Gary L Marshall

US Patent:

6387316, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Feb 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/495588

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 3910

US Classification:

264511, 264248, 264251, 264254, 2642791, 264275

Abstract:

A method and system for inserting a golf ball precursor product into a cavity of a mold half for precision centering is disclosed herein. The precision centering allows for the concentricity of core in relation to the cover of a golf ball. The system includes an insertion mechanism that allows for the vertical movement of a plurality of vacuum cups along a longitudinal pathway. The vacuum cups retain the golf ball precursor products and insert each into a corresponding cavity on a mold half. As the vacuum cups are lowered along the longitudinal pathway, the mold half is elevated along the longitudinal pathway. The mold half and vacuum cups meet at an insertion position where the golf ball precursor products are released from the vacuum cups and set within a thermoset material contained in each of the cavities.

US Patent:

6390937, May 21, 2002

Filed:

Feb 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/495586

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN
Pijush K. Dewanjee - Oceanside CA

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A63B 3704

US Classification:

473374, 473371, 473373, 473372

Abstract:

A method for determining the concentricity of a golf ball having a barium or bismuth doped boundary layer or cover is disclosed herein. The method uses an X-ray imaging machine to determine the thickness of the cover at various locations to ensure concentricity of the golf ball. The boundary layer may be an ionomer blend doped with barium or bismuth in an amount of five to fifteen parts per hundred of the ionomer material, and the cover may be composed of a thermoset polyurethane material. Alternatively, the cover may be doped with barium or bismuth, and the boundary layer may be undoped.

US Patent:

6395218, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Feb 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/496126

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN
Pijush K. Dewanjee - Oceanside CA

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 4320

US Classification:

264511, 264275, 2642791, 2642975, 2642976, 2642978, 264335, 264250, 264265

Abstract:

A method and system for casting a thermoset layer over a golf ball precursor product is disclosed herein. The system includes multiple stations connected by a conveyor system. The thermoset flowable material is dispensed into a plurality of cavities on each of the mold halves. A plurality of golf ball precursor products are then centered and inserted into the first mold half cavities. The mold halves are mated, heated and cooled. Then, at a de-molding station, the mold halves are separated and the thermoset layered golf balls are removed from the second mold half. A preferred thermoset material is a thermoset polyurethane.

US Patent:

6409492, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Nov 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/682955

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 7070

US Classification:

425116, 425125, 4251261

Abstract:

A method and system for inserting a golf ball precursor product into a cavity of a mold half for precision centering is disclosed herein. The precision centering allows for the concentricity of core in relation to the cover of a golf ball. The system includes an insertion mechanism that allows for the vertical movement of a plurality of vacuum cups along a longitudinal pathway. The vacuum cups retain the golf ball precursor products and insert each into a corresponding cavity on a mold half. As the vacuum cups are lowered along the longitudinal pathway, the mold half is elevated along the longitudinal pathway. The mold half and vacuum cups meet at an insertion position where the golf ball precursor products are released from the vacuum cups and set within a thermoset material contained in each of the cavities.

US Patent:

6439873, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Feb 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/495583

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 3330

US Classification:

425116, 425195, 425572, 425588, 425408

Abstract:

A mold assembly designed for casting a layer for a golf ball is disclosed herein. The mold assembly has two halves that each hold a plurality of mold inserts. Each mold half is composed of a carrier base, a carrier plate, a retainer plate and a plurality of mold inserts. The multiple component aspect of each mold half allows for a more efficient transfer of heat during a casting process. Preferably, the mold assembly is utilized to mold a polyurethane cover on a golf ball precursor product.

US Patent:

6499983, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

Nov 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/682954

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN
Pijush K. Dewanjee - Oceanside CA

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 4304

US Classification:

425116, 425125, 4251261, 425256, 425261, 425441

Abstract:

A method and system for casting a thermoset layer over a golf ball precursor product is disclosed herein. The system includes multiple stations connected by a conveyor system. The thermoset flowable material is dispensed into a plurality of cavities on each of the mold halves. A plurality of golf ball precursor products are then centered and inserted into the first mold half cavities. The mold halves are mated, heated and cooled. Then, at a de-molding station, the mold halves are separated and the thermoset layered golf balls are removed from the second mold half. A preferred thermoset material is a thermoset polyurethane.

US Patent:

6503073, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Dec 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/683280

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN
Pijush K. Dewanjee - Carlsbad CA

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 4304

US Classification:

425116, 425125, 4251261, 425256, 425261, 425441

Abstract:

A method and system for casting a thermoset layer over a golf ball precursor product is disclosed herein. The system includes multiple stations connected by a conveyor system. The thermoset flowable material is dispensed into a plurality of cavities on each of the mold halves. A plurality of golf ball precursor products are then centered and inserted into the first mold half cavities. The mold halves are mated, heated and cooled. Then, at a de-molding station, the mold halves are separated and the thermoset layered golf balls are removed from the second mold half. A preferred thermoset material is a thermoset polyurethane.

US Patent:

63289210, Dec 11, 2001

Filed:

Feb 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/495879

Inventors:

Gary G. Marshall - Soddy Daisy TN
Alan C. Bettencourt - Solana Beach CA
Donn A. Wilber - Escondido CA

Assignee:

Callaway Golf Company - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

B29C 4514

US Classification:

2642791

Abstract:

A method and system for de-molding golf balls having a casted layer is disclosed herein. The invention includes exerting a first lateral force against a top mold half of a mold assembly and exerting a second lateral force against a bottom mold half of the mold assembly to separate the mold assembly and de-mold the golf balls from the top mold half. Preferably, the mold assembly is used to form a thermoset polyurethane cover over a core and boundary layer. The bottom mold half may have a double tapered pin, or a retractable pin with a single taper. The method and system allow for hot de-molding of golf balls from the mold assembly.