Golf ball dimples with a catenary curve profile

• US 6,796,912 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dalton, Jeffrey L., Bissonnette, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/989,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20030114255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378-384
• US Class Current: 473/383
• 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 37/00215 Volume ratio
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift

Abstract

A golf ball having an outside surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon. The dimples on the ball have a cross-sectional profiles formed by a catenary curve. Shape constants in the catenary curve are used to vary the ball flight performance according to ball spin characteristics and player swing speed.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least one dimple is defined by the revolution of a Catenary curve, wherein the Catenary curve is defined by hyperbolic cosine function in the form of:

$Y=\frac{d<br><br>\left(\cosh <br><br>\left(a<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>x\right)-1\right)}{\cosh <br><br>\left(a<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>r\right)-1}$

wherein;

Y is the vertical distance from the dimple apex,

x is the radial distance from the dimple apex,

a is a shape constant,

d is the depth of the dimple, wherein the depth is about 0.025 inches, and

r is the radius of the dimple, wherein the radius is about 0.05 inches.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the shape constant, a, is from about 20 to about 100.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein about 30 percent or greater of the plurality of recessed dimples are defined by the revolution of a Caternary curve.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one dimple has a volume ratio of about 50 percent or greater.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the at least one dimple has a volume ratio of about 51 percent to about 69 percent.