Golf ball aerodynamic configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956454-B2
Application number	US-201615215624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to golf balls, specifically to a golf ball comprising an aerodynamic pattern having novel shaped dimple structures which reduce the variation in airflow turning angle thereby improving the golf ball's flight performance. The dimple structures have a conical shaped base with a dimple in the center and reduced or no flat land areas between the dimples.

First claim

We claim:

1. A golf ball having an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a plurality of dimple structures, each dimple structure having an annular conical shaped base having a center with a dimple formed therein, wherein the annular conical shaped base is non-polygonal and the dimples have an edge angle of 5° to 15° and further comprising at least one valley formed by the conical shaped bases of adjacent dimples.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.100 inches to about 0.165 inches.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.085 inches to about 0.145 inches.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.117 inches to about 0.185 inches.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.190 inches to about 0.285 inches.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the golf ball comprises from 90 to 400 dimple structures.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least one conical shaped base has a wall angle α of 15° to 25°.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a plan shape of said dimple structures is circular, elliptical, egg-shaped, rounded polygonal, faceted, or oval.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the dimple is circular arc, parabolic, elliptical, catenary, V shaped, truncated V shaped, or compound arc, or configured to produce raised or depressed structures within the dimple.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimple arrangement is based on a polyhedron.

11. A golf ball having an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a plurality of dimple structures having an annular conical shaped base with a center including a dimple formed therein and flat annular land areas, the land areas comprising less than 20% of the outer surface, wherein the annular conical shaped base is non-polygonal and the dimples have an edge angle of 5° to 15° and further comprising at least one valley formed by the conical shaped bases of adjacent dimples.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.100 inches to about 0.165 inches.

13. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.085 inches to about 0.145 inches.

14. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.117 inches to about 0.185 inches.

15. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the dimple diameters range from about 0.190 inches to about 0.285 inches.

16. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the land areas comprise less than 10% of the outer surface.

17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the land areas comprise less than 5% of the outer surface.

18. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the outer surface of the golf ball comprises from 90 to 400dimple structures.

19. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein at least one conical shaped base has a wall angle α of 15° to 25°.

20. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein a plan shape of said dimple structure is circular, elliptical, egg-shaped, rounded polygonal, faceted, or oval.

21. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the dimple is circular arc, parabolic, elliptical, catenary, V shaped, truncated V shaped, or compound arc, or configured to produce raised or depressed structures within the dimple.

22. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the dimple arrangement is based on a polyhedron.

23. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the valley has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of V, U, cusps or semi-circles.

24. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the valley has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of V, U, cusps or semi-circles.

Assignees

• Acushnet Co

Inventors

• Aoyama Steven
• Olson Traci L

Classifications

• A63B37/0009

  Polygonal · CPC title

• A63B37/0015 Primary

  with sub-dimples formed within main dimples · CPC title

• A63B37/0012

  Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view · CPC title

• A63B37/0007

  Non-circular dimples · CPC title

• A63B37/0021

  Occupation ratio, i.e. percentage surface occupied by dimples · CPC title