Golf ball with multiple sets of dimples

• US 6,224,499 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogg, Steven S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/398,919
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378-384
• 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 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0021 Occupation ratio, i.e. percentage surface occupied by dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift

Abstract

A dimple pattern for a golf ball with multiple sets of dimples is disclosed herein. Each of the multiple sets of dimples has a different diameter. A preferred set of dimples is seven different dimples. The dimples may cover as much as eighty-six percent of the surface of the golf ball. The unique dimple pattern allows a golf ball to have shallow dimples with steeper entry angles. The unique dimple pattern also allows a golf ball to have greater low speed lift with a lower high speed drag. In a preferred embodiment, the golf ball has 384 dimples covering eighty-six percent of the surface.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a surface, the golf ball comprising:

a first plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the first plurality of dimples having a first diameter of 0.124 inch;

a second plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the second plurality of dimples having a second diameter, the second diameter greater than the first diameter;

a third plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the third plurality of dimples having a third diameter, the third diameter greater than the second diameter;

a fourth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fourth plurality of dimples having a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter greater than the third diameter;

a fifth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fifth plurality of dimples having a fifth diameter, the fifth diameter greater than the fourth diameter; and

a sixth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the sixth plurality of dimples having a sixth diameter, the sixth diameter greater than the fifth diameter and approximately 0.186 inch;

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pluralities of dimples cover at least eighty-three percent of the surface of the golf ball, and wherein each of the sixth plurality of dimples disposed on a first hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a first pole and each of the sixth plurality of dimples disposed on a second hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a second pole.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of seventh dimples disposed on the surface and having a seventh diameter, the seventh diameter less than the first diameter, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifths sixth and seventh pluralities of dimples cover at least eighty-six percent of the surface of the golf ball.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the sixth plurality of dimples consist of ten dimples that cover at least three percent of the surface of the golf ball.

6. The golf ball according to claim 2 wherein each of the first plurality of dimples, the second plurality of dimples, the third plurality of dimples, the sixth plurality of dimples, and the seventh plurality of dimples disposed on a first hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a first pole, and each of the first plurality of dimples, the second plurality of dimples, the third plurality of dimples, the sixth plurality of dimples, and the seventh plurality of dimples disposed on a second hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a second pole.

8. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein all of the first plurality of dimples, third plurality of dimples and sixth plurality of dimples in a first hemisphere of the golf ball lie within a latitudinal region 40 to 60 degrees above an equator of the golf ball, and all of the first plurality of dimples, third plurality of dimples and sixth plurality of dimples in a second hemisphere of the golf ball lie within a latitudinal region 40 to 60 degrees below the equator of the golf ball.

9. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein each of the sixth plurality of dimples is adjacent to at least three different pluralities of dimples.

4. A golf ball having a surface, the golf ball comprising:

a first plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the first plurality of dimples having a first diameter of 0.124 inch;

a second plurality of dimples disposed on the surface each of the second plurality of dimples having a second diameter, the second diameter greater than the first diameter;

a third plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the third plurality of dimples having a third diameter, the third diameter greater than the second diameter;

a fourth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fourth plurality of dimples having a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter greater than the third diameter;

a fifth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fifth plurality of dimples having a fifth diameter, the fifth diameter greater than the fourth diameter, and

a sixth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the sixth plurality of dimples having a sixth diameter, the sixth diameter greater than the fifth diameter and approximately 0.186 inch,

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pluralities of dimples cover at least eighty-three percent of the surface of the golf ball, and wherein each of the first plurality of dimples, the third plurality of dimples and the sixth plurality of dimples disposed on a first hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a first pole, and each of the first plurality of dimples, the third plurality of dimples and the sixth plurality of dimples disposed on a second hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a second pole.

5. A golf ball having a surface, the golf ball comprising:

a first plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the first plurality of dimples having a first diameter of 0.124 inch;

a second plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the second plurality of dimples having a second diameter, the second diameter greater than the first diameter;

a third plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the third plurality of dimples having a third diameter, the third diameter greater than the second diameter;

a fourth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fourth plurality of dimples having a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter greater than the third diameter;

a fifth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fifth plurality of dimples having a fifth diameter, the fifth diameter greater than the fourth diameter, and

a sixth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the sixth plurality of dimples having a sixth diameter, the sixth diameter greater than the fifth diameter and approximately 0.186 inch,

wherein the first, second, third, fourth fifth and sixth pluralities of dimples cover at least eighty-three percent of the surface of the golf ball, and wherein each of the first plurality of dimples, the second plurality of dimples, the third plurality of dimples and the sixth plurality of dimples disposed on a first hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a first pole, and each of the first plurality of dimples, the second plurality of dimples, the third plurality of dimples and the sixth plurality of dimples disposed on a second hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a second pole.

7. A golf ball having a surface, the golf ball comprising:

a first plurality of dimples disposed on the surface each of the first plurality of dimples having a first diameter of 0.124 inch;

a second plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the second plurality of dimples having a second diameter, the second diameter greater than the first diameter;

a third plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the third plurality of dimples having a third diameter, the third diameter greater than the second diameter;

a fourth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fourth plurality of dimples having a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter greater than the third diameter;

a fifth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fifth plurality of dimples having a fifth diameter, the fifth diameter greater than the fourth diameter; and

a sixth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the sixth plurality of dimples having a sixth diameter, the sixth diameter greater than the fifth diameter and approximately 0.186 inch;

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pluralities of dimples cover at least eighty-three percent of the surface of the golf ball, wherein a first row of dimples on either side of an equator of the golf ball consists of the fifth plurality of dimples, a second row of dimples on either side of the equator of the golf ball consists of the fifth plurality of dimples, and a third row of dimples on either side of the equator of the golf ball consists of the fourth plurality of dimples, and wherein all of the first plurality of dimples, third plurality of dimples and sixth plurality of dimples lie on a fourth row of dimples on either side of the equator.

10. A golf ball having a surface, the golf ball comprising:

a first plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the first plurality of dimples having a first diameter of 0.124 inch;

a second plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the second plurality of dimples having a second diameter the second diameter greater than the first diameter;

a third plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the third plurality of dimples having a third diameter, the third diameter greater than the second diameter;

a fourth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fourth plurality of dimples having a fourth diameter, the fourth diameter greater than the third diameter;

a fifth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the fifth plurality of dimples having a fifth diameter the fifth diameter greater than the fourth diameter; and

a sixth plurality of dimples disposed on the surface each of the sixth plurality of dimples having a sixth diameters the sixth diameter greater than the fifth diameter and approximately 0.186 inch;

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pluralities of dimples cover at least eighty-three percent of the surface of the golf ball and wherein at least one dimple is adjacent to four different pluralities of dimples.

11. A golf ball surface, the golf ball comprising:

a plurality of seven different sets of dimples disposed on the surface, each of the seven different sets having a different diameter than any other set of dimples wherein one set of the plurality of seven different sets of dimples has a diameter greater than 0.18 inches and covers approximately 3% of the surface of the golf ball, wherein each of the one set of dimples having a diameter greater than 0.18 inches disposed on a first hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a first pole, and each of the one set of dimples having a diameter greater than 0.18 inches disposed on a second hemisphere of the golf ball lies an equal distance from a second pole.

12. The golf ball according to claim 11 each dimple of the one set of dimples with a diameter greater than 0.18 inches is adjacent to dimples from at least three different sets of dimples.

13. The golf ball according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of seven different sets of dimples cover at least 86% of the surface of the golf ball.

14. A golf ball having a surface, the golf ball comprising multiple sets of dimples wherein the golf ball has a lift coefficient greater than 0.18 at a Reynolds number of 70,000 and 2000 rpm, and a drag coefficient less than 0.232 at a Reynolds number of 180,000 and 3000 rpm.