Claims
- 1. A method for coating a golf ball, comprising the steps of:
providing a golf ball component; providing a polymeric material; creating a particulate from the polymer material; charging at least one of the component or the particulate; fluidizing the polymer particulate; and coating the golf ball component with a thin layer of the polymer material by placing the golf ball component within the fluidized particulate.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the golf ball component is a solid center, a fluid-filled center, an outer core layer, an intermediate layer, a cover layer; an outer cover, or a golf ball.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises vinyl resins; polyolefins; polyurethanes; polyureas; polyamides; acrylic resins; thermoplastics; thermosets; polyphenylene oxide resins; thermoplastic polyesters; polycarbonates; acrylonitriles; butadiene styrenes; polybutylenes; polyethylenes; and blends of thermoplastic rubbers with polyethylenes; polypropylenes; polyacetals; nylons; polyesters; epoxies; glycidyl polymers; or cellulose esters.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the particulate comprises physical grinding, cryo-grinding, dispersion and evaporation, or surfactant foaming.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of fluidizing further comprises the steps of:
placing the polymer particulate in a reservoir; injecting compressed air into the reservoir; and allowing the air to percolate through the polymer particulate.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the compressed air flows through a porous diffuser plate positioned below the reservoir.
- 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the compressed air is injected at a pressure of between about 5 psi and about 15 psi.
- 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the compressed air is injected at a pressure sufficient to separate the polymer particulate and cause density reduction.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of pre-heating the golf ball component prior to placing the component within the fluidized particulate.
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the component is pre-heated to a temperature of between about 250° F. and about 500° F.
- 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of pre-heating is accomplished using an oven, hot-air convection, or infrared heating.
- 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of heating the coated golf ball component.
- 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of charging comprises grounding the component and applying a voltage to the particulate to form a charged cloud of powder.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the voltage is a negative voltage and ranges from about 10 kV to about 20 kV.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the voltage is applies via a set of electrodes positioned near the diffuser plate.
- 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the component is conveyed through the charged cloud of powder and passed through a curing oven in which the powder is heated to its melting temperature and forms a uniform layer.
- 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the coating has a thickness of less than about 0.01 inches.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the thickness is between about 0.004 inches and about 0.01 inches.
- 19. A method for coating a golf ball comprising the steps of:
providing a golf ball component; providing a polymer material; creating a polymer particulate from the polymer material; applying an electrostatic field by charging at least one of the component or the particulate; fluidizing the polymer particulate by injecting air through the particulate; and coating the golf ball component with a thin layer of the polymer material to a thickness of less than about 0.01 inches by placing the golf ball component within the fluidized particulate.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/357,717, filed Feb. 4, 2003.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10357717 |
Feb 2003 |
US |
Child |
10368801 |
Feb 2003 |
US |