An Improvement in the Method of Manufacturing Golf Balls where it is Desired to Insert Substances therein, and in Apparatus. Employed therein.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec.. 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Method of Manufacturing Golf Balls where
it is Desired to Insert Substances therein, and in Apparatus.
Employed therein.
I ROBERT JAMES HATTON of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company
Limited North Woolwich Manager to H. T. Henley's Telegraph Works
Company Limited of the same place do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:--
Where it is desired to incorporate shot or other substances with the gutta percha.
or other substance of which golf balls are formed in such a manner as to make the
outer portions of the ball heavier than the parts immediately surrounding the
centre, I obtain the result desired by manufacturing the ball in the following
manner.
I use a special mould in the first instance and subsequently an ordinary mould
such as is now used in the manufacture of golf balls.
The special mould differs from the ordinary mould by reason of a grooved
hollow in the shape of a circle parallel to but inside the circumference of the
uppermost surface of the metal surrounding the hollow of the mould in the bottom
half of the mould. From the grooved ring 4, or such other number as may be
convenient, channels are made in the hollow of the mould having their edges
where they join the edges of the hollow portion of the mould slightly slanted off.
A circular metal band split into segments fits uprightiy into the hollow groove
and when fitted should have the uppermost part projecting all round above the
said surface.
From each segment one or more pins as may be convenient, jut out in the case of
one pin only in each segment at right angles or if more than one at such angle as
will allow the pins to be pulled out with a direct pull from the gutta percha as
hereinafter described. The pins fit into the grooves which run into the hollow
portion of the mould; the pins being so made as not to fill up the space left by slanting
off the edges of the small grooves and the grooves not deep enough to more than
half cover the pins. In inserting more than 4 pins I find it best to increase the
number of segments so as to give one segment for each pin.
There is a corresponding circular grooved hollow in the surface of the top portion
of the mould where it fits into the bottom portion to that in the bottom portion and
small grooves run out of this in a similar manner to that already described in
connection with the bottom part and with slanted off edges. When this is placed
on to the top portion of the bottom part of the mould the portion of the segments
and projecting pins which are above the surface of the bottom mould fit into the
grooves of the upper portion and there is thus found a complete mould in which the
gutta percha or other substance can be pressed into the shape of a golf ball in.
the same manner as is adopted in ordinary golf ball manufacture.
When the gutta percha is ready to take out of the mould, the upper part of the
mould can be lifted off. The segments can then be lifted up and with them' will
come the moulded gutta percha or other substance: each segment which will be
held in the gutta percha by the projecting pins previously described can be removed
by a direct pull from the gutta percha which will free the pins from the ball. When
this is done a golf ball with a series of holes will be ready for the next step in the
process I adopt.

page_text: I insert in these holes the shot or other substances as may be desired and such
substance can be the better incorporated in the ball by pressing over the hole the
projecting edge of gutta percha which will surround the hole when it comes out of
the first mould the edge having been formed by the slanting away of the edges
of the grooves in which the pins lie.
I then take the ball and mould it in the second mould in the ordinary manner
thus obtaining a complete golf ball with the desired substance incorporated
into it.
To form holes in the other portions of the hall I insert upright pins at the bottom
and on the other parts of each half of the mould being careful to keep them upright
so that the gutta percha will pull right out without tearing the ball.
In this case
also I have a slanting edge at the base of the pin where it joins the interior surface
of the mould so that the gutta percha can be forced in and a projecting edge of
gutta percha left round the hole in the ball.
a
If it be desired to vary the size or number of the holes to be made in the ball by
the pins in the segments this can be done without changing the mould by having
series of segments with pins attached which whilst filling the grooves shall after
leaving the grooves be of a smaller or larger size. These pins can be detachable
from the segments and the same segments used.
If certain pins for which holes are provided in the segments are not desired these
holes could be filled up with dummy pins which would only go as far as the outer
edge of the hollow mould.
The pius affixed to the bottom and sides of the interior surface of the mould can
also be made removable so that smaller sized pins can be inserted and if desired
fewer pins used and the holes left in the interior surface of the mould filled with
screws or other things flush with the interior surface of the mould.
I claim that my invention ensures a convenient means of thoroughly incorporating
the shot or other substance with the gutta percha and also enable the quantity
of shot or other substances incorporated to be varied in manufacture as may be
desired.
Dated the 27th day of December 1895.
An Improvement in the Method of Manufacturing Golf Balls where
it is Desired to Insert Substances therein, and in Apparatus
Employed therein.
I ROBERT JAMES HATTON, of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company
Limited, North Woolwich, Manager to H. T. Henley's Telegraph Works
Company Limited of the same place do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Where it is desired to incorporate shot or other substances with the gutta-percha
or other substance of which golf balls are formed, in such a manner as to make the
outer portion of the ball heavier than the parts immediately surrounding the
centre, I obtain the result desired by manufacturing the ball in the manner
described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectional view of a mould for moulding golf balls according
to my present improvements.
Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the ball as it first leaves the mould.
Fig. 4 shows the ball with the surplus gutta percha trimmed off.
Fig. 5 shows a piece of lead or heavy material, as used in this method of
making the ball heavier on the outer portion, drawn on a larger scale than the
previous figs.
.
Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of a complete ball, to the same scale as
Figs. 1-4.
Figs. 7 and 8 show, by plan view, and vertical sectional view respectively, one
half of the mould shown in Fig. 2, but adapted for moulding a ball to receive shot
instead of the discs shown in Fig. 5.
Figs. 9 and 10 show like views of the other half of the mould.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one half of the mould.
Fig. 12 shows an outside view of the mould with the parts assembled.
Figs. 13 and 14 show a segment of a metal band to be described.
Fig. 15 shows another segment for use with the mould shown in Fig. 2..
Fig. 16 shows a golf ball ready to receive the shot therein and
Fig. 17 shows a sectional view of a ball complete.
I use a special mould, such as shown in the first instance, and subsequently an
ordinary mould such as is now used in the manufacture of golf balls, but in some
cases may prefer to dispense with the ordinary mould and perform the moulding
and finishing at one and the same time.
The special mould a differs from the ordinary mould by reason of a grooved
hollow in the shape of a circle parallel to but inside the circumference of the
uppermost surface a¹ of the metal surrounding the hollow of the mould in the
bottom half a² of the mould. From the grooved ring b, four, or such other number
as may be convenient, channels e are made in the hollow of the mould having their
edges c', where they join, the edges of the hollow portion of the mould, slightly
slanted off.
A circular metal band split into segments d fits uprightly into the hollow.
groove band when fitted should have the uppermost part projecting all round above
the said surface a¹.
From each segment d one or more pins d' as may be convenient, jut out in the
case of one pin only in each segment at right angles as shewn, or, if more than one
at such angle as will allow the pins to be pulled out with a direct pull, from the
gutta percha as hereinafter described. The pins d' fit into the grooves c which
run into the hollow portion of the mould; the pins being so made as not to fill up
the space left by slanting off the edges c¹ of the small grooves c and the grooves
not deep enough to more than half cover the pius. In inserting more than four
pins find it best to increase the number of segments so as to give one segment
for each pin.
There is a corresponding circular grooved hollow in the surface of the top.
portion a³, of the mould, where it fits into the bottom portion, and small grooves c
run out of this in a similar manner to that already described in connection with
the bottom part and with slanted off edges c¹. When this is placed on the top
portion of the bottom part of the mould the portion of the segments d and
projecting pins d' which are above the surface of the bottom mould fit into the
grooves of the upper portion, and there is thus formed a complete mould in which
the gutta percha or other substance can be pressed into the shape of a golf ball e
in the same manner as is adopted in ordinary golt ball manufacture.
When the gutta percha is ready to take out of the mould, the upper part of the
monid can be lifted off. The segments d can then be lifted up and 'with them will
come the moulded gutta percha e or other substance, each segment which will be
held in the gutta percha by the projecting pins d', previously described, can be
removed by a direct pull from the gutta percha which will free the pins from the
When this is done a golf ball e with a series of holes will be ready,
bail.

page_text: see Fig. 16, for the next step in the process I adopt when using the mould shewn
in Figs. 7 to 11.
I insert in these holes e¹ the shot f. or other substances as may be desired and
such substances can be the better incorporated in the ball by pressing over the hole
the projecting edge e of gutta percha, which will surround the hole when it comes
out of the first mould, the edge having been formed by the slanting away of the
edges c', of the grooves c; in which the pins d' lie.
I then take the ball and mould it in the second mould in the ordinary manner
thus obtaining a complete golf ball with the desired substance incorporated in it.
To form holes in the other portions of the ball I insert upright pins d2 at the
bottom and on the other parts of each half of the mould being careful to keep
them upright so that the gutta percha will pull right out without tearing the ball.
In this case also I have a slanting edge c2 at the base of the pin where it joins the
interior surface of the mould so that the gutta percha can be forced in and a
projecting edge of gutta percha left round the hole e¹ in the ball.
If it be desired to vary the size or number of the holes to be made in the ball
by the pins in the segments, this can be done without 'changing the mould by
having a series of segments with pins attached which, whilst filling the grooves,
shall after leaving the grooves be of a smaller or larger size, see Fig. 15.
These pins can be detachable from the segments and the same segments used.
The process I adopt in making golf balls as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and Fig. 15 is as
follows:-
First punch or form pieces of lead g, or other suitable weighting material (say
out of a sheet of lead which may conveniently be of one sixteenth of an inch in
thickness say with number eight round punch, or about a quarter of an inch
in diameter and in weight ten and a half grains each) then form small hole al in
centre of lead, I then preferably place the lead on a flat block of hard wood or
metal and with a light blow flatten it, then take each section of ring d with pin,
one at a time, and place one of the pieces of lead or other weighting metal o on
each pin d', also putting a piece on the pin 2 in the top half of mould and piece on
the pin d in the bottom half of mould."
Then take a piece of gutta percha which has already been trimmed to weight
and roll on warm marble slab into rough ball, but rather oblong as in Fig. 1.
Place the gutta percha upright in bottom half of mould on top of pin with lead on,
then take each section of ring, push pin with lead on into ball and place each
section in its place in mould. After all four are in, take top half of mould with
lead on pin and place on top, putting a little weight on it by bearing on it to get
it partly into its place. Then put it under screw press and press it right home.
Allow time to cool thoroughly, then take it out by using a piece of wire and
prizing each section of ring until ball is free as in Fig. 3. Then trim off fin, or
waste round centre, leaving six cones, one round each hole as in Fig. 4, then take
a pointed hot wire about three sixteenths of an inch in diameter, put hot point in
hole of ball until you feel lead, then warm one side of cone of gutta-percha and
fill into hole, keep on going round cone and fill as much in as possible, then take a
pair of scissors and clip surplus gutta percha off, then press soft gutta percha to
ball with damp thumb end.
After filling in six holes, place in hot water and warm say about a quarter of an
inch from the surface, then wipe with cloth and place in finishing mould, exactly
in the same position as it was in the first mould, and put under screw press again.
When cold, take out, trim and groove, and the ball is finished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved method of preparing golf balls for receiving weighting material
and of incorporating weighting material into the substance of golf balls, as set

page_text: 2. The improved method of and apparatus for incorporating weighting materials.
into the substance of golf balls, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The construction or arrangement and use of apparatus for the manufacture of
golf balls and the insertion and incorporation of weighting materials therein,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 15.
4. The construction or arrangement and use of apparatus for the manufacture of
golf balls so as to obtain the insertion of weighting material therein, substantially.
as described and shewn by the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of September 1896.
W M. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.