WILLIAM BRUM
Engineering in Raynham, MA

2009007, Mar 19, 2009

Sep 17, 2007

11/856136

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

B29C 69/02

264241

A method of casting a cover layer about a golf ball core utilizing a single cavity mold that moves on a continuous conveyor, and the cover layers are cast without any “stop and go” or batch methods being involved. The continuous motion conveyor system is a closed loop system that provides for the automatic pre-heating of top and bottom mold halves and the depositing of a core into the bottom mold halve after a layer material such as urethane has been dispensed into the molds by an articulating module comprising of a plurality of dispensing nozzles. The nozzles translate in a tangential motion with the moving conveyor and dispense the cover material without any stoppage of the conveyor line. The method then assembles the mold halves into a single cavity mold without the use of bolts, but only employing clamping pins that use spring force for compression, and releasable retainers to lock the mold for the curing stage, and then unlocking he mold for the disassembling and product removal.

7648667, Jan 19, 2010

Sep 17, 2007

11/856127

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

Acushnet Company - Fairhaven MA

B29C 51/08

264322, 2642976, 264320

A method of molding a golf ball core utilizing a single cavity mold that moves on a continuous conveyor system wherein heated preps are automatically and individually taken directly from the extruder and robotically placed into a bottom mold half that is integral with and moves along a conveyor at a speed consistent with the output from the extruder. This eliminates the prep's inefficient loss of heat during storage that is associated with the batch process. The method provides preheating each top and bottom mold half in separate conveyor ovens to about 350° F. prior to the prep being loaded into the bottom mold half. After the prep is loaded, the top and bottom mold halves are assembled to create the single cavity mold. The single cavity mold compresses the prep into a spherical core shape by utilizing spring force and retainer plates to exert about 384 lbs of force. The core is then moved by conveyor into a convection oven wherein the core is cured to a temperature of about 350° F.

2008020, Aug 28, 2008

Feb 26, 2007

11/678787

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

B29C 45/14

264267

The present invention is an improved single cavity molding device and method for compression molding polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea hybrid covers over golf ball sub-assemblies. The device utilizes top and bottom mold-halves and is particularly novel in that it does not require the use of bolts to secure the mold-halves. The molding device utilizes a pair mold halves, each having a backing plate and mold frame for housing a hemispherical cavity mold. The invention utilizes a plurality of clamping pins, each pin having its top portion reciprocally disposed in a recess of the backing plate of the top mold. Double spring Belleville washers are coupled to the top portion of each clamping pin and upon the application of a vertical force, the washers are compressed to place the device in a controlled state of tension and also cause the clamping pins, to move downward into a locking position with slidable retainers to therein maintain a compressive force of at least 384 pounds on the golf ball sub-assembly for the molding process. Upon completion of the molding process, a vertical force is applied to the top of the clamping pins wherein they are moved out of a coupled relationship with the engagement loops, and with a coordinating horizontal biasing, the retainers are moved away from the pins, whereby the mold-halves may be then opened and a covered golf ball removed.

6863627, Mar 8, 2005

Nov 13, 2002

10/293802

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

Acushnet Company - Fairhaven MA

A63B037/06

473378

An improvement in the manufacture of golf ball cores utilizing a three plate mold to form the cores therein providing the cores with dual parting lines. The apparatus comprises top, center and bottom plates, each having at least one mold insert. Each insert having a cavity therein. The three cavities collectively forming a spherical shape for molding a golf ball core. Upon the cores being formed, the center plate holding the cores, is lifted and rotated to a juxtaposed position against a stripping plate, whereby the cores are mechanically separated from both the mold and overflow flashing. The dual parting lines of different distances from their respective polar ends.

2006002, Feb 2, 2006

Sep 28, 2005

11/237494

Stephen Scolamiero - Bristol RI, US
Michael Vieira - Acushnet MA, US
William Brum - Raynham MA, US

B29C 43/02

264040400, 264148000, 264320000, 425141000, 425308000

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for making golf ball cores. The method includes using an inspection system during preform formation to measure the preform. The measurements are used to determine the measured preform volume and compare it to a standard preform volume. The method also includes using mold with pairs of self-aligning half-molds. The apparatus for inspecting the preforms comprises a non-contact measuring device, such as a camera. The self-aligning half-molds each include an upper surface with an angularly offset portion. When the offset portions mate during mold closure, the half-molds move with respect to one another.

6913726, Jul 5, 2005

Nov 13, 2002

10/293801

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

Acushnet Company - Fairhaven MA

B29C043/02

2642975, 264325, 264334

An improvement in the method of molding is disclosed which utilizes a three plate mold to form golf ball cores having dual parting lines. A method of stripping the cores from the mold and the flashing is also disclosed.

2004003, Feb 26, 2004

Aug 22, 2002

10/225640

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

B24B001/00

451/032000, 451/033000

A method of removing parting line flash from a molded golf ball by use of low temperature cryogenic deflashing apparatus is disclosed. The cryogenic deflashing apparatus incorporates a rotating basket wherein the golf balls are placed and therein agitate them such that each ball will be evenly exposed to a recirculating blasting media. The low temperature environment causes the very thin gauge (0.003″) parting line flash to become embrittled relative to the ball and is deflashed by the blasting media, which comprises plastic pellitized shot.

2003006, Apr 10, 2003

Dec 4, 2001

10/011830

William Brum - Raynham MA, US

A63B037/02

473/367000

An improvement in the method of molding is disclosed which utilizes a three plate mold to form golf ball cores having dual parting lines. A method of stripping the cores from the mold and the flashing is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises top, center and bottom plates, each having at least one mold insert. Each insert having a cavity therein. The three cavities collectively forming a spherical shape for molding a golf ball core. Upon the cores being formed, the center plate holding the cores, is lifted and rotated to a juxtaposed position against a stripping plate, whereby the cores are mechanically separated from both the mold and overflow flashing.

7153467, Dec 26, 2006

Apr 18, 2003

10/418085

William Brum - Raynham MA, US
Jeffrey L. Dalton - Dartmouth MA, US
Herbert C. Boehm - Norwell MA, US
Christopher Cavallaro - Lakeville MA, US

Acushnet Company - Fairhaven MA

B29C 51/14

264553, 264250, 264263, 2642791

A method for making a multilayer golf ball including a solid center having a center hardness, a plurality of laminates cut into a plurality of shapes formed around the center to create an inner ball, and a cover formed around the inner ball, wherein the plurality of layers can include at least a first layer having a hardness greater than the center hardness and a second layer having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness, and optionally a third layer disposed between the first and the second layers having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness.