Golf ball

• US 4,982,964 A
• Filed: 11/28/1989
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Morell, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/442,214
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 273/232, 40/327
• US Class Current: 473/383
• 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 37/002 Specified dimple diameter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a golf ball.

The peripheral surface (2) of the golf ball has dimples defining, by their intersection with this peripheral surface (2) intersection circles (55,57,59,61,62,63) which in their majority (55,57,59,61,62) are distributed essentially inside 24 identical elemental surfaces (50) in spherical isosceles right-angle triangle form defined by 6 equatorial circles (44 to 49) of the sphere defining the general shape of the peripheral surface (2) of the ball (3) each of the equatorial circles (44 to 49) being centered on an axis passing through the respective midpoints of two diametrically opposed edges of a cube inscribed in this sphere; a determined one (48) of these equatorial circles cutting none of the intersection circles subdividing each of the other equatorial circles (44,45,46,47,49) into two circular arcs (44a and 44b, 45a and 45b, 46a and 46b, 47a and 47b, 49a and 49b) which mutually cut in threes at points (7,11) of the peripheral surface (2), at least one (63) of the intersection circles being arranged around a respective one of the these points (7,11).

The orientation of the ball with respect to the strike can thus be rendered substantially independent, while a strike on the said determined equatorial circle (48) is avoided.

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising a peripheral surface having the general shape of a sphere and a plurality of dimples arranged in the said peripheral surface, said dimples defining intersection circles where they intersect with said peripheral surface, said intersection circles being distributed on said peripheral surface in accordance with a repetitive motif determined by subdivision of said peripheral surface along 6 equatorial circles of which each is centered on an axis passing through respective midpoints of two diametrically opposed edges of a cube inscribed in said sphere, in a manner to define 24 elemental surfaces in the form of a spherical isosceles right-angle triangle, inside which said intersection circles are essentially distributed, at least a determined one of said equatorial circles cutting none of said intersection circles and subdividing each of the others of said equatorial circles into two equatorial circular arcs, of which each corresponds to one of two hemispheres defined by said determined equatorial circle, said equatorial circular arcs mutually cutting in pairs or threes at determined points of intersection on each said hemisphere, wherein at least one intersection circle is arranged about a respective one of said points of intersection of three of said equatorial circular arcs.

2. A golf ball according to claim 1, wherein a said intersection circle is arranged respectively about each of said points of intersection of three of said equatorial circular arcs.

3. A golf ball according to claim 1, said intersection circles are distributed in accordance with an identical motif in said elemental surfaces.

4. A golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said motif has a plurality of mutually neighboring rows of which a first is adjacent to a hypotenuse of said spherical right-angle triangle and of which each mutually connects two edges of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle and has a respective determined number of regularly distributed ones of said intersection circles of a same diameter, this determined number being for each row one unit less than the determined number of said intersection circles in a respectively neighboring one of said rows nearer to said hypotenuse and each said intersection circle of each said row being adjacent in pairs of said intersection circles of said respectively neighboring row nearer said hypotenuse.

5. A golf ball according to claim 4, wherein said respective intersection circles of said rows have a diameter reducing as said row to which they belong is further from said hypotenuse of said spherical right-angle triangle.

6. A golf ball according to claim 5 in combination, wherein the first one of said rows has 5 mutually adjacent ones of said intersection circles adjacent to said hypotenuse of said spherical right-angle triangle and of which two end ones of said intersection circles are also respectively adjacent to one and the other of said edges of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle, and said rows further comprise:

a second one of said rows of 4 mutually disjoint ones of said intersection circles, of which each is adjacent to two said intersection circles of the first said row and of which two end ones of said intersection circles are also respectively adjacent to the one and the other of said sides of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle,

a third one of said rows of 3 mutually disjoint ones of said intersection circles, of which each is adjacent to two of said intersection circles of said second row and of which two end ones of said intersection circles are further adjacent respectively to the one and the other of said side of said right angle of said right-angle triangle,

a fourth row of two mutually disjoint ones of said intersection circles of which each is adjacent to two of said intersection circles of said third row and respectively to the one and the other of said sides of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle,

a single one of said intersection circles adjacent to said two intersection circles of said fourth row and to said two sides of said right angle.

7. A golf ball according to claim 4, wherein each said row has two end ones of said intersection circles respectively adjacent to one and the other of said sides of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle, said end intersection circles corresponding to the same said side of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle being in addition mutually adjacent.

8. A golf ball according to claim 7, wherein one said intersection circle situated about a said point of intersection of three of said equatorial circles is adjacent to six of said intersection circles of which each is situated in a respective one of said elemental surfaces and constitutes in this elemental surface one of said end intersection circles of said respective first row.

9. A gold ball according to claim 7, wherein the first one of said rows has 5 mutually adjacent ones of said intersection circles adjacent to said hypotenuse of said spherical right-angle triangle and of which two end ones of said intersection circles are also respectively adjacent to one and the other of said edges of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle, and said rows further comprise:

a second one of said rows of 4 mutually disjoint ones of said intersection circles, of which each is adjacent to two said intersection circles of the first said row and of which two end ones of said intersection circles are also respectively adjacent to the one and the other of said sides of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle,

a third one of said rows of 3 mutually disjoint ones of said intersection circles, of which each is adjacent to two of said intersection circles of said second row and of which two end ones of said intersection circles are further adjacent respectively to the one and the other of said side of said right angle of said right-angle triangle,

a fourth row of two mutually disjoint ones of said intersection circles of which each is adjacent to two of said intersection circles of said third row and respectively to the one and the other of said sides of said right angle of said spherical right-angle triangle,

a single one of said intersection circles adjacent to said two intersection circles of said fourth row and to said two sides of said right angle.

10. A golf ball according to claim 1, wherein said equatorial circular arcs of one of said hemispheres are angularly displaced, with respect to the respectively corresponding ones of said equatorial circular arcs of the other of said hemispheres, by the same amount about an axis of said determined equatorial circular arc.