Golf ball

• US 5,273,287 A
• Filed: 11/27/1991
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Lisco Incorporated
• Inventors: Melvin, Terence, Stiefel, Joseph F., Molitor, Robert P., Nesbitt, R. Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/800,198
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 273/232, 273/62, 273/DIG. 20, 273/233, 273/218, 273/235 R, 273/235 A, 273/235 B
• US Class Current: 473/384
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/20 Weighted balls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/22 Ionomer

Abstract

A golf ball of improved playing characteristics weighing no more than 1.62 ounces and having a mean outside diameter of at least 1.70 inches. A dimple pattern on the surface of the ball may include a plurality of dimples which have different diameters. The dimples cover at least 70% of the surface of the ball.

Claims

1. A golf ball of improved playing characteristics comprising

a ball having a mean outside diameter of substantially between 1.70 and 1.80 inches and a weight no greater than 1.62 ounces;

a dimple pattern comprising a plurality of dimples on the surface of said ball;

said dimple pattern covering at least 70.0% of the surface of said ball.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples cover substantially 75.0% of the surface of said ball.

3. The golf gall of claim 2 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch and weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

4. The golf ball of claim 2 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

5. The golf ball of claim 2 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples cover substantially 80.0% of the surface of said ball.

7. The golf ball of claim 6 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

8. The golf ball of claim 6 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

9. The golf ball of claim 6 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples cover substantially 85.0% of the surface of said ball.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch.

12. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch.

14. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

15. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

16. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

17. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

18. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

19. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

20. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said mean outside diameter is at least 1.71 inches.

21. A golf ball of improved playing characteristics comprising

a ball having a mean outside diameter of substantially between 1.70 and 1.80 inches and a weight no greater than 1.62 ounces;

an efficient dimple pattern on the surface of said ball having dimples of at least two different dimple diameters;

said dimples covering at least 70.0% of the surface of said ball with no dimples overlapping; and

a dimple-free equatorial line about the surface of said ball.

22. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said dimples cover substantially 75.0% of the surface of said ball.

23. The golf ball of claim 22 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

24. The golf ball of claim 22 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

25. The golf ball of claim 22 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

26. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said dimples cover substantially 80.0% of the surface of said ball.

27. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said dimples cover substantially 85.0% of the surface of said ball.

28. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch.

29. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch.

30. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch.

31. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

32. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

33. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

34. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.100 and 0.190 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.005 and 0.015 inch.

35. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.135 and 0.170 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.009 and 0.013 inch.

36. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein the weighted average dimple diameter is substantially between 0.139 and 0.149 inch and the weighted average dimple depth is substantially between 0.010 and 0.011 inch.

37. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said ball has 362 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.0145 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0101 inch, 20 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.157 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0123 inch, and 40 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.169 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0123 inch.

38. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said ball has 362 dimples of substantially 0.145 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0101 inch, 50 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.157 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0123 inch, and 10 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.169 inch and depth of substantially 0.0123 inch.

39. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said ball has 112 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.112 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0077 inch, 160 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.143 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0101 inch, and 138 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.169 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0116 inch.

40. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said ball has 222 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.145 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0106 inch, 140 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.145 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0096 inch, 50 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.157 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0128 inch, and 10 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.169 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0128 inch.

41. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said ball has 222 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.145 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0106 inch, 140 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.145 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0096 inches, 50 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.157 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0128 inch, and 40 dimples having a diameter of substantially 0.169 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0128 inch.

42. The golf ball of claim 21 wherein said mean outside diameter is at least 1.71 inches.

43. A golf ball of improved playing characteristics comprising

a ball having a mean outside diameter of substantially 1.70 inches;

a plurality of dimples on said ball having a diameter of substantially 0.143 inch and a depth of substantially 0.0103 inch;

said dimples covering at least 73% of the surface of said ball and having a dimple overlap of substantially 11%;

a dimple-free equatorial line about the surface of said ball;

said ball weighing no more than 1.62 ounces.