WO2001036052A1

WO2001036052A1 - A golf ball with pyramidal protrusions

Info

Publication number: WO2001036052A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/031624
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven S. Ogg
Original assignee: Callaway Golf Company
Priority date: 1999-11-18
Filing date: 2000-11-16
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: GB2373737B; US6383092B1; US20020032083A1; JP2003515365A; GB2373737A; US6471605B2; AU1619001A; GB0213764D0

Abstract

A golf ball (20) approaching zero land area is disclosed herein. The golf ball (20) has an innersphere (21) with a plurality of pyramidal projections (40). Each of the plurality of projections (40) has an apex (50) that extends to a height to conform with the 1.68 inches requirement for USGA approved golf balls. The plurality of pyramidal projections (40) extend 0.005 inches to 0.015 inches from the innersphere surface (22). The outermost 0.002 inches of the golf ball (20) has a minimal volume.

Description

Title

A GOLF BALL WITH PYRAMIDAL PROTRUSIONS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerodynamic surface for a golf ball. More

specifically, the present invention relates to a golf ball having pyramidal protrusions to

effect turbulence during flight of the golf ball.

Background Art

Golfers realized perhaps as early as the 1800's that golf balls with indented

surfaces flew better than those with smooth surfaces. Hand-hammered gutta-percha

golf balls could be purchased at least by the 1860's, and golf balls with brambles

(bumps rather than dents) were in style from the late 1800's to 1908. In 1908, an

Englishman, William Taylor, received a British patent for a golf ball with indentations

(dimples) that flew better ad more accurately than golf balls with brambles. A.G.

Spalding & Bros., purchased the U.S. rights to the patent (embodied possibly in U.S.

Patent Number 1,286,834 issued in 1918) and introduced the GLORY ball featuring the

TAYLOR dimples. Until the 1970s, the GLORY ball, and most other golf balls with

dimples had 336 dimples of the same size using the same pattern, the ATTI pattern.

The ATTI pattern was an octohedron pattern, split into eight concentric straight line

rows, which was named after the main producer of molds for golf balls.

The only innovation related to the surface of a golf ball during this sixty year period came from Albert Penfold who invented a mesh-pattern golf ball for Dunlop.

This pattern was invented in 1912 and was accepted until the 1930's. A combination of

a mesh pattern and dimples is disclosed in Young, U.S. Patent Number 2,002,726, for a

Golf Ball, which issued in 1935.

The traditional golf ball, as readily accepted by the consuming public, is

spherical with a plurality of dimples, with each dimple having a circular cross-section.

Many golf balls have been disclosed that break with this tradition, however, for the

most part these non-traditional golf balls have been commercially unsuccessful.

Most of these non-traditional golf balls still attempt to adhere to the Rules Of

Golf as set forth by the United States Golf Association ("USGA") and The Royal and

Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews ("R&A"). As set forth in Appendix III of the

Rules of Golf, the weight of the ball shall not be greater than 1.620 ounces avoirdupois

(45.93 gm), the diameter of the ball shall be not less than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm)

which is satisfied if, under its own weight, a ball falls through a 1.680 inches diameter

ring gauge in fewer than 25 out of 100 randomly selected positions, the test being

carried out at a temperature of 23±1 °C, and the ball must not be designed,

manufactured or intentionally modified to have properties which differ from those of a

spherically symmetrical ball.

One example is Shimosaka et al., U.S. Patent Number 5,916,044, for a Golf Ball

that discloses the use of protrusions to meet the 1.68 inch (42.67mm) diameter

limitation of the USGA and R&A. The Shimosaka patent discloses a golf ball with a plurality of dimples on the surface a few rows of protrusions that have a height of 0.001

to 1.0 mm from the surface. Thus, the diameter of the surface is less than 42.67mm.

Another example of a non-traditional golf ball is Puckett et al., U.S. Patent

Number 4,836,552 for a Short Distance Golf Ball, which discloses a golf ball having

brambles instead of dimples in order to reduce the flight distance to half of that of a

traditional golf ball in order to play on short distance courses.

Another example of a non-traditional golf ball is Pocklington, U.S. Patent

Number 5,536,013 for a Golf Ball, which discloses a golf ball having raised portions

within each dimple, and also discloses dimples of varying geometric shapes such as

squares, diamonds and pentagons. The raised portions in each of the dimples of

Pocklington assists in controlling the overall volume of the dimples.

Another example is Kobayashi, U.S. Patent Number 4,787,638 for a Golf Ball,

which discloses a golf ball having dimples with indentations within each of the

dimples. The indentations in the dimples of Kobayashi are to reduce the air pressure

drag at low speeds in order to increase the distance.

Yet another example is Treadwell, U.S. Patent Number 4,266,773 for a Golf

Ball, which discloses a golf ball having rough bands and smooth bands on its surface in

order to trip the boundary layer of air flow during flight of the golf ball.

Aoyama, U.S. Patent Number 4,830,378, for a Golf Ball With Uniform Land

Configuration, discloses a golf ball with dimples that have triangular shapes. The total

flat land area of Aoyama is no greater than 20% of the surface of the golf ball, and the objective of the patent is to optimize the uniform land configuration and not the

dimples.

Another variation in the shape of the dimples is set forth in Steifel, U.S. Patent

Number 5,890,975 for a Golf Ball And Method Of Forming Dimples Thereon. Some

of the dimples of Steifel are elongated to have an elliptical cross-section instead of a

circular cross-section. The elongated dimples make it possible to increase the surface

coverage area. A design patent to Steifel, U.S. Patent Number 406,623, has all

elongated dimples.

A variation on this theme is set forth in Moriyama et al., U.S. Patent Number

5,722,903, for a Golf Ball, which discloses a golf ball with traditional dimples and oval

shaped dimples.

A further example of a non-traditional golf ball is set forth in Shaw et al., U.S.

Patent Number 4,722,529, for Golf Balls, which discloses a golf ball with dimples and

30 bald patches in the shape of a dumbbell for improvements in aerodynamics.

Another example of a non-traditional golf ball is Cadorniga, U.S. Patent

Number 5,470,076, for a Golf Ball, which discloses each of a plurality of dimples

having an additional recess. It is believed that the major and minor recess dimples of

Cadorniga create a smaller wake of air during flight of a golf ball.

Oka et al., U.S. Patent 5,143,377, for a Golf Ball, discloses circular and non-

circular dimples. The non-circular dimples are square, regular octagonal, regular

hexagonal and amount to at least forty percent of the 332 dimples on the golf ball of Oka. These non-circular dimples of Oka have a double slope that sweeps air away from

the periphery in order to make the air turbulent.

Machin, U.S. Patent Number 5,377,989, for Golf Balls With Isodiametrical

Dimples, discloses a golf ball having dimples with an odd number of curved sides and

arcuate apices to reduce the drag on the golf ball during flight.

Lavallee et al., U.S. Patent Number 5,356,150, discloses a golf ball having

overlapping elongated dimples to obtain maximum dimple coverage on the surface of

the golf ball.

Oka et al, U.S. Patent Number 5,338,039, discloses a golf ball having at least

forty percent of its dimples with a polygonal shape. The shapes of the Oka golf ball are

pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal.

Although the prior art has set forth numerous variations for the surface of a golf

ball, there remains a need for a golf ball having a surface that minimizes the volume

needed to trip the boundary layer of air at low speed while providing a low drag level at

high speeds.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention is able to provide a golf ball that meets the USGA

requirements, and provides a minimum land area to trip the boundary layer of air

surrounding a golf ball during flight in order to create the necessary turbulence for

greater distance. The present invention is able to accomplish this by providing a golf ball with a tubular lattice pattern on a surface of an innersphere.

One aspect of the present invention is a golf ball with an innersphere having a

surface and a plurality of pyramidal projections disposed on the innersphere surface.

Each of the pyramidal projections has a cross-sectional contour with an apex at the

greatest extent from the center of the golf ball. The plurality of pyramidal projections

form a predetermined pattern on the surface. Each of the pyramidal projections extend

from 0.005 inches to 0.010 inches from the innersphere surface.

The plurality of pyramidal projections on the golf ball may cover between 20%

to 80% of the surface of the innersphere surface. The apex of each of the plurality of

pyramidal projections may have a width less than 0.000001 inches. The diameter of the

innersphere may be at least 1.67 inches and the height of the apex of each of the

plurality of pyramidal projections may be at least 0.005 inches from the surface of the

innersphere. The golf ball may also include a plurality of smooth portions on the

innersphere surface wherein the plurality of smooth portions and the plurality of

pyramidal projections cover the entire innersphere surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is an equatorial view of a golf ball of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a polar view of the golf ball of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of a section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the surface of the golf ball of the present invention illustrating a phantom sphere.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a section of the golf ball of the present invention to

illustrate the apex of each of the pyramidal projections.

FIG. 6 is an isolated cross-sectional view of one embodiment of pyramidal

projections extending outward from the surface of the innersphere of the golf ball of the

present invention.

FIG. 6A is an isolated top plan view of the pyramidal projection of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6B is an isolated top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a

pyramidal projection.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the surface of a golf ball of the present invention

to demonstrate the minimal volume feature of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the surface of a golf ball of the prior art for

comparison to the minimal volume feature of the present invention.

Best Mode(s) For Carrying Out The Invention

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a golf ball is generally designated 20. The golf ball may

be a two-piece, a three piece golf ball, or a multiple layer golf ball. Further, the three-

piece golf ball may have a wound layer, or a solid boundary layer. Additionally, the

core of the golf ball 20 may be solid, hollow or filled with a fluid such as a gas or

liquid. The cover of the golf ball 20 may be any suitable material. A preferred cover is

composed of a thermoset polyurethane material. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other cover materials may be utilized without departing from the

scope and spirit of the present invention. The golf ball 20 may have a finish of a

basecoat and/or top coat.

The golf ball 20 has a sphere 21 with an innersphere surface 22. The golf ball 20

also has an equator 24 dividing the golf ball 20 into a first hemisphere 26 and a second

hemisphere 28. A first pole 30 is located ninety degrees along a longitudinal arc from

the equator 24 in the first hemisphere 26. A second pole 32 is located ninety degrees

along a longitudinal arc from the equator 24 in the second hemisphere 28.

Extending outward from the surface 22 of the innersphere 21 are a plurality of

projections 40. In a preferred embodiment, the projections 40 are pyramidal

projections. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the

projections 40 may have other similar shapes. The projections are connected to each

other to form a unique pattern on the surface 22 of the innersphere 21. The apices 50

are the congruence of three sides 51a, 51b and 51c of the pyramidal structure.

Unlike traditional golf balls that attempt to minimize the land area (the non-

dimpled area) by packing in various sizes of dimples, the preferred embodiment of the

present invention has zero land area since only a line of each of the plurality of

projections 40 is in a spherical plane at 1.68 inches. More specifically, the land area of

traditional golf balls is the area forming a sphere of at least 1.68 inches for USGA and

R&A conforming golf balls. This land area is minimized with dimples that are concave

into the surface of the sphere of the traditional golf ball. However, the innersphere 21 of the golf ball 20 of the present invention has a diameter that is less than 1.68 inches.

The golf ball 20 of the present invention conforms to the USGA and R&A 1.68 inches

diameter requirement due to the height of the projections 40 from the surface 22 of the

innersphere 21. The height of the projections 40 are such that the diameter of the golf

ball 20 of the present invention meets or exceeds the 1.68 inches requirement. In a

preferred embodiment, only a point at the apex of each of the projections 40 meets the

1.68 inches requirement.

Traditional golf balls were designed to have the dimples "trip" the boundary layer

on the surface of a golf ball in flight to create a turbulent flow for greater lift and

reduced drag. The golf ball 20 of the present invention has the plurality of projections

40 to trip the boundary layer of air about the surface of the golf ball 20 in flight.

As shown in FIG. 4, a phantom 1.68 inches sphere, as shown by dashed line 45,

encompasses the projections 40 and the innersphere 21. The volume of the projections

40 as measured from the surface 22 of the innersphere to the apex 50 is a minimal

amount of the volume between the phantom 1.68 inches sphere and the innersphere 21.

In the preferred embodiment, the apex 50 lies on the phantom 1.68 inches sphere.

Thus, over 99 percent, and closer to 99.5 percent, of the entire surface of the golf ball

20 lies below the 1.68 inches phantom sphere.

As shown in FIG. 5, the width of each of the apices 50 is minimal since the apex

is a point. In theory, the width of each apex 50 should approach the width of a point.

In practice, the width of each apex 50 of each projection 40 is determined by the precision of the mold utilized to produce the golf ball 20. The precision of the mold is

itself determined by the master used to form the mold. In the practice, the width of

each line ranges from 0.0001 inches to 0.001 inches.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the radius R_ba„ of the inner sphere is preferably in

the range of 0.825 inches to 0.840 inches, and most preferably 0.831 inches. The radius

R__p of the sides 51a, 51b and 51c of each of the pyramidal projections is preferably in

the range of 0.225 inches to 0.300 inches, and most preferably 0.250 inches. Each of

the pyramidal projections 40 have three edge points 52a, 52b and 52c with the edge

between each of the points 52a-c curved and equal to each other edge. Each side 51a-c

is concave from the edge to the apex 50. In an alternative embodiment as shown in

FIG. 6B, there are six sides 53a-f meeting at an apex 50'. Those skilled in the art will

recognize that the pyramidal projections 40 may have a greater number of sides without

departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the golf ball 20 has a parting line 100

that is non-planar allowing for some of the plurality of pyramidal projections 40 to be

disposed about the equator 24. The parting line 100 will alternate along edge points

51a-c of pyramidal projections 40. This embodiment allows for greater uniformity of

the pyramidal projections.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the surface of the golf ball 20 of the present

invention to demonstrate the minimal volume of the golf ball 20 from a predetermined

distance from the greatest extent of the golf ball 20. More specifically, the greatest extent of one embodiment of the golf ball 20 are the apices 50 of the projections 40

which lie on a spherical plane (shown as dashed line 45) which has a 1.682 inches

diameter. Those skilled in the art should recognize that other embodiments could have

the apices 50 lie on a spherical plane at 1.70 inches, 1.72 inches, 1.64 inches, 1.60

inches, or any other variation in the diameter of the greatest extent of the golf ball 20.

Having defined the greatest extent of the golf ball 20, the present invention will have a

minimal volume from this greatest extent toward the innersphere 22. For example,

dashed line 130 represents a spherical plane that intersects each of the projections 40 at

a distance of 0.002 inches from the greatest extent of the golf ball 20. The volume of

the golf ball 20 of the present invention between the greatest extent spherical plane 45

and the spherical plane 130 is only 0.0000667744 cubic inches. In other words, the

outermost 0.002 inches of the golf ball 20 has a volume 0.0000667744 cubic inches.

FIG. 8 illustrates the surface of a golf ball 140 of the prior art that has traditional

dimples 142 encompassed by a land area 144. The land area 144 represents the greatest

extent of the golf ball 140 of the prior art. For comparison to the golf ball 20 of the

present invention, the volume of a high dimple coverage (>80%) golf ball 140 of the

prior art between the greatest extent 144 and a spherical plane 130' is 0.00213 cubic

inches. Spherical planes 132, 134 and 136, at 0.004 inches, 0.006 inches and 0.008

inches respectively, will have volumes of 0.00028248 cubic inches, 0.000655512 cubic

inches and 0.00124696 cubic inches on the golf ball 20 of the present invention. While

spherical planes 132', 134' and 136', at 0.004 inches, 0.006 inches and 0.008 inches respectively, will have volumes of 0.00498 cubic inches, 0.00841 cubic inches and

0.01238 cubic inches on the golf ball 140 of the prior art 140.

Thus, a golf ball 20 of the present invention will have a minimal volume at a

predetermined distance from the greatest extent of the golf ball 20. This minimal

volume is a minimal amount necessary to trip the boundary layer air at low speed while

providing a low drag level at high speeds. Table One and Table Two

Table One

Shell Delta Volume-Lay1 , 1 Delt Number of Volume/ tot

Dia. lay 1 delt Iay1

0.001 2.75E-08 352 0.00000968

0.002 0.000000118 352 0.000041536

0.003 2.243E-07 352 7.89536E-05

0.004 0.000000426 352 0.000149952

0.005 0.000000685 352 0.00024112

0.006 0.00000114 352 0.00040128

0.007 0.00000151 352 0.00053152

0.008 0.00000211 352 0.00074272

0.009 0.00000296 352 0.00104192

Table Two

Shell Delta Volume-Lay2,1delt Numbei r of lay2delt Vo lume/tot Iay2 Total Resulting

Dia. Volume

0.001 1.79E-08 264 4.7256E-06 1.44056E-C

0.002 9.56E-08 264 2.52384E-05 6.67744E-C

0.003 0.000000221 264 0.000058344 0.0001372G

0.004 0.000000502 264 0.000132528 0.0002824

0.005 0.000000648 264 0.000171072 0.0004121S

0.006 0.000000963 264 0.000254232 0.00065551

0.007 0.00000139 264 0.00036696 0.0008984

0.008 0.00000191 264 0.00050424 0.001246

0.009 0.00000261 264 0.00068904 0.001730E

Claims

1. A golf ball comprising:

an innersphere having a surface;

a plurality of pyramidal projections disposed on the innersphere surface,

each of the pyramidal projections extending from 0.005 inches to 0.015 inches from the

innersphere surface.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of pyramidal

projections cover between 20% to 80% of the surface of the innersphere surface.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pyramidal

projections has an apex with a width less than 0.00001 inches.

4. The golf ball according to claim 3 wherein the diameter of the innersphere is at

least 1.67 inches and the height of the apex of each of the plurality of pyramidal

projections is at least 0.005 inches from the surface of the innersphere.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of smooth

portions on the innersphere surface wherein the plurality of smooth portions and the

plurality of pyramidal projections cover the entire innersphere surface.

6. The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of pyramidal

projections has three sides.

7. The golf ball according to claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of pyramidal

projections has six sides.

8. A non-dimpled golf ball comprising:

a sphere having a diameter in the range of 1.60 to 1.76;

a plurality of pyramidal projections extending outward from the sphere,

each of the pyramidal projections having an apex that extends from a surface of the

sphere in a range of 0.005 to 0.015;

a plurality of smooth portions on the surface; and

wherein the entire surface of the golf ball is composed of the plurality of

pyramidal projections and the plurality of smooth portions.

9. The non-dimpled golf ball according to claim 8 wherein the apex of each of the

plurality of pyramidal projections has a width less than 0.00001 inches.

10. The non-dimpled golf ball according to claim 8 wherein the diameter of the

sphere is at least 1.67 inches and the height of the apex of each of the plurality of

pyramidal projections is at least 0.005 inches from the surface of the sphere.

11. A golf ball comprising:

a surface having a plurality of projections thereon wherein an apex of at

least one the plurality of projections defines the greatest extent of the golf ball, wherein

the volume of the outermost 0.002 inches of the golf ball is less than 0.00213 cubic

inches.

12. The golf ball according to claim 11 wherein the volume of the outermost 0.004

inches of the golf ball is less than 0.00498 cubic inches.

13. The golf ball according to claim 11 wherein the volume of the outermost 0.006

inches of the golf ball is less than 0.00841 cubic inches.

14. The golf ball according to claim 11 wherein the volume of the outermost 0.008

inches of the golf ball is less than 0.001238 cubic inches.