US20170296879A1 - Golf ball having surface divided by line segments of great circles and small circles - Google Patents

Golf ball having surface divided by line segments of great circles and small circles Download PDF

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US20170296879A1
US20170296879A1 US15/342,389 US201615342389A US2017296879A1 US 20170296879 A1 US20170296879 A1 US 20170296879A1 US 201615342389 A US201615342389 A US 201615342389A US 2017296879 A1 US2017296879 A1 US 2017296879A1
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longitude
latitude
point
spherical
line segment
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US15/342,389
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In Hong Hwang
Kyung Ahn Moon
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Volvik Inc
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Volvik Inc
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Publication of US20170296879A1 publication Critical patent/US20170296879A1/en
Priority to US16/103,517 priority Critical patent/US11058920B2/en
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0017Specified total dimple volume
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0006Arrangement or layout of dimples
    • A63B37/00065Arrangement or layout of dimples located around the pole or the equator
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0006Arrangement or layout of dimples
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0007Non-circular dimples
    • A63B37/0009Polygonal
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/0018Specified number of dimples
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B37/00Solid balls; Rigid hollow balls; Marbles
    • A63B37/0003Golf balls
    • A63B37/0004Surface depressions or protrusions
    • A63B37/002Specified dimple diameter
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63BAPPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/32Golf

Definitions

  • One or more embodiments relate to a golf ball having a surface divided by great circles and small circles and having dimples arranged in spherical polygons formed on a surface of a sphere of the golf ball divided by the great circles and small circles.
  • the surface of the sphere is generally divided by the great circles into a spherical polyhedron having a plurality of spherical polygons.
  • a great circle denotes the largest circle projected onto a plane passing through a central point of the sphere.
  • the dimples are arranged in the spherical polygons divided as above in such a manner that the dimples have spherical symmetry.
  • Most spherical polyhedrons having surface of a spheres divided by the great circles include spherical regular polygons.
  • Examples of the spherical polyhedrons frequently used to arrange dimples of a golf ball may be a spherical tetrahedron having four spherical regular triangles, a spherical hexahedron having six spherical squares, a spherical octahedron having eight spherical regular triangles, a spherical dodecahedron having twelve regular pentagons, a spherical icosahedron having twenty spherical regular triangles, a spherical cubeoctahedron having six spherical squares and eight spherical regular triangles, an icosidodecahedron having twenty spherical regular triangles and twelve spherical regular pentagons, or the like.
  • Korean Patent No. 10-1309993 discloses a method of dividing a surface of a sphere using the great circles. However, there is a limit in improving a dimple area ratio.
  • the golf ball When a golf ball is hit using a golf club, the golf ball flies as a reverse rotation is generated by a loft angle of the golf club. In this state, air is accumulated under the golf ball due to dimples formed on a surface of the golf ball, thereby increasing pressure. In contrast, a flow of air in an upper side of the golf ball is faster and thus pressure is decreased. Accordingly, the golf ball gradually flies higher according to the Bernoulli's principle and descends toward the ground according to the law of gravity as a hitting force decreases. In general, a lift force may be easily obtained when a dimple area ratio is high and it is difficult to obtain the lift force when the dimple area ratio is low.
  • a golf ball with dimples flies a distance of about 200 m to 210 m, whereas a golf ball without dimples flies a distance of about 140 m to 140 m.
  • the role of dimples in golf balls is very important in terms of aerodynamics. Accordingly, a sufficient lift force may be obtained when the dimple area ratio on a surface of a golf ball is at least 76%.
  • dimples are arranged to be symmetrical and to a limit of 250 to 350 dimples on a surface of a spherical polyhedron including general spherical regular polygons obtained by dividing a surface of a sphere of the golf ball using the great circles, to manufacture a mold cavity satisfying the above conditions, dimples are configured to have similar diametric sizes and to be over a certain size and the number of dimple types is decreased to two to six. As a result, a land surface where no dimple is formed necessarily increases so that the dimple area ratio is decreased, thereby negatively affecting the lift force of golf balls manufactured as above.
  • various kinds of dimples of very small diameters are additionally formed and filled between relatively large dimples.
  • costs for manufacturing a mold cavity are increased and an overall aesthetic sense of the manufactured golf balls may be poor.
  • a difference according to the kinds of spherical regular polygons affects a flow of air so that flying performance may be much deteriorated. The above phenomenon occurs because a surface of a sphere is divided to obtain symmetry defined by regulations of the R & A or the U.S.G.A.
  • dimples When relatively large dimples are arranged according to the size of a spherical regular polygon having a set area, there is a limit in the area occupied by the dimples. If dimples are freely arranged to overlap each other, flying characteristics are changed greatly and thus symmetry may be damaged. Accordingly, dimples may not be freely arranged to overlap each other. Thus, neighboring dimples may have free sides (side portion of a dimple) even though they are very small. Furthermore, dimples adjacent to both sides of a boundary of a parting line may intersect the parting line to a degree.
  • Important design factors in manufacturing golf balls may include a dimple area ratio, symmetry, the number of kinds of dimple diameters, etc.
  • a surface of a golf ball is a spherical polyhedron to arrange dimples
  • a surface of a sphere of the golf ball is divided into spherical regular polygons by the great circles.
  • the method has been recognized to be essential for obtaining symmetry of a golf ball from symmetric arrangement of dimples.
  • the great circles are used only, there is a limit in increasing the dimple area ratio due to difficulty in selection and arrangement of dimples and thus a new method to address the above problem has been demanded.
  • a golf ball having a surface, in which dimples are arranged on the surface of the golf ball, a spherical regular pentagon centered on a pole of the golf ball is defined only by line segments of great circles, the surface is divided by an equator of the golf ball, the equator being defined by one of the great circles, and combined line segments, each of the combined line segments being defined by connecting three line segments including a line segment of a small circle, a line segment of the great circle, and another line segment of the small circle, which are a line segment of the great circle defining each of sides of the spherical regular pentagon and line segments of the small circle near the equator, into two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, ten near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, ten near-equator spherical pentagons, and ten near-equator spherical isosceles triangles.
  • the combined line segments dividing the surface of the golf ball, except for the great circle defining the equator, may include a parting line defined by a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.40 and longitude 126°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°); a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18
  • the dimples may include one or more circular or polygonal dimples.
  • the dimples may have about two to eight dimple sizes.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of a golf ball having a surface, on which dimples are arranged, viewed from a pole, according to an embodiment, in which a spherical regular pentagon surrounded by great circle line segments indicated by thick solid lines among line segments dividing a surface of a sphere (great circle line segments at positions different from the positions of existing great circle line segments forming an icosidodecahedron), the latitudes and longitudes of major locations where great circles, small circles connected to the great circle line segments and indicated by thin solid lines, an existing great circle forming the equator pass through, spherical polygons formed on the surface of the sphere divided by line segments combined with the great circles connected to the small circles, and dimples symmetrically arranged on the spherical polygons, are illustrated, and dimples over a certain size are regularly arranged;
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the latitudes and longitudes of locations which parting lines that are combined line segments formed by connecting parting lines (thin solid lines) formed by small circles according to an embodiment and great circle line segments (thick solid lines) at positions different from the existing great circle line segments in an icosidodecahedron pass through, and locations of small circle line segments meeting the equator formed of a great circle, on the surface of the sphere;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the latitudes and longitudes of locations of small circle line segments (thin solid lines) used in the present embodiment, in which only necessary small circle line segments are used to form a combined parting line of FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the latitudes and longitudes of locations which great circle line segments (thick solid lines) at positions different from the existing great circles forming an icosidodecahedron pass through, in which only some of the great circle line segments are combined with the necessary small circle line segments of FIG. 3 , thereby forming the combined line segments of FIG. 2 ;
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the latitudes and longitudes of locations of vertices of representative spherical polygons symmetrically provided to arrange dimples on the surface of the sphere divided according to the present embodiment, in which, to indicate sizes of the formed spherical polygons, signs are indicated to calculate an angular distance at each position of the interior angle of each vertex of a representative spherical polygon among the spherical polygons and the length of each side facing the vertex corresponding thereto, in particular, FIG. 5 shows the length of an side and FIG. 6 shows the interior angle;
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a comparative example, in which a surface of a sphere is divided by the existing great circles, forming an icosidodecahedron, and the same dimple arrangement as in the present embodiment is performed, that is, dimples of small dimple types and over a certain size are arranged, showing the latitudes and longitudes of locations which great circles pass through and that accurate dividing is difficult because dimples are spaced relatively farther from parting lines; and
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a comparison in the size between the existing divided icosidodecahedron of FIG. 4 and the spherical polygons of FIG. 1 or 2 according to the present embodiment, by calculating the interior angles and the lengths of sides of a spherical regular pentagon including a pole, a spherical regular triangle near the pole, a spherical regular pentagon near the equator, and a spherical regular triangle near the equator to compare with those of the present embodiment, in particular, FIG. 8 shows the interior angles and FIG. 9 shows the lengths of sides.
  • a surface dividing method while maintaining symmetry has been researched in various ways.
  • symmetry may be maintained with no problem.
  • dimples having substantially the same size only are arranged in spherical polygons, a sufficient dimple area ratio may not be obtained, or even when a sufficient dimple area ratio is obtained by using dimples of various sizes, manufacturing a mold for such a golf ball having dimples of various sizes is difficult.
  • the present inventive concept is introduced as follows to remove the above problems occurring when a surface of a sphere is divided by existing great circles and dimples are arranged on a spherical polyhedron having a set size and including spherical regular polygons and to easily maintain symmetry, in particular, to reduce a dimple-less land surface and increase a dimple area ratio.
  • the surface of the sphere is divided by line segments obtained by connecting and combining great circles having positions different from the positions where the surface of the sphere is divided by the existing great circles and small circles, forming spherical polygons to be symmetrical on the entire surface of a sphere, and dimples are arranged in the spherical polygons to be spherically symmetrical.
  • the spherical polygons according to the present embodiment may include two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, each having a center at a pole and surrounded by great circle line segments having positions different from the positions which the existing great circle line segments pass through, ten spherical isosceles triangles, each having one side shared by one of the near-pole spherical regular pentagons and other two sides formed of small circles, other ten spherical isosceles triangles, each using small circle line segments extended from the two equal sides of one of the above spherical isosceles triangles as two sides and a great circle line segment forming the equator as one side, and ten near-equator spherical pentagons, each sharing one vertex of one of the near-pole spherical pentagons, sharing one side each with the two above spherical isosceles triangles, and using a great circle line segment of the equator as a
  • a method of dividing a sphere, while maintaining symmetry, using parting lines formed by connecting and combining some line segments of great circles and some line segments of small circles has been researched.
  • a small circle denotes a small circle projected onto a certain plane to be smaller than the great circle because the plane that passes through a sphere does not pass through the center of the sphere, unlike the above-described great circle.
  • the surface of the sphere is divided into a spherical polyhedron formed according to the present embodiment and then dimples are arranged thereon.
  • ten reference points for dividing the equator into ten equal parts are determined and the ten reference points are set to be reference Point 1 to reference Point 10 .
  • Five great circles passing through two reference points facing each other among the reference points are formed. Considering the hemisphere, each of the five great circles intersects other great circles at one point, five spherical triangles are formed around a regular pentagon, spherical pentagons, each contacting two neighboring spherical triangles, are formed, five spherical triangles are respectively formed between the neighboring spherical pentagons.
  • the spherical triangles are all spherical isosceles triangles.
  • parting lines that divide a surface of a sphere as above is described below in detail with coordinates of points of intersections of the parting lines.
  • FIG. 3 the latitudes and the longitudes of a point, which the formed small circle line segments pass through, are indicated. Only important locations of the small circle line segments needed to form the combined line segments according to the present embodiment are marked by identification numbers before the latitudes and longitudes, whereas no identification number is marked for other locations.
  • a small circle line segment passing through Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 90°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 126°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 163.1116774°) in FIG. 3 is formed.
  • a great circle line segment passing through Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 18°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°), Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°) in FIG. 4 is formed. From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3 , a line segment from Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°) to Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°) and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is taken. From the great circle line segments of FIG.
  • a great circle line segment from Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) to Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°) and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°). Also, in FIG. 3 , a line segment from Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) to Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°) and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment of FIG. 4 at the Point 17 (latitude 81.4° and longitude 126°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • a small circle line segment passing through Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 306°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 270°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 232.8883226°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner.
  • a great circle line segment passing through Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 18°), Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 25 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 306°), Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°) in FIG. 4 is formed. From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3 , a line segment from Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) to Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°) and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) is taken. From the great circle line segments of FIG.
  • a small circle line segment passing through Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 162°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 198°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 235.1116774°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner.
  • a lien segment from Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) to Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) is taken.
  • a line segment from Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) to Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°) and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°).
  • a line segment from Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) to Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) is taken.
  • a line segment from Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) to Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°) and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°) is taken.
  • a small circle line segment passing through Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 18°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 342°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 304.8883226°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner.
  • a line segment from Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°) to Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is taken.
  • a line segment from Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) to Point 21 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 18°) and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°).
  • a line segment from Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) to Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°) and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment at Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • a small circle line segment passing through Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 234°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 270°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 307.1116774°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner.
  • a surface of a sphere is divided by a line segment connecting Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°), Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) and Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°) in FIGS. 3 and 4 , which corresponds to the circumference of a sphere and the great circle of the sphere, and the line segment is used as the equator.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the combined parting lines formed as above.
  • Spherical polygons formed by the combined parting lines may include two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, each having a center at the pole and surrounded by the great circle line segments, ten spherical isosceles triangles, each sharing one side of one near-pole spherical regular pentagon and having other two sides formed of small circles, other ten spherical isosceles triangles, each using small circle line segments extended from the two equal sides of one of the above spherical isosceles triangles as two sides and a great circle line segment forming the equator as one side, and ten near-equator spherical pentagons, each sharing one vertex of one of the near-pole spherical pentagons, sharing one side each with the two above spherical isosceles triangles, and using a great circle line segment of the equator as a base.
  • a golf ball 30 is formed by arranging dimples in the spherical polygons.
  • the spherical polygons formed by the small circle line segments, the great circle line segments, and the great circle line segments of the equator in FIG. 2 may be expressed in FIG. 5 such that the size of an interior angle, each position where a vertex of a spherical polygon is formed, and the size of a side of each of important spherical polygons according to the present embodiment to actually arrange dimples may be expressed by angular distances and thus the sizes and number of dimples may be easily determined.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the size of a spherical regular pentagon having a center at the pole and using lines segments connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) formed around the pole by using the small circle line segments in FIG. 2 , as sides.
  • An interior angle 2 C of one vertex is 114.9330474°.
  • a length 2 a of one side is 32.68373812° angular distance.
  • a distance connecting a middle point 22 of a side of the spherical regular pentagon of FIG. 5 and a vertex facing the middle point, that is, a height “b+c” is 52.40181462° angular distance.
  • Two spherical regular pentagons configured as above are formed with respect to the North Pole and the South Pole.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one spherical isosceles triangle near the pole and sharing one side with the spherical regular pentagon having a center at the pole.
  • the near-pole spherical isosceles triangle is formed by using line segments connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), as sides.
  • an interior angle D of a vertex at Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is 61.29816669° angular distance and the size of an interior angle opposite to the interior angle D with respect to Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°) is the same as the interior angle D and an interior angle 2 F of a vertex at Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) is 65.3609872°.
  • a height d of the spherical isosceles triangle that is, a line segment connecting a vertex of the spherical isosceles triangle, which is Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and a middle point of a side facing the vertex, which is Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°) is 27.19818538° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • a total of ten near-pole spherical isosceles triangles configured as above are formed including five in the northern hemisphere and five in the southern hemisphere.
  • One of spherical pentagons sharing one vertex of the near-pole spherical regular pentagon of FIG. 5 , sharing one side each with the two near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, and having one side on the equator is formed by line segments connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), and Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°).
  • an interior angle K of a vertex facing the equator is 122.4706193°
  • an interior angle J of a vertex at Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) is 120.0120861°, which is the same as the interior angle of a vertex at Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°).
  • An interior angle L of a vertex at Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) contacting the equator is 110.8870648°, which is the same as an interior angle of a vertex at Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) contacting the equator.
  • the length of each of two sides near the pole of the spherical pentagon is 31.40582899° angular distance, which is the same length of a side e of the near-pole spherical isosceles triangle.
  • the length h of a line segment, which is another side of the spherical pentagon, connecting Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) contacting the equator is 42.34436659° angular distance.
  • the length j of another side connecting Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°) and Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) is identically 42.34436659° angular distance.
  • a line segment perpendicularly connecting from an equator line segment of the near-equator spherical pentagon to Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is set to be the height of the near-equator spherical pentagon
  • a height m is 61.4° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • a total of ten near-equator spherical pentagons configure as above are formed including five in the northern hemisphere and five in the southern hemisphere.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates one of the near-equator spherical triangles sharing one side with the near-equator spherical pentagon.
  • a spherical triangle having line segments connecting Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), and 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), as sides, an interior angle 2 G of a vertex at Point 12 is 54.61484058°, an interior angle I of a vertex at Point 3 is 69.11293519°, and the size of an interior angle of a vertex at Point 4 is the same as the interior angle I.
  • a length 2 g of a line segment between Point 3 and Point 4 that is, the side of the near-equator spherical triangle contacting the equator, as a part of the equator line segment, is 36° angular distance.
  • a height I is 39° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • a total of ten near-equator spherical triangles configure as above are formed including five in the northern hemisphere and five in the southern hemisphere.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an existing spherical icosidodecahedron (or icosahedron), as a comparative example, whose surface of a sphere is divided by great circles and dimples are arranged thereon.
  • the surface of the sphere is divided by a great circle line segment passing through Point 51 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), Point 67 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 126°), and Point 56 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°).
  • the surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 70 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 342°), Point 69 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 270°), and Point 57 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°).
  • the surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 67 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 126°), Point 68 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 198°), and Point 58 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°).
  • the surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 54 (latitude 0 and longitude 108°), Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), Point 70 (58.28252563° and longitude 342°), and Point 59 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°).
  • the surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 55 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 68 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 198°), Point 69 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 270°), and Point 60 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°).
  • a great circle connecting line segments passing through Point 51 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 55 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 57 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°), and Point 59 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) is used as the equator.
  • Point 51 latitude 0° and longitude 0°
  • Point 53 latitude 0° and longitude 72°
  • Point 55 latitude 0° and longitude 144°
  • Point 57 latitude 0° and longitude 216°
  • Point 59 latitude 0° and longitude 288°
  • an interior angle 2 P of a vertex of a near-pole spherical regular pentagon formed by being divided by the existing great circles is 116.5650512°, and when the circumference of a sphere is 360°, a length 2 n of one side of the spherical regular pentagon is 36° angular distance. The lengths of all sides of the spherical regular pentagon are the same.
  • a height “o+p” of the spherical regular pentagon is 58.28252563° angular distance.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the size of the spherical regular triangle formed by the great circle line segments connecting Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), Point 62 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 90°), and Point 67 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 126°) in FIG. 6 .
  • An interior angle Q of one vertex is 63.43494886°
  • another interior angle 2 S in the regular triangle at Point 62 is 63.43494886°, that is, all spherical regular triangles have the same interior angles.
  • a length 2 s of one side of the near-pole spherical regular triangle is 36° angular distance and a length r of another side thereof is 36° angular distance, that is, the spherical regular triangles have the same side lengths.
  • a height q of the spherical regular triangle connecting a middle point of one side and a vertex facing the middle point is 31.71747444° angular distance.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the size of the near-equator spherical pentagon of the spherical icosidodecahedron divided by the existing great circles.
  • One of spherical pentagons sharing one vertex with the near-pole spherical regular pentagon, sharing one side each with the two near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, and having one side on the equator is formed by the line segments connecting Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), 61 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 18°), 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), and 62 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 90°).
  • An interior angle X of a vertex of the spherical pentagon facing the equator is 116.5650511°
  • an interior angle W of a vertex at Point 62 is 116.5650511°, which is the same as an interior angle X of of a vertex at Point 61
  • An interior angle Y of a vertex at Point 53 contacting the equator is 116.5650511°, which is the same as an interior angel of a vertex at Point 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) contacting the equator. Accordingly, the interior angles of all vertices of the near-equator spherical regular pentagon are the same.
  • each of two sides near the pole of the pole spherical pentagon is 36° angular distance that is the same as a side r of the near-pole spherical isosceles triangle when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • a length x of a line segment connecting Point 52 and Point 53 contacting the equator, that is, another side of the near-equator spherical pentagon, is 36° angular distance.
  • a length z of another side connecting Point 61 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 18°) and Point 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) is identically 36° angular distance.
  • a height w is 58.28252563° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates one of the near-equator spherical triangles sharing a side with the near-equator spherical pentagon.
  • a spherical triangle having lines segments of Point 62 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 90°), 54 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), and 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), as sides, an interior angle 2 T of a vertex at Point 62 is 63.43494886° and an interior angle V of a vertex at Point 53 is 63.43494886°.
  • An interior angle at Point 54 is the same as the interior angle V.
  • a length u of one side of the near-equator spherical triangle connecting Point 62 and Point 53 in FIG. 8 is 36° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • a length of a side connecting Point 62 and Point 54 is identically 36° angular distance.
  • a length 2 t of a line segment between Point 53 and Point 54 that is, a side of the near-equator spherical triangle contacting the equator, as a part of a line segment of the equator, is 36° angular distance.
  • a height v is 31.71747444° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • the twelve spherical regular pentagons have the same size and the twenty spherical regular triangles have the same size.
  • the lengths of all sides of the spherical icosidodecahedron are identically 36°.
  • All interior angles of the spherical regular pentagon are identically 116.5650511°, and all interior angles of the spherical regular triangle are identically 63.43494886°.
  • the surface of the sphere is divided by using the combined line segments of the small circles and the great circles having different positions from the positions where the surface of the sphere is divided by the existing great circles, instead of using the existing great circles used to divided a surface of a sphere, the spherical polygons having symmetry on the entire surface of a sphere.
  • dimples may be arranged to have spherical symmetry by restricting the number of dimples on the spherical polygons to about 250 to 350, making the diametric sizes of dimples to be similar to one another and over a certain size, and reducing the diametric types of dimples to two to six kinds.
  • the land surface formed on the existing spherical icosidodecahedron (or spherical icosahedron) formed by dividing a surface of a sphere by using the great circles is much smaller.
  • the maximum dimple area ratio obtained when 250 to 350 circular dimples are arranged on the existing spherical icosidodecahedron including twenty spherical regular triangles and twelve spherical regular pentagons may be increased by about 2% to 4%, that is, from about 79% to 80% to about 83% to 84%.
  • the phenomenon that boundaries are not smoothly formed when dimples over a certain size are arranged on the existing icosidodecahedron may be removed so that the dimple area ratio may be improved and a flight distance may be further increased.
  • the kinds of dimples according to the diameter may be reduced to two to six kinds and then a mold cavity may be manufactured, mold manufacturing costs may be reduced and an aesthetic external appearance may be obtained.

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Abstract

A surface of a sphere is divided by using not only great circles but also small circles, forming a spherical polyhedron. The spherical polyhedron includes two spherical regular pentagons, each having a center at the pole, ten spherical isosceles triangles near the pole, ten spherical pentagons near the equator, and ten other spherical isosceles triangles near the equator. Compared to a related art, dimples are accurately arranged in spherical polygons. Thus, a dimple area ratio is improved and the number of dimples is appropriately maintained.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
  • This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0046489, filed on Apr. 15, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
  • BACKGROUND 1. Field
  • One or more embodiments relate to a golf ball having a surface divided by great circles and small circles and having dimples arranged in spherical polygons formed on a surface of a sphere of the golf ball divided by the great circles and small circles.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • In order to arrange dimples on a surface of a golf ball, the surface of the sphere is generally divided by the great circles into a spherical polyhedron having a plurality of spherical polygons. A great circle denotes the largest circle projected onto a plane passing through a central point of the sphere.
  • The dimples are arranged in the spherical polygons divided as above in such a manner that the dimples have spherical symmetry. Most spherical polyhedrons having surface of a spheres divided by the great circles include spherical regular polygons. Examples of the spherical polyhedrons frequently used to arrange dimples of a golf ball may be a spherical tetrahedron having four spherical regular triangles, a spherical hexahedron having six spherical squares, a spherical octahedron having eight spherical regular triangles, a spherical dodecahedron having twelve regular pentagons, a spherical icosahedron having twenty spherical regular triangles, a spherical cubeoctahedron having six spherical squares and eight spherical regular triangles, an icosidodecahedron having twenty spherical regular triangles and twelve spherical regular pentagons, or the like.
  • Korean Patent No. 10-1309993 discloses a method of dividing a surface of a sphere using the great circles. However, there is a limit in improving a dimple area ratio.
  • When a golf ball is hit using a golf club, the golf ball flies as a reverse rotation is generated by a loft angle of the golf club. In this state, air is accumulated under the golf ball due to dimples formed on a surface of the golf ball, thereby increasing pressure. In contrast, a flow of air in an upper side of the golf ball is faster and thus pressure is decreased. Accordingly, the golf ball gradually flies higher according to the Bernoulli's principle and descends toward the ground according to the law of gravity as a hitting force decreases. In general, a lift force may be easily obtained when a dimple area ratio is high and it is difficult to obtain the lift force when the dimple area ratio is low. Actually, when a sphere of the same specifications is hit using a driver at a speed of 100 mph, a golf ball with dimples flies a distance of about 200 m to 210 m, whereas a golf ball without dimples flies a distance of about 140 m to 140 m. As shown in the above, the role of dimples in golf balls is very important in terms of aerodynamics. Accordingly, a sufficient lift force may be obtained when the dimple area ratio on a surface of a golf ball is at least 76%. However, in the case in which dimples are arranged to be symmetrical and to a limit of 250 to 350 dimples on a surface of a spherical polyhedron including general spherical regular polygons obtained by dividing a surface of a sphere of the golf ball using the great circles, to manufacture a mold cavity satisfying the above conditions, dimples are configured to have similar diametric sizes and to be over a certain size and the number of dimple types is decreased to two to six. As a result, a land surface where no dimple is formed necessarily increases so that the dimple area ratio is decreased, thereby negatively affecting the lift force of golf balls manufactured as above. Thus, to decrease the land surface, various kinds of dimples of very small diameters are additionally formed and filled between relatively large dimples. In this case, as the number of the kinds of dimple sizes generally increases, costs for manufacturing a mold cavity are increased and an overall aesthetic sense of the manufactured golf balls may be poor. In some cases, in a spherical polyhedron formed of two or more kinds of spherical regular polygons, when selecting a sort of diametric sizes of dimples, a difference according to the kinds of spherical regular polygons affects a flow of air so that flying performance may be much deteriorated. The above phenomenon occurs because a surface of a sphere is divided to obtain symmetry defined by regulations of the R & A or the U.S.G.A. to use golf balls as regulation balls. When relatively large dimples are arranged according to the size of a spherical regular polygon having a set area, there is a limit in the area occupied by the dimples. If dimples are freely arranged to overlap each other, flying characteristics are changed greatly and thus symmetry may be damaged. Accordingly, dimples may not be freely arranged to overlap each other. Thus, neighboring dimples may have free sides (side portion of a dimple) even though they are very small. Furthermore, dimples adjacent to both sides of a boundary of a parting line may intersect the parting line to a degree. Since a mold is divided into the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere, it is also difficult to select positions of dimples at both sides of a mold junction line between the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. As such, the number or sizes of dimples are restricted by the size of spherical polygons divided as above and an empty space having no dimple, that is, a land surface portion, may be increased.
  • Important design factors in manufacturing golf balls may include a dimple area ratio, symmetry, the number of kinds of dimple diameters, etc. When a surface of a golf ball is a spherical polyhedron to arrange dimples, a surface of a sphere of the golf ball is divided into spherical regular polygons by the great circles. The method has been recognized to be essential for obtaining symmetry of a golf ball from symmetric arrangement of dimples. However, when the great circles are used only, there is a limit in increasing the dimple area ratio due to difficulty in selection and arrangement of dimples and thus a new method to address the above problem has been demanded.
  • SUMMARY
  • Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.
  • According to one or more embodiments, a golf ball having a surface, in which dimples are arranged on the surface of the golf ball, a spherical regular pentagon centered on a pole of the golf ball is defined only by line segments of great circles, the surface is divided by an equator of the golf ball, the equator being defined by one of the great circles, and combined line segments, each of the combined line segments being defined by connecting three line segments including a line segment of a small circle, a line segment of the great circle, and another line segment of the small circle, which are a line segment of the great circle defining each of sides of the spherical regular pentagon and line segments of the small circle near the equator, into two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, ten near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, ten near-equator spherical pentagons, and ten near-equator spherical isosceles triangles.
  • According to one or more embodiments, a golf ball having a surface, in which the golf ball is symmetrical with respect to an equator, and the equator is divided into ten equal parts based on ten reference points, a spherical regular pentagon centered on a pole of the golf ball is defined by five great circles passing through two reference points which are included among the ten reference points and are located opposite to each other, a small circle passing through a reference point included among the ten reference points and a vertex of the spherical regular pentagon is defined, and a line segment of the small circle between the reference point and the vertex of the spherical regular pentagon is defined to be a small circle parting line segment, five spherical triangles surrounding and contacting the spherical regular pentagon, five spherical triangles sharing a vertex with the five spherical triangles and contacting the equator, and five spherical pentagons located in a space between the ten spherical triangles and contacting the equator are formed based on a hemisphere, and the surface is divided into a plurality of spherical polygons including the spherical regular pentagon, the five spherical triangles surrounding and contacting the spherical regular pentagon, the five spherical triangles surrounding and contacting the equator, and the five spherical pentagons, and dimples are arranged in the plurality of spherical polygons formed on the surface of the golf ball.
  • The combined line segments dividing the surface of the golf ball, except for the great circle defining the equator, may include a parting line defined by a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.40 and longitude 126°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°); a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 25 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 306°), and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°); a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°), and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 8 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°); a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 21 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 18°), and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°); and a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 24 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 234°), and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 10 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°).
  • The dimples may include one or more circular or polygonal dimples.
  • The dimples may have about two to eight dimple sizes.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram of a golf ball having a surface, on which dimples are arranged, viewed from a pole, according to an embodiment, in which a spherical regular pentagon surrounded by great circle line segments indicated by thick solid lines among line segments dividing a surface of a sphere (great circle line segments at positions different from the positions of existing great circle line segments forming an icosidodecahedron), the latitudes and longitudes of major locations where great circles, small circles connected to the great circle line segments and indicated by thin solid lines, an existing great circle forming the equator pass through, spherical polygons formed on the surface of the sphere divided by line segments combined with the great circles connected to the small circles, and dimples symmetrically arranged on the spherical polygons, are illustrated, and dimples over a certain size are regularly arranged;
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the latitudes and longitudes of locations which parting lines that are combined line segments formed by connecting parting lines (thin solid lines) formed by small circles according to an embodiment and great circle line segments (thick solid lines) at positions different from the existing great circle line segments in an icosidodecahedron pass through, and locations of small circle line segments meeting the equator formed of a great circle, on the surface of the sphere;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the latitudes and longitudes of locations of small circle line segments (thin solid lines) used in the present embodiment, in which only necessary small circle line segments are used to form a combined parting line of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the latitudes and longitudes of locations which great circle line segments (thick solid lines) at positions different from the existing great circles forming an icosidodecahedron pass through, in which only some of the great circle line segments are combined with the necessary small circle line segments of FIG. 3, thereby forming the combined line segments of FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the latitudes and longitudes of locations of vertices of representative spherical polygons symmetrically provided to arrange dimples on the surface of the sphere divided according to the present embodiment, in which, to indicate sizes of the formed spherical polygons, signs are indicated to calculate an angular distance at each position of the interior angle of each vertex of a representative spherical polygon among the spherical polygons and the length of each side facing the vertex corresponding thereto, in particular, FIG. 5 shows the length of an side and FIG. 6 shows the interior angle;
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a comparative example, in which a surface of a sphere is divided by the existing great circles, forming an icosidodecahedron, and the same dimple arrangement as in the present embodiment is performed, that is, dimples of small dimple types and over a certain size are arranged, showing the latitudes and longitudes of locations which great circles pass through and that accurate dividing is difficult because dimples are spaced relatively farther from parting lines; and
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a comparison in the size between the existing divided icosidodecahedron of FIG. 4 and the spherical polygons of FIG. 1 or 2 according to the present embodiment, by calculating the interior angles and the lengths of sides of a spherical regular pentagon including a pole, a spherical regular triangle near the pole, a spherical regular pentagon near the equator, and a spherical regular triangle near the equator to compare with those of the present embodiment, in particular, FIG. 8 shows the interior angles and FIG. 9 shows the lengths of sides.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description.
  • A surface dividing method while maintaining symmetry has been researched in various ways. In general, when a surface is divided by a plurality of great circles, symmetry may be maintained with no problem. In this case, however, when dimples having substantially the same size only are arranged in spherical polygons, a sufficient dimple area ratio may not be obtained, or even when a sufficient dimple area ratio is obtained by using dimples of various sizes, manufacturing a mold for such a golf ball having dimples of various sizes is difficult.
  • The present inventive concept is introduced as follows to remove the above problems occurring when a surface of a sphere is divided by existing great circles and dimples are arranged on a spherical polyhedron having a set size and including spherical regular polygons and to easily maintain symmetry, in particular, to reduce a dimple-less land surface and increase a dimple area ratio.
  • In general, in the present embodiment, instead of the existing great circles used to divide the surface of the sphere, the surface of the sphere is divided by line segments obtained by connecting and combining great circles having positions different from the positions where the surface of the sphere is divided by the existing great circles and small circles, forming spherical polygons to be symmetrical on the entire surface of a sphere, and dimples are arranged in the spherical polygons to be spherically symmetrical.
  • The spherical polygons according to the present embodiment may include two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, each having a center at a pole and surrounded by great circle line segments having positions different from the positions which the existing great circle line segments pass through, ten spherical isosceles triangles, each having one side shared by one of the near-pole spherical regular pentagons and other two sides formed of small circles, other ten spherical isosceles triangles, each using small circle line segments extended from the two equal sides of one of the above spherical isosceles triangles as two sides and a great circle line segment forming the equator as one side, and ten near-equator spherical pentagons, each sharing one vertex of one of the near-pole spherical pentagons, sharing one side each with the two above spherical isosceles triangles, and using a great circle line segment of the equator as a base. The spherical polyhedron configured as above has quite different sizes and interior angles than the existing spherical icosidodecahedron having twelve spherical regular pentagons and twenty spherical regular triangles.
  • Since it is difficult to arrange dimples having similar diametric sizes and relatively less kinds to be proportional to one another with fixed sizes of spherical regular pentagons and spherical regular triangles of the exiting spherical icosidodecahedron formed by dividing the surface of the sphere by the great circles, the sizes of spherical polygons need to be adjusted. To address this issue, instead of dividing the surface of the sphere by the great circles only, great circles passing through positions different from the positions of the existing great circles and small circles, and small circles that divide a sphere and smaller than the great circles, are formed. A method of dividing a sphere, while maintaining symmetry, using parting lines formed by connecting and combining some line segments of great circles and some line segments of small circles has been researched. A small circle denotes a small circle projected onto a certain plane to be smaller than the great circle because the plane that passes through a sphere does not pass through the center of the sphere, unlike the above-described great circle. As such, the surface of the sphere is divided into a spherical polyhedron formed according to the present embodiment and then dimples are arranged thereon.
  • For example, ten reference points for dividing the equator into ten equal parts are determined and the ten reference points are set to be reference Point 1 to reference Point 10. Five great circles passing through two reference points facing each other among the reference points are formed. Considering the hemisphere, each of the five great circles intersects other great circles at one point, five spherical triangles are formed around a regular pentagon, spherical pentagons, each contacting two neighboring spherical triangles, are formed, five spherical triangles are respectively formed between the neighboring spherical pentagons. The spherical triangles are all spherical isosceles triangles.
  • The configuration of parting lines that divide a surface of a sphere as above is described below in detail with coordinates of points of intersections of the parting lines.
  • In FIG. 3, the latitudes and the longitudes of a point, which the formed small circle line segments pass through, are indicated. Only important locations of the small circle line segments needed to form the combined line segments according to the present embodiment are marked by identification numbers before the latitudes and longitudes, whereas no identification number is marked for other locations. A small circle line segment passing through Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 90°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 126°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 163.1116774°) in FIG. 3 is formed. Next, a small circle line segment passing through a point (latitude 0° and longitude 16.89752555°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 54°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 90°), Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°) in FIG. 3 is formed.
  • A great circle line segment passing through Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 18°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°), Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°) in FIG. 4 is formed. From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°) to Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°) and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is taken. From the great circle line segments of FIG. 4, a great circle line segment from Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) to Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°) and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°). Also, in FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) to Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°) and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment of FIG. 4 at the Point 17 (latitude 81.4° and longitude 126°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • A small circle line segment passing through Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 306°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 270°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 232.8883226°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner. Next, a small circle line segment passing through a point (latitude 0° and longitude 19.10247445°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 342°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 306°), Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°) in FIG. 3 is formed.
  • A great circle line segment passing through Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 18°), Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 25 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 306°), Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°) in FIG. 4 is formed. From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) to Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°) and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) is taken. From the great circle line segments of FIG. 4, a line segment from Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) to Point 25 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 306°) and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°). Also, from the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°) to Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°) and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment at Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • A small circle line segment passing through Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 162°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 198°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 235.1116774°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner. Next, a small circle line segment passing through point (latitude 0° and longitude 88.89752555°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 126°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 162°), Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 8 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°) in FIG. 3 is formed.
  • Next, a great circle line segment passing through Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 90°), Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°), Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), a Point 8 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°) in FIG. 4 is formed.
  • From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a lien segment from Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) to Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) is taken. Also, from the great circle line segments of FIG. 4, a line segment from Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°) to Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°) and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°). Also, from the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°) to Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°) and Point 8 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment at Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • A small circle line segment passing through Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 18°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 342°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 304.8883226°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner. Next, a small circle line segment passing through a point (latitude 0° and longitude 91.10247445°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 54°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 18°), Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) in FIG. 3 is formed.
  • Next, a great circle line segment passing through Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 90°), Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 21 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 18°), Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) in FIG. 4 is formed.
  • From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°) to Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is taken. Also, from the great circle line segments of FIG. 4, a line segment from Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) to Point 21 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 18°) and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°).
  • Also, from the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) to Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°) and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment at Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • A small circle line segment passing through Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 234°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 270°), and a point (latitude 0° and longitude 307.1116774°) in FIG. 3 is formed in the same manner. Next, a small circle line segment passing through point (latitude 0° and longitude 160.8883226°), a point (latitude 55.3366773087° and longitude 198°), a point (latitude 64.1651944652° and longitude 234°), Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 10 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°) in FIG. 3 is formed. Next, a great circle line segment passing through Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), a point (latitude 35.01413358° and longitude 162°), Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 24 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 234°), Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and Point 10 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°) in FIG. 4 is formed.
  • From the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°) to Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°) and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°) is taken. Also, from the great circle line segments of FIG. 4, a line segment form Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°) to Point 24 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 234°) and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°) is taken. These two line segments are connected to each other at Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°). Also, from the small circle line segments of FIG. 3, a line segment from Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°) to Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°) and Point 10 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°) is taken and connected to the same great circle line segment at Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), thereby forming the combined parting line in which one great circle line segment is connected between two small circle line segments.
  • As a result, five combined parting lines are formed by connecting the small circle line segments and the great circle line segments. A surface of a sphere is divided by a line segment connecting Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°), Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) and Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°) in FIGS. 3 and 4, which corresponds to the circumference of a sphere and the great circle of the sphere, and the line segment is used as the equator.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the combined parting lines formed as above. Spherical polygons formed by the combined parting lines may include two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, each having a center at the pole and surrounded by the great circle line segments, ten spherical isosceles triangles, each sharing one side of one near-pole spherical regular pentagon and having other two sides formed of small circles, other ten spherical isosceles triangles, each using small circle line segments extended from the two equal sides of one of the above spherical isosceles triangles as two sides and a great circle line segment forming the equator as one side, and ten near-equator spherical pentagons, each sharing one vertex of one of the near-pole spherical pentagons, sharing one side each with the two above spherical isosceles triangles, and using a great circle line segment of the equator as a base.
  • A golf ball 30 is formed by arranging dimples in the spherical polygons. The spherical polygons formed by the small circle line segments, the great circle line segments, and the great circle line segments of the equator in FIG. 2 may be expressed in FIG. 5 such that the size of an interior angle, each position where a vertex of a spherical polygon is formed, and the size of a side of each of important spherical polygons according to the present embodiment to actually arrange dimples may be expressed by angular distances and thus the sizes and number of dimples may be easily determined.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the size of a spherical regular pentagon having a center at the pole and using lines segments connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°) formed around the pole by using the small circle line segments in FIG. 2, as sides. An interior angle 2C of one vertex is 114.9330474°. Also, when the circumference of a sphere is 360°, a length 2 a of one side is 32.68373812° angular distance. A distance connecting a middle point 22 of a side of the spherical regular pentagon of FIG. 5 and a vertex facing the middle point, that is, a height “b+c” is 52.40181462° angular distance. Two spherical regular pentagons configured as above are formed with respect to the North Pole and the South Pole.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate one spherical isosceles triangle near the pole and sharing one side with the spherical regular pentagon having a center at the pole. The near-pole spherical isosceles triangle is formed by using line segments connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), as sides. In the near-pole spherical isosceles triangle, an interior angle D of a vertex at Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is 61.29816669° angular distance and the size of an interior angle opposite to the interior angle D with respect to Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°) is the same as the interior angle D and an interior angle 2F of a vertex at Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) is 65.3609872°. Also, when the circumference of a sphere is 360°, since the length of one side near the pole is the same as the length of one side of the near-pole spherical regular pentagon, a length 2 f (=2 a) of the near-pole side is 32.68373812° and a length e of each of two equal sides is 31.40582899° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. A height d of the spherical isosceles triangle, that is, a line segment connecting a vertex of the spherical isosceles triangle, which is Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and a middle point of a side facing the vertex, which is Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°) is 27.19818538° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. A total of ten near-pole spherical isosceles triangles configured as above are formed including five in the northern hemisphere and five in the southern hemisphere.
  • One of spherical pentagons sharing one vertex of the near-pole spherical regular pentagon of FIG. 5, sharing one side each with the two near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, and having one side on the equator is formed by line segments connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), and Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°). In the spherical pentagon configured as above, an interior angle K of a vertex facing the equator is 122.4706193°, an interior angle J of a vertex at Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) is 120.0120861°, which is the same as the interior angle of a vertex at Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°). An interior angle L of a vertex at Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) contacting the equator is 110.8870648°, which is the same as an interior angle of a vertex at Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) contacting the equator. When the circumference of a sphere is 360°, the length of each of two sides near the pole of the spherical pentagon is 31.40582899° angular distance, which is the same length of a side e of the near-pole spherical isosceles triangle. The length h of a line segment, which is another side of the spherical pentagon, connecting Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°) and Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°) contacting the equator is 42.34436659° angular distance. Also, the length j of another side connecting Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°) and Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) is identically 42.34436659° angular distance. When a line segment perpendicularly connecting from an equator line segment of the near-equator spherical pentagon to Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°) is set to be the height of the near-equator spherical pentagon, a height m is 61.4° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. A total of ten near-equator spherical pentagons configure as above are formed including five in the northern hemisphere and five in the southern hemisphere.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates one of the near-equator spherical triangles sharing one side with the near-equator spherical pentagon. In a spherical triangle having line segments connecting Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), and 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), as sides, an interior angle 2G of a vertex at Point 12 is 54.61484058°, an interior angle I of a vertex at Point 3 is 69.11293519°, and the size of an interior angle of a vertex at Point 4 is the same as the interior angle I. The length of one side h of the near-equator spherical triangle connecting Point 12 and Point 3 of FIG. 5 is 42.34436659° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. The length of a side connecting Point 12 and Point 4 is identically 42.34436659° angular distance. A length 2 g of a line segment between Point 3 and Point 4, that is, the side of the near-equator spherical triangle contacting the equator, as a part of the equator line segment, is 36° angular distance. When a line segment of the near-equator spherical triangle from the vertex at Point 12 to the equator is set to be the height of the near-equator spherical triangle, a height I is 39° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. A total of ten near-equator spherical triangles configure as above are formed including five in the northern hemisphere and five in the southern hemisphere.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an existing spherical icosidodecahedron (or icosahedron), as a comparative example, whose surface of a sphere is divided by great circles and dimples are arranged thereon. The surface of the sphere is divided by a great circle line segment passing through Point 51 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), Point 67 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 126°), and Point 56 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°). The surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 70 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 342°), Point 69 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 270°), and Point 57 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°). The surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 67 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 126°), Point 68 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 198°), and Point 58 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°). The surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 54 (latitude 0 and longitude 108°), Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), Point 70 (58.28252563° and longitude 342°), and Point 59 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°). The surface of the sphere is divided again by a great circle line segment passing through Point 55 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 68 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 198°), Point 69 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 270°), and Point 60 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°). A great circle connecting line segments passing through Point 51 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 55 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 57 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°), and Point 59 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°) is used as the equator. After dividing the surface of the sphere by using the great circles, forming an existing spherical icosidodecahedron, the same dimples as in the present embodiment area arranged as illustrated in FIG. 7. However, the surface of the sphere does not seem to be accurately divided with an existing dividing scheme. The sizes of interior angles and the lengths of sides of each of spherical polygons of the existing spherical icosidodecahedron are displayed in the same dimple arrangement of the present invention for comparing the present invention with the existing spherical icosidodecahedron.
  • In FIG. 8, an interior angle 2P of a vertex of a near-pole spherical regular pentagon formed by being divided by the existing great circles is 116.5650512°, and when the circumference of a sphere is 360°, a length 2 n of one side of the spherical regular pentagon is 36° angular distance. The lengths of all sides of the spherical regular pentagon are the same. A height “o+p” of the spherical regular pentagon is 58.28252563° angular distance.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the size of the spherical regular triangle formed by the great circle line segments connecting Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), Point 62 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 90°), and Point 67 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 126°) in FIG. 6. An interior angle Q of one vertex is 63.43494886°, and another interior angle 2S in the regular triangle at Point 62 is 63.43494886°, that is, all spherical regular triangles have the same interior angles. Also, when the circumference of a sphere is 360°, a length 2 s of one side of the near-pole spherical regular triangle is 36° angular distance and a length r of another side thereof is 36° angular distance, that is, the spherical regular triangles have the same side lengths. Also, a height q of the spherical regular triangle connecting a middle point of one side and a vertex facing the middle point is 31.71747444° angular distance. Also, FIG. 9 illustrates the size of the near-equator spherical pentagon of the spherical icosidodecahedron divided by the existing great circles. One of spherical pentagons sharing one vertex with the near-pole spherical regular pentagon, sharing one side each with the two near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, and having one side on the equator is formed by the line segments connecting Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°), 61 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 18°), 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), and 62 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 90°). An interior angle X of a vertex of the spherical pentagon facing the equator is 116.5650511°, and an interior angle W of a vertex at Point 62 is 116.5650511°, which is the same as an interior angle X of of a vertex at Point 61. An interior angle Y of a vertex at Point 53 contacting the equator is 116.5650511°, which is the same as an interior angel of a vertex at Point 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) contacting the equator. Accordingly, the interior angles of all vertices of the near-equator spherical regular pentagon are the same. The length of each of two sides near the pole of the pole spherical pentagon is 36° angular distance that is the same as a side r of the near-pole spherical isosceles triangle when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. A length x of a line segment connecting Point 52 and Point 53 contacting the equator, that is, another side of the near-equator spherical pentagon, is 36° angular distance. Also, a length z of another side connecting Point 61 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 18°) and Point 52 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°) is identically 36° angular distance. When a line segment perpendicularly connecting Point 66 (latitude 58.28252563° and longitude 54°) of the near-equator spherical pentagon and the equator is set to be the height of the near-equator spherical pentagon, a height w is 58.28252563° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates one of the near-equator spherical triangles sharing a side with the near-equator spherical pentagon. In a spherical triangle having lines segments of Point 62 (latitude 31.71747444° and longitude 90°), 54 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), and 53 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), as sides, an interior angle 2T of a vertex at Point 62 is 63.43494886° and an interior angle V of a vertex at Point 53 is 63.43494886°. An interior angle at Point 54 is the same as the interior angle V. A length u of one side of the near-equator spherical triangle connecting Point 62 and Point 53 in FIG. 8 is 36° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. A length of a side connecting Point 62 and Point 54 is identically 36° angular distance. A length 2 t of a line segment between Point 53 and Point 54, that is, a side of the near-equator spherical triangle contacting the equator, as a part of a line segment of the equator, is 36° angular distance. When a line segment perpendicularly connecting a vertex at Point 62 of the near-equator spherical triangle and the equator is set to be the height of the near-equator spherical triangle, a height v is 31.71747444° angular distance when the circumference of a sphere is 360°. Accordingly, in the spherical icosidodecahedron divided by the existing great circles, the twelve spherical regular pentagons have the same size and the twenty spherical regular triangles have the same size. In other words, when the circumference of a sphere is 360°, the lengths of all sides of the spherical icosidodecahedron are identically 36°. All interior angles of the spherical regular pentagon are identically 116.5650511°, and all interior angles of the spherical regular triangle are identically 63.43494886°.
  • As such, when only dimples having the sizes according to the present embodiment of FIG. 6 are arranged on the spherical icosidodecahedron formed by dividing a surface of a sphere by using the existing great circles only, as illustrated in the drawings, the surface of the sphere may not be accurately divided. When other kinds of dimples are used, there may be many land areas having no dimple due to the sizes of the spherical polygons. Accordingly, according to the present inventive concept, the surface of the sphere is divided by using the combined line segments of the small circles and the great circles having different positions from the positions where the surface of the sphere is divided by the existing great circles, instead of using the existing great circles used to divided a surface of a sphere, the spherical polygons having symmetry on the entire surface of a sphere. As a result, dimples may be arranged to have spherical symmetry by restricting the number of dimples on the spherical polygons to about 250 to 350, making the diametric sizes of dimples to be similar to one another and over a certain size, and reducing the diametric types of dimples to two to six kinds.
  • As described above, although a method of dividing a surface of a sphere by using the great circles only according to the related art has been continuously used to easily secure symmetry, in the present inventive concept, the small circles are used for dividing a surface of a sphere in addition to the great circles, thereby obtaining the following remarkable effects.
  • Compared to the land surface formed on the existing spherical icosidodecahedron (or spherical icosahedron) formed by dividing a surface of a sphere by using the great circles, in the present inventive concept, the land surface formed on the spherical polyhedron formed by being divided by the parting lines formed by the small circles and the great circle line segments having different positions and the existing great circle line segments forming the equator is much smaller. Accordingly, the maximum dimple area ratio obtained when 250 to 350 circular dimples are arranged on the existing spherical icosidodecahedron including twenty spherical regular triangles and twelve spherical regular pentagons may be increased by about 2% to 4%, that is, from about 79% to 80% to about 83% to 84%. Also, the phenomenon that boundaries are not smoothly formed when dimples over a certain size are arranged on the existing icosidodecahedron may be removed so that the dimple area ratio may be improved and a flight distance may be further increased. In particular, since the kinds of dimples according to the diameter may be reduced to two to six kinds and then a mold cavity may be manufactured, mold manufacturing costs may be reduced and an aesthetic external appearance may be obtained.
  • It should be understood that embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.
  • While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

Claims (12)

What is claimed is:
1. A golf ball having a surface, wherein:
dimples are arranged on the surface of the golf ball,
a spherical regular pentagon centered on a pole of the golf ball is defined only by line segments of great circles,
the surface is divided by an equator of the golf ball, the equator being defined by one of the great circles, and combined line segments, each of the combined line segments being defined by connecting three line segments including a line segment of a small circle, a line segment of the great circle, and another line segment of the small circle, which are a line segment of the great circle defining each of sides of the spherical regular pentagon and line segments of the small circle near the equator, into two near-pole spherical regular pentagons, ten near-pole spherical isosceles triangles, ten near-equator spherical pentagons, and ten near-equator spherical isosceles triangles.
2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the combined line segments dividing the surface of the golf ball, except for the great circle defining the equator, comprise:
a parting line defined by a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°);
a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 25 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 306°), and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°);
a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°), and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 8 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°);
a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 21 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 18°), and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°); and
a parting line obtained by combining a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), a line segment belonging to a great circle and connecting Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 24 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 234°), and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and a line segment belonging to a small circle and connecting Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 10 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°).
3. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the dimples comprise one or more circular dimples.
4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the dimples comprise one or more polygonal dimples.
5. The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the dimples have about two to eight dimple sizes.
6. The golf ball of claim 4, wherein the dimples have about two to eight dimple sizes.
7. A golf ball having a surface, wherein:
the golf ball is symmetrical with respect to an equator, and the equator is divided into ten equal parts based on ten reference points,
a spherical regular pentagon centered on a pole of the golf ball is defined by five great circles passing through two reference points which are included among the ten reference points and are located opposite to each other,
a small circle passing through a reference point included among the ten reference points and a vertex of the spherical regular pentagon is defined, and a line segment of the small circle between the reference point and the vertex of the spherical regular pentagon is defined to be a small circle parting line segment,
five spherical triangles surrounding and contacting the spherical regular pentagon, five spherical triangles sharing a vertex with the five spherical triangles and contacting the equator, and five spherical pentagons located in a space between the ten spherical triangles and contacting the equator are formed based on a hemisphere, and
the surface is divided into a plurality of spherical polygons including the spherical regular pentagon, the five spherical triangles surrounding and contacting the spherical regular pentagon, the five spherical triangles surrounding and contacting the equator, and the five spherical pentagons, and dimples are arranged in the plurality of spherical polygons formed on the surface of the golf ball.
8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the combined line segments dividing the surface of the golf ball, except for the great circle defining the equator, comprise:
a parting line obtained by combining three line segments of a small circle line segment connecting Point 1 (latitude 0° and longitude 0°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a great circle line segment connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 22 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), and a small circle line segment connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 6 (latitude 0° and longitude 180°);
a parting line obtained by combining three line segments of a small circle line segment connecting Point 2 (latitude 0° and longitude 36°), Point 11 (latitude 39° and longitude 18°), and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), a great circle line segment connecting Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 25 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 306°), and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and a small circle line segment connecting Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 7 (latitude 0° and longitude 216°);
a parting line obtained by combining three line segments of a small circle line segment connecting Point 3 (latitude 0° and longitude 72°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), a great circle line segment connecting Point 17 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 126°), Point 23 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 162°), and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), and a small circle line segment connecting Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 14 (latitude 39° and longitude 234°), and Point 8 (latitude 0° and longitude 252°);
a parting line obtained by combining three line segments of a small circle line segment connecting Point 4 (latitude 0° and longitude 108°), Point 12 (latitude 39° and longitude 90°), and Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), a great circle line segment connecting Point 16 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 54°), Point 21 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 18°), and Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), and a small circle line segment connecting Point 20 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 342°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 9 (latitude 0° and longitude 288°); and
a parting line obtained by combining three line segments of a small circle line segment connecting Point 5 (latitude 0° and longitude 144°), Point 13 (latitude 39° and longitude 162°), and Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), a great circle line segment connecting Point 18 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 198°), Point 24 (latitude 66.19818538° and longitude 234°), and Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), and a small circle line segment connecting Point 19 (latitude 61.4° and longitude 270°), Point 15 (latitude 39° and longitude 306°), and Point 10 (latitude 0° and longitude 324°).
9. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the dimples comprise one or more circular dimples.
10. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the dimples comprise one or more polygonal dimples.
11. The golf ball of claim 9, wherein the dimples have about two to eight dimple sizes.
12. The golf ball of claim 10, wherein the dimples have about two to eight dimple sizes.
US15/342,389 2016-04-15 2016-11-03 Golf ball having surface divided by line segments of great circles and small circles Abandoned US20170296879A1 (en)

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US5016887A (en) * 1990-06-05 1991-05-21 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Golf ball
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US5377989A (en) * 1991-02-19 1995-01-03 Dunlop Limited Golf balls with isodiametrical dimples
US5575477A (en) * 1994-01-25 1996-11-19 Ilya Co., Ltd. Golf ball
US6346054B1 (en) * 1998-08-26 2002-02-12 Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. Dimpled golf ball
US20130288827A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2013-10-31 Volvik Inc. Dimple arrangement on the surface of a golf ball and the golf ball thereof

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JP2986259B2 (en) * 1991-10-08 1999-12-06 住友ゴム工業株式会社 Golf ball and golf ball dimple
KR100360310B1 (en) * 2000-04-20 2002-11-13 주식회사 볼빅 Dimple arrangement of a golf ball
KR100506196B1 (en) * 2004-02-13 2005-08-03 주식회사 볼빅 Golf ball
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US4560168A (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-12-24 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Golf ball
US4729567A (en) * 1985-09-30 1988-03-08 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Golf ball
US4877252A (en) * 1987-11-03 1989-10-31 Dunlop Limited A British Company Golf balls
US5192078A (en) * 1990-04-04 1993-03-09 Kumho & Company, Inc. Golf ball
US5016887A (en) * 1990-06-05 1991-05-21 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Golf ball
US5377989A (en) * 1991-02-19 1995-01-03 Dunlop Limited Golf balls with isodiametrical dimples
US5575477A (en) * 1994-01-25 1996-11-19 Ilya Co., Ltd. Golf ball
US6346054B1 (en) * 1998-08-26 2002-02-12 Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. Dimpled golf ball
US20130288827A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2013-10-31 Volvik Inc. Dimple arrangement on the surface of a golf ball and the golf ball thereof

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