Abstract: A spherical body having a core and a surface layer is manufactured by a method comprising a preforming step in which a pair of sheet blanks (1) are formed into half-shells (11) in a two-part mold (2) having hemispherical concave mold halves by pressing each blank from one side while applying vacuum suction to the other side; a surface layer forming step in which the half-shells are loaded into another two-part mold (12) having pattern-forming projections, the core (19) is placed on one mold half, and the other mold half is joined thereto to close the mold, thereby pressing the core against the inner side of each half-shell, concurrent with which vacuum suction is applied to the outer side; and a molding step in which the surface layer is fused and solidified onto the core within the closed mold.

Abstract: Using a mold comprising typically two split mold segments which are mated in a separable manner to define a spherical mold cavity therein, a golf ball having a multiplicity of dimples in its surface is molded by feeding a molding material into the mold cavity. The mold is split along a line off a horizontal great circle of the golf ball into two split mold segments having different areas of contact with the ball. The golf ball as molded is always caught and left in the larger mold segment and thus can be easily removed from the mold by a routine operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball is disclosed. A cover is molded through use of either a thermoplastic resin having a group capable of reacting with an isocyanate group or a thermoplastic resin containing a compound having two or more groups capable of reacting with an isocyanate group. Subsequently, a polyisocyanate compound is caused to permeate into the surface layer of the cover to thereby cause the reaction between the polyisocyanate compound and the group(s) capable of reacting with the isocyanate group. As a result, a modified layer having excellent properties is formed at the surface of the cover formed from thermoplastic resin. In this case, a non-yellowing polyurethane resin is preferably used as the thermoplastic resin having a group capable of reacting with an isocyanate group, and 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) is preferably used as the polyisocyanate compound.

Abstract: An injection mold for golf balls defines a spherical cavity therein and has a parting plane extending coplanar with the equator of the cavity. A plurality of molding material injecting gates are arranged in the mold body along or near the cavity equator, and a plurality of retractable core support pins are disposed in the mold at areas other than the cavity equator and poles so that the core support pins may be moved toward and away from the cavity center. A cover having a uniform gage and a smooth surface can be injection molded to produce a golf ball without radial misalignment of the core.

Abstract: A golf ball is molded in a mold comprising a pair of removably joined mold sections. The golf ball has a plurality of dimples, the dimples being arranged in a polyhedral arrangement. The golf ball is free of a great circle which does not intersect with the dimples. The dimples (D2) lying across the parting line (P) between the mold sections, except for the dimples (D1) whose center lies on the parting line, are shifted upward or downward from the parting line or reduced in diameter so that these dimples are located outside the parting line (P). The dimple surface coverage is at least 71%. A golf ball having high symmetry and excellent flight performance can be prepared using a simple mold.

Abstract: A golf ball has a core and a cover, and the cover includes at least one thin spherical layer with a thickness of not more than 1.5 mm. The thin layer is molded by injecting an injection molding material at a selected fill speed which is correlated to the melt flow rate of the molding material. The invention facilitates the mass production of golf balls having thin spherical cover layers of uniform thickness which offer potential for further improvements in ball performance.

Abstract: Markings are imparted to the surface of a golf ball at the same time as the ball is molded in a two-part mold having an inner wall defining a spherical cavity. A is provided on the cavity-defining wall of the mold, and the cavity is then filled with a molding material. Also disclosed is a marking method which includes affixing a mark bearing film to the surface of a covered body comprising a core enclosed within a pair of half-cups, then compression molding the covered body. Markings can easily and efficiently be applied to a golf ball without compromising the uniformity of the dimple shapes on the ball surface.

Abstract: A spherical body having a core and a surface layer is manufactured by a method comprising a preforming step in which a pair of sheet blanks (1) are formed into half-shells (11) in a two-part mold (2) having hemispherical concave mold halves by pressing each blank from one side while applying vacuum suction to the other side; a surface layer forming step in which the half-shells are loaded into another two-part mold (12) having pattern-forming projections, the core (19) is placed on one mold half, and the other mold half is joined thereto to close the mold, thereby pressing the core against the inner side of each half-shell, concurrent with which vacuum suction is applied to the outer side; and a molding step in which the surface layer is fused and solidified onto the core within the closed mold.

Abstract: A golf ball mold is prepared by inserting a dimpled hemispherical male die into a chamber in a frame, admitting hot liquid wax into the chamber, cooling and curing the wax to form a wax shape, covering the wax shape with a mix slurry of ceramic particles and a binder, drying and curing the slurry to form a ceramic shell around the wax shape, removing the wax shape from the ceramic shell, casting a molten metal into the ceramic shell, cooling and solidifying the metal to form a mold half, and removing the ceramic shell from the mold half. The mold is improved in molding precision, durability and cost.

Abstract: A multi-layer structure solid golf ball is composed of a solid core (2), an intermediate layer (3), and a cover (4). An adhesive layer (5) is interposed between the intermediate layer (3) and the cover (4). The intermediate layer may be formed from an ionomer or a urethane resin, or a polyester resin. The cover may be formed of an ionomer or a polyester elastomer or a urethane resin. The adhesive is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin adhesives, urethane resin adhesives, vinyl resin adhesives and rubber adhesives.

Abstract: An air bag cover made from a woven textile and adapted to be used to cover a folded air bag, wherein a breakable portion allowed to be ruptured at the time of inflation of the air bag is constituted by a plurality of slits provided intermittently. An auxiliary slit is formed on a side of a connection portion between the slits so that threads disposed in the connection portion and intersecting extension line of the slits at the connection portion are cut.

Abstract: An injection mold includes a pair of mold sections which are removably mated to define a spherical cavity by their concave surfaces, support pins disposed in the mold sections for movement into and out of the cavity, and gates connected to the cavity for feeding a cover molding material from an injection molding machine into the cavity. A golf ball having a core and a cover is prepared by supporting the core in the cavity by the support pins, and injecting the cover molding material between the core and the cavity-defining surface through the gates, thereby molding the cover around the core. The gates are oriented relative to the cavity such that the cover molding material is injected in a direction off the center of the core.

Abstract: A golf ball injection mold defines a spherical cavity therein. A parting plane is situated substantially at an equator of the cavity. A plurality of gates are disposed nearly along the equator. At least one gate is disposed nearly at a position corresponding to the cavity's north pole and at least one gate disposed nearly at a position corresponding to the cavity's south pole. A molding material is injected from an injection molding machine into the cavity through the gates. A steric arrangement of gates adapted to the cavity geometry permits a cover or intermediate layer of a uniform thickness to be formed around a core.

Abstract: In a golf ball having at least a set of large and small diameter dimples, the large and small diameter dimples are of the same cross-sectional shape in their lower portion. A master model is prepared by feeding a cutter into a hemispherical surface of a master block to different depths while rotating the cutter, thereby forming a set of large and small recesses, respectively, wherein the large and small recesses have the same cross-sectional shape. The master model having plural types of dimples can be briefly fabricated and has increased freedom of design. Using the master model, a golf ball featuring uniform and densely distributed dimples can be manufactured.

Abstract: A golf ball mold includes a pair of split mold sections which are removably mated to define a spherical cavity. The cavity surfaces are provided with a plurality of dimple-forming protrusions. Some of the dimple-forming protrusions are constructed by dimple-forming pins whose inner end has substantially the same shape as the protrusions. The dimple-forming pins are axially or radially movable so that the projection distance of the pins into the cavity is adjustable. With a single mold, golf balls having dimples of different shapes can be produced. Golf balls of quality including symmetry and flight performance can be manufactured at low cost.

Abstract: A pad for a steering wheel includes a membrane switch forming member and a cover member. The switch forming member includes a switch body and a support plate. The switch body has a plurality of conductive thin metal sheets and an insulating space interposed between the metal sheets. The support plate is made of rigid synthetic resin for supporting the switch body on its upper face and is formed in its outer peripheral edge with a plurality of mounting holes extending vertically. The cover member covers the air bag of an air bag device and is formed with a rupture portion adapted to be ruptured when the air bag is inflated, and mounting ribs projecting from the back face thereof and engaged with the mounting holes of the support plate. At least one of the outer peripheral edge of the support plate and the back face of the cover member is formed with gap regulating projections for setting a predetermined gap between the upper face of the support plate back face of the cover member.

Abstract: A golf ball is composed of at least a pair of adjacent concentric solid layers or three adjacent concentric solid layers. In the former case, the outer solid layer is composed of a matrix and non-metallic high-hardness grains having hardness higher than that of the matrix which has a Shore D range of 36-40. In the later case, the intermediate solid layer is composed of a matrix and high-hardness grains having hardness higher than that of the matrix. The high-hardness grains have a Shore D hardness in the range of 50-70 and penetrate the corresponding solid layer in normal directions. The golf ball can provide a player with different feels on impact depending on the direction of an external force applied thereto when the golf ball is hit.

Abstract: A golf ball has a coating layer formed by dispersion coating at the surface portion thereof. For example, a two-piece golf ball is produced by enclosing a solid core with a cover material; forming, by dispersion coating, a white coating layer made of a thermoplastic resin on the surface of the cover material; conducting mark stamping on the coating layer; forming, by dispersion coating, a transparent coating layer made of a thermosetting resin as an outermost layer; and then conducting dimple processing. The coatings have thicknesses in the range of 15-250 .mu.m. Even when the coating layer at a surface portion is formed relatively thick, the coating layer allows the dimples to be precisely shaped and sharp edged and can be given sufficient durability and functions to improve travel properties, spin properties, and feel on impact.

Abstract: A golf ball having a plurality of dimples on its spherical surface molded by a mold which has a spherical cavity therein and is composed of a pair of mold sections being removably mated along with a parting surface at the position corresponding to an equator line of the spherical cavity of the mold, wherein at least one dimple lies across the equator line of the ball, such that a center of the dimple is displaced from the equator line, and the dimple is formed by a pin disposed at the parting surface of the mold sections such that a center axis passing the axial center of the pin is positioned below or above the parting line.

Abstract: A golf ball having a plurality of dimples on its surface, the dimples including dimples which are different in diameter and/or depth, the total number of dimples is 392 to 432, and the golf ball has a percent dimple surface area occupation of 77 to 82%, a percent dimple volume occupation of 0.85 to 1.2%, an average dimple diameter of 2.5 to 4.5 mm (0.098 to 0.177 inches), an average dimple depth of 0.12 to 0.18 mm (0.005 to 0.007 inches), an average dimple V.sub.0 value of 0.4 to 0.6, and a dimple edge angle of 4.0 to 17.0 degrees, where CL is a lift coefficient and CD is a drag coefficient, CL is in the range of 0.140 to 0.190, CD is in the range of 0.21 to 0.255, and CL/CD is in the range of 0.640 to 0.730 when the ball is in flight at a velocity of 65 m/s and a spin rate of 42 rps.