U.S. patent application number 09/730868 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for golf ball having a dimple combination pattern.
Invention is credited to Kennedy, Thomas J. III.
Application Number | 20020068649 09/730868 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24937114 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020068649 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kennedy, Thomas J. III |
June 6, 2002 |
Golf ball having a dimple combination pattern
Abstract
A combination dimple pattern on the surface of a golf ball is
characterized by both circular and compound dimples. The compound
dimples include a first circular dimple portion and a second
circular dimple portion arranged in a bottom surface of the first
circular portion, with the second circular dimple portion having a
diameter less than the diameter of the first circular portion. The
combination of compound and circular dimples on the surface of the
ball improves the aerodynamic efficiency of the ball and increases
the distance the ball will travel.
Inventors: |
Kennedy, Thomas J. III;
(Wilbraham, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF LAWRENCE E LAUBSCHER, JR
1160 SPA RD
SUITE 2B
ANNAPOLIS
MD
21403
US
|
Family ID: |
24937114 |
Appl. No.: |
09/730868 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 37/0089 20130101;
A63B 37/0012 20130101; A63B 37/0019 20130101; A63B 37/0018
20130101; A63B 37/002 20130101; A63B 37/0006 20130101; A63B 37/0015
20130101; A63B 37/0004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/378 |
International
Class: |
A63B 037/12; A63B
037/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf ball having a spherical surface containing a plurality of
dimples, a first group of said dimples having a circular
configuration and a second group of said dimples having a compound
configuration including a first circular dimple portion and a
second circular dimple portion arranged in a bottom surface of said
first circular dimple portion, said second circular dimple portion
having a diameter less than that of said first circular dimple
portion, whereby the circular and compound dimples increase the
turbulence of the air flow at the golf ball surface to improve the
flight characteristics of the ball.
2. A golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of dimples
in said second group of dimples is greater than the number of
dimples in said first group of dimples.
3. A golf ball as defined in claim 2, wherein the diameter of said
dimples of said first group of dimples is equal to the diameter of
said first circular dimple portion of said second group of
dimples.
4. A golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein dimples of said
second group of dimples are arranged around a dimple of said first
group of dimples.
5. A golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second
groups of dimples are randomly arranged about the surface of the
golf ball.
6. A golf ball as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second
groups of dimples are arranged in a geometric pattern on the
surface of the golf ball.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a new dimple combination
pattern on a golf ball surface which improves the flight
characteristics of the ball.
[0002] According to the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.)
rules, a golf ball may not have a weight in excess of 1.620 ounces
or a diameter smaller than 1.680 inches. The initial velocity of
balls conforming to U.S.G.A. regulations may not exceed 250 feet
per second with a maximum tolerance of 2%. Initial velocity is
measured on a standard machine kept by the U.S.G.A. A projection on
a wheel rotating at a defined speed hits the test ball, and the
length of time it takes the ball to traverse a set distance after
impact is measured. U.S.G.A. regulations also require that a ball
not travel a distance greater than 280 yards when hit by the
U.S.G.A. outdoor driving machine under specified conditions. In
addition to this specification, there is a tolerance of plus 4% and
a 2% tolerance for test error.
[0003] These specifications limit how far a struck golf ball will
travel in several ways. Increasing the weight of a golf ball tends
to increase the distance it will travel and lower the trajectory. A
ball having greater momentum is better able to overcome drag.
Reducing the diameter of the ball also has the effect of increasing
the distance it will travel when hit. This is believed to occur
primarily because a smaller ball has a smaller projected area and,
thus, a lower drag when traveling through the air. Increasing
initial velocity increases the distance the ball will travel.
[0004] Drag on a golf ball is also reduced by forming a plurality
of dimples, often circular, in the outer surface of the ball. The
dimples serve to reduce the pressure differential between the front
and rear of the ball as it travels through the air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0005] Numerous dimple configurations for use on golf balls are
well-known in the patented prior art, including contoured dimples.
For example, the White U.S. Pat. No. 1,418,220 discloses a golf
ball having rectangular dimples formed in the surface thereof. Each
rectangular dimple includes in its bottom surface a small circular
recess. Such a dimple configuration prolongs the life of the golf
ball as well as improves the flight of the ball when struck. Golf
balls having dimples with different configurations are also known
in the patented prior art as shown by the U.S. patents to Nomura et
al No. 4,869,512 and Oka et al No. 5,143,377, No. 5,174,578, and
No. 5,338,039. Patent No. 5,174,578 for example discloses a golf
ball having both circular and polygonal dimples. While the dimple
combinations of the prior art increase the turbulence of the air
flow across the surface of the golf ball during flight, there is
still room for improvement in this regard as a function of dimple
designs.
[0006] The present invention was developed in order to improve the
aerodynamic efficiency of the dimples on a golf ball so that the
ball will travel a straighter and a greater distance than
conventional golf balls having circular dimples and golf balls with
combinations of dimples as shown in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a golf ball having a spherical surface including a
plurality of dimples arranged in the surface. A first group of
dimples in the ball surface has a circular configuration and a
second group of dimples has a compound configuration including a
first circular dimple portion and a second circular dimple portion
arranged in a bottom surface of the first circular dimple portion.
The second circular dimple portion has a diameter less than that of
the first circular dimple portion, whereby the circular and
compound dimples increase the turbulence of the air flow across the
golf ball surface to improve the flight characteristics of the
ball.
[0008] According to another object of the invention, there are a
greater number of compound dimples than circular dimples, and the
compound dimples are arranged around a circular dimple.
[0009] According to a further object of the invention, the diameter
of the circular dimples and the diameter of the first circular
portion of the compound dimples is equal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] These and other objects according to the invention will
become apparent from a study of the following specification when
viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is plan view of a golf ball including a plurality of
compound and circular dimples according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a circular dimple according to
the invention; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a compound dimple according to
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] In FIG. 1, there is shown a golf ball 2 having a spherical
surface which contains a plurality of circular dimples 4, the
circle being defined where the dimple intersects with the surface
of the ball. The dimples may all be of the same diameter, or
different diameter dimples may be provided. Each dimple includes an
outer edge 6 having a circular geometric configuration and a
concave bottom surface 8 in the golf ball as shown in FIG. 2. The
circular dimples 4 have a depth d extending from the surface of the
golf ball to the lowermost portion of the bottom surface.
[0015] The golf ball 2 further contains a second plurality or group
of compound dimples 10. As used herein, a compound dimple is
essentially a dimple within a dimple. As best shown in FIG. 3, the
compound dimple includes a first circular portion defined by the
intersection of the outer edge 12 of the dimple with the golf ball
surface. The first portion has a bottom surface 14 in which is
arranged a second circular dimple portion 16 similar to the dimple
10 but having a lesser diameter. The diameter is defined as the
distance across the dimple portion between its outer edge.
Preferably, the second dimple portion 16 is concentrically arranged
within the first dimple portion. The compound dimple has a depth d2
extending between the ball surface and the bottom surface of the
second dimple portion 16.
[0016] Preferably, the diameters of the circular dimples 4 and the
compound dimples 10 are equal, although they need not be. According
to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are a greater
number of compound dimples 10 than there are circular dimples 4,
with the compound dimples surrounding the circular dimples. The
dimples can be arranged in a geometric pattern on the ball to
maximize the dimple coverage on the ball surface. Depending on the
geometric pattern, a total of 336, 410, 422 or 428 dimples (both
circular and compound) are provided on the ball surface. Other
numbers of dimples are possible.
[0017] In an alternate embodiment, the circular and compound
dimples are randomly arranged on the ball surface. In either
embodiment, the combination of circular and compound dimples
significantly alters the air flow across the surface of the ball as
it travels through the air when struck by a golf club. The altered
air flow has increased turbulence and serves to decrease the drag
on the ball, thereby increasing the distance that it will
travel.
[0018] While in accordance with the provisions of the patent
statutes the preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have
been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications
may be made without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth
above.
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