# US 2016/0354643 A1 · Dimple patterns for golf balls > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0354643 A1 - Document ID: US20160354643A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/242,336 - Filed: 2016-08-19 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-31 - Assignees: Acushnet Company - Applicants: Acushnet Company - Inventors: Michael R. Madson; Nicholas M. Nardacci - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354643A1 ## CPC - A63B 37/0006: {Arrangement or layout of dimples} - A63B 37/0004: {Surface depressions or protrusions} - A63B 37/0007: {Non-circular dimples} - A63B 37/0018: {Specified number of dimples} - A63B 37/002: {Specified dimple diameter} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples disposed thereon, wherein the dimples are arranged in multiple copies of a first domain and a second domain, the first domain and the second domain being tessellated to cover the outer surface of the golf ball in a uniform pattern having no great circles and consisting of four first domains and four second domains, and wherein: the dimple pattern within the first domain is different from the dimple pattern within the second domain; the plurality of dimples comprises dimples having at least two different diameters including a maximum dimple diameter and one or more additional dimple diameters; each of the two or more different dimple diameters on the ball has a first domain diameter ratio defined by the equation: first   domain   diameter   ratio = SD   1 SD   1 + SD   2 and a second domain diameter ratio defined by the equation: second   domain   diameter   ratio = SD   2 SD   1 + SD   2 where SD1 is the number of dimples positioned within the first domain having a given diameter, and SD2 is the number of dimples positioned within the second domain having that given diameter, and wherein either SD1≦½ (SD2) or SD1≧2 (SD2) for each given diameter on the ball. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first domain has three-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the first domain, and the second domain has three-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the second domain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the number of different dimple diameters in the first domain is the same as the number of different dimple diameters in the second domain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the number of different dimple diameters in the first domain is different from the number of different dimple diameters in the second domain. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein SD1=0 or SD2=0 for at least one dimple diameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein SD1=0 or SD2=0 for the maximum dimple diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein SD1≧1 and SD2≧1 for every given diameter on the ball. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 352. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 328. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 300. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 312. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 376. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 348. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 388. ### Claim 15 A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples disposed thereon, wherein the dimples are arranged in multiple copies of a first domain and a second domain, the first domain and the second domain being tessellated to cover the outer surface of the golf ball in a uniform pattern having no great circles and consisting of four first domains and four second domains, and wherein: the dimple pattern within the first domain is different from the dimple pattern within the second domain; the plurality of dimples comprises dimples having at least two different diameters including a maximum dimple diameter and one or more additional dimple diameters; each of the two or more different dimple diameters on the ball has a first domain diameter ratio defined by the equation: first   domain   diameter   ratio = SD   1 SD   1 + SD   2 and a second domain diameter ratio defined by the equation: second   domain   diameter   ratio = SD   2 SD   1 + SD   2 where SD1 is the number of dimples positioned within the first domain having a given diameter, and SD2 is the number of dimples positioned within the second domain having that given diameter; SD1=SD2 for the maximum dimple diameter; and SD1≦½ (SD2) or SD1≧2 (SD2) for each of the additional dimple diameters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the first domain has three-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the first domain, and the second domain has three-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the second domain. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the number of different dimple diameters in the first domain is the same as the number of different dimple diameters in the second domain. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the number of different dimple diameters in the first domain is different from the number of different dimple diameters in the second domain. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein SD1=0 or SD2=0 for at least one of the additional dimple diameters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein SD1>1 and SD2>1 for every given diameter on the ball. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 352. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 328. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 300. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 312. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 376. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 348. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The golf ball of claim 15, wherein the total number of dimples on the outer surface is 388.