Golf balls having improved short game performance
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsMichael Madson, Nicholas Nardacci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Golf balls having three-dimensional shaped fret areas and methods of making the same are disclosed. The three-dimensional shaped fret areas have at least three edges that meet at an apex point or an apex surface. The three-dimensional shaped fret areas may have a three-dimensional irregular pyramid shape or a three-dimensional truncated irregular pyramid shape. The three-dimensional shaped fret areas create golf balls having increased traction upon impact with the playing surface.
Claims21
A golf ball having a substantially spherical surface, comprising:
- a plurality of dimples on the spherical surface and a plurality of fret areas defined therebetween,
- wherein at least one fret area on the spherical surface comprises a three-dimensional irregular pyramid shape having a base formed of curved edges, the curved edges corresponding to edges of the dimples surrounding the fret area, and at least three edges extending continuously upwardly from the base formed of the curved edges and meeting at an apex point, and
- wherein the three-dimensional irregular pyramid shape has a height defined as the radial distance between the apex point and a phantom sphere having a radius.
A golf ball having a substantially spherical surface, comprising:
- a plurality of dimples on the spherical surface and a plurality of fret areas defined therebetween,
- wherein at least one fret area on the spherical surface comprises a three-dimensional truncated irregular pyramid shape having at least three edges meeting at an apex surface, wherein the apex surface is a planar surface having a center of mass coincident with an apex point of the three-dimensional truncated irregular pyramid shape, and
- wherein the three-dimensional truncated irregular pyramid shape has a height defined as the radial distance between the apex surface and a phantom sphere having a radius.
-20. (canceled)
A golf ball having a substantially spherical surface, comprising:
- a plurality of dimples on the spherical surface and a plurality of fret areas defined therebetween,
- wherein at least one fret area on the spherical surface comprises a three-dimensional irregular pyramid shape having a base formed of curved edges, the curved edges corresponding to edges of the dimples surrounding the fret area, and at least three edges extending continuously upwardly from the base formed of the curved edges and meeting at an apex point.
-23. (canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.