Golf ball

Details Golf ball Golf ball

1998-10-28

2001-01-30

Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Ball

C473S378000, C473S383000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06179731

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf ball which follows a straight trajectory and has a good run and an increased total distance of travel.
2. Prior Art
Golf balls have hitherto been provided on the surface with numerous planar circular depressions, or recessed dimples, in order to enhance their aerodynamic properties. It is well known that, other factors being equal, golf balls with projections fly better than golf balls which are smooth and lack dimples.
When a full shot with a driver is taken with a dimpled golf ball, friction with the club head causes the ball to spin, which tends to lower the launch angle. To increase the distance traveled by the ball, the spin must be reduced so as to afford a higher launch angle.
Golf balls are manufactured in accordance with the Rules of Golf, which are the same throughout the world. The Rules hold that a regulation ball, meaning an official tournament ball, must have a ball diameter of not less than 42.67 mm (large-size ball).
However, a ball with a greater diameter has a larger cross-sectional surface area which, when subjected to the influence of the wind, results in a steeper angle of descent. This shortens the run of the ball after it lands and the total distance traveled. In addition, the trajectory is more likely to deviate laterally.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a golf ball which reduces spin, achieves a high launch angle and a straight trajectory, and has a good run and an increased total distance of travel.
To attain this object, the invention provides a golf ball having a substantially spherical surface. It is assumed that an imaginary circle with a radius of 5 mm is traced on the spherical surface and centered at any point on that surface. In a first embodiment, 3 to 25 raised projections of at least two types which are different in diameter and/or height and at least 0.01 mm high are contained in the circle.
In a second embodiment, raised projections of at least one type and at least 0.01 mm high and recessed dimples of at least one type are contained in a total number of 3 to 25 in the imaginary circle.
In the golf ball of this invention, the raised projections preferably account for at least about 30% of the surface area of the imaginary circle. Moreover, these raised projections, when projected onto the spherical surface, preferably have planar shapes which are circular and 1 mm to 4.2 mm in diameter, and preferably have a total projected surface area that accounts for 30 to 90% of the overall surface area of the golf ball. The golf ball of the invention typically has a surface hardness of 50 to 70 in Shore D. The spherical surface serves as land areas around the raised projections, and the ball preferably has a land diameter of not more than 42.66 mm.
In the inventive golf ball, from 3 to 25 raised projections of at least two types which are different in diameter and/or height and at least 0.01 mm high are encompassed in an imaginary circle with a radius of 5 mm traced on its spherical surface and centered at any point thereon, or raised projections of at least one type and at least 0.01 mm high and recessed dimples of at least one type are encompassed in a total number of 3 to 25 in the same imaginary circle. Preferably, the ball is provided with numerous raised projections such that the ratio of the total projected surface area when these projections are projected onto the ball's spherical surface to the overall surface area of the golf ball (sometimes referred to herein as the “raised projection coverage”) is 30 to 90%. With this construction, when a full shot with a driver is taken of the ball, the surface area of contact with the club head is much smaller. This enables a high launch angle and low spin rate to be achieved, resulting in a very long run and thus a significant increase in the total distance traveled by the ball.
Moreover, the large number of raised projections provided on the golf ball of this invention enable the diameter requirement for large-size balls to be satisfied while allowing the ball to essentially have a smaller diameter which leaves it less subject to influence by the wind and gives it straighter flight characteristics.
However, since raised dimples and recessed projections are alike other than being raised or recessed with respect to the spherical surface, it is convenient herein to treat both as falling under the concept of a dimple.
The objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description.


REFERENCES:
patent: 922773 (1909-05-01), Kempshall
patent: 1418220 (1922-05-01), White
patent: 5916044 (1999-06-01), Shimosaka et al.
patent: 27583 (1912-11-01), None
patent: 2215621 (1989-09-01), None

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