Multiple dimple golf ball

• US 5,060,954 A
• Filed: 08/13/1990
• Issued: 10/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Gobush, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/566,537
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 273/232, 273/231, 273/216, 273/222, 273/62, 40/327
• US Class Current: 473/379
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• 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 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0021 Occupation ratio, i.e. percentage surface occupied by dimples

Abstract

The multiple dimpled golf ball has 78% or more of its surface covered with dimples. For a golf ball with a total of 324 (332) dimples, 124 (132) dimples have a diameter of 0.157 inches and 200 dimples have a diameter of 0.17 inches. For a golf ball with a total of 384 (392) dimples, there are two configurations: (a) 144 (152) dimples have a diameter of 0.14 inches and 240 dimples have a diameter of 0.16 inches; or (b) 66 (72) dimples have a diameter of 0.13 inches and 318 (320) dimples have a diameter of 0.16 inches. For a golf ball with a total of 414 (422) dimples, 144 (152) dimples have a diameter of 0.14 inches and 270 dimples have a diameter of 0.15 inches. For a golf ball with a total of 484 (492) dimples, there are two configurations: (a) 174 (182) dimples have a diameter of 0.13 inches and 310 dimples have a diameter of 0.14 inches; or (b) 170 (178) dimples have a diameter of 0.13 inches, 260 dimples have a diameter of 0.14 inches, and 50 dimples have a diameter of 0.15 inches. For a golf ball having 320 triangular dimples, equilateral, isosceles and triangles with unequal sides are employed.

Claims

1. A golf ball having dimples comprising at least 78% of the surface area of the golf ball covered by said dimples, said dimples being divided into at least two sets of dimples, a first set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter and a second set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter, the first set of dimples having a diameter smaller than the second set of dimples, the golf ball being selected from the group of golf balls having a total number of dimples consisting essentially of:

324, 332, 384, 392, 414, 422, 484 and 492.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the total number of dimples and the nominal dimple diameter of the first and second set of dimples are as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ First Set Second Set Total Number Nominal Dimple Nominal Dimple of Dimples Diameter (inches) Diameter (inches) ______________________________________ 324 0.157 0.17 332 0.157 0.17 384 0.14 0.16 392 0.14 0.16 384 0.13 0.16 392 0.13 0.16 414 0.14 0.15 422 0.14 0.15 484 0.13 0.14 492 0.13 0.14 ______________________________________

3. A golf ball having a surface with dimples arranged in a substantially icosahedron pattern thereon, said dimples comprising a first set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter and a second set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter, the first set of dimples having a diameter smaller than the second set of dimples, said golf ball being selected from the group of golf balls having a total number of dimples consisting essentially of 324, 332, 384, 392, 414, 422, 484 and 492;

and said icosahedron pattern having a plurality of substantially equilateral triangles, each of said equilateral triangles having three side lines and a center area, said dimples being arranged on said surface such that dimples selected from the first set of dimples are positioned on said three side lines of a plurality of said equilateral triangles and dimples selected from the second set of dimples are positioned in said center area of a plurality of said equilateral triangles.

4. The golf ball of claim 3 wherein the total number of dimples and the nominal dimple diameter of the first and second set of dimples are as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ First Set Second Set Total Number Nominal Dimple Nominal Dimple of Dimples Diameter (inches) Diameter (inches) ______________________________________ 324 0.157 0.17 332 0.157 0.17 384 0.14 0.16 392 0.14 0.16 414 0.14 0.15 422 0.14 0.15 484 0.13 0.14 492 0.13 0.14 ______________________________________

5. A golf ball having a surface with dimples arranged in a substantially icosahedron pattern thereon and having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples being divided into two sets of dimples comprising a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has a nominal dimple diameter of 0.13 inches and a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has a nominal dimple diameter of 0.14 inches;

and said icosahedron pattern having a plurality of substantially equilateral triangles, each of said equilateral triangles having three side lines and a center area, said dimples being arranged on said surface such that dimples selected from the first set of dimples are positioned on said three side lines of a plurality of said equilateral triangles and dimples selected from the second set of dimples are positioned in said center area of a plurality of said equilateral triangles.

6. The golf ball of claim 5 wherein the total number of dimples is about 484.

7. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of two sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter and a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter and said small dimple diameter having a nominal diameter of 0.13 inches.

8. The golf ball of claim 7 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

9. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of two sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter and a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter and said large dimple diameter having a nominal diameter of 0.14 inches.

10. The golf ball of claim 9 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

11. A golf ball having a total number of 484 or 492 dimples comprising at least 78% of the surface area of the golf ball covered by said dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples being divided into at least two sets of dimples, a first set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter, and a second set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter, the first set of dimples having a diameter smaller than the second set of dimples.

12. The golf ball of claim 11 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

13. A golf ball having a total number of 484 or 492 dimples comprising at least 78% of the surface area of the golf ball covered by said dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples being divided into at least three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter, a second set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter and a third set of dimples having an identical nominal dimple diameter, the first set of dimples having a diameter smaller than the second set of dimples and the second set of dimples having a diameter smaller than the third set of dimples.

14. The golf ball of claim 13 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

15. A golf ball having a surface with dimples arranged in a substantially icosahedron pattern thereon and having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples being divided into three sets of dimples comprising a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has a nominal dimple diameter of 0.13 inches, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has a nominal dimple diameter of 0.14 inches and a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has a nominal dimple diameter of 0.15 inches;

and said icosahedron pattern having a plurality of substantially equilateral triangles, each of said equilateral triangles having three side lines and a center area, said dimples being arranged on said surface such that dimples selected from the first set of dimples are positioned on said three side lines of a plurality of said equilateral triangles, dimples selected from the second set are positioned so as to form a similar triangle immediately inside said three side lines of a plurality of said equilateral triangles, and dimples selected from the third set of dimples are positioned in said center area of a plurality of said equilateral triangles.

16. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein the total number of dimples is about 484.

17. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical medium dimple diameter, and a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said medium dimple diameter and said medium dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter and said small dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.13 inches.

18. The golf ball of claim 17 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

19. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical medium dimple diameter, and a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said medium dimple diameter and said medium dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.13 inches and said medium dimple diameter being a nominal dimple diameter of 0.14 inches.

20. The golf ball of claim 19 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

21. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical medium dimple diameter, a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said medium dimple diameter and said medium dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter, said large dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.15 inches.

22. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

23. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical medium dimple diameter, and a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said medium dimple diameter and said medium dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter, said medium dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.14 inches and said large dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.15 inches.

24. The golf ball of claim 37 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

25. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical medium dimple diameter, and a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said medium dimple diameter and said medium dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter, said medium dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.14 inches.

26. The golf ball of claim 25 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.

27. A golf ball having 484 or 492 dimples, said 484 or 492 dimples consisting essentially of three sets of dimples, a first set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical small dimple diameter, a second set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical medium dimple diameter, and a third set of dimples wherein each dimple has an identical large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being smaller than said medium dimple diameter and said medium dimple diameter being smaller than said large dimple diameter, said small dimple diameter being a nominal diameter of 0.13 inches and said large dimple diameter being a nominal dimple diameter of 0.15 inches.

28. The golf ball of claim 27 wherein the total number of dimples is 484.