Dimple patterns for golf balls
The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.
1. A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples disposed thereon, wherein the dimples are arranged in multiple copies of a first domain and a second domain, the first domain and the second domain being tessellated to cover the outer surface of the golf ball in a uniform pattern having no great circles and consisting of eight first domains and six second domains, and wherein:
the first domain has three-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the first domain;
the second domain has four-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the second domain;
the golf ball has a diameter of from 1.70 inches to 1.82 inches; and
the average plan shape area the average plan shape area of the dimples, A AVE , in inch 2 , relates to the total number of dimples, N on the outer surface of the golf ball, such that:
A AVE >1.617×10 −7 ( N 2 )−1.685×10 −4 ( N )+0.05729,
A AVE <2.251×10 −7 ( N 2 )−2.345×10 −4 ( N )+0.07973, and
250 <N< 450.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the golf ball is from 1.70 inches to 1.74 inches, and the average plan shape area of the dimples, A AVE , in inch 2 , relates to the total number of dimples, N, on the outer surface of the golf ball, such that:
A AVE >1.617×10 −7 ( N 2 )−1.685×10 −4 ( N )+0.05729,
A AVE <2.057×10 −7 ( N 2 )−2.143×10 −4 ( N )+0.07288, and
250 <N< 450.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the golf ball is from 1.74 inches to 1.78 inches, and the average plan shape area of the dimples, A AVE , in inch 2 , relates to the total number of dimples, N, on the outer surface of the golf ball, such that:
A AVE >1.694×10 −7 ( N 2 )−1.765×10 −4 ( N )+0.06002,
A AVE <2.153×10 −7 ( N 2 )−2.243×10 −4 ( N )+0.07627, and
250 <N< 450.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the golf ball is from 1.78 inches to 1.82 inches, and the average plan shape area of the dimples, A AVE , in inch, relates to the total number of dimples, N, on the outer surface of the golf ball, such that:
A AVE >1.773×10 −7 ( N 2 )−1.847×10 −4 ( N )+0.06281,
A AVE <2.251×10 −7 ( N 2 )−2.345×10 −4 ( N )+0.07973, and
250< N< 450.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples consists of spherical dimples having a circular plan shape and a cross-sectional profile defined by a spherical function.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples consists of dimples having a non-circular plan shape.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of dimples includes dimples having a non-circular plan shape and spherical dimples having a circular plan shape and a cross-sectional profile defined by a spherical function.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the number of different dimple diameters on the outer surface of the golf ball is 3 or greater.
9. A golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples disposed thereon, wherein the dimples are arranged in multiple copies of a first domain and a second domain, the first domain and the second domain being tessellated to cover the outer surface of the golf ball in a uniform pattern having no great circles and consisting of eight first domains and six second domains, and wherein:
the first domain has three-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the first domain;
the second domain has four-way rotational symmetry about the central point of the second domain;
the golf ball has a diameter of 1.82 inches or greater; and
the average plan shape area of the dimples, A AVE , in inch, relates to the total number of dimples, N, on the outer surface of the golf ball, such that:
A AVE >1.854×10 −7 ( N 2 )−1.931×10 −4 ( N )+0.06566, and
250< N< 450.
10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of dimples consists of spherical dimples having a circular plan shape and a cross-sectional profile defined by a spherical function.
11. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of dimples consists of dimples having a non-circular plan shape.
12. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of dimples includes dimples having a non-circular plan shape and spherical dimples having a circular plan shape and a cross-sectional profile defined by a spherical function.