt water filled in the water tub in a state that the floating golf balls are stopped such that the golf balls are not shaken, and securely mounting the golf balls in the frame; and (d) marking putting lines passing through upper centers of the golf balls. 
     In detail, according to the present invention, (c) the discharging of the salt water filled in the water tub in the state that the floating golf balls are stopped such that the golf balls are not shaken, and securely mounting the golf balls in the frame includes (e) marking the upper centers of the golf balls, and (f) drying the golf balls by cleaning the golf balls. 
     In detail, according to the present invention, the frame is formed therein with a plurality of through holes in which the golf balls are securely mounted while being spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. 
     In more detail, the specific gravity of the salt water is in a range of 1.3 to 1.5. 
     As described above, according to the mass-production method of the golf ball of the present invention, the real straightness of the golf ball can be ensured when putting the golf ball, so that the golf balls can be produced in mass production. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 to 3  are sectional views showing a mass production process of a real spin golf ball according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     A water tub  1  applied to the present invention has a structure having an open top surface. 
     A base frame  2  is installed on a bottom surface of the water tub  1  to maintain a level state. In this case, when the bottom surface of the water tub  1  is maintained at a preferable level state, the base frame  2  may not be installed. 
     A frame  3 , on which a plurality of golf balls  4  are secularly mounted, is provided on the top surface of the base frame  2 . Although one frame  3  is shown in drawings of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, but several tens of golf balls to several hundreds of golf balls may be provided for a production purpose. 
     In this case, the frame  3  is formed therein a plurality of through holes  3   a  to confine or release the confinement of an outer circumference of the golf ball  4 . An upper opening of the through hole  3   a  may be rounded as shown in an enlarged view of  FIG. 3 . 
     If the frame  3 , on which the golf balls  4  are securely mounted, is provided on the top surface of the base frame  3 , salt water having specific gravity higher than that of water is supplied to the frame  3  from a position adjacent to the bottom surface of the water tub  1 . In this case, the salt water is filled in the water tub  2  to a position in which the golf balls float separately from the through holes  3   a  of the frame  3  without the completion separation from the through hole  3   a  (see enlarged view of  FIG. 3 ). In more particular, the salt water applied to the present invention has the specific gravity in the range of about 1.3 to about 1.5, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     Then, the golf balls  4  fluctuating as the salt water is filled in the water tub  2  are stopped if a predetermined time is elapsed. In this case, heavier portions of the stopped golf balls  4  are directed downward. 
     The salt water filled in the water tub  1  is slowly discharged so that the stopped golf balls  4  are not moved. In this case, the golf balls  4  are securely mounted in the through holes  3   a  of the frame  3 . 
     Thereafter, putting lines are marked while passing through upper centers of the golf balls  4 . In this case, a process of marking the putting lines may be sub-divided into following processes. 
     First, the upper centers of the golf balls  4  securely mounted in the through holes  3   a  of the frame  3  are marked, and the surfaces of the golf balls  4  are cleaned and dried. 
     Next, after the frame  3  is separated from the base frame  2 , the putting lines passing through the marks on the upper centers of the golf balls  4  are printed. 
     In this case, reference numeral Rsw, which is not described yet, is a salt water tank, and reference numerals P 1  and P 2  represent feeding and discharging pumps, respectively. 
     Therefore, the present invention can provide the golf balls capable of ensuring perfect straightness, thereby actively assisting the putting of golfer. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.