Golf ball with improved flight performance

• US 20060094542A1
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jones, Douglas E., Aoyama, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0006 Arrangement or layout of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0017 Specified total dimple volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00215 Volume ratio
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/003 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0045 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00776 Slab hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0078 Coefficient of restitution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate

Abstract

A golf ball is provided that has improved aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in increased flight distance for golfers of all swing speeds, and more particularly for golfers possessing very high swing speeds, such as those who can launch the balls at an initial speed greater than 160 miles per hour and more particularly at initial ball speed of about 170 miles per hour or higher. The golf ball of the present invention combines lower dimple count with multiple dimple sizes to provide higher dimple coverage and improved aerodynamic characteristics.

Claims

1. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 75% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the dimples comprise at least two sizes.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball comprises less than 350 dimples.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the golf ball comprises less than 340 dimples.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the golf ball comprises about 250 dimples.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the dimples cover at least about 80% of the surface of the ball.

6. The golf ball of claim 5, wherein the dimples cover at least about 83% of the surface of the ball.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the dimples comprise at least four sizes.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the dimples comprise at least six sizes.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ratio of C_L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.730.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the ratio of C_L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.725.

11. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the ratio of C_L at Re 180,000 and SR 0.110 to C_L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.700.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ratio of C_D at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_D at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.797.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the ratio of C_MAG at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_MAG at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.780.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the ratio of C_MAG at Re 180,000 to C_MAG at Re 70,000 is at most 0.760.

15. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 75% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the ratio of C_L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.730 or at least 0.832.

16. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the ratio of C_L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.725 or at least 0.832.

17. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein the ratio of C_L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.700 or at least 0.832.

18. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the golf ball comprises less than 350 dimples.

19. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein the golf ball comprises less than 340 dimples.

20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the golf ball comprises about 250 dimples.

21. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the dimples cover at least about 80% of the surface of the ball.

22. The golf ball of claim 21, wherein the dimples cover at least about 83% of the surface of the ball.

23. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the dimples comprise at least four sizes.

24. The golf ball of claim 23, wherein the dimples comprises at least six sizes.

25. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the ratio of C_MAG at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_MAG at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.780.

26. The golf ball of claim 20, wherein the ratio of C_MAG at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_MAG at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.760.

27. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 75% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the ratio of C_D at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C_D at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.797 or at least 0.841.

28. The golf ball of claim 27, wherein the golf ball comprises less than 350 dimples.

29. The golf ball of claim 28, wherein the golf ball comprises less than 340 dimples.

30. The golf ball of claim 29, wherein the golf ball comprises about 250 dimples.

31. The golf ball of claim 27, wherein the dimples cover at least about 80% of the surface of the ball.

32. The golf ball of claim 31, wherein the dimples cover at least about 83% of the surface of the ball.

33. The golf ball of claim 27, wherein the dimples comprise at least four sizes.

34. The golf ball of claim 33, wherein the dimples comprise at least six sizes.

35. The golf ball of claim 27, wherein the ratio of C_MAG at Re 180,000 and SR 0.110 to C_MAG at Re 70,000 and SR 0.188 is at most 0.780.

36. The golf ball of claim 35, wherein the ratio of C_MAG at Re 180,000 and SR 0.110 to C_MAG at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.760.