US 12,350,869 B2
Injection molding method and mold
Ajay Vora, Foxboro, MA (US); and John M. Thornton, New Bedford, MA (US)
Assigned to Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed by Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/645,864.
Application 18/192,233 is a division of application No. 16/712,927, filed on Dec. 12, 2019, granted, now 11,618,192, issued on Apr. 4, 2023.
Application 18/645,864 is a continuation of application No. 18/192,233, filed on Mar. 29, 2023, granted, now 11,969,925.
Prior Publication US 2024/0286328 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 45/14 (2006.01); B29C 45/27 (2006.01); B29L 31/54 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 45/14819 (2013.01) [B29C 45/14073 (2013.01); B29C 45/2708 (2013.01); B29C 2045/14942 (2013.01); B29L 2031/546 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mold assembly comprising:
an upper mold cavity;
a lower mold cavity;
a plurality of retractable pins;
a plurality of injection gates spaced circumferentially about the mold wherein each injection gate is made up of a first portion in the upper mold cavity and a second portion in the lower mold cavity; and
a plurality of cold slug wells, each being disposed entirely inside the mold cavity between consecutive injection gates and each being sized, shaped and contoured to receive polymer that cools to a reduced viscosity within a runner of the mold while progressing toward the injection gate,
wherein each mold cavity has an arcuate inner surface defining an inverted dimple and fret pattern and collectively creating a mold having an interior spherical cavity for holding a golf ball subassembly when mated together to provide a mated mold,
wherein the mated mold has a wave-shaped parting line that extends circumferentially about the mold at an interface between the upper mold cavity and the lower mold cavity,
wherein the wave-shaped parting line contacts fret portions of the inverted dimple and fret pattern without contacting any dimple portion of the inverted dimple and fret pattern; wherein the plurality of injection gates are spaced circumferentially about the mold within the wave-shaped parting line without intersecting any dimple of the dimple and fret pattern; and
wherein the retractable pins are sized, shaped and movable to secure the golf ball subassembly within the upper mold cavity and lower mold cavity during molding and withdraw before molding is finished.