GOLF BALL

• US 20090088273A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Steven, Nardacci, Nicholas M., Wilson, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/379
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00065 located around the pole or the equator
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/0034 Mould parting lines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/005 characterised by the location of the parting line of the mould parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/303 centering mould parts or halves, e.g. during mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/003 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/027 having an axis of symmetry B29C43/102 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0025 Preventing defects on the moulded article, e.g. weld lines, shrinkage marks preventing defects on the preformed parts or layers B29C45/14836
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/54 Balls
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/545 Football balls

Abstract

A golf ball that is formed by a mold developed from a computerized modeling system such as CAD or CAE in combination with a CNC machine tool which superimposes a short waveform, or multiple waveforms, onto a longer base waveform to create a non-planar parting line that is functionally dependent on the underlying dimple geometry. The non-planar parting line is comprised of a plurality of peaks and valleys that are offset from the dimple perimeters, as not to bisect any dimple edge. Also, dimples on one side of the parting line interdigitate with dimples on the other side to form a more uniform distribution of dimples over the entire golf ball surface. Still further, the non-planar parting line has a amplitude which is less than 0.02 inch from an axis substantially coincident with the equator of the ball and the length of the parting line is less than 110 percent of the length of a curve defined by the circumference of the equator. Located at a plurality of sites on the non-planar parting line and offset from the equator are tabs which are formed on the ball to aid in the finishing operation wherein flash is removed from the ball parting line. The tabs are created by true sprues (vents) and false sprues on the parting surfaces of the ball mold halves.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a non-planar parting line on its spherical surface, the golf ball comprising:

a base waveform correlating to a dimple pattern of the ball;

the non-planar parting line resulting from superimposing the base waveform with at least one shorter wavelength secondary waveform wherein the non-planar parting line is functionally dependent on the individual dimple geometry; and

the non-planar parting line comprising of a plurality of wave amplitudes that are offset from the dimples so as not to intersect any dimple edge while allowing the dimples on opposing hemispheres of the golf ball to interdigitate;

the non-planar parting line has a length less than 110 percent of the ball equator circumference; and

wherein the base waveform has a wavelength defined by the relationship λ

=π

D/n, is periodic and has an axis substantially coincident with the ball equator.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the dimple pattern of the ball is an icosahedron-based dimple pattern.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the dimple pattern of the ball is octahedral-based dimple pattern.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the dimple pattern of the ball is a cube-octahedral dimple pattern.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the dimple pattern of the ball is a hexagonal dipyramid dimple pattern.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of tabs are formed at positions substantially coincident with the highest and/or lowest points of the non-planar parting line.

7. The golf ball according to claim 6, wherein the number of tabs is at least twenty.

8. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the base waveform has a wavelength of about ⅕

of the circumference of the ball.