Golf ball

• US 4,886,277 A
• Filed: 07/28/1988
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nitro Leisure Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Ball Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Mackey, Gary T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/225,259
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 273/232, 273/183 C, 273/235 R, 40/327
• US Class Current: 473/383
• 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 37/0073 Solid, i.e. formed of a single piece
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0074 Two piece balls, i.e. cover and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core

Abstract

A golf ball is provided with evenly and uniformly distributed dimples so that at least four great circle paths on the surface of the golf ball do not intersect any dimples. The spherical surface of the golf ball is divided into fourteen geometric shapes, comprising six spherical squares and eight spherical hexagons. The arrangement of the dimples on the spherical surface is generally defined by the sides of the spherical squares and hexagons. The uniform distribution of dimples and great circle paths is such that the golf ball displays multiple axes of symmetry.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a spherical surface with a plurality of dimples formed therein and four great circle paths which do not intersect any of said dimples, said dimples being arranged by dividing said spherical surface into six identical spherical squares and eight identical spherical hexagons, and said dimples being organized in discrete groups, wherein at least a major portion of the dimples in each group are positioned within a different one of said spherical squares and spherical hexagons.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein:

all of said dimples are formed within the boundaries of said spherical squares and hexagons so that said dimples do not intersect the sides of any of said spherical squares and hexagons.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein:

at least one of said dimples intersects at least one side of at least one of said spherical squares or hexagons.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein:

all of said dimples are of the same approximate size and configuration.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein:

said dimples are of varying sizes.