IP Library Granted Patent US 10,507,361
Granted Patent B2
US 10,507,361 · App. 15/663,036 · Granted Dec 17, 2019

Golf ball

Inventors: Takahiro Sajima (Kobe, JP); Kohei Mimura (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
A63B37/0006A63B37/0004A63B37/0005A63B37/0016A63B37/0017A63B37/0021A63B37/0022A63B37/0075A63B37/0076A63B37/0045A63B37/0047A63B37/0056A63B37/0064A63B37/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,507,361
App. No.
15/663,036
Granted
Dec 17, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf ball has a plurality of dimples 12 and a land 14 on a surface thereof. The golf ball further has a large number of minute projections 18 formed on surfaces of the dimples 12 and the land 14 . An average pitch Pav of these minute projections 18 is less than 100 μm. An average height Hav of these minute projections 18 is not less than 0.5 μm and not greater than 50 μm. The golf ball satisfies the following mathematical formula. L av<3* T av In the mathematical formula, Lav represents an average value of distances L between the minute projections 18 and other minute projections 18 adjacent to the minute projections 18 , and Tav represents an average value of widths T of these minute projections 18.

Claims (32)

1. A golf ball having a plurality of dimples and a land, wherein

the golf ball further has not less than 500 and not greater than 500,000 minute projections formed on surfaces of the dimples and/or the land,

an average pitch Pav of the minute projections is not less than 30 μm and not greater than 80 μm;

an average distance Lav of the minute projections is not less than 15 μm and not greater than 50 μm; and

an average height Hav of the minute projections is not less than 5 μm and not greater than 30 μm;

wherein the pitch is a distance between a center of gravity of a bottom surface of a first minute projection and a center of gravity of a bottom surface of a second minute projection;

wherein the second minute projection is the minute projection having a smallest distance to the first minute projection among the minute projections around the first minute projection; wherein the golf ball has a plurality of rows in each of which a plurality of minute projections are aligned at equal pitches; and

wherein the minute projections have a shape comprising a prism, a circular column, a truncated pyramid, a truncated cone, a pyramid, a cone, or a part of a sphere.

2. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball satisfies the following mathematical formula:

L av<3 *T av,

wherein Lav represents an average value of distances L between the minute projections and other minute projections adjacent to the minute projections, and Tav represents an average value of widths T of the minute projections.

3. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein

the golf ball includes a main body and a paint layer positioned outside the main body, and

the minute projections each stand outward in the radial direction of the golf ball.

4. A golf ball having a plurality of dimples and a land, wherein

the golf ball further has not less than 500 and not greater than 500,000 minute projections formed on surfaces of the dimples and/or the land,

an average pitch Pay of the minute projections is not less than 140 μm;

an average distance Lav of the minute projections is not less than 40 μm and not greater than 400 μm; and

an average height Hav of the minute projections is not less than 5 μm and not greater than 50 μm;

wherein the pitch is a distance between a center of gravity of a bottom surface of a first minute projection and a center of gravity of a bottom surface of a second minute projection;

wherein the second minute projection is the minute projection having a smallest distance to the first minute projection among the minute projections around the first minute projection; wherein the golf ball has a plurality of rows in each of which a plurality of minute projections are aligned at equal pitches;

wherein the golf ball has a main body and a paint layer, the main body includes a cover having a projection portion, and each minute projection is formed by the projection portion of the cover and the paint layer; and

wherein the minute projections have a shape comprising a prism, a circular column, a truncated pyramid, a truncated cone, a pyramid, a cone, or a part of a sphere.

5. The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein the golf ball satisfies the following mathematical formula:

L av>0.5 *T av,

wherein Lav represents an average value of distances L between the minute projections and other minute projections adjacent to the minute projections, and Tav represents an average value of widths T of the minute projections.

6. The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein

the golf ball includes a main body and a paint layer positioned outside the main body, and

the minute projections each stand outward in the radial direction of the golf ball.

7. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein an average value of widths of the minute projections is 10-60 μm.

8. The golf ball according to claim 4 , wherein an average value of widths of the minute projections is 40-400 μm.

9. The golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a main body and a paint layer, the main body includes a cover having a projection portion, and each minute projection is formed by the projection portion of the cover and the paint layer.

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 Jul 31, 2017
From: SAJIMA, TAKAHIRO; MIMURA, KOHEI
To: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 043143/0856 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2016-166388 · Aug 29, 2016 · national
JP 2016-166389 · Aug 29, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180056138A1 · Mar 1, 2018