Golf ball

• US 5,827,135 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimosaka, Hirotaka, Inoue, Michio, Ihara, Keisuke, Kasasima, Atuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/667,470
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 473/383, 473/384, 473/378, 473/379, 473/382
• 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 37/0016 Specified individual dimple volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0017 Specified total dimple volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

In a golf ball having a multiplicity of dimples of the same type arranged thereon and an equator, 6-12 dimples are arranged along the equator at an equal spacing and centered at the equator. The remaining dimples are arranged such that a great circle which does not intersect the dimples does not exist. A space where a dimple of the same size as the dimples can be formed is not left between the dimples. Due to a uniform arrangement of dimples including equator-centered ones, the golf ball is symmetrical enough to provide an increased carry and consistent flight independent of impact points.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a multiplicity of dimples of the same size arranged thereon and an equator, wherein 6 to 12 dimples are arranged along the equator and centered at the equator, and the remaining dimples are arranged such that a great circle does not intersect the dimples at all does not exist and a space where a dimple of the same size as said dimples can be formed is not left between the dimples.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples are equally spaced apart from each other.

3. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the total number of dimples is in the range of 300 to 450.

4. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the total number of dimples is in the range of 360 to 400.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the total number of dimples is 312.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein the total number of dimples is 362.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples are arranged in substantially an icosahedral pattern.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples are arranged in an octagonal pattern.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples are circular having a diameter in the range of 3.5 to 3.9 mm.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 wherein said dimples are circular and have a depth of 0.14 to 0.20 mm.