JP5827531B2 - Golf ball dimple pattern - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf ball, and more particularly to a golf ball that holds a specially packed dimple pattern. More specifically, the present invention generates irregular domains based on a polyhedron, packs the irregular domains with dimples, and scatters these domains on the surface of the golf ball, thereby dimples on the surface of the golf ball. Relates to a method of arranging

  Historically, dimple patterns have been accompanied by numerous types of geometric shapes, appearances and structures. Basically, the layout of the pattern achieves the desired performance characteristics based on the individual ball structure, material characteristics, and player characteristics that affect the initial launch conditions of the ball. Therefore, pattern development is a secondary design process that is used to match the desired aerodynamic behavior to finish the flight characteristics and performance of the ball.

  The aerodynamic force that occurs when the ball flies is the product of its speed and spin. These forces can be expressed as lift and drag. Lift is perpendicular to the direction of flight and is the product of the difference between the upper and lower air velocities caused by the rotation of the ball. This phenomenon is largely attributed to Magnus, who explained it in 1853 after studying the aerodynamic forces acting on the rotating spheres and cylinders, which is Bernoulli's law, the first of aerodynamics. It is described by a simplified law. Bernoulli's law shows the relationship between pressure and velocity when the pressure is proportional to the square of velocity. The speed difference, i.e. faster air movement on the upper side and slower air movement on the lower side, reduces the air pressure on the upper side of the ball and creates an upward force on the upper side of the ball.

  On one side, drag is opposite to the direction of flight and is orthogonal to lift. The drag on the ball is subject to parasitic drag, which includes shape, ie pressure drag and viscosity or skin friction drag. A sphere is an object that forms a wall and itself has an aerodynamically inefficient shape. As a result, the accelerated flow field around the ball creates a large pressure difference between the high pressure at the front of the ball and the low pressure at the back of the ball. The low pressure on the back of the ball is also known as wake. To reduce pressure drag, the dimples provide a means to activate the flow field behind the ball to delay flow separation or reduce the wake area. Skin friction is a viscous effect that exists close to the surface of the ball in the boundary region.

  Although the industry has made many efforts to maximize the aerodynamic efficiency of golf balls through dimple turbulence, the industry has established a national administrative body for golf, the United States Golf Association (U.S.). S. G. A.) is closely controlled. One of the USGA regulations is that golf balls are aerodynamically symmetric. Aerodynamic symmetry allows the golf ball to fly with little or no change, no matter how the golf ball is placed on the tee or ground. Preferably, the dimples cover the maximum surface area of the golf ball without adversely affecting the aerodynamic symmetry of the golf ball.

  Many dimple patterns are based on geometry to improve aerodynamic symmetry. These will include circles, hexagons, triangles, etc. Other dimple patterns are generally based on five Platonic solids, including icosahedron, dodecahedron, octahedron, cube, or tetrahedron. Still other dimple patterns include thirteen Archimedean solids, eg, small icosahedron, dodecahedron, rhomboid dodecahedron, dodecahedron octahedron, twisted cube, twisted dodecahedron, or truncated dihedral. Based on decahedron. Further, other dimple patterns are based on hexagonal dopyramids. Since the number of symmetric solid surface systems is limited, it is difficult to devise a new symmetric pattern. Furthermore, dimple patterns based on some of these geometries do not provide an ideal surface coverage and other disadvantageous dimple arrangements. Accordingly, attempts have been made to produce golf balls in which dimple characteristics such as number, shape, size, volume, and arrangement are often manipulated to improve aerodynamic characteristics.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,552 (Thurman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,099) discloses a golf ball with an icosahedral dimple pattern, where each triangular face of the icosahedron is the corner of the face. Is divided by three straight lines to form three triangular faces for each icosahedron face, and the dimples are consistently arranged in an icosahedron face shape.

  U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,742 (Mackey, U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,077) discloses a golf ball in which dimples are packed in a 32-sided polyhedron consisting of hexagons and pentagons, where each hexagon and pentagon The dimple pack is the same.

  U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,733 (Lee, US Pat. No. 5,697,099) discloses a golf ball consisting of ten "spherical" hexagons, each hexagon divided into six equilateral triangles, where each The triangle is divided by a bisector extending between the vertex and the midpoint of the side facing the vertex, and the bisector is oriented to improve symmetry.

  U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,442 (Winfield, US Pat. No. 5,697,097) introduces a predictable variance in the dimple pattern using polygons as dimple pack elements. The polygon extends from the pole of the ball to the separation line. Any space that is not filled with dimples in the polygon is filled with other dimples.

US Pat. No. 5,562,552 US Pat. No. 5,046,742 US Pat. No. 4,998,733 US Pat. No. 6,682,442

  In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having an outer surface having a separation line and a plurality of dimples. The dimples are arranged into multiple copies of one or more irregular domains that coat the outer surface in a uniform pattern. A non-regular domain is defined by a non-linear segment, and one non-linear segment of each of the multiple copies of the non-regular domain forms a separation line.

  In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of arranging a plurality of dimples on a golf ball surface. This method uses a midpoint / midpoint method to generate first and second irregular domains based on a tetrahedron, maps the first and second irregular domains to a sphere, Packing the first and second irregular domains with dimples and interspersing the first and second domains to cover the sphere in a uniform pattern. The midpoint / midpoint method provides a single face of a tetrahedron with a first edge connected at a vertex to a second edge, and the midpoint of the first edge is the midpoint of the second edge The first non-regular domain surrounded by the segment and the copy by connecting the non-linear segment and rotating the copy of the segment around the communication of the face so that the segment and its copy sufficiently surround the center Forming and rotating subsequent copies of the segment around the vertices to form a second non-regular domain in which the segments and copies are sufficiently enclosed by the segments and subsequent copies.

  In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having an outer surface having a plurality of dimples, where the dimples are arranged in the following manner. That is, this method generates a first and second irregular domains based on a tetrahedron using a midpoint / midpoint method, and maps the first and second irregular domains to a sphere. , Packing the first and second irregular domains with dimples and interspersing the first and second domains to cover the sphere in a uniform pattern.

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings form part of the specification and are to be understood in relation to them, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views.

1 shows a golf ball in which dimples are arranged by the method of the present invention. A polyhedral face is shown. 1B shows an element of this invention in the polyhedral mace of FIG. 1B. 1D shows a domain generated by the method of the invention, packed by dimples, and formed from the two elements of FIG. 1C. Fig. 5 shows a polyhedral single face with control points. A polyhedral face is shown. Fig. 4 shows elements of the invention packed in dimples. FIG. 4 shows the domain of the present invention packed with dimples generated from the elements of FIG. 3B. 3D shows a golf ball formed from the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 3C. Two polyhedral faces are shown. 4B shows the first domain of the present invention in the two polyhedral faces of FIG. 4A. Fig. 4 shows a first domain and a second domain of the present invention in three polyhedral faces. 4D shows a golf ball formed from the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 4C. A polyhedral face is shown. 1 shows a first domain of the invention in a polyhedral face. 3 shows a first domain and a second domain of the invention in a polyhedral face. 5D shows a golf ball formed from the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 5C. A polyhedral face is shown. Fig. 2 shows a part of the domain of the invention in a polyhedral face. The domain produced | generated by the method of this invention is shown. 6D shows a golf ball formed by the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 6C. A polyhedral face is shown. 7B shows the domain of the present invention in the polyhedral face of FIG. 7A. The golf ball formed by this first smile method is shown. 1 shows a first element of the invention in a polyhedral face. 8B shows the first and second elements of the present invention in the polyhedral face of FIG. 8A. FIG. Fig. 9 shows two domains of the invention composed of the first and second elements of Fig. 8B. FIG. 9 shows a single domain of the invention based on the two domains of FIG. 8C. 8D shows a golf ball formed from the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 8D. A polyhedral face is shown. 8B shows elements of this invention in the polyhedral face of FIG. 8A. FIG. 9B illustrates the two elements of FIG. 9B that combine to form one domain of the invention. 9D shows a domain generated by the method of the present invention based on the elements of FIG. 9C. 9D shows a golf ball formed from the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 9D. An oblique dodecahedron face is shown. FIG. 10A shows a segment of the invention in the face of FIG. 10A. FIG. 10B shows a segment of FIG. 10B that generates the domain of this invention and a copy thereof. 10D shows a domain generated by the method of the present invention based on the segment of FIG. 10C. 10D shows a golf ball formed by the method of the present invention generated from the domain of FIG. 10D. A tetrahedron projected on a sphere is shown. 11B shows the first domain of the present invention in the tetrahedral face of FIG. 11A. Fig. 3 shows a first domain and a second domain of the present invention projected onto a sphere. FIG. 11C shows the domains of FIG. 11C interspersed to cover the surface of the sphere. A portion of a golf ball formed using the method of the present invention is shown. 3 shows another portion of a golf ball formed using the method of the present invention. 1 shows a golf ball formed using the method of the present invention.

The present invention provides a method of arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or irregular polyhedron. The method selects polyhedral control points, connects the control points to a non-linear sketch line, patterns the sketch line in a first manner to generate an irregular domain, and optionally includes a second Pattern sketch lines in a manner to generate additional irregular domains, pack irregular domains with dimples, and scatter irregular domains to cover the surface of the golf ball with a uniform pattern including. Control points include the center of the polyhedron face, the vertex of the polyhedron, the midpoint or other point on the edge of the polyhedron, and others. According to this method, the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron can be maintained, and a large circle due to a separation line derived from the molding process can be reliably minimized or eliminated.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, in a specific embodiment, the present invention involves a golf ball 10 having dimples 12. The dimples 12 are arranged by packing irregular domains 14 with dimples, as best shown in FIG. 1D. Non-regular domains 14 are generated in such a way that they give more symmetry than conventional balls when they are interspersed on the surface of the golf ball 10. The irregular shape of the domain 14 minimizes the appearance and effect of the golf ball separation lines derived from the molding process and provides more flexibility to the dimple arrangement than is available with regular shaped domains. .

For the purposes of this invention, an “irregular domain” refers to a domain that is at least one and preferably not all straight with the segments that define the boundaries of the domain.

Irregular domains can be defined using any one of the example methods described herein. Each method generates one or more unique domains based on enclosing the sphere with a regular polyhedron. The vertices of an enclosed sphere based on the vertices of the corresponding polyhedron at the origin (0, 0, 0) are defined in Table 1 as follows:

Each method involves the following unique rules for the domain to be symmetrically patterned on the surface of the golf ball: Each method is defined by a combination of at least two control points. These control points are taken from one or more faces of a regular or irregular polyhedron and consist of at least three types: the polyhedral face center C; the regular polyhedron vertex V; The midpoint M of the edge of the polyhedron face. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary face 16 of a polyhedron (regular dodecahedron in this example), one of each center C, a midpoint M, a vertex V, and an edge E of the face 16. The two control points C, M or V may be the same or different types. Therefore, six methods for use with regular polyhedra are defined as follows.
1. Center to midpoint (C → M)
2. Center to center (C → C)
3. Vertex from center (C → V)
4). Midpoint to midpoint (M → M)
5. Midpoint to vertex (M → V)
6). Vertex to vertex (V → V)

  Although each method is different in detail, all follow the same basic scheme. First, a non-linear sketch line is drawn to connect the two control points. The sketch line may be any shape, including but not limited to arcs, splines, two or more straight lines, arc lines or curves, or combinations thereof. Second, the sketch lines are patterned in a manner that is specific to the method of forming the domain, which will be discussed below. Third, if necessary, the sketch line is patterned in a second manner that produces a second domain.

  Although the basic scheme is consistent with each of the six approaches, each approach preferably follows different steps to generate a domain from the sketch line between the two control points, which It will be described below with reference to the individual.

Center-to-Vertex Method Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, the center-to-vertex method produces one domain that is interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 1A-1D use icosahedrons);
2. One single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is selected, which is shown in FIG. 1B;
3. The center C of the face 16 and the first vertex V1 of the face 16 are connected by an arbitrary non-linear sketch line, hereinafter referred to as a segment 18;
4). The copy 20 of the segment 18 is rotated about the center C so that the copy 20 connects the center C to the second vertex V2 adjacent to the vertex V1. The two segments 18, 20 and the edge E connecting the vertices V1 and V2 define an element 22, which is shown in FIG. 1C;
5. Element 22 is rotated around midpoint M of edge E to produce domain 14, which is best shown in FIG. 1D.

When the domains 14 are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 1A, a different number of complete domains result, depending on the regular polyhedron selected on the basis of the control points C and V1. It is. The number of domains 14 employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is equal to the number of faces PF of the selected polyhedron multiplied by the number of edges PE per face of the polyhedron divided by two. This is shown in Table 2.

Center to Midpoint Method Referring to FIGS. 3A-3D, the center to midpoint method produces a single irregular domain that is interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (Figures 3A-3D use dodecahedrons);
2. A single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is selected, which is shown in FIG. 3A;
3. The center C of the face 16 and the midpoint M1 of the first edge E1 of the face 16 are connected by a segment 18;
4). The copy 20 of the segment 18 is rotated about the center C so that the copy 20 connects the center C to the midpoint M2 of the second edge E2 adjacent to the first edge E1. The portion of edge E1 and edge E2 between the two segments 16, 18 and midpoints M1 and M2 defines element 22;
5. The element 22 is patterned around the vertex V of the face 16 included in the element 22 and connected to the edges E1 and E2 to generate the domain 14.

When the domains 14 are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 3D, different numbers of complete domains 14 depend on the regular polyhedron selected on the basis of the control points C and M1. Brought about. The number of domains 14 employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is equal to the number of vertexes Pv of the selected polyhedron, which is shown in Table 3.

Center-to-Center Method Referring to FIGS. 4A-4D, the center-to-center method produces two domains that are interspersed to coat the surface of golf ball 10. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 4A-4D use dodecahedrons);
2. Two adjacent faces 16a and 16b of a regular polyhedron are selected, as shown in FIG. 4A;
3. The center C1 of the face 16a and the center C2 of the face 16b are connected by a segment 18;
4). The copy 20 of the segment 18 is rotated 180 degrees around the midpoint M of the centers C1 and C2 so that the copy 20 connects the center C1 to the center C2, as shown in FIG. 4B. Two segments 16, 18 define a first domain 14a;
5. Segment 18 is rotated equally around vertex V to define second domain 14b, which is shown in FIG. 4C.

When the first domain 14a and the second domain 14b are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 4D, different numbers of complete domains 14a and 14b are based on the control points C1 and C2. Depending on the regular polyhedron selected as: The number of first and second domains 14a and 14b employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is PF × PE / 2 for the first domain 14a and PV for the second domain 14b. This is shown in Table 4.

Midpoint to Midpoint Method Referring to FIGS. 5A-5D and FIGS. 11A to 11G, the midpoint to midpoint method produces two domains that are interspersed to coat the surface of the golf ball 10. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 5A-5D use dodecahedrons and FIGS. 11A-11G use tetrahedra);
2. A single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is projected onto the sphere, which is shown in FIGS. 5A and 11A;
3. The midpoint M1 of the first edge E1 of the face 16 and the midpoint M2 of the second edge E2 adjacent to the first edge E1 are connected by a segment 18, which is shown in FIGS. 5A and 11A;
4). The segment 18 is rotated around the center C of the face 16 at a rotation angle equal to 360 / PE to produce a first domain 14a, which is shown in FIGS. 5A and 11A;
5. Segment 18 defines element 22 along with the portions of first edge E1 and second edge E2 between midpoints M1 and M2, which are shown in FIGS. 5B and 11B;
6). Around the vertex V connecting the edges E1 and E2, the element 22 is patterned to produce a second domain 14b, which is shown in FIGS. 5C and 11C. The number of segments in the pattern that generates the second domain is equal to PF × PE / PV.

  When the first domain 14a and the second domain 14b are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIGS. 5D and 11D, different numbers of complete domains 14a and 14b may have control points M1 and M2. Depending on the regular polyhedron selected on the basis of. The number of first and second domains 14a and 14b employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is PF for the first domain 14a and PV for the second domain 14b. Is as shown in Table 5 below.

In specific aspects of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A-11D, the segments 18 form part of the separation line of the golf ball 10. Thus, when the domains are sprinkled to cover the surface of the ball, the segment 18 forms the truth of the ball and two false separation lines with each of its copies generated by steps 4 and 6 above.

Midpoint-to-Vertex Method Referring to FIGS. 6A-6D, the midpoint-to-vertex method is interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 to produce a single domain. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 6A-6D use dodecahedrons);
2. One single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is selected, which is shown in FIG. 6A;
3. The midpoint of the edge E1 of the face 16 and the vertex V1 on the edge E1 are connected by a segment 18;
4). A copy 20 of segment 18 is patterned around the center C of face 16, with one copy defining a portion of domain 14 for each midpoint M2 and vertex V2 of face 16, which is shown in FIG. 6B;
5. Segment 18 and its copy are then rotated 180 degrees about the corresponding midpoint to complete domain 14, which is shown in FIG. 6C.

When the domains 14 are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 6D, different numbers of complete domains 14 depend on the regular polyhedron selected on the basis of the control points M1 and V1. Brought about. The number of domains 14 employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is equal to the number of vertices PF of the selected polyhedron, which is shown in Table 6.

Vertex-to-Vertex Method Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, the vertex-to-vertex method produces two domains that are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 7A-7C use icosahedrons);
2. One single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is selected and is shown in FIG. 7A;
3. Connecting a first vertex V1 of the face 16 and a second vertex V2 adjacent to the vertex 1 of the die 1 with a segment 18;
4). Segment 18 is patterned around center C of face 16 to form first domain 14a, which is shown in FIG. 7B;
5. Segment 18 defines element 22 with edge E1 between vertices V1 and V2;
6). The element 18 is rotated around the midpoint M1 of the edge E1 to generate the second domain 14b.

When the first domain 14a and the second domain 14b are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 7C, different numbers of complete domains 14a and 14b are based on the control points V1 and V2. Depending on the regular polyhedron selected, it is provided. The number of first and second domains 14a and 14b employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is PF for the first domain 14a and PF × PE / 2 for the second domain 14b. This is as shown in Table 7 below.

  Each of the six methods described above uses two control points, but it is also possible to form irregular domains based on the number of control points kicking two. Down to adopting additional control points, various shapes can be used for irregular domains. An example method is described below that employs midpoint M, center C, and vertex V as three control points to generate one irregular domain.

Midpoint to Center, Plus Vertex Method Referring to FIGS. 8A-8E, the midpoint to center, plus vertex method is interspersed to cover the surface of golf ball 10 to produce a single domain. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 8A-8E use icosahedrons);
2. A single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is selected, which is shown in FIG. 8A;
3. The midpoint of the edge E1 of the face 16, the center C of the face 16, and the vertex V1 on the edge E1 are connected by a segment 18. The segment and the portion of edge E1 between midpoint M1 and vertex V1 define a first element 22a, as shown in FIG. 8A;
4). Rotate the copy 20 of the segment 18 around the center C of the face 16, the copy 20 connects the center C to the midpoint M2 of the edge E2 adjacent to the edge E1, and the vertex that is the intersection of the edges E1 and E2 Connected to V2, the portion of segment 18 between midpoint M1 and center C, the portion of copy 20 between vertex V2 and center C, and the portion of edge E1 between midpoint M1 and vertex V2 Define a second element 22b, as shown in FIG. 8B;
5. First element 22a and second element 22b are rotated about midpoint M1 of edge E1 as shown in FIG. 8C to define two domains 14, where single domain 14 is segment 18 , A portion of the copy 20, and a rotating portion 18 ′ of the segment 18, as shown in FIG. 8D.

When domains 14 are interspersed to cover the surface of golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 8E, different numbers of complete domains 14 depend on the regular polyhedron selected on the basis of control points M, C, and V. Brought about. The number of domains 14 employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is equal to the number of faces PF of the selected polyhedron multiplied by the number of edges PE per face of the polyhedron, which is shown in Table 8. Indicated.

  Although the method described above implements a framework that employs center C, vertex V, and midpoint M as positive writing points, other control points can be used. For example, the control point may be an arbitrary point P on the edge E of the selected polyhedral face. When employing this type of control point, additional types of faces can be generated, but the mechanism for generating irregular domain (s) may be different. An example method for generating one such irregular domain using points P on the center and edges is described below.

Center-to-Edge Method Referring to FIGS. 9A-9E, the mid-to-edge method is interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 to produce a single domain. This domain is defined as follows:
1. Regular polyhedra are selected (FIGS. 9A-9E use icosahedrons);
2. One single face 16 of a regular polyhedron is selected, which is shown in FIG. 9A;
3. The center C of the face 16 and the point P1 on the edge E1 are connected by a segment 18;
4). Rotate the copy 20 of segment 18 around center C so that copy 20 connects center C to point P2 on edge E2 adjacent to edge E1, where point P1 is located relative to edge E1 Point P2 is arranged with respect to edge E2 in the same way as is done, and each segment of edges E1 and E2 between two segments 18 and 20 and points P1 and P2 and vertex V connecting edges E1 and E2 Define element 22, which is shown in FIG. 9B;
5. Elements 22 are rotated around the midpoint M1 of edge E1 or midpoint M2 of edge E2 located within element 22 as shown in FIGS. 9B-9C to form domain 14, which is shown in FIG. Shown in 9D.

When the domains 14 are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 as shown in FIG. 9E, a different number of complete domains 14 depends on the regular polyhedron selected on the basis of the control points C and P1, Brought about. The number of domains 14 employed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 is equal to the number of faces PF of the selected polyhedron multiplied by the number of edges PE per face of the polyhedron divided by two. This is shown in Table 9.

  Although each of the above methods has been described with reference to regular polyhedra, it may be employed with certain irregular polyhedra, such as Archimedean solids, Catalan solids, and the like. The method of deriving an irregular domain will generally require certain modifications that base the irregular face shape of the irregular solid. An exemplary method for use with a catalan solid, specifically an orthorhombic dodecahedron, is described below.

Vertex-to-vertex method for rhombohedral dodecahedrons Referring to FIGS. 10A-10E, the apex-to-vertex method based on rhombic dodecahedron is interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10 with one domain Generate. This domain is defined as follows:
1. A single dodecahedron face 16 is selected and is shown in FIG. 10A;
2. The first vertex V1 of the face 16 and the second vertex V2 adjacent to this vertex V1 are connected by a segment 18, which is shown in FIG. 10B;
3. Rotate the first copy 20 of segment 18 around vertex V2, causing it to connect vertex V2 of face 16 to vertex V3, rotate second copy 24 of segment 18 around center C, This will connect vertex 16 of face 16 to vertex V4, and will also rotate the third copy 26 of segment 18 around vertex V1, which will connect vertex V1 of face 16 to vertex V4. This is all shown in FIG. 10C, thereby forming a domain 14, which is shown in FIG. 10D.

  As shown in FIG. 10E, when the domains 14 are interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10, twelve domains are used to cover the surface of the golf ball 10, each one of which is an oblique 12 Corresponds to each face of the face.

  After the irregular domains are generated using any of the methods described above, the domains may be packed with dimples for use in generating the golf ball 10. 11E-11G, a first domain and a second domain are generated employing a midpoint-to-midpoint method based on tetrahedrons. FIG. 11E shows the first domain 14a packed with dimples and a portion of the second domain 14b, the dimples of the first domain 14a being indicated by the letter a. FIG. 11F shows the second domain 14b packed with dimples and a portion of the first domain 14a, where the dimples in the second domain 14b are indicated by the letter b. FIG. 11G shows the first domain 14 a and the second domain 14 b packed with dimples and interspersed to cover the surface of the golf ball 10.

  In one embodiment, there is no limitation on how the dimples are packed. In other embodiments, the dimples are packed so as not to intersect the line segments.

  There are no restrictions on the shape or profile of the dimple selected to pack the domain. Although the present invention includes a substantially circular dimple in one embodiment, dimples or protrusions (brambles) with any desired characteristics and / or features may be employed. For example, in one embodiment, the dimples can be of various shapes and dimensions, including the depth and circumference of the sy tree. Specifically, the dimples may be concave hemispheres and may be triangular, square, hexagonal, catenary curves, polygons, or any other shape known to those skilled in the art. These may be accompanied by straight lines, curved lines, inclined edges or sides. In summary, any type of dimples or protrusions (brambles) known to those skilled in the art may be employed with the present invention. As long as the dimple arrangement in each of the domains where the dimple arrangement is independent is consistent across all copies of the domain on the surface of a particular golf ball, it can be seen in FIGS. 1A, 1D, and 11E-11G. In addition, the dimples may all fit within each domain, or the dimples may be shared by one or more domains, as can be seen in FIGS. Alternatively, the studs form a pattern that covers more than about 60%, preferably more than about 70%, more preferably about 80% of the golf ball surface without employing dimples. it can.

  In other embodiments, the domains may not be packed with dimples, and irregular domain boundaries may instead have ridges or grooves. In golf balls with this type of irregular domains, one or more domains or sets of domains overlap to increase the surface coverage of the groove. Alternatively, the irregular domain boundaries may have ridges or grooves and these domains are packed with dimples.

When a domain is patterned on the surface of a golf ball, the resulting golf ball has a higher order symmetry, defined by the shape of the domain and the underlying polyhedron, with higher order symmetry, which is 12 and Equals or exceeds. The order of symmetry of a golf ball manufactured using the method of the present invention depends on regular or irregular polygons on which irregular domains are based. The order and type of symmetry of golf balls made on the basis of five polyhedra are listed in Table 10 below.

  Larger dimensions of symmetry have several advantages, including, but not limited to, more equal dimple distribution, the possibility of greater pack efficiency, and improved means of masking the ball separation lines. In addition, dimple patterns generated with this approach will result in improved flight stability and symmetry as a result of the proposed positive order.

In other embodiments, the irregular domains do not completely cover the surface of the ball and there are open spaces between the domains that are filled or not filled with dimples. This can introduce asymmetry into the ball.

  The dimple pattern of the present invention is particularly suitable for packing dimples on a seamless golf ball. Seamless golf balls and methods for making them are further disclosed, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 6,849,007 and 7,422,529, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

  When numerical lower and upper limits are indicated herein, it should be understood that any combination of these numerical values can be employed.

  All patents, publications, test procedures and other reference materials cited herein, including prior art references, are hereby fully incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present invention.

  While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described, various other modifications will be apparent to and readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is understood that you can. Accordingly, the scope of the appended claims is not limited to the examples and description described above, but rather the claims are designed to encompass all of the patentable novel features inherent in this invention. This is intended to include all features that would be treated equally by those skilled in the art.

10 golf ball 12 dimple 14 domain 16 face 18 segment 20 copy 22 element

Claims (3)

In a golf ball having an outer surface having a separation line and a plurality of dimples corresponding to an interface between a pair of molds for molding a golf ball, eight non-regular domains in a uniform pattern It is disposed on the outer surface covering the outer surface, or each of the two non-regular domains, four by four, are disposed on the outer surface in a uniform pattern covers the outer surface, dimples Arranged in the irregular domain located on the outer surface, the irregular domain is a spherical geometric curved segment (a spherical geometric curved segment is from any two points on the curved segment). partial segment to be cut is formed by means a non-linear on the sphere geometry), the curve segment is on the spherical surface geometry tetrahedral sides of A curve segment connecting the points, the curve segment is a whole, corresponding to the eight triangles of the octahedron on the sphere geometry to the outer surface, to form eight of the non-regular domain consisting curve, In addition, the golf ball characterized by selecting the four curved segments of the curved segments of the irregular domain to constitute the separating line. In a method of arranging a plurality of dimples on a golf ball,
Generating first and second irregular domains based on a regular tetrahedron and according to a predetermined procedure;
The above procedure
Providing a single face of the regular tetrahedron having a first edge connected to a second edge at a vertex; and
Connecting a midpoint of the first edge to a midpoint of the second edge with a curved segment in spherical geometry;
Rotate a copy of the segment around the center of the face so that the segment and the copy sufficiently surround the center to form the first irregular domain surrounded by the segment and the copy. Sub-steps
A sub-step of rotating the segment or the copy around the vertex so that the segment and the copy sufficiently surround the vertex to form the second domain surrounded by the segment and the copy And
The above method further comprises:
Mapping the first and second domains to a golf ball sphere;
Packing dimples with a first dimple pattern and a second dimple pattern respectively in the first domain and the second domain;
Covering the sphere with a uniform pattern by scattering the first and second domains packed with the dimples on the sphere;
The method of claim 1, wherein the curved segment forms part of a separation line corresponding to an interface between a pair of golf ball molds . In a golf ball having an outer surface having a plurality of dimples, the dimples are arranged by the method of claim 2 and the curved segment corresponds to an interface between a pair of golf ball molds. A golf ball characterized by forming a part of a separation line .

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