Dimple patterns with surface texture for golf balls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10758784-B2
Application number	US-201916381156-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2019
Priority date	Sep 4, 2014
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

Golf ball comprising dimple(s) incorporating three or more linear channels having the same channel length L and same channel width CW; all linear channels extend radially outward from a centroid of the dimple toward a perimeter of the dimple without intersecting the dimple's centroid. Each linear channel may extend radially outward from a location on the dimple that is a distance Cd from the dimple's centroid, wherein Cd>0. Alternatively, at least one of the three or more linear channels has a different channel length L and/or a different channel width CW than at least one other linear channel. Dimple may have circular or non-circular plan shape; channels may not intersect each other; at least one linear channel may intersect the dimple's perimeter; and linear channels may be spaced by n separation angles θS, wherein n is number of linear channels, which may be equal, or at least two differ.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples, wherein at least one of the dimples comprises nine linear channels on the surface thereof;
wherein each of the nine linear channels extends radially outward in a direction from the centroid of the dimple toward the perimeter of the dimple without intersecting the dimple's centroid; and
wherein the nine linear channels include six linear channels of a first type and three linear channels of a second type, each linear channel of the first type having the same channel length L 1 and the same channel width CW 1 , and each linear channel of the second type having the same channel length L 2 and the same channel width CW 2 ; wherein L 1 ≠L 2 ; and
wherein each two linear channels of the first type are located between consecutive linear channels of the second type; and wherein linear channels of the second type are spaced about the centroid by the same separation angle θ S2 of 120°.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the linear channels form a pattern that is axially symmetric about an axis connecting the centroid of the dimple and the center of the golf ball.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein none of the linear channels intersect each other.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least the linear channels of a second type intersect the perimeter of the dimple.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein every linear channel intersects the perimeter of the dimple.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple has a circular plan shape.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple has a non-circular plan shape.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein each of the channel length L 1 and the channel length L 2 is less than half of dimple diameter and at least two times the channel width CW; wherein the channel width CW is at least two times the channel depth; and wherein the channel depth is less than or equal to 0.007 inches.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein CW 1 =CW 2 .

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein CW 1 ≠CW 2 .

11. A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples, wherein at least one of the dimples comprises ten linear channels on the surface thereof; the ten linear channels comprising five linear channels of a first type and five linear channels of a second type; wherein each of the linear channels extends radially outward in a direction from the centroid of the dimple toward the perimeter of the dimple without intersecting the dimple's centroid; and
wherein each linear channel of the first type has the same channel length L 1 and the same channel width CW 1 , and each linear channel of the second type has the same channel length L 2 and the same channel width CW 2 ; wherein L 1 ≠L 2 and/or CW 1 ≠CW 2 ;
wherein the first type of linear channel and second type of linear channel alternate about the centroid of the dimple; and
wherein none of the ten linear channels intersect the perimeter of the dimple; and wherein the linear channels of the first type are spaced about the centroid by the same separation angle θ S1 of 72.0 degrees, and wherein linear channels of the second type are spaced about the centroid by the same separation angle θ S2 of 72.0 degrees.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein each linear channel of the first type has the same minimum distance Cd 1 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, each linear channel of the second type has the same minimum distance Cd 2 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, and Cd 1 =Cd 2 .

13. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein each linear channel of the first type has the same minimum distance Cd 1 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, each linear channel of the second type has the same minimum distance Cd 2 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, and Cd 1 ≠Cd 2 .

14. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein L 1 =L 2 or CW 1 =CW 2 .

15. A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples, wherein at least one of the dimples comprises twelve linear channels on the surface thereof; the twelve linear channels comprising six linear channels of a first type and six linear channels of a second type; wherein each of the linear channels extends radially outward in a direction from the centroid of the dimple toward the perimeter of the dimple without intersecting the dimple's centroid; and
wherein each linear channel of the first type has the same channel length L 1 and the same channel width CW 1 , and each linear channel of the second type has the same channel length L 2 and the same channel width CW 2 ; wherein L 1 ≠L 2 and/or CW 1 ≠CW 2 ; wherein the first type of linear channel and second type of linear channel alternate about the centroid of the dimple; and
wherein each of the twelve linear channels intersect the perimeter; and wherein linear channels of the first type are spaced about the centroid by the same separation angle θ S1 of 60.0 degrees; and linear channels of the second type are spaced about the centroid by the same separation angle θ S2 of 60.0 degrees.

16. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein each linear channel of the first type has the same minimum distance Cd 1 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, each linear channel of the second type has the same minimum distance Cd 2 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, and Cd 1 =Cd 2 .

17. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein each linear channel of the first type has the same minimum distance Cd 1 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, each linear channel of the second type has the same minimum distance Cd 2 from the linear channel to the centroid of the dimple, and Cd 1 ≠Cd 2 .

18. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein L 1 =L 2 or CW 1 =CW 2 .

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Madson Michael R
• Nardacci Nicholas M

Classifications

• A63B37/0004

  Surface depressions or protrusions · CPC title

• A63B37/00065

  located around the pole or the equator · CPC title

• A63B37/009

  Coefficient of lift · CPC title

• A63B37/0018

  Specified number of dimples · CPC title

• A63B37/0005 Primary

  Protrusions · CPC title