Golf ball dimple plan shape
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsMichael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to golf balls having improved packing efficiency and aerodynamic characteristics and a high degree of dimple interdigitation. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf ball including at least a portion of dimples having a plan shape defined by low frequency periodic functions having high amplitudes. The present invention is also directed to methods of developing the dimple plan shape geometries, as well as methods of making the finished golf balls with the inventive dimple patterns applied thereto.
Claims12
A golf ball having a generally spherical surface and comprising a plurality of dimples on the spherical surface, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of dimples have a non-circular plan shape defined by a periodic function mapped along a circular closed path, wherein the periodic function is selected from a periodic square wave function defined by the equation:
- f
-
- (
- x
- )
- =
- s
- +
- a
- π
-
- (
- sin
-
- (
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- +
- sin
-
- (
- 3
-
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- 3
- +
- sin
-
- (
- 5
-
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- 5
- +
- sin
-
- (
- 7
-
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- 7
- )
- and a periodic sawtooth function defined by the equation:
- f
-
- (
- x
- )
- =
- s
- -
- a
- π
-
- (
- sin
-
- (
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- +
- sin
-
- (
- 2
-
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- 2
- +
- sin
-
- (
- 3
-
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- 3
- +
- sin
-
- (
- 4
-
- π
-
-
- px
- )
- 4
- )
- where s is the sharpness factor of the periodic function and is defined by a constant value of from 5 to 60;
- a is the amplitude of the periodic function and is from 0.1 to 1;
- and p is the period of the periodic function and is from 3 to 6;
- wherein the maximum distance of any point on the plan shape from the circular closed path is about 0.015 inches to about 0.050 inches;
- and
- wherein the surface of said dimples having a non-circular plan shape includes a protruding center portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.