Method of making golf balls

• US 4,729,861 A
• Filed: 03/18/1985
• Issued: 03/08/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Brown, Robert A., Jepson, John W., Lynch, Francis deS.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weston, Caleb
• Application Number:
  US06/713,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 156/146, 156/245, 273/232, 264/219, 264/239, 264/293, 264/299, 264/320, 264/325
• US Class Current: 264/219
• 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 37/0015 with sub-dimples formed within main dimples
• 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 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

Dimples are arranged on the surface of a golf ball in a manner which makes the golf ball travel further. At least about 80% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples are less than about 0.065 inches and at least about 55% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples are greater than about 0.001 inches.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a golf ball having dimples in the outer periphery thereof comprising the steps of:

(A) selecting a golf ball structure onto the surface of which dimples can be molded;

(B) determining the dimple number, dimple diameter and dimple depth by;

(a) selecting the number of dimples to be used, the said number of dimples being between 182 and 392;

(b) selecting a dimple diameter and dimple depth that satisfy the following relationship;

##EQU2## in which;

S=a value of 0 to 1.0

d=average depth of all dimples in inches

D=average diameter of all dimples in inches

and wherein;

a value N is obtained by dividing the exact number of dimples by 100, and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions of N;

when the number of dimples is between 182 and 332;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=0.323-0.0896N+0.0122N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">x=0.0186-0.00406N+0.000550N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=6.30-3.30N+0.693N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b=3.11-1.03N+0.155N.sup.2

and when the number of dimples is between 333 and 392;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=0.287-0.0383N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">x=0.0162-0.00150N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=4.66-0.500N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b=5.00-1.08N

(C) making golf ball molds by positioning the selected dimples on the golf ball mold so that the surface of the golf ball made therefrom will have at least 80% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples less than about 0.065 inches, and at least 55% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples greater than 0.001 inches the edge of the dimples being defined as the point of intersection of the periphery of the golf ball or its continuation and a tangent to the sidewall of the dimples at a point 0.003 inches below the periphery of the golf ball or its continuation;

(D) forming the dimples on the surface of the golf ball by molding a golf ball in the mold;

(E) removing the formed golf ball from the mold; and

(F) finishing the golf ball.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is less than 0.065 inches.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distance between the edges of adjacent dimples is greater than 0.001 inches.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the dimples are circular.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected number of dimples is from 182 to 332 and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions N:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=0.323-0.0896N+0.0122N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">x=0.0186-0.00406N+0.000550N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=4.54-2.78N+0.674N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b=3.09-1.97N+0.412N.sup.2.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of the adjacent dimples is less than 0.065 inches.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is greater than 0.001 inches.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the dimples are circular.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected number of dimples is from 333 to 392 and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions of N:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=0.287-0.0383N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">x=0.0162-0.00150N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=4.66-0.500N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b=5.00-1.08N.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is less than 0.0065 inches.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of the adjacent dimples is greater than 0.001 inches.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the dimples are circular.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected number of dimples is from 182 to 332 and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions of N:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=0.323-0.0896N+0.0122N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">x=0.0186-0.00406N+0.000550N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=6.30-3.30N+0.693N.sup.2

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b=3.09-1.97N+0.412N.sup.2.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is less than 0.065 inches.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is greater than 0.001 inches.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the dimples are circular.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected number of dimples is from 333 to 392 and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions of N:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y=0.240-0.0242N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">x=0.0225-0.00340N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=13.6-3.28N

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b=5.25-1.25N.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is less than 0.065 inches.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is greater than 0.001 inches.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the dimples are circular.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected number of dimples is from 315 to 340 and x, y, a and b are as follows:

x=0.0117

y=0.156

a=1.1

b=0.55.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is less than 0.065 dimples.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the positioning of the selected dimples in the surface of the golf ball is such that 100% of the closest distances between the edges of adjacent dimples is greater than 0.001 inches.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the dimples are circular.