Patent ID: 7427193

Claim:
A molding apparatus adapted for forming a golf ball having one or more deep apertures, the apparatus comprising: a first mold having a first hemispherical molding surface that defines a substantially hemispherical molding cavity, the first mold having at least one aperture defined along the first hemispherical molding surface, the first mold having at least one retractable pin with a distal end, the first mold having at least one retractable pin capable of extending from the at least one aperture into the first hemispherical molding cavity a distance ranging from 0.002 inch to 0.140 inch, at least one retractable pin having a retracted state for forming a deep aperture in a golf ball during a molding operation, and an extended state for forcing a golf ball from the apparatus; a second mold having a second hemispherical molding surface that defines a second hemispherical molding cavity, the second mold having at least one aperture defined along the second hemispherical molding surface, the second mold having at least one retractable pin with a distal end, at least one retractable pin capable of extending from the at least one aperture into the second hemispherical molding cavity a distance ranging from 0.002 inch to 0.140 inch, at least one retractable pin having a retracted state for forming a deep aperture in a golf ball during a molding operation, and an extended state for forcing a golf ball from the apparatus; wherein the first mold and the second mold are adapted to engage each other such that the first hemispherical molding surface and the second hemispherical molding surface form a generally spherical molding chamber.