Golf ball dimples with a catenary curve profile

• US 7,887,439 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• 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: Aoyama, Steven, Nardacci, Nicholas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US12/632,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100081519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 473383-385
• 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 37/0019 Specified dimple depth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00215 Volume ratio
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0032 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0034 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate

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. Combinations of varying dimple diameters, shape factors, and chordal depths in the catenary curve are used to vary the ball flight performance according to ball spin characteristics, player swing speed, as well as satisfy specific aerodynamic magnitude and direction criteria.

Claims

1. A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of recessed dimples have a profile defined by the revolution of a catenary curve according to the following function:

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least a portion comprises about 50 percent or more of the dimples on the golf ball.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least a portion comprises about 80 percent or more of the dimples on the golf ball.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein sf is from about 5 to about 200.

5. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein sf is from about 10 to about 100.

6. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein sf is from about 10 to about 75.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein D is between about 0.115 inches and about 0.185 inches.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein D is between about 0.125 inches and about 0.185 inches.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein d_c is from about 0.002 inches to about 0.008 inches.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein d_c is from about 0.004 inches to about 0.006 inches.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein D is between about 0.115 inches and about 0.185 inches, sf is from about 10 to 100, and d_c is from about 0.004 inches to about 0.006 inches.

12. A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of recessed dimples have a profile defined by the revolution of a catenary curve according to the following function:

13. The golf ball of claim 12, wherein d_c is from about 0.002 inches to about 0.010 inches.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein d_c is from about 0.003 inches to about 0.009 inches.

15. The golf ball of claim 12, wherein the at least a portion comprises about 50 percent or more of the dimples on the golf ball.

16. The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the at least a portion comprises about 80 percent or more of the dimples on the golf ball.

17. A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of recessed dimples have a profile defined by the revolution of a catenary curve according to the following function:

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein the at least a portion comprises about 50 percent or more of the dimples on the golf ball.

19. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein d_c is from about 0.003 inches to about 0.009 inches.

20. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein sf ranges from about 10 to about 100.