Abstract:
A dimpled configuration for a golf ball wherein each hemisphere has substantially the same dimple pattern, the dimple pattern comprising a dimple located at each pole, a hexagon formation of dimples comprising six substantially equally spaced lines of dimples radiating outwardly from the pole dimple to thereby define six triangular areas in the hexagon formation, six substantially equally spaced pentagon formations of dimples interposed between the hexagon formation of dimples and the equator of the ball, one side of each pentagon formation being substantially parallel to one side of the hexagon formation, and additional dimples located between the lines of the hexagon, pentagon, and equator.

Description:
This invention relates generally to golf balls and more particularly to a specific arrangement of the dimples on a golf ball. 
     It is generally known that for any given selected number of dimples on a golf ball, it is desirable that the area of the surface of the golf ball covered by the dimples be a maximum in order to provide the best flight characteristics for a golf ball. In British Patent Provisional Specification Serial No. 377,354, filed May 22, 1931, in the name of John Vernon Pugh, there is disclosed the fact that by the use of an icosahedral lattice for defining dimple patterns on a golf ball it is possible to make a geometrically symmetrical ball. This icosahedral lattice is developed by the known division of a sphere or spherical surface into like areas determined by an inscribed regular polyhedron such as an icosahedron. The Pugh specification specifically details the means of plotting the icosahedron on the surface of the golf ball and, accordingly, will not be dealt with in detail here. Thus, with a selected number and size of dimples placed in this icosahedral pattern, the area of the surface of the ball covered by the dimples is fixed. 
     A problem arises with the Pugh icosahedron golf ball in that there is no equatorial line on the ball which does not pass through some of the dimples on the ball. Since golf balls are molded and manufactured by using two hemispherical half molds normally having straight edges, the ball as it comes from the mold has a flash line about the equatorial line created by the two hemispheres of the mold. Such molding results in a clear flash line. Even if the ball could be molded with dimples on the flash line, the ball could not be properly cleaned and finished in any efficient manner since the flash could not be cleaned from the bottom of the dimple without individual treatment of each dimple. 
     The Pugh ball is geometrically symmetrical. Any changes in dimple location which affect the aerodynamic symmetry under U.S.G.A. standards will render the ball illegal for sanctioned play. Many proposals have been made and balls have been constructed with a modification of the Pugh icosahedral pattern so as to provide an equatorial line which is free of dimples. Again, it is emphasized that any such modification must be aerodynamically symmetrical. 
     Other dimple patterns have been proposed which use various geometrical arrangements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,664 to Pocklington et al discloses a golf ball having a dimple configuration arranged in these different patterns comprising a pentagon at each pole, five trapezoid formations in each hemisphere, and five triangular formations in each hemisphere. 
     U.S.G.A. rules of golf require that the ball shall be designed and manufactured to perform in general as if it were aerodynamically symmetrical. A golf ball which is dimpled in some manner may be geometrically symmetrical and not aerodynamically symmetrical. A perfect example of a golf ball which is both geometrically symmetrical and aerodynamically symmetrical is a smooth sphere. As is well known, this ball is not capable of providing the necessary performance required in present-day golf. To conform, all balls must be aerodynamically symmetrical. This symmetry is determined by actual tests of the ball as it is being struck by a machine which belongs to the U.S.G.A. 
     It has also been found that it is desirable to cover as much of the surface as possible with the dimples. While a great deal of the surface may be covered by making the dimples quite small, it has been found that this imparts some undesirable characteristics to the ball. At the same time, when larger diameter dimples are used and all the dimples are the same size, they should be arranged so as to cover the maximum surface area of the ball. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dimpled golf ball wherein a substantially maximum area of the surface is covered by dimples. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a dimpled golf ball wherein the dimples are specifically arranged using a hexagon/pentagon arrangement. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a golf ball having a dimple configuration wherein each hemisphere has substantially the same dimple pattern, the dimple pattern comprising a dimple located at each pole, a hexagon formation of dimples comprising six substantially equally spaced lines of dimples radiating outwardly from the pole dimple to thereby define six triangular areas in the hexagon formation, six substantially equally spaced pentagon formations of dimples interposed between the hexagon formation of dimples and the equator of the ball, one side of each pentagon formation being substantially parallel to one side of the hexagon formation, with additional dimples located between the lines of the hexagon, pentagon, and equator to substantially cover the surface of the ball. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the ball of the present invention taken from one of the poles thereof; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along an offset line from the equatorial line of the ball of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along the equatorial line of the ball of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, there is shown a golf ball having two poles P and an equatorial line E--E which effectively divides the ball into hemispheres. Each hemisphere has dimple patterns which are substantially identical, with the equator establishing a dimple-free line about the ball. 
     Each hemisphere has a dimple located at the pole P. A hexagon formation of dimples is formed by having six substantially equally spaced lines of dimples radiating outwardly from the pole P. Each of the lines of the dimples contains three dimples in addition to the polar dimple P. The last dimples comprising the radiating lines are interconnected by a plurality of dimples so as to form a hexagon having sides 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 facing the equatorial line. In the illustration of the preferred embodiment as shown, there are two dimples between each of the dimples at the ends of the radiating lines. 
     The above configuration effectively forms six equal triangles and the triangles all include a further dimple within each triangle. 
     Six substantially equally spaced pentagon formations are interposed between the hexagon formation of dimples and the equator, with one side of each of the pentagons such as sides 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, and 34 being substantially parallel to adjacent sides 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 of the hexagon dimple formation. 
     FIG. 3 shows one of the pentagons with sides 33, 35, 37, 39, and 41, with one of the points of the pentagon being adjacent the equator E--E. As shown, this leaves a space between the lower legs of the pentagons and the equator, which space is filled with dimples (in this particular embodiment there are three dimples between each of the pentagons). 
     As is usually the case in forming any dimple configurations about a ball, some slight adjustments are made with the dimples after the basic pattern is arranged so as to avoid overlapping of the dimples and yet covering as much surface of the ball as possible. 
     In the preferred embodiment, using a standard size golf ball, there are 211 dimples in each hemispherical surface, providing a ball having a total of 422 dimples. In the preferred configuration shown, the dimples all have diameters of substantially 0.140 inch and are all of the same diameter and depth. The depth of the dimples is substantially 0.0098 inch. 
     With the ball being of a standard diameter and having 422 dimples of 0.140 inch in diameter, the following are the physical coordinates of each of the dimples in one hemisphere. As previously stated, the two hemispheres are substantially identical. 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________DIMPLE LATITUDE       LONGITUDE      DIMPLENUMBER Degrees      Minutes           Seconds                Degrees                     Minutes                          Seconds                               DIAMETER__________________________________________________________________________1     0    0    0     0   0    0    0.1402     9    53   30    0   0    0    0.1403     9    53   30    60  0    0    0.1404     9    53   30   120  0    0    0.1405     9    53   30   180  0    0    0.1406     9    53   30   240  0    0    0.1407     9    53   30   300  0    0    0.1408     17   18   0     30  0    0    0.1409     17   18   0     90  0    0    0.14010    17   18   0    150  0    0    0.14011    17   18   0    210  0    0    0.14012    17   18   0    270  0    0    0.14013    17   18   0    330  0    0    0.14014    19   46   45    0   0    0    0.14015    19   46   45    60  0    0    0.14016    19   46   45   120  0    0    0.14017    19   46   45   180  0    0    0.14018    19   46   45   240  0    0    0.14019    19   46   45   300  0    0    0.14020    26   39   45    19  18   15   0.14021    26   39   45    40  41   30   0.14022    26   39   45    79  18   15   0.14023    26   39   45   100  41   30   0.14024    26   39   45   139  18   15   0.14025    26   39   45   160  41   30   0.14026    26   39   45   199  18   15   0.14027    26   39   45   220  41   30   0.14028    26   39   45   259  18   15   0.14029    26   39   45   280  41   30   0.14030    26   39   45   319  18   15   0.14031    26   39   45   340  41   30   0.14032    29   40   15    0   0    0    0.14033    29   40   15    60  0    0    0.14034    29   40   15   120  0    0    0.14035    29   40   15   180  0    0    0.14036    29   40   15   240  0    0    0.14037    29   40   15   300  0    0    0.14038    36   35   15    20  30   45   0.14039    36   35   15    39  29   15   0.14040    36   35   15    80  30   45   0.14041    36   35   15    99  29   15   0.14042    36   35   15   140  30   45   0.14043    36   35   15   159  29   15   0.14044    36   35   15   200  30   45   0.14045    36   35   15   219  29   15   0.14046    36   35   15   260  30   45   0.14047    36   35   15   279  29   15   0.14048    36   35   15   320  30   45   0.14049    36   35   15   339  29   15   0.14050    39   28   15    0   0    0    0.14051    39   28   15    60  0    0    0.14052    39   28   15   120  0    0    0.14053    39   28   15   180  0    0    0.14054    39   28   15   240  0    0    0.14055    39   28   15   300  0    0    0.14056    44   37   15    30  0    0    0.14057    44   37   15    90  0    0    0.14058    44   37   15   150  0    0    0.14059    44   37   15   210  0    0    0.14060    44   37   15   270  0    0    0.14061    44   37   15   330  0    0    0.14062    45   27   0     12  25   15   0.14063    45   27   0     47  34   45   0.14064    45   27   0     72  25   15   0.14065    45   27   0    107  34   45   0.14066    45   27   0    132  25   15   0.14067    45   27   0    167  34   45   0.14068    45   27   0    192  25   15   0.14069    45   27   0    227  34   45   0.14070    45   27   0    252  25   15   0.14071    45   27   0    287  34   45   0.14072    45   27   0    312  25   15   0.14073    45   27   0    347  34   45   0.14074    50   43   45    0   0    0    0.14075    50   43   45    60  0    0    0.14076    50   43   45   120  0    0    0.14077    50   43   45   180  0    0    0.14078    50   43   45   240  0    0    0.14079    50   43   45   300  0    0    0.14080    53   8    45    22  45   0    0.14081    53   8    45    37  15   0    0.14082    53   8    45    82  45   0    0.14083    53   8    45    97  15   0    0.14084    53   8    45   142  45   0    0.14085    53   8    45   157  15   0    0.14086    53   8    45   202  45   0    0.14087    53   8    45   217  15   0    0.14088    53   8    45   262  45   0    0.14089    53   8    45   277  15   0    0.14090    53   8    45   322  45   0    0.14091    53   8    45   337  15   0    0.14092    55   57   45    10  46   30   0.14093    55   57   45    49  13   30   0.14094    55   57   45    70  46   30   0.14095    55   57   45   109  13   30   0.14096    55   57   45   130  46   30   0.14097    55   57   45   169  13   30   0.14098    55   57   45   190  46   30   0.14099    55   57   45   229  13   30   0.140100   55   57   45   250  46   30   0.140101   55   57   45   289  13   30   0.140102   55   57   45   310  46   30   0.140103   55   57   45   349  13   30   0.140104   61   25   45    30  0    0    0.140105   61   25   45    90  0    0    0.140106   61   25   45   150  0    0    0.140107   61   25   45   210  0    0    0.140108   61   25   45   270  0    0    0.140109   61   25   45   330  0    0    0.140110   61   59   30    0   0    0    0.140111   61   59   30    60  0    0    0.140112   61   59   30   120  0    0    0.140113   61   59   30   180  0    0    0.140114   61   59   30   240  0    0    0.140115   61   59   30   300  0    0    0.140116   64   24   45    19  34   0    0.140117   64   24   45    40  26   0    0.140118   64   24   45    79  34   0    0.140119   64   24   45   100  26   0    0.140120   64   24   45   139  34   0    0.140121   64   24   45   160  26   0    0.140122   64   24   45   199  34   0    0.140123   64   24   45   220  26   0    0.140124   64   24   45   259  34   0    0.140125   64   24   45   280  26   0    0.140126   64   24   45   319  34   0    0.140127   64   24   45   340  26   0    0.140128   65   56   45    9   25   45   0.140129   65   56   45    50  34   15   0.140130   65   56   45    69  25   45   0.140131   65   56   45   110  34   15   0.140132   65   56   45   129  25   45   0.140133   65   56   45   170  34   15   0.140134   65   56   45   189  25   45   0.140135   65   56   45   230  34   15   0.140136   65   56   45   249  25   45   0.140137   65   56   45   290  34   15   0.140138   65   56   45   309  25   45   0.140139   65   56   45   350  34   15   0.140140   71   35   45    30  0    0    0.140141   71   35   45    90  0    0    0.140142   71   35   45   150  0    0    0.140143   71   35   45   210  0    0    0.140144   71   35   45   270  0    0    0.140145   71   35   45   330  0    0    0.140146   73   15   15    0   0    0    0.140147   73   15   15    60  0    0    0.140148   73   15   15   120  0    0    0.140149   73   15   15   180  0    0    0.140150   73   15   15   240  0    0    0.140151   73   15   15   300  0    0    0.140152   74   31   0     20  7    30   0.140153   74   31   0     39  52   45   0.140154   74   31   0     80  7    30   0.140155   74   31   0     99  52   45   0.140156   74   31   0    140  7    30   0.140157   74   31   0    159  52   45   0.140158   74   31   0    200  7    30   0.140159   74   31   0    219  52   45   0.140160   74   31   0    260  7    30   0.140161   74   31   0    279  52   45   0.140162   74   31   0    320  7    30   0.140163   74   31   0    339  52   45   0.140164   75   29   45    9   59   15   0.140165   75   29   45    50  0    45   0.140166   75   29   45    69  59   15   0.140167   75   29   45   110  0    45   0.140168   75   29   45   129  59   15   0.140169   75   29   45   170  0    45   0.140170   75   29   45   189  59   15   0.140171   75   29   45   230  0    45   0.140172   75   29   45   249  59   15   0.140173   75   29   45   290  0    45   0.140174   75   29   45   309  59   15   0.140175   75   29   45   350  0    45   0.140176   81   41   45    30  0    0    0.140177   81   41   45    90  0    0    0.140178   81   41   45   150  0    0    0.140179   81   41   45   210  0    0    0.140180   81   41   45   270  0    0    0.140181   81   41   45   330  0    0    0.140182   83   48   15    0   0    0    0.140183   83   48   15    60  0    0    0.140184   83   48   15   120  0    0    0.140185   83   48   15   180  0    0    0.140186   83   48   15   240  0    0    0.140187   83   48   15   300  0    0    0.140188   84   37   30    20  26   15   0.140189   84   37   30    39  33   45   0.140190   84   37   30    80  26   15   0.140191   84   37   30    99  33   45   0.140192   84   37   30   140  26   15   0.140193   84   37   30   159  33   45   0.140194   84   37   30   200  26   15   0.140195   84   37   30   219  33   45   0.140196   84   37   30   260  26   15   0.140197   84   37   30   279  33   45   0.140198   84   37   30   320  26   15   0.140199   84   37   30   339  33   45   0.140200   85   5    45    10  13   15   0.140201   85   5    45    49  46   45   0.140202   85   5    45    70  13   15   0.140203   85   5    45   109  46   45   0.140204   85   5    45   130  13   15   0.140205   85   5    45   169  46   45   0.140206   85   5    45   190  13   15   0.140207   85   5    45   229  46   45   0.140208   85   5    45   250  13   15   0.140209   85   5    45   289  46   45   0.140210   85   5    45   310  13   15   0.140211   85   5    45   349  46   45   0.140__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     With this particular dimple configuration, and using the dimple size indicated, at least 73% of the surface of the ball is covered with dimples. The ball has the necessary symmetry and flight characteristics so as to meet U.S.G.A. requirements. 
     It is to be understood that the description and drawings are illustrative only since the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.