Golf ball with improved flight performance

• US 6,913,550 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dalton, Jeffrey L., Aoyama, Steven, Bissonnette, Laurent C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US10/784,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20040166963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 473378-385
• US Class Current: 473/383
• 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 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00215 Volume ratio
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0026 Balata
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0077 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0083 Weight; Mass
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate

Abstract

A golf ball with aerodynamic coefficient magnitude and aerodynamic force angle, resulting in improved flight performance, such as increased carry and flight consistency regardless of ball orientation. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having increased flight distance as defined by a set of aerodynamic requirements, at particular spin ratios and Reynolds Numbers. The invention is also directed toward golf balls with dimple diameters of greater than 6.5 percent of the ball diameter and dimples with a profile defined by a catenary curve.

Claims

1. A golf ball with a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

(C_L²+C_D²) and an aerodynamic force angle defined by Angle=tan<sup>−

1</sup>(C_L/C_D), wherein C_L is a lift coefficient and C_D is a drag coefficient, wherein the golf ball comprises;

a first aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.24 to about 0.27 and a first aerodynamic force angle of about 31 degrees to about 35 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085; and

a second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.25 to about 0.28 and a second aerodynamic force angle of about 34 degrees to about 38 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 207000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095; and

a third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.26 to about 0.29 at a Reynolds Number of about 184000 and a spin ratio of about 0.106.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.27 to about 0.30 at a Reynolds Number of about 161000 and a spin ratio of about 0.122.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, further comprising:

a fifth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.29 to about 0.32 at a Reynolds Number of about 138000 and a spin ratio of about 0.142; and

a sixth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.32 to about 0.35 at a Reynolds Number of about 115000 and a spin ratio of about 0.170.

4. The golf ball of claim 3, further comprising:

a seventh aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.36 to about 0.40 at a Reynolds Number of about 92000 and a spin ratio of about 0.213; and

an eighth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.40 to about 0.45 at a Reynolds Number of about 69000 and a spin ratio of about 0.284.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic coefficient magnitudes vary from each other by about 6 percent or less at any two axes of ball rotation.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic coefficient magnitudes vary from each other by about 3 percent or less at any two axes of ball rotation.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimples cover about 80 percent or greater of the ball surface.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least 80 percent of the dimples have a diameter greater than about 6.5 percent of the ball diameter, and wherein the dimples are arranged in an icosahedron or an octahedron pattern.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the dimples have at least three different dimple diameters.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least 10 percent of the dimples have a shape defined by catenary curve.

11. The golf ball of claim 4, comprising at least one core and at least one cover layer, wherein at least one of the layers comprises polyurethane.

12. A golf ball with a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic magnitude defined by C_mag=√

(C_L²+C_D²) and an aerodynamic force angle defined by Angle=tan<sup>−

1</sup>(C_L/C_D), wherein C_L is a lift coefficient and C_D is a drag coefficient, wherein the golf ball comprises;

a first aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.24 to about 0.27 at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085; and

a second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.25 to about 0.28 at a Reynolds Number of about 207000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095; and

a third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.26 to about 0.29 at a Reynolds Number of about 184000 and a spin ratio of about 0.106.

13. The golf ball of claim 12, further comprising:

a fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude from about 0.27 to about 0.30 at a Reynolds Number of about 161000 and a spin ratio of about 0.122.

14. The golf ball of claim 12, further comprising:

a first aerodynamic force angle of about 31 degrees to about 35 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085.

15. The golf ball of claim 12, further comprising:

a second aerodynamic force angle of about 34 degrees to about 38 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 207000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095.

16. The golf ball of claim 12, wherein the aerodynamic coefficient magnitudes vary from each other by about 6 percent or less at any two axes of ball rotation.

17. The golf ball of claim 12, wherein the plurality of dimples cover about 80 percent or greater of the ball surface.