Golf ball having a spherical surface in which a plurality of combination dimples are formed

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a golf ball, wherein dimples having an extraordinary flight performance by combining the advantages of both circular dimples and polygonal dimples in the related art, in other words, by arranging the combined dimples that give depth to the face of the combined polygon and circle of the same center on the surface of the sphere, the trajectory is bent due to the influence of wind, which is a disadvantage of the conventional polygonal dimples. It is excellent in flight straightness by eliminating the effect, and when flying after hitting, the vertex region, which acts as a small bluff body, rotates and breaks the pressure in advance, causing a quick turbulent transition, and it becomes like an arc of a circular dimple instead of the sides of the general polygonal dimples.

Claims

1. A golf ball in which dimples are formed in a surface of a sphere, wherein the dimples are combination dimples having planar shapes in which a circle and polygon having a same center are combined with each other, wherein the plane shape of the dimples is a shape in which a plurality of circular arcs are arranged at the same angle with respect to the center, and one polygonal vertex of the polygon is arranged between the plurality of circular arcs, wherein a diameter of the circle is from 82% to 98% of a diameter of a circumscribed circle of the polygon having a same center as that of the polygon, and in the polygon, a length from a vertex of the polygon to a point at which a line toward a center of the polygon and an arc of the circle meet each other is from 2% to 18% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the polygon.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a depth of each combination dimple is from 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the polygon of each combination dimple comprises at least two polygons from among a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, and an octagon.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one of the dimples is not a combination dimple but a circular dimple.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one of the dimples is not a combination dimple but a polygonal dimple.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein 50% or more of the surface of the sphere comprise the combination dimples.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of circular dimples, wherein each of the plurality of circular dimples is interposed between at least two of the combination dimples.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of circular dimples, wherein adjacent dimples on each side of at least one of the plurality of circular dimples is comprise the combination dimples.

9. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of circular dimples, wherein at least two circular dimples are adjacent one another and are surrounded by the combination dimples.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of circular dimples, wherein the plurality of circular dimples and the combination dimples are arranged symmetrically about at least two axes of the golf ball.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein: the polygon comprises a square; the diameter of the circle is from 82% to 88% of a diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon having the same center as that of the polygon; and in the polygon, a length from a vertex of the polygon to a point at which a line toward a center of the polygon and an arc of the circle meet each other is from 12% to 18% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the polygon.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein: the polygon comprises a pentagon; the diameter of the circle is from 85% to 91% of a diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon having the same center as that of the polygon; and in the polygon, a length from a vertex of the polygon to a point at which a line toward a center of the polygon and an arc of the circle meet each other is from 9% to 15% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the polygon.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein: the polygon comprises a hexagon; the diameter of the circle is from 88% to 94% of a diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon having the same center as that of the polygon; and in the polygon, a length from a vertex of the polygon to a point at which a line toward a center of the polygon and an arc of the circle meet each other is from 6% to 12% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the polygon.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein: the polygon comprises an octagon; the diameter of the circle is from 92% to 98% of a diameter of the circumscribed circle of the polygon having the same center as that of the polygon, and in the polygon, a length from a vertex of the polygon to a point at which a line toward a center of the polygon and an arc of the circle meet each other is from 2% to 8% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the polygon.

15. The golf ball of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of circular dimples, wherein the plurality of circular dimples are spaced equidistantly about the surface of the sphere.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a combination dimple co, in which a depth is given to a face having a combined shape made by a circle having a diameter d and a polygon po having an inscribed circle having a diameter di and a circumscribed circle having a diameter dc, which are elements of the combination of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 also shows a vertex region yr made of a peak of the polygon po and fragments of edges that are left after being cut by a surface of the circle, wherein the vertex region yr becomes a small bluff body sb, and a dimple depth hp when the polygon is made into a dimple and a dimple hc when the circle is made into a dimple, wherein the depth of the combination dimple co may be shown as two depths that are shown as one or each of the combination dimples co has its own depth.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a case in which the combination co flies while performing a reverse rotation, and more particularly, shows a case in which a small-unit turbulence is generated around the small bluff body sb shown in FIG. 1 and reduces, in advance, a pressure applied to the entire dimple, such that the turbulence transition in the combination dimple co is easily performed against a fast air flow.

(4) FIG. 3 shows actual shapes of combination dimples co in which a depth is given to a face having a combined shape made by various types of polygons and circles.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a golf ball, in which a surface of a sphere is split into great circles and combination dimples made according to the present disclosure (combination of octagons with circles) are on a virtual spherical octahedron, with some general circular dimples mixed therein.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a golf ball arranged with combination dimples (combination of hexagons and circles) made according to the present disclosure on a virtual spherical polyhedron that is made by dividing a surface of a sphere with small circles.

(7) FIG. 6 shows an image of equator-centered modeling of a golf ball arranged with combination dimples co according to the present disclosure and some circular dimples.

(8) FIG. 7 is a diagram of an equator (a mold parting line) portion of the golf ball in FIG. 4 made according to the present disclosure, and shows an arrangement of combination dimples co and small circular dimples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

(10) The present disclosure relates to a dimple having an extraordinary flight performance by combining advantages circular dimples and polygonal dimples in the related art, that is, a combination dimple having extraordinary flight straightness and being capable of increasing a flight distance by causing a rapid turbulent transition and decreasing a drag, wherein the combination dimples in which a depth is given to a surfaces having a combined shape of a polygon and a circle being concentric on a surface of a sphere, and bending of a trajectory under high influence by the wind, which is a shortcoming of the polygonal dimples in the related art, is eliminated.

(11) A golf ball according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a case in which the golf ball including the combination dimple co flies while performing a reverse rotation, and more particularly, shows a case in which a small-unit turbulence is generated around the small bluff body sb shown in FIG. 1 and reduces, in advance, a pressure applied to the entire dimple, such that the turbulence transition in the combination dimple co is easily performed against a fast air flow.

(13) As shown in FIG. 2, a size of the small bluff body sb which reduces the drag in a strong airflow is determined according to type of a polygon and a diameter of a circle that is suitable for the polygon.

(14) FIG. 3 shows actual shapes of combination dimples co in which a depth is given to a face having a combined shape made by various types of polygons and circles.

(15) In the case of combination dimple co in which a depth is given to a face having a combined shape made by a square and a circle among the combination dimples shown in FIG. 3, an appropriate diameter d of a circle, which is included in a combination dimple between a diameter di of an inscribed circle of the square and a diameter dc of a circumscribed circle of the square, is from 82% to 88% of the diameter dc. Therefore, from 12% to 18% of a diameter of the circumscribed circle from the vertex of the square in a direction of a center of the circle is a size of the small bluff body sb.

(16) In the case of a combination dimple co in which a depth is given to a face having a combined shape made by a pentagon and a circle among the combination dimples shown in FIG. 3, an appropriate diameter d of a circle, which is included in a combination dimple existing between a diameter di of an inscribed circle of the pentagon and a diameter dc of a circumscribed circle of the pentagon, is from 85% to 91% of the diameter dc. The size of small bluff body sb of the combination dimple of the pentagon and circle is from 9% to 15% of a radius of a circumscribed circle of the pentagon from a vertex of the pentagon in a direction of a center of the circle.

(17) When a depth is given to a face having a combined shape made by a hexagon and a circle among the combination dimples co, an appropriate diameter d of the circle included in the combination dimple co is from 88% to 94% of the diameter dc of a circumscribed circle of the hexagon. Accordingly, the small bluff body sb in the combination dimple co in which the depth is given to the face having the combined shape of the hexagon and the circle is from 6% to 12% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the hexagon.

(18) Among the combination dimples in FIG. 3, when the combination dimple co is made by an octagon and a circle, a diameter d of an appropriate circle included in the combination dimple co is from 92% to 98% of the diameter dc of the circumscribed circle of the octagon. Accordingly, the small bluff body sb in the combination dimple co in which the depth is given to the face having the combined shape of the octagon and the circle is from 2% to 8% of a radius of the circumscribed circle of the octagon. As described above, an appropriate size of the circle ci included in the combination dimple is from 82% to 98% of a diameter dc of a circumscribing circle of the corresponding polygon po, and the size of small bluff body sb according thereto is determined between 2% and 18% of a radius of a circumscribed circle of the corresponding polygon from a vertex of the polygon in a direction of a center of the circle.

(19) Like this, the size of the small bluff body sb gradually decreases as the number of vertices of the polygon increases. In other words, as the number of vertices of the polygon increases, a shape thereof becomes close to a circle, the size of the small bluff body sb decreases, and functions thereof also decrease. Accordingly, a combination dimple in which a depth is given to a face having a combined nonagon or more shape of polygon and a circle has a similar flight performance without difference as that of a general circular dimple.

(20) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a dimple formed on a surface of the golf ball according to the present disclosure.

(21) As shown in FIG. 1, a depth is given to a face having a combined shape of the polygon and the circle, and when the depth pushes the surface of the sphere into a certain shape and the surface is dug, the combination dimple co is formed. Regarding the depths, a depth of the polygon is a depth formed by giving a corresponding depth to a surface made by a circumscribed circle and pushed onto the surface of the sphere, a depth of the circle is a depth formed by giving a depth to a surface made by the circle and pushed onto the surface of the sphere, both are frustum depths formed by cutting the sphere in a planar manner, which indicate a difference between a deepest portion of the dimple and a top end of the dimple. Although the depths seems to be one depth, as it is required that the depth of the polygon is shown in a way that a protruded portion of the vertex region yr is pushed onto the sphere, and only when the depth hp is given to the surface made by the circumscribed circle of the polygon, the vertex region yr is clearly shown and functions as the small bluff body sb.

(22) The depths hp and he may be an identical depth or different depths. A depth of a dimple varies according to a size of the dimple. However, when the depth is 0.25 mm or deeper, wind resistance increases and causes lack of flight stability, and when the depth decreases to 0.1 mm or more shallow, it is hard to obtain a lift and a flying distance decreases. Therefore, it is preferable that the depth of the combination dimple is from 0.1 mm to 0.25 mm based on the frustum depth.

(23) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the combination dimples having the above-described size and depth are arranged on the surface of the sphere, wherein great circles 8, 9, and 10 are division lines to form each side of one large spherical triangle that forms a spherical tetrahedron consisting of four spherical triangles, and great circles 4, 5, and 6, which are extended by connecting adjacent center points, are division lines for forming a spherical octahedron including other eight spherical triangles. A spherical cube-octahedron including six spherical squares and eight small spherical triangles are formed by great circles 1, 2, 3 and 7 which are extended by connecting adjacent center points of the lines constructing sides of the spherical triangles that forms the spherical octahedron, wherein the great circle 7 is used as the equator and also as a mold parting line at which a northern hemisphere and a southern hemisphere of the golf ball meet each other. Among them, the combination dimples according to the present invention were arranged on a spherical polygon formed by the divisional composition of the great circles whose center of the spherical triangle in the center becomes a pole. And the combination dimples co used herein are combination dimples co formed by octagons and circles that are concentric, according to the present disclosure.

(24) In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the combination dimples co are arranged to regularly include some circular dimples, which will be described with reference to the spherical octahedron made by the great circles 4, 5, and 6.

(25) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, eight virtual spherical triangles are formed by the great circles indicated by great circles 4, 5, 6 in the drawing, arrangements of the dimples in the spherical triangles are identical, and by doing so, the dimple arrangement is performed in a symmetrical manner with respect to each of the great circles 4, 5, and 6.

(26) In a golf ball 77, general circular dimples are arranged near each vertex and at a center of the spherical square in the spherical cube-octahedron. The arrangement of general circular dimples contributes to provide stability against wind during flight.

(27) When the combination dimples of the present disclosure are arranged on the surface of the sphere, some of the general circular dimples may be used together as needed, but in cases, general polygon dimples may also be used. This may be a method of increasing a dimple area ratio or a method for an aesthetic effect.

(28) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of arranging combination dimples co of size and depth consistent with the present disclosure on the surface of a sphere.

(29) Unlike in FIG. 4, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the surface of the sphere is divided by the line segment 11˜25 of the small circles, and the combination dimples co according to the present disclosure are arranged with good left-right symmetry. Most of the combination dimples co by hexagons and circles are mainly arranged, and the pole region is a combination dimple of pentagon and circle was placed. In the arrangement of the combination dimples co some of the dimples may be in contact with one another.

(30) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment in which the combination dimples according to the present disclosure are arranged on the surface of the sphere and modeled into a golf ball, as viewed from the equator.

(31) FIG. 7 shows a dimple arrangement at the equator that is the mold parting line when arranging the combination dimples like in FIG. 4 on the surface of the sphere.

(32) In FIG. 7, arrangement with the general circular dimples is shown as an embodiment, but some dimples may intersect the equator line.

(33) As described above, the golf ball according to the present disclosure, in which the combination dimples are arranged on the surface of the sphere, reduces the pressure applied to the entire dimple by making a rapid turbulent transition due to the small bluff body, making it a golf ball with better directionality and superior distance than general polygonal dimples or circular dimples. The golf ball according to the present disclosure, which is arranged on the surface with the combination dimples in which a depth is given to the face having the combined shape of the circle and polygon that are concentric, may reduce the drag by causing a rapid turbulent transition by the vertex portion of the polygon that protrudes with reference to a plane shape of the dimple, and at the same time, may maintain the same directionality as that of a general golf ball including circular dimples, and the flying distance may not decrease even in the low-speed region.

(34) It should be understood that embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.