Dimple patterns with surface texture for golf balls

Abstract

The present invention provides a golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples covering greater than 70 percent of the outer surface, wherein at least 20 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing therein. The directional surface texturing preferably comprises substantially parallel channels or protrusions formed within the dimples.

Claims

1. A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples covering greater than 70 percent of the outer surface, wherein at least 20 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing comprised of 3 or more substantially parallel linear channels having a U-shaped cross-section with a depth of less than 0.005 inch.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the golf ball comprises less than 400 dimples and at least 50 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing therein.

3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the dimples have linear channels that are disposed at an angle of between about 10 and 90 degrees with respect to linear channels of an adjacent dimple.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the dimples have linear channels that are arranged at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to linear channels of an adjacent dimple.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein no dimple on the ball has an adjacent dimple with parallel linear channels.

6. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimples on the ball have a dimple radius of at least 0.2 inch and the linear channels have a channel radius between 0.001 and 0.08 inch.

7. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein at least one of the linear channels within a dimple extends entirely across the dimple and intersects the dimple perimeter.

8. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the linear channels within a dimple extend entirely across the dimple and intersect the dimple perimeter.

9. The golf ball of claiml, wherein the dimples are circular in plan shape and have a diameter of 0.11 inch to 0.22 inch and the linear channels have a channel radius of 0.01 inch to 0.08 inch and a channel depth of 0.0003 inch to 0.003 inch.

10. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the dimples are spherically shaped in cross-section and have dimple radius of 0.2 inch to 1.4 inch and the linear channels have a channel depth of 0.0003 inch to 0.003 inch.

11. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each of the dimples contain between 3 and 200 linear channels.

12. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each of the dimples contain between 3 and 50 linear channels.

13. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each of the dimples contain between 3 and 25 linear channels.

14. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each of the dimples has the same number of linear channels.

15. The golf ball of claim 14, wherein each of the dimples has a diameter and the linear channels have channel widths that progressively increase with dimple diameter such that a first dimple has a first diameter and a first channel width and a second dimple has second diameter and a second channel width, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter and the first channel width is less than the second channel width.

16. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein each of the dimples has a number of linear channels therein that is based on the dimple diameter such that a first dimple has a first diameter and a first number of channels and a second dimple has a second diameter and a second number of channels, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter and the first number of channels is less than the second number of channels.

17. The golf ball of claiml, wherein each of the dimples has a depth and the linear channels have depths that are directly proportional to the depth of the dimple such that a dimple with a greater dimple depth has a greater channel depth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a golf ball with directional surface texturing according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a dimple incorporating directional surface texturing according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a first domain and a second domain formed in an icosahedron face projected on a sphere;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the domains of FIG. 3 tessellated to cover the surface of a sphere;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a first portion of a golf ball dimple pattern formed according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a second portion of a golf ball dimple pattern formed according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a golf ball formed according to the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a first domain and a second domain formed in a cube face projected on a sphere;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates the domains of FIG. 8 tessellated to cover the surface of a sphere;

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a first portion of a golf ball dimple pattern formed according to the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a second portion of a golf ball dimple pattern formed according to the present invention;

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates a golf ball formed according to the present invention;

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a dimple having directional surface texturing;

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a dimple having directional surface texturing;

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates a dimple having directional surface texturing;

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-section of a dimple having directional surface texturing;

(18) FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-section of a dimple having directional surface texturing; and

(19) FIG. 18 illustrates a cross-section of a dimple having directional surface texturing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(20) The present invention is directed to golf ball with improved dimples. The aerodynamic characteristics of a golf ball are largely dependent on the dimples of a golf ball and the way that the dimples are arrange. Golf balls typically include 250 to 450 dimples on the outer surface that range from about 0.08 to 0.2 inches in diameter, if circular. The way that these dimples are arranged over the outer surface, the shapes of the dimples and the edge angles of the dimples are all important to the overall flight performance of the golf ball. In FIG. 1, a plurality of dimples having directional surface texturing are disclosed. The dimples 10 through 20, for example, are adjacent dimples and have different dimple diameters. However, all of the dimples shown include a plurality of linear channels 30 therein.

(21) Preferably, a golf ball according to the present invention has an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples covering greater than 70 percent of the outer surface and at least 20 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing. Directional surface texturing is defined as a plurality of indentations or protrusions that form aligned arrangements within the dimple.

(22) The outer surface of the golf ball preferably comprises less than 400 dimples of different sizes and, more preferably, at least 5 different sizes. In a preferred embodiment, at least 50 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing such as the linear channels 30 therein. The linear channels 30 are substantially parallel within the dimple. Preferably, there are between 2 and 6 linear channels within the dimples. Although FIG. 1 shows each of the dimples containing 6 linear channels, it is contemplated that smaller diameter dimples are likely to have less linear channels than larger diameter dimples. For example, in a preferred embodiment, a dimple having a diameter of less than 0.12 inch can have between 2 and 5 linear channels and a dimple having a diameter of 0.12 to 0.2 inch can have between 5 and 8 linear channels.

(23) In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the golf ball comprises less than 360 dimples and all of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing made up of substantially linear arrangements that are aligned. The linear arrangements, like the linear channels 30 disclosed in FIG. 1, are preferably substantially parallel to each other and extend across a substantial portion of the dimple. While the linear channels 30 shown in FIG. 1 are parallel within each dimple, they are at offset angles α with respect to adjacent dimples. The linear channels 30 within a dimple are disposed at angles of between about 10 and 90 degrees with respect to the linear channels 30 of an adjacent dimple. For example, dimple 10 includes linear channels that are disposed at an angle α of between 10 and 90 degrees with respect to each of the adjacent dimples 12, 14, 18 and 20. As shown, the linear channel angles α.sub.1 and α.sub.2 are about 60 degrees and α.sub.3 is about 90 degrees. Preferably, the linear channels 30 are arranged at an angle α of between about 30 and 90 degrees with respect to most of the adjacent dimples. In some arrangements, the golf ball can be designed such that no dimple on the ball has an adjacent dimple with parallel linear arrangements.

(24) Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-section of a dimple is shown. The dimple depth, volume and edge angles of the dimples are measured as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,369, as shown in FIG. 7 and discussed in col. 11, line 64 through, col. 12, line 46, which is incorporated by reference herein. The surface texturing is relatively small in comparison to the dimple and intended as a secondary aerodynamic function as discuss below. For example, preferably, the linear channels 30 have a maximum channel depth d of less than ¼ of a dimple depth. Linear protrusions within a dimple would be the inverse of the linear channels 30 shown. More preferably, the directional surface texturing depth (or protrusion height, if reversed) is less than about 0.002 inches. Also, the directional surface texturing has a width w, such as the channel width shown, that is equal to or greater than the depth and preferably greater than about twice the depth d. Further, the length between the directional surface texturing, shown as l, is preferably equal to or greater than the width w. Preferably, the length l is greater than twice the width w. Where FIG. 2 discloses a substantially U-shaped cross-section, it is preferred that the cross-section of the channels 30 be V-shaped, U-shaped, rectangular or other partial polygonal shape or any continuous curve defined by superposed curves such as those described in U.S. Publication No. 2012-0165130.

(25) Further, the directional surface texturing is substantially elongated. The lengths of the directional surface texturing elements are preferably greater than 5 times the widths and extend substantially across the dimples. For example, the lengths of the linear channels 30 are preferably greater than 5 times the channel widths w and extend substantially across the dimples as shown. If a dimple is about 0.15 inches, the directional surface texturing in the center of the dimple preferably has a length of at least 0.1 inch, and more preferably, about 0.11-0.13 inch. The same directional surface texturing preferably has a width of less than about 0.02. Similarly, smaller dimples having a diameter of about 0.11 inch may have directional surface texturing with a length of about 0.08 to 0.09 inch. Preferably, the width of the directional surface texturing will be approximately the same as the surface texturing in the larger dimples. The table below is an example of a preferred dimple pattern incorporating linear channels as the directional surface texturing.

(26) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Dimple Number of Number of Channel Channel Diameter (in) Dimples Channels/Dimple Width (in) Depth (in) 0.115 12 4 0.01 0.002 0.155 20 5 0.01 0.002 0.160 40 5 0.01 0.002 0.165 50 5 0.01 0.002 0.170 60 5 0.01 0.002 0.175 80 6 0.01 0.002 0.180 70 6 0.01 0.002

(27) The present invention also provides a method for arranging dimples with directional surface texturing on a golf ball surface. The method includes creating sections on the surface of a golf ball. Preferably, the sections are polyhedrons or portions thereof and then filling the sections with dimples incorporating directional surface texturing. Each of the sections can contain a different arrangement of the directional surface texturing. For example, as discussed with FIG. 1 above, the dimples 10-20 all contain directional surface texturing that is oriented at an angle with respect to an adjacent dimple. This arrangement of the directional surface texturing provides that the ball has a uniform secondary aerodynamic characteristic regardless of the direction the ball is oriented.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 3-12, a dimple pattern can be formed by choosing control points of a polyhedron, connecting the control points with a non-straight sketch line, patterning the sketch line in a first manner to generate an irregular domain, optionally patterning the sketch line in a second manner to create an additional irregular domain, packing the irregular domain(s) with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain(s) to cover the surface of the golf ball in a uniform pattern. The control points can include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron, and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines from the molding process.

(29) Referring to FIGS. 3-7, a golf ball outer surface can be divided into equal sections by the projections of an icosahedron. Each icosahedron can then be divided by a midpoint to midpoint method, for example, to yield two domains that are tessellate to cover the surface of golf ball 100 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The two domains are shown as 114a and 114b. The method of forming the different sections and then tessellating them over the surface of a golf ball to create different dimple patterns formed from such sections is set forth in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/675,041, which published as Publication No. 2013-0072325 on Mar. 21, 2013, and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

(30) Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sections 114a and 114b are then filled with directional surface texturing. Elongated, linear protrusions 116 are formed within each dimple such that within the dimple, they are substantially parallel. The protrusions preferably have similar dimensions to the channels discussed above.

(31) In a first section, set forth in FIG. 5, the directional surface texturing can be formed by selecting a midpoint of the section and then forming the linear elements perpendicular to the radii r.sub.1-r.sub.3 that emanate from the center. Similarly, in FIG. 6, the directional surface texturing is formed by forming protrusions that are perpendicular to the lines l.sub.1 and l.sub.2 emanating from the center dimple 118. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 7, each of the dimples in the sections will have an adjacent dimple with directional surface texturing at an angle between 10 and 90 degrees with respect thereto. This pattern will also form a plurality of great circles GC over the surface of the ball that intersect dimples incorporating directional surface texturing oriented perpendicular thereto.

(32) Referring to FIGS. 8-12, a golf ball outer surface can be divided into equal sections by the projections of a cube. Each cube can then be divided by a midpoint to midpoint method, for example, to yield two domains that are tessellate to cover the surface of golf ball 100 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The two domains are shown as 114a and 114b. Again, the method of forming the different sections and then tessellating them over the surface of a golf ball to create different dimple patterns formed from section is set forth in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/675,041.

(33) Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the sections 114a and 114b are then filled with directional surface texturing 116. Elongated, linear protrusions 116 are formed within each dimple such that within the dimple, they are substantially parallel.

(34) In a first section, set forth in FIG. 10, the directional surface texturing 116 can be formed by forming the linear elements 116 such that they are oriented at about 45 degree angles with respect to the directional surface texturing in an adjacent dimple. Similarly, in FIG. 11, the directional surface texturing 116 is formed by forming linear elements that are substantially perpendicular with respect to those in an adjacent dimple. As shown in FIG. 12, this type of arrangement results in an overall ball that has no great circles that intersect dimples having directional surface texturing that is perpendicular to the great circle. However, every dimple on the ball 100 still has an adjacent dimple with directional surface texturing at an angle of about 30 to 90 degrees relative thereto.

(35) Furthermore, the present invention also contemplates an improvement in the aerodynamic characteristics of the golf ball. In particular, it is an object of the invention to improve the aerodynamics at low Reynolds Numbers and low Spin Ratios with the directional surface texturing. The aerodynamic properties of a golf ball and improvements in those properties are specifically discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,369, and particularly in col. 4-col. 10 and col. 12-col. 17, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. More particularly, the golf ball dimple pattern preferably comprises less than 370 dimples and more preferably less than 360 dimples covering over 75% of the outer surface of the ball and containing directional surface texturing within each dimple. More particularly, the golf ball preferably has a coefficient of lift at a Reynolds No. of 70,000 and Spin ration of 0.188 of greater than 0.24 and more preferably greater than 0.25. Moreover, the golf ball preferably has a coefficient of drag at a Reynolds No. of 70,000 and Spin Ratio of 0.188 of less than 0.27.

(36) Referring to FIGS. 13-16, dimples 40, 50 and 60 all have 3 or more substantially parallel linear channels (or protrusions) 41-43, 51-53 and 61-62, respectively. Preferably, the linear channels have a U-shaped cross-section with a depth of less than 0.005 inch and a radius of at least 0.001 inch. The channels are preferably formed by laser etching or machining the surface of the mold cavities that form the golf ball or by forming surface texturing on the hob that forms the mold cavities. In FIG. 13, the linear channels 41-43 do not extend across the dimple. Preferably, the channels have a length L that is greater than 50% of the chord length CL. For example, the linear channel 42, at the center of the dimple, extends greater than 50% of the dimple diameter. In FIG. 14, the linear channels 51-53 extend entirely across the width of the dimple and intersect the dimple perimeter 55. Preferably, the linear channels have a length that is less than about 110% of the chord length of the dimple. Thus, for all linear channels, it is preferred that they extend between 50% and 110% of the chord length of the dimple. More preferably, the linear channels have a length of between 80% and 105% of the dimple chord length extending through the length of the channel. Referring to FIG. 15, the dimple includes linear channels 61-63. The channel(s) 62 at the center of the dimple preferably does not extend across the width of the dimple such that it does not intersect an adjacent dimple. Thus the center channels, in this embodiment, can extend between about 50% and 95% of the dimple chord length (diameter). However, the perimeter channels, 61 and 63, extend greater than 100% of the chord length such that they would extend into fret area. Center linear channels are defined as those linear channels that are closer to the center of the dimple than the side perimeter, whereas perimeter linear channels are those channels that are closer to the side perimeter than the center. Preferably, the dimples and the linear channels cover at least 70% of the dimple outer surface, and more preferably, between 82% and 95%.

(37) Referring to FIG. 16, the dimples on the ball have a dimple radius Rd of at least 0.2 inch, and more preferably between about 0.2 inch and 1.4 inch. The linear channels have a channel radius Rc of between 0.001 inch and 0.08 inch. Furthermore, the linear channels have a channel depth Dc of between 0.0003 inch and 0.005 inch. More preferably, the linear channel depth Dc is between 0.0003 inch and 0.003 inch, and most preferably, between 0.0005 inch and 0.003 inch. In one embodiment, the linear channel depth Dc can be greater in the center linear channels than in the perimeter linear channels.

(38) The dimples are preferably circular and have a dimple diameter DD of 0.11 inch to 0.22 inch, but the dimples could also be hexagons or other geometric shapes. The linear channels are relatively shallow compared to the depth of the dimple they are in, and preferably, have a channel depth Dc that is less than 1/10 of the dimple depth DD as measured from the phantom curved surface of the ball's outer surface.

(39) Each of the dimples on the ball can contain between 3 and 200 linear channels, and more preferably, between 3 and 50 linear channels. Most preferably, the dimples contain between 3 and 25 linear channels. As shown in FIG. 17, the dimple can contain 9 linear channels. In this case, the channel width CW is greater than the length between channels, whereas in FIG. 16, when there are only 3 linear channels, the length between channels is greater than the channel width CW. FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment where there are 19 linear channels and the linear channels essentially abut one another through the bottom surface of the dimple.

(40) Table II below describes several embodiments of golf balls according to the present invention wherein every dimple has directional surface texturing as described:

(41) TABLE-US-00002 % # # Channels/ Channel Channel Chord Embodiment Dimples Dimple Radius (in) Depth (in) Length 1 352 3 0.02 0.002 70 2 352 3 0.02 (center) 0.002 70 0.02 (perimeter) 0.001 105 3 352 9 0.02 0.002 105 4 328 11 0.02 0.002 85 5 328 19 0.02 0.0008 95

(42) The dimples on a golf ball according to the present invention are preferably circular in plan shape and have a diameters of 0.11 inch to 0.22 inch, but could also be n-sided polygons, where n is between 3 and 10, or other geometric shapes such as those that are defined by periodic functions along a simple path. Preferably, the golf ball has 4 or more diameters of dimples that have multiple dimple depths ranging from 0.005 to 0.03 and edge angles ranging from 10 degrees to 20 degrees.

(43) In a preferred embodiment, each of the dimples on the golf ball has the same number of linear channels. For example, the golf ball can have about 300 to 360 dimples having dimple diameters from 0.11 inch to 0.22 inch. Each of the dimples can contain the same number of linear channels as set forth in Table II above. Preferably, in one embodiment, the width of the channels can vary with dimple diameter such that a dimple having a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of a second dimple has a first channel width that is less than a second channel width. For example, a dimple having a diameter of 0.11 inch can have channel widths of 0.011 inch and a dimple having a diameter of 0.18 inch can have channel widths of 0.018. Thus, the channel widths progressively increase with dimple diameter.

(44) In another embodiment, each dimple on the golf ball has the number of linear channels therein based on the dimple diameter such that a dimple having a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of a second dimple has a first number of channels that is less than a second number of channels in the second dimple. For example, a golf ball can have all of the linear channels having a channel width of 0.02 inch and the number of channels in each dimple is dependent on the dimple diameter. In one example, a dimple having a diameter of 0.11 inch can have 5 linear channels and a dimple having a diameter of 0.18 inch can have 9 linear channels.

(45) Still further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the linear channels can vary depending on the depth of the dimple. For example, the depths of the linear channels can be a function of dimple depth. In one embodiment, the channel depth can be about 1/10 of the dimple depth such that a dimple having a depth of 0.01 inch has a channel depth of 0.001 inch and a dimple having a depth of 0.02 has a channel depth of 0.002. In another embodiment, the depth of the channels is inversely proportional to the number of channels in a dimple. Thus a dimple can have 3 channels having a first depth and a second dimple can have 11 channels having a second depth that is less than the first depth.

(46) When numerical lower limits and numerical upper limits are set forth herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values may be used. All numerical values and ranges set forth herein are approximate.

(47) All patents, publications, test procedures, and other references cited herein, including priority documents, are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this invention and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.

(48) While the illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described with particularity, it will be understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the dimples discussed herein are shown as circular dimples. However, it is understood that the present invention is intended to cover polygonal shaped dimples such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,722,484 and 7,867,109, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Further embodiments above are described with respect to including linear channels. However, it is easily appreciated that the channels can be formed as protrusions as well. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the examples and descriptions set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all of the features of patentable novelty which reside in the present invention, including all features which would be treated as equivalents thereof by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.