Dimple patterns for golf balls

• US 7,503,856 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Morgan, William E., Nardacci, Nicholas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US11/211,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 473378-385
• 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 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/14 Special surfaces A63B37/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/00 Apparatus or methods for manufacturing balls working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29

Abstract

A golf ball dimple pattern based on a hexagonal dipyramid polyhedron is disclosed. Preferably, the dimple pattern disclosed by the present invention includes dimples that are arranged such that at least a portion of neighboring dimples have one or more predetermined diameter ratios. The dimples are arranged based on six substantially similar mating dimple sections on each hemisphere. Each of the six substantially similar mating dimple sections on each hemisphere share a dimple positioned at the pole of that hemisphere. The dimple pattern is capable of achieving a surface coverage of about 82% or greater.

Claims

1. A golf ball surface including two hemispheres each having a pole, wherein to two hemispheres are divided by an equator positioned midway between the poles, wherein the surface comprises:

a dimple positioned at each pole; and

six substantially similar mating dimple sections located on each hemisphere,

wherein each dimple section has a dimple pattern comprising dimples selectively positioned such that at least a portion of nearest neighbor dimples have diameter ratios of about 1.5 or greater, and wherein the nearest neighbor dimples comprising a diameter ratio of about 1.5 or greater are selectively positioned around an area of each dimple section located midway between the equator and the pole of each of the two hemispheres and not near the equator.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the six substantially similar mating dimple sections on each side of the equator share the dimple positioned at each pole.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the dimple pattern has a surface coverage of about 82% or more.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the dimple pattern comprises between about 250 and about 475 dimples.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the nearest neighbor dimples have diameter ratios of about 1.8 or greater.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein each dimple section shares a polar dimple.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the golf ball comprises a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

{square root over ((C_L²)}+C_l^D) 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 between about 0.25 and about 0.28 and a first aerodynamic force angle between about 28 degrees and about 40 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.080; and

a second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.29 and a second aerodynamic force angle between about 29 degrees and about 41 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 208000 and a spin ratio of about 0.090.

8. The golf ball according to claim 7, further comprising:

a third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.30 and a third aerodynamic force angle between about 30 degrees and about 42 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 190000 and a spin ratio of about 0.10; and

a fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.27 and about 0.32 and a fourth aerodynamic force angle between about 31 degrees and about 44 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 170000 and a spin ratio of about 0.11.

9. A method for arranging dimples on the surface of a golf ball, wherein the golf ball includes two hemispheres each having a pole, and wherein the two hemispheres are divided by an equator located midway between the poles, the method comprising:

positioning a dimple at the pole of each hemisphere; and

ranging a plurality of dimples in a substantially similar manner within each of six identical substantially mating dimple sections positioned on each side of the equator, wherein;

the plurality of dimples comprises at least some dimples having one or more predetermined nearest neighbor diameter ratios of about 1.5 or greater,

the at least some dimples having one or more predetermined nearest neighbor diameter ratios are not positioned near the pole or equator; and

the plurality of dimples are arranged such that they have a surface coverage of about 80% or greater.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more predetermined nearest neighbor diameter ratios are about 2.0 or greater.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more predetermined nearest neighbor diameter ratios are between about 1.5 and about 1.8.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of dimples are arranged such that they have a surface coverage of about 85% or greater.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the golf ball comprises a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

{square root over ((C_L^D)}+C_L^D) 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 between about 0.25 and about 0.28 and a first aerodynamic force angle between about 28 degrees and about 40 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.080; and

a second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.29 and a second aerodynamic force angle between about 29 degrees and about 41 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 208000 and a spin ratio of about 0.090.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.30 and a third aerodynamic force angle between about 30 degrees and about 42 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 190000 and a spin ratio of about 0.10; and

a fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.27 and about 0.32 and

a fourth aerodynamic force angle between about 31 degrees and about 44 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 170000 and a spin ratio of about 0.11.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of dimples comprises between about 250 and about 475 dimples.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of dimples each have a diameter of about 0.08 inches or greater.

17. A method for arranging dimples on the surface of a golf ball, wherein the golf ball includes two hemispheres each having a pole, and wherein the hemispheres are divided by an equator located midway between the poles, the method comprising:

positioning a dimple at the pole of each hemisphere;

generating a dimple arrangement for a plurality of dimples within each of six similar substantially mating dimple sections positioned on each hemispheres wherein;

the six similar substantially mating dimple sections positioned on each hemisphere share the dimple positioned at the pole of the hemisphere; and

the plurality of dimples comprises dimples having nearest neighbor diameter ratios of about 1.5 or greater positioned midway between the equator and the pole of each of the two hemispheres and not near the equator.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the nearest neighbor diameter ratios are about 2 or greater.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of dimples comprises a surface coverage of at least about 82%.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the nearest neighbor diameter ratios are between about 1.5 and about 1.8.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the golf ball comprises a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

{square root over ((C_L²)}+C_L^D) and an aerodynamic force angle defined by Angle =tan<sup>−

1</sup>(C₁/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 between about 0.25 and about 0.28 and a first aerodynamic force angle between about 28 degrees and about 40 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.0808; and

a second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.29 and a second aerodynamic force angle between about 29 degrees and about 41 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 208000 and a spin ratio of about 0.090.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

a third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.30 and a third aerodynamic force angle between about 30 degrees and about 42 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 190000 and a spin ratio of about 0.10; and

a fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.27 and about 0.32 and a fourth aerodynamic force angle between about 31 degrees and about 44 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 170000 and a spin ratio of about 0.11.

23. A golf ball surface including two hemispheres each having a pole, wherein the two hemispheres are divided by an equator positioned midway between the poles, wherein the surface comprises:

a dimple positioned at each pole; and

six substantially similar mating dimple sections located on each hemisphere.

wherein each dimple section has a dimple pattern comprising dimples selectively positioned such that at least a portion of nearest neighbor dimples have diameter ratios of about 1.5 or greater, and

wherein the golf ball comprises a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

{square root over ((C_L²)}+C_L^D) 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 between about 0.25 and about 0.28 and a first aerodynamic force angle between about 28 degrees and about 40 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.080; and

a second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.29 and a second aerodynamic force angle between about 29 degrees and about 41 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 208000 and a spin ratio of about 0.090.

24. The golf ball according to claim 23, further comprising:

a third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.30 and a third aerodynamic force angle between about 30 degrees and about 42 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 190000 and a spin ratio of about 0.10; and

a fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.27 and about 0.32 and a fourth aerodynamic force angle between about 31 degrees and about 44 degrees at a Reynolds Number of about 170000 and a spin ratio of about 0.11.