Surface pattern for golf balls
View Patent ↗A golf ball surface pattern including depressions and protrusions is disclosed and claimed. In one embodiment, the depressions and protrusions are positioned on the ball according to a known dimple pattern, with some of the dimples being replaced with protrusions. In another embodiment, the depressions are positioned on the ball according to a known dimple pattern, and protrusions are positioned on the land areas. Alternatively, protrusions can be positioned on the ball according to a known dimple pattern, and depressions positioned on the land areas. The turbulence generators (dimples and protrusions) that are positioned on the land areas can be positioned manually or with a distribution scheme. In another embodiment, the turbulence generators are positioned according to a scheme based on the principles of electromagnetic theory.
1. A golf ball, comprising:
a core;
a cover disposed over the core, the cover having a surface containing a plurality of locations;
dimples disposed on said surface at various of said locations; and
protrusions disposed on said surface at various of said locations and occupying approximately 25% or less of said surface;
wherein said dimples and said protrusions occupy different spatial positions on said surface.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate layer between said core and said cover.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said locations are defined by subdividing said surface into eight spherical triangles, each of said spherical triangles continuing a substantially identical location placement scheme.
4. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains three concentric triangular rings of locations.
5. The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein protrusions are positioned at the vertices of each of said triangular rings.
6. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains from one to twenty protrusions.
7. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains from five to fifteen protrusions.
8. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein each of said spherical mangles contains nine protrusions.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said locations are defined by subdividing said surface into twenty spherical triangles, each of said spherical triangles containing a substantially identical location placement scheme.
10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains three concentric triangular rings of locations.
11. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein protrusions are positioned at the vertices of each of said triangular rings
12. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains from one to twenty protrusions.
13. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains from five to fifteen protrusions.
14. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein each of said spherical triangles contains nine protrusions.
15. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said protrusions and said dimples cover greater than approximately 75% of said surface.
16. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said protrusions and said dimples cover greater than approximately 80% of said surface
17. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said protrusions and said dimples cover greater than approximately 85% of said surface.
18. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said protrusions include protrusions having a circular cross-section with a maximum diameter of approximately 0.020 inch to approximately 0100 inch.
19. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein said maximum diameter is from approximately 0.040 inch to 0.080 inch.
20. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein said maximum diameter is from approximately 0.050 inch to 0.070 inch.
21. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of protrusion coverage area to total dimple and protrusion coverage area is from approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.30.
22. The golf ball of claim 21 , wherein said ratio is from approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.20.
23. The golf ball of claim 21 , wherein said ratio is from approximately 0.01 to approximately 0.10.
24. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least some of said protrusions are negative dimples.
25. The golf ball of claim 24 , wherein all of said protrusions are negative dimples.
26. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said dimples cover at least approximately 75% of said surface.
27. A golf ball having an outer surface, the outer surface comprising:
a plurality of dimples formed therein;
an undimpled area between and among said dimples; and
a plurality of protrusions located in said undimpled area and occupying Approximately 25% or less of the outer surface.
28. The golf ball of claim 27 , wherein the outer surface is divided into a number of substantially identical areas, each of said areas containing a substantially dentical arrangement of dimples.
29. The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein each of said areas further contains a substantially identical arrangement of protrusions.
30. The golf ball of claim 27 , wherein the outer surface comprises a plurality of undimpled areas.
31. The golf ball of claim 30 , wherein a plurality of said undimpled areas contains protrusions.
32. The golf ball of claim 27 , wherein said dimples and sail protrusions occupy different spatial positions on said surface.
33. The golf ball of claim 27 , wherein said dimples cover at least approximately 75% of the surface.
34. A golf ball having an outer surface, the outer surface comprising:
a plurality of dimples formed therein;
an undimpled area between and among said dimples; and
a plurality of protrusions located in said undimpled area;
wherein said dimples cover at least approximately 75% of the surface.
35. The golf ball of claim 34 , wherein said dimples cover at least approximately 80% of the surface.
36. The golf ball of claim 34 , wherein said dimples cover at least approximately 85% of the surface.