IP Library Granted Patent US 9,345,931
Granted Patent B2
US 9,345,931 · App. 14/100,804 · Granted May 24, 2016

Golf ball

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,345,931
App. No.
14/100,804
Granted
May 24, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf ball 2 has a large number of dimples 8 on a surface thereof. A trajectory of the golf ball 2 is divided into first to fourth segments. An average CD 1 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL 1 of lift coefficients CL in the first segment are equal to or less than 0.225 and 0.180, respectively. An average CD 2 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL 2 of lift coefficients CL in the second segment are equal to or less than 0.250 and 0.220, respectively. An average CD 3 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL 3 of lift coefficients CL in the third segment are equal to or greater than 0.260 and 0.220, respectively. An average CD 4 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL 4 of lift coefficients CL in the fourth segment are equal to or greater than 0.250 and 0.200, respectively.

Claims (25)

1. A golf ball having a large number of dimples on a surface thereof, wherein

when a trajectory that is calculated under conditions of a ball initial speed of 57.4 m/s, a launch angle of 13.8°, and an initial backspin rate of 2450 rpm by a program created according to a manual provided by the USGA using a drag coefficient CD and a lift coefficient CL obtained through an ITR, is divided into a first segment from a launch point to a midpoint between the launch point and a top, a second segment from the midpoint between the launch point and the top to the top, a third segment from the top to a midpoint between the top and a landing point, and a fourth segment from the midpoint between the top and the landing point to the landing point,

an average CD 1 of drag coefficients CD in the first segment is equal to or less than 0.225,

an average CL 1 of lift coefficients CL in the first segment is equal to or less than 0.180,

an average CD 2 of drag coefficients CD in the second segment is equal to or less than 0.250,

an average CL 2 of lift coefficients CL in the second segment is equal to or less than 0.220,

an average CD 3 of drag coefficients CD in the third segment is equal to or greater than 0.260,

an average CL 3 of lift coefficients CL in the third segment is equal to or greater than 0.220,

an average CD 4 of drag coefficients CD in the fourth segment is equal to or greater than 0.250, and

an average CL 4 of lift coefficients CL in the fourth segment is equal to or greater than 0.200,

each dimple has a contour shape that is non-circular, and

the golf ball satisfies the following mathematical formula:

( Rh max− Rh min)>( R 1 −R 2),

wherein, in the mathematical formula, Rhmax represents a radius variation range of a dimple having a maximum radius variation range Rh, Rhmin represents a radius variation range of a dimple having a minimum radius variation range Rh, R 1 represents an average radius of the dimple having a maximum radius variation range Rh, and R 2 represents an average radius of the dimple having a minimum radius variation range Rh.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein each dimple is obtained based on a contour of a Voronoi region assumed on a surface of a phantom sphere of the golf ball.

3. The golf ball according to claim 2 , wherein a pattern of the dimples is obtained by a designing process comprising the steps of:

(1) assuming a large number of circles on the surface of the phantom sphere;

(2) assuming a large number of generating points based on positions of the large number of circles;

(3) assuming a large number of Voronoi regions on the surface of the phantom sphere by a Voronoi tessellation based on the large number of generating points; and

(4) assigning a dimple and a land to the surface of the phantom sphere based on contours of the large number of Voronoi regions.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a radius variation range Rh of each dimple is equal to or greater than 0.4 mm.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein each dimple meets the following mathematical formula:

Rh/Rave ≧0.25,

wherein, in the mathematical formula, Rh represents a radius variation range, and Rave represents an average radius.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a difference between a radius variation range Rhmax of a dimple having a maximum radius variation range Rh and a radius variation range Rhmin of a dimple having a minimum radius variation range Rh is equal to or greater than 0.1 mm.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Apr 17, 2018
From: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
To: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 045959/0204 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2013
From: KIM, HYOUNGCHOL; ONUKI, MASAHIDE
To: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 031762/0808 →