Golf ball surface textures

• US 7,588,505 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hebert, Edmund A., Nardacci, Nicholas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trimiew; Raeann
• Application Number:
  US11/025,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 473/378, 473/351, 473/384, 473/385
• US Class Current: 473/378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0004 Surface depressions or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0006 Arrangement or layout of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0007 Non-circular dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0009 Polygonal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0011 Grooves or lines

Abstract

A method for generating a textured surface for a golf ball is disclosed. Preferably, the textured surface of the golf ball substantially minimizes the drag experienced by the golf ball. The method includes generating a guide pattern. The guide pattern is preferably mapped to the surface of the golf ball. A shaped profile may also be generated. The textured surface of the golf ball may be generated based on sweeping the shaped profile along the guide pattern. It may be desirable to add protrusions or entrenchments to the surface of the golf ball to further reduce drag.

Claims

1. A method for forming a textured surface for a golf ball, comprising:

generating a guide pattern;

mapping the guide pattern to at least a portion of the surface of the golf ball;

generating a first shaped profile;

generating a first textured surface for the golf ball based on sweeping the first shaped profile along the guide pattern;

generating a second shaped profile; and

generating a second textured surface for the golf ball based on sweeping the second shaped profile along the guide pattern.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide pattern comprises one of geometric patterns, fractal patterns, lines, and irregular patterns.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide pattern is randomly defined.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide pattern comprises a combination of at least two of geometric patterns, fractal patterns, lines, and irregular patterns.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shaped profiles comprise at least one of irregular shapes and regular shapes.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shaped profiles comprise a smooth and continuous curve.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide pattern is based on between about 1 and about 30 mathematical functions.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a guide pattern comprises generating between about 1 and about 25 guide patterns.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shaped profiles comprise at least one of a spherical curve, Gaussian curve, Poisson curve, catenary curve, parabolic curve, and hyperbolic curve.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shaped profiles comprise a portion that is tangent to the spherical surface of the golf ball.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guide pattern comprises a combination of two or more guide patterns.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of mapping comprises overlapping the at least a portion for at least two of the guide patterns by an amount of about 5 percent to about 30 percent.

13. A method for generating a textured surface for a golf ball, comprising:

generating a plurality of guide patterns, wherein the plurality of guide patterns comprises more than about 10 guide patterns;

mapping the plurality of guide patterns to at least a portion of the surface of the golf ball;

generating a plurality of shaped profiles; and

determining a textured surface for the golf ball based on sweeping at least one of the plurality of shaped profiles along the plurality of guide patterns.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of guide patterns is mapped to more than about 60 percent of the surface of the golf ball.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of guide patterns is mapped to less than about 60% of the surface of the golf ball.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein two or more of the plurality of guide patterns may overlap by a predetermined amount.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the amount of overlap is between about 4% to about 30%.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein two or more of the plurality of shaped profiles are guided along one of the plurality of guide patterns.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of shaped profiles is swept along two or more of the plurality of guide patterns.

20. A method for generating a textured surface for a golf ball, comprising:

generating a plurality of guide patterns based on at least one of geometric patterns, fractal patterns, lines, and irregular patterns;

mapping each guide pattern to a portion of the surface of the golf ball;

generating a plurality of shaped profiles comprising at least one of a spherical curve Gaussian curve, Poisson curve, catenary curve, parabolic curve, or hyperbolic curve; and

determining a textured surface for the golf ball based on sweeping at least one of the plurality of shaped profiles along each guide pattern.