Golf ball

Abstract

Pinless molding of a cover ( 24 ) for a golf ball ( 20 ), and an apparatus and method for manufacturing a golf ball precursor product ( 22 ) for use in pinless molding is disclosed herein. Preferably the golf ball precursor product ( 22 ) comprises a core ( 26 ) and a mantle layer ( 28 ). The golf ball precursor product ( 22 ) preferably has a plurality of lobes ( 30 ) extending from an innersphere ( 27 ). The plurality of lobes ( 30 ) allow the golf ball precursor product ( 22 ) to be centered within a cover mold without the use of pins for centering.

1 . A method for forming a golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes, the method comprising: 
 placing a spherical core or pre-core slug within a cavity of a mold assembly, the cavity defined by a hemispheric surface of the first mold half and a hemispheric surface of a second mold half, the hemispheric surface of the first mold half comprising a smooth portion and a plurality of deep depressions and the hemispheric surface of the second mold half comprising a smooth portion and a plurality of deep depressions; and    forming a golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes from the spherical core or pre-core slug.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein a spherical core is placed within the cavity and forming the golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes comprises injecting a thermoplastic material into the cavity to form a mantle layer with a plurality of lobes extending from a surface of the mantle layer, each of the plurality of lobes formed from thermoplastic material flowing into a deep depression.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein a pre-core slug is placed within the cavity and forming the golf ball precursor product with a plurality of lobes comprises compressing molding the pre-core slug within the cavity to form a core with a plurality of lobes extending from a surface of the core, each of the plurality of lobes formed from material of the pre-core slug flowing into a deep depression.