Golf ball

• US 4,813,677 A
• Filed: 05/01/1986
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Oka, Kengo, Yamada, Kaname
• Primary Examiner(s): Mario, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/858,214
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 273/232
• US Class Current: 473/384
• 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 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift

Abstract

A golf ball having a plurality of different kinds of dimples formed on a spherical surface thereof is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of four different kinds of dimples is formed on the spherical surface of the golf ball. The differences between the kinds of dimples can be a difference in diameter, in depth, or a combination of diameter and depth. The ratio of the product of the diameter and the depth of the largest dimple, to the product of the diameter and depth of the smallest dimple, is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0. Smooth portions are formed on the remainder of the spherical surface to such a size that a dimple having an area larger than an average area calculated from the respective areas of each kind of dimple constituting the plurality of different kinds cannot be formed. The total number of dimples ranges from 300 to 560, and there is a maximum of one great circle zone not traversing a part of any dimple.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

a main body having a spherical surface;

a plurality of different kinds of dimples formed on said spherical surface of said main body, wherein a difference between said different kinds of dimples is adapted to be a difference in diameter, in depth, or in a combination of diameter and depth, and the ratio of the product of the diameter and the depth of the largest dimple, to the product of the diameter and depth of the smallest dimple, is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0; and

smooth portions formed on the remainder of said spherical surface, each of said smooth portions being formed to such a size that a dimple having an area larger than an average area calculated from the respective areas of each kind of dimple constituting said plurality of different kinds of dimples cannot be formed, wherein the total number of dimples is between 300 to 560, and there is a maximum of one great circle zone not traversing a part of any dimple.

2. The golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of different kinds of dimples include four different kinds of dimples.

3. The golf ball according to claim 2, wherein, in the plurality of different kinds of dimples, the number of dimples of the kind which is smallest in size is above 10% of the total number of dimples.

4. The golf ball according to claim 2, wherein an apparent radius of a dimple spherical face in a range between one point descended from an edge of said dimple by 30 microns and another point descended therefrom by 90 microns in a direction of depth of the dimple, is adapted to be 70 to 90% of the radius of the dimple spherical face derived from the diameter and depth of said dimple wherein the diameter of said dimple means the distance between the edges of said dimple, and the depth is the distance from an imaginary spherical surface of the golf ball to the lowest point of the dimple.

5. The golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein an apparent radius of a dimple spherical face in a range between one point descended from an edge of said dimple by 30 microns and another point descended therefrom by 90 microns in a direction of depth of the dimple, is adapted to be 70 to 90% of the radius of the dimple spherical face derived from the diameter and depth of said dimple wherein the diameter of said dimple means the distance between the edges of said dimple, and the depth is the distance from an imaginary spherical surface of the golf ball to the lowest point of the dimple.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein one great circle zone does not traverse a part of any dimple.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein, in the plurality of different kinds of dimples, the number of dimples of the kind which is smallest in size is above 10% of the total number of dimples.

8. The golf ball according to claim 7, wherein the depth of each dimple is increased as the diameter thereof is increased, and the ratio of the product of the diameter and the depth of the largest dimple, to the product of the diameter and depth of the smallest dimple, is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0.

9. The golf ball according to claim 7, wherein the depth of each dimple is increased as the diameter thereof is increased, and the ratio of the product of the diameter and the depth of the largest dimple, to the product of the diameter and depth of the smallest dimple, is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0.

10. The golf ball according to claim 7, wherein an apparent radius of a dimple spherical face in a range between one point descended from an edge of said dimple by 30 microns and another point descended therefrom by 90 microns in a direction of depth of the dimple, is adapted to be 70 to 90% of the radius of the dimple spherical face derived from the diameter and depth of said dimple wherein the diameter of said dimple means the distance between the edges of said dimple, and the depth thereof is the distance from an imaginary spherical surface of the golf ball to the lowest point of the dimple.

11. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said smooth portions are the areas surrounded by any four dimples.

12. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the cumulative area of said dimples ranges from 250 to 400 mm³.

13. The golf ball as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum and minimum values of ratios of dimple diameters, and the maximum and minimum values of ratios of dimple depths, are both in the range of 1.2-1.5.

14. A golf ball comprising:

a main body having a spherical surface,

a plurality of four different kinds of dimples formed on a spherical surface of said main body; and

smooth portions formed on the remainder of said spherical surface, each of said smooth portions being formed to such a size that a dimple having an area larger than an average area calculated from the respective areas of each kind of dimple constituting said plurality of four different kinds of dimples cannot be formed;

wherein a total number of dimples is between 300 to 500, and there is a maximum of one great circle zone not traversing a part of any dimple.

15. The golf ball according to claim 14, wherein, in the plurality of different kinds of dimples, the number of dimples of the kind which is smallest in size is above 10% of the total number of dimples.

16. The golf ball according to claim 14, wherein a difference between said different kinds of dimples is adapted to be a difference in diameter, in depth or in a combination of diameter and depth, and the ratio of the product of the diameter and the depth of the largest dimple, to the product of the diameter and depth of the smallest dimple, is in the range of 1.5 to 2.0.

17. The golf ball according to claim 14, wherein an apparent radius of a dimple spherical face in a range between one point descended from an edge of said dimple by 30 microns and another point descended therefrom by 90 microns in a direction of depth of the dimple, is adapted to be 70 to 90% of the radius of the dimple spherical face derived from the diameter and depth of said dimple wherein the diameter of said dimple means the distance between the edges of said dimple, and the depth thereof is the distance from an imaginary spherical surface of the golf ball to the lowest point of the dimple.

18. The golf ball according to claim 17, wherein an apparent radius of a dimple spherical face in a range between one point descended from an edge of said dimple by 30 microns and another point descended therefrom by 90 microns in a direction of depth of the dimple, is adapted to be 70 to 90% of the radius of the dimple spherical face derived from the diameter and depth of said dimple wherein the diameter of said dimple means the distance between the edges of said dimple, and the depth thereof is the distance from an imaginary spherical surface of the golf ball to the lowest point of the dimple.

19. The golf ball as claimed in claim 14, wherein the maximum and minimum values of ratios of dimple diameters, and the maximum and minimum values of ratios of dimple depths, are both in the range of 1.2-1.5.