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US 8,272,971 B2Granted
Golf ball with reduced flight path length
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorBradley C. Tutmark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Golf balls with a reduced flight path are disclosed. In some cases, foam incorporated into a middle layer increases impact absorption and reduces a ball's flight path. In other cases, a dimple pattern may be selected to reduce a ball's flight path. In other instances, a parachute or other drag inducer may be deployed as a result of striking the ball to induce drag and minimize the ball's flight path.
Claims20
A golf ball, comprising:
- a core;
- a middle layer positioned radially outward from the core and at least partially surrounds the core;
- a cover positioned radially outward from the middle layer and at least partially surrounding the middle layer;
- a cavity defined in the middle layer and disposed between at least a portion of the cover and at least a portion of the core;
- a door rotatably associated with the cover;
- and a drag inducer disposed in the cavity capable of moving from a stored position to a deployed position, wherein the drag inducer is a parachute, and wherein the golf ball remains in a single piece when the drag inducer is in both the stored position and the deployed position.
3 more elements
A golf ball, comprising:
- a core;
- a cover at least partially surrounding the core;
- a cavity defined between at least a portion of the core and at least a portion of the cover;
- a foam in the cavity, the foam having a desired level of compression, the desired level of compression being selected such that the foam is capable of absorbing impact from force applied to the ball and capable of preventing the ball from flying more than 100 yards when a standard impact is applied to the ball.
1 more element
A integrally formed golf ball, comprising:
- a core;
- a cover at least partially surrounding the core;
- and
- a dampener disposed between at least a portion of the core and at least a portion of the cover, the dampener actuating after force is applied to the ball to reduce the flight path of the ball to a distance substantially less than a conventional ball, and wherein the ball remains integrally formed after force is applied to the ball.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.