Golf ball

• US 4,880,241 A
• Filed: 04/22/1988
• Issued: 11/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Spalding & Evenflo Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Melvin, Terrence, Nesbitt, R. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/184,910
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 273/232, 273/235 R, 273/235 A, 273/235 B, 273/213
• 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 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter

Abstract

A dimpled configuration for a golf ball wherein, in the first embodiment, the dimples are arranged in a geometrical lattice configuration so as to form a perfect icosahedral pattern which inlcudes twenty indentical triangles with a predetermined number of dimples lying along the lines forming the lattice. These dimples are a first diameter, while the dimples within the lattices are of a second diameter greater than the first diameter. In the second embodiment, the five adjacent triangles having common polar vertices are retained on either side of the equatorial line of the ball. Five smaller triangles on either side of the equator include vertices common with each adjacent set of the five triangles, with the legs opposite such vertices being substantially parallel with but terminating short of the equatorial line of the ball. The legs parallel with the equator extend about the ball so as to form five trapezoids which have common sides with the alternate with the five small triangles. In the preferred embodiment, the edge radius of the dimples is greater than the standard edge radius.

Claims

1. A golf ball having two poles and an equator and having a preselected number of diplomas arranged in a geometrical lattice configuration, said configuration comprising

a first plurality of dimples having a predetermined diameter, D1, lying along the lattice lines of said configuration, said diameter, D1, being between 0.150 and 0.160 inch;

a second plurality of dimples lying within said geometrical lattice, substantially all of said second plurality of dimples having a predetermined diameter, D2 between 0.160 and 0.170 inch; and

the edge radius, R, of said first and second plurality of dimples being between 0.090 and 0.110 inch.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of dimples have a diameter of substantially 0.154 and said second plurality of dimples have a diameter of substantially 0.167.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the edge radius of said first plurality of dimples is substantially 0.090 and the edge diameter of said second plurality of dimples is substantially 0.100.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the preselected number of dimples is 332, comprising 162 of said first plurality of dimples and 170 of said second plurality of dimples.

5. A golf ball having two poles and an equator and having a preselected number of dimples arranged in a geometrical lattice configuration based upon a modified icosahedral lattice, said lattice comprising

a first plurality of adjacent triangles on either side of the equator of the ball, with the vertices of each of said adjacent triangles being located at each pole of said ball;

a second plurality of triangles smaller than said first plurality of triangles equally spaced on either side of the equator of the ball, said second plurality of triangles having vertices common with each adjacent set of said first plurality of triangles, with the legs extending from said vertices terminating at the equator of the ball so as to form trapezoids having common sides with and alternating with said second plurality of triangles;

a first plurality of dimples along the lines forming the lattice except at the equator, said dimples along said lattice lines having a diameter between 0.150 inch and 0.160 inch;

a second plurality of dimples within said lattice, substantially all of said dimples within said lattice having a diameter between 0.160 inch and 0.170 inch; and

the edge radius of all of said dimples being between 0.090 inch and 0.110 inch.

6. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein said first plurality of dimples have a diameter of substantially 0.154 and said second plurality of dimples have a diameter of substantially 0.167.

7. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein the edge radius of said first plurality of dimples is substantially 0.090 and the edge diameter of said second plurality of dimples is substantially 0.100.

8. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein the preselected number of dimples is 332, comprising 162 of said first plurality of dimples and 170 of said second plurality of dimples.