Mold with midplate and method of molding golf ball

Abstract

A mold for manufacturing hemispherical sections for a golf ball includes a first mold plate including a first cavity, a second mold plate including a second cavity, and a midplate. The midplate includes an indentation on a first side of the midplate and a projection on a second side of the midplate. The indentation of the midplate corresponds to the first cavity of the first mold plate. The projection of the midplate corresponds to the second cavity of the second mold plate.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a golf ball core, the method comprising:
 placing an inner core in an indentation located on a first side of a midplate;   attaching a first preform to a first mold plate within a first cavity that opposes the indentation before molding the first preform by the first mold plate;   placing a second preform within a second cavity of a second mold plate, the second cavity opposing a second side of the midplate; and   closing the mold plates so that the first preform molds about the inner core and the second preform molds into a hemispherical shape.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising removing the midplate and closing the mold plates a second time to mate the first preform and the second preform, thereby forming a two-layer core. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising extruding the first preform into a first shape and maintaining the first preform in the first shape prior to the mold plates closing. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising extruding the first preform into a first shape, subsequently molding the first shape into a second shape, and maintaining the first preform in the second shape prior to the mold plates closing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising pressing the second preform against a projection located on the second side of the midplate to mold the second preform into the hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing a golf ball, the method comprising:
 placing an inner core within a mold that includes a first mold plate, a midplate including an indentation, and a second mold plate, wherein the inner core is placed within the indentation of the midplate;   placing a first preform within a first cavity of the first mold plate, wherein the first preform has a first surface facing the inner core when the first preform is placed in the first cavity and a second surface which contacts the first cavity when the first preform is placed within the first cavity;   initiating closing the mold so that the first preform comes into direct contact with the core before contacting the midplate; and   closing the mold to mold the first preform to the inner core and mold the first preform into a first hemispherical section.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein facing the inner core with the first surface of the preform includes facing the inner core with a substantially flat surface of the first preform. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising placing a second preform within a second cavity of the second mold plate and molding a second hemispherical section from the second preform. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising joining the first preform and the inner core as a single piece by closing the mold. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising removing the midplate from the mold. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising joining the single piece to the second hemispherical section to form a dual-layer core. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein joining the single piece to the second hemispherical section is accomplished by closing the mold a second time. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising molding at least one additional layer onto the dual-layer core. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein attaching the first preform to the first mold plate includes attaching the first preform to a mechanical fastening device associated with the first cavity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein placing the first preform in the first cavity includes attaching the first preform to the first mold plate. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein placing the first preform in the first cavity includes fixing the first preform for movement with the first mold plate. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein placing the first preform in the first cavity includes attaching the first preform to a mechanical fastening device associated with the first cavity.