IP Library Granted Patent US 9,550,093
Granted Patent B2
US 9,550,093 · App. 14/839,387 · Granted Jan 24, 2017

Golf ball

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,550,093
App. No.
14/839,387
Granted
Jan 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf ball 2 includes a core 4 , a mid layer 6 and a cover 8 . The golf ball 2 further 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 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. A product THm of a thickness and a hardness for the mid layer 6 , and a product THc of a thickness and a hardness for the cover 8 satisfy the following mathematical formula. THc−THm ≦50

Claims (25)

1. A golf ball comprising a core, one or more mid layers positioned outside the core, and a cover positioned outside the mid layers, wherein:

the cover has a Shore D hardness greater than Shore D hardnesses of each of the mid layers by 2 or greater,

an average THm of products obtained by multiplying thickness (mm) by hardness (Shore D) for the respective mid layers, and a product THc of a thickness (mm) and a hardness (Shore D) for the cover satisfy the following mathematical formula:

THc−THm≦ 50,

the golf ball has a large number of dimples on a surface thereof,

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°,

the number of planes that can divide a dimple pattern of the hemisphere so that divided dimple patterns having mirror symmetry to each other is one,

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

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

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the average product THm and the product THc satisfy the following mathematical formula:

−50 ≦THc−THm.

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

4. 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

a dimple pattern of the pole vicinity region is rotationally symmetrical.

5. 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

a dimple pattern of the equator vicinity region is rotationally symmetrical.

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

7. 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%.

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 Aug 31, 2015
From: MIMURA, KOHEI; SAJIMA, TAKAHIRO
To: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 036456/0951 →