IP Library Granted Patent US 9,975,004
Granted Patent B2
US 9,975,004 · App. 14/752,491 · Granted May 22, 2018

Golf ball

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,975,004
App. No.
14/752,491
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf ball 2 includes a large number of dimples 10 on a surface thereof. The surface has a northern hemisphere N and a southern hemisphere S. Each of the hemispheres has a high-latitude region 14 , a mid-latitude region 18 and a low-latitude region 16 . The high-latitude region 14 has a latitude range of 40° or greater but 90° or less. The mid-latitude region 18 has a latitude range of 20° or greater but less than 40°. The low-latitude region 16 has a latitude range of 0° or greater but less than 20°. The number of planes that can divide a dimple pattern of the hemisphere so that divided dimple patterns are mirror symmetry to each other is one. Neither a dimple pattern of the high-latitude region 14 nor a dimple pattern of the low-latitude region 16 is rotationally symmetrical.

Claims (21)

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

when the surface is divided into a northern hemisphere and a southern hemisphere, each of the hemispheres includes a high-latitude region, a mid-latitude region and a low-latitude region,

the high-latitude region has a latitude range of equal to or greater than 40° but equal to or less than 90°,

the mid-latitude region has a latitude range of equal to or greater than 20° but less than 40°,

the low-latitude region has a latitude range of equal to or greater than 0° but less than 20°,

one plane can divide the hemisphere dimple pattern into divided dimple patterns that have mirror symmetry with respect to each other,

the high-latitude region dimple pattern is not rotationally symmetrical, and

the low-latitude region dimple pattern is not rotationally symmetrical.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the mid-latitude region dimple pattern is not rotationally symmetrical.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein

the high-latitude region includes a pole vicinity region,

the pole vicinity region has a latitude range of equal to or greater than 75° but equal to or less than 90°, and

the pole vicinity region dimple pattern is rotationally symmetrical.

4. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein

the low-latitude region includes an equator vicinity region,

the equator vicinity region has a latitude range of equal to or greater than 0° but less than 10°, and

the equator vicinity region dimple pattern is rotationally symmetrical.

5. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a great circle that does not intersect any dimple does not exist on the surface thereof.

6. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a total area of the dimples to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball is equal to or greater than 80%.

7. The golf ball according to claim 3 , wherein the pole vicinity region rotational angle is 60°, 72°, 90° or 120°.

8. The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein the equator vicinity region rotational angle is 60°, 72°, 90° or 120°.

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 Jun 29, 2015
From: SAJIMA, TAKAHIRO; MIMURA, KOHEI
To: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 035929/0271 →