Golf ball surface patterns comprising multiple channels

A golf ball having an improved surface pattern is disclosed. The golf ball has one or more channels or ridges on its surface. These ridges or channels may decrease drag, or may increase lift, and may increase or decrease flight symmetry. These channels or ridges may be linear, or may be curved, and may or may not fully circumscribe the golf ball. These channels or ridges may also be combined with traditional or non-traditional dimples.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf balls, and more particularly, to golf balls having improved surface patterns. More specifically, the present invention relates to golf balls having ridges or channels on the golf ball surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf balls generally include a spherical outer surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon. Conventional dimples are circular depressions that reduce drag and increase lift. These dimples are formed where a dimple wall slopes away from the outer surface of the ball forming the depression.

Drag is the air resistance that opposes the golf ball's flight direction. As the ball travels through the air, the air that surrounds the ball has different velocities, thus different pressures. The air exerts maximum pressure at a stagnation point on the front of the ball. The air then flows around the surface of the ball with an increased velocity and reduced pressure. At some separation point, the air separates from the surface of the ball and generates a large turbulent flow area behind the ball. This flow area, which is called the wake, has low pressure. The difference between the high pressure in front of the ball and the low pressure behind the ball slows the ball down. This is the primary source of drag for golf balls.

The dimples on a traditional golf ball cause a thin boundary layer of air adjacent to the ball's outer surface to flow in a turbulent manner. Thus, the thin boundary layer is called a turbulent boundary layer. The turbulence energizes the boundary layer and helps move the separation point further backward, so that the boundary layer stays attached further along the ball's outer surface. As a result, there is a reduction in the area of the wake, an increase in the pressure behind the ball, and a substantial reduction in drag. It is the circumference of each dimple, where the dimple wall drops away from the outer surface of the ball, which allows dimples to create the turbulence in the boundary layer.

Lift is an upward force on the ball that is created by a difference in pressure between the top of the ball and the bottom of the ball. This difference in pressure is created by a warp in the airflow that results from the ball's backspin. Due to the backspin, the top of the ball moves with the airflow, which delays the air separation point to a location further backward. Conversely, the bottom of the ball moves against the airflow, which moves the separation point forward. This asymmetrical separation creates an arch in the flow pattern that requires the air that flows over the top of the ball to move faster than the air that flows along the bottom of the ball. As a result, the air above the ball is at a lower pressure than the air underneath the ball. This pressure difference results in the overall force, called lift, which is exerted upwardly on the ball. The circumference of each dimple is important in optimizing this flow phenomenon, as well.

By using dimples to decrease drag and increase lift, almost every golf ball manufacturer has increased their golf ball flight distances. In order to improve ball performance, it is desirable to have a large number of dimples, hence a large amount of dimple circumference. In arranging the dimples, an attempt is made to minimize the space between dimples, because such space does not improve aerodynamic performance of the ball. In practical terms, this usually translates into 300 to 500 circular dimples with a conventional sized dimple having a diameter that typically ranges from about 0.100 inches to about 0.180 inches.

When compared to one conventional size dimple, theoretically, an increased number of small dimples will create greater aerodynamic performance by increasing total dimple circumference. However, in reality small dimples are not always very effective in decreasing drag and increasing lift. This results at least in part from the susceptibility of small dimples to paint flooding. Paint flooding occurs when the paint coat on the golf ball fills the small dimples, and consequently decreases the dimple's aerodynamic effectiveness.

Golf ball manufacturers continue to search for more efficient methods of changing the surface of a golf ball in order to improve the aerodynamics or to impart unique aerodynamic properties to golf balls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a golf ball with improved surface patterns. More specifically, the present invention relates to golf balls having a system of ridges or channels on the golf ball surface. Preferably, the edge angle of the ridges or channels is more than about 16°, preferably more than about 18°, and more preferably more than about 20°.

The present invention is further directed to a golf ball comprising a substantially spherical outer surface and a channel system comprising one or more channels formed thereon. The channels of the present invention may be straight or curved, may or may not circumscribe the golf ball. The channels may or may not intersect other channels. Preferably, the surface coverage of the channels is less than about 40%, preferably less than about 30%, or less than about 20% or less than about 10%.

In some embodiments, these channels may allow the golf ball to have orientation-specific aerodynamic properties, i.e., to fly differently depending on its orientation when hit off of a tee. In other embodiments, the channels allow the ball to have greater flight symmetry. In some embodiments, there may be both channels and dimples or other features on the surface of the golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment as illustrated inFIGS. 1-19, the present invention comprises a golf ball10having a channel system comprising one or more surface channels12to improve the ball's aerodynamics. Channels12may have any desired shape or pattern. This may include, but is not limited to, geometric patterns, fractal patterns, irregular patterns, linear and non-linear lines, and the like. In one embodiment, it may be desirable for the pattern to be a combination of at least two of geometric patterns, fractal patterns, irregular patterns, and lines. Golf ball10may have a single channel12that transcribes the ball as illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14or may comprise multiple intersecting or non-intersecting channels. Channels12may have any shape, including, but not limited to linear, circular, oval, arcuate, sinusoid, irregular, or combinations thereof. Channels of the present invention may also have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes, including, but not limited to, semicircular, parabolic, hyperbolic, polygonal, catenary, or irregular.

Preferably, channels12have an edge angle that is steeper than edge angles for conventional circular dimples. In one example, channels12have substantially the same depth as conventional circular dimples, but have a width that is significantly less than the diameter of conventional circular dimples, causing the edge angle to be steeper than the edge angle of conventional circular dimples, which typically ranges from 12°-16°. The edge angle of channels12is preferably greater than about 16°, more preferably greater than about 18°, and more preferably greater than about 20°. The edge angle can range from about 16° to about 90°, preferably from about 18° to about 40°, and more preferably from about 20° to about 30°.

Generally, it may be difficult to define and measure an edge angle of a depression such as a dimple or a channel on a golf ball due to the indistinct nature of the boundary dividing the depression from the ball's undisturbed land surface.FIG. 20shows a semi-profile30taken perpendicularly across channel or depression12, extending from the depression's centerline31(positioned at the deepest point of the profile and passing through the ball's center point) to land surface33outside of the depression. Due to the effects of the paint and/or the depression design itself, the junction between the land surface and the depression sidewall is not a sharp corner and is therefore indistinct. This can make the measurement of a depression's edge angle and width somewhat ambiguous. To resolve this problem, the ball phantom surface32is constructed above the depression as a continuation of land surface33. A first tangent line T1is then constructed at a point on the sidewall that is spaced about 0.003 inches radially inward from the phantom surface32. T1intersects phantom surface32at a point P1, which defines a nominal edge position. A second tangent line T2is then constructed, tangent to the phantom surface32, at P1. The edge angle is the angle between T1and T2. If the depression profile is not symmetrical across the centerline31, then the width of depression12is the distance between P1and its equivalent point directly opposite therefrom. Alternatively, if the profile is symmetrical across the centerline31, then the width is twice the distance between P1and the centerline31, measured in a direction perpendicular to centerline31.

Referring toFIGS. 1A-1C, ball10has a channel system comprising interconnecting channels12aand non-connecting channels12b(collectively channels12). In this embodiment, channels12comprise about 37.4% of the land surface. As shown inFIGS. 14A-C, channel12comprises about 5.1% of the land area. Channels12may comprise a large percentage of the land surface, but in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, they preferably comprise about 40% or less of the land surface, more preferably about 30% or less, about 20% or less or about 10% or less. The combination of a relatively low coverage of the land surface, i.e., about 40% or less, and relatively steep edge angle, i.e., about 16° or more, provides a unique aerodynamic package for golf ball10of the present invention that cannot be achieved with conventional circular dimples alone.

One advantage of having relatively low surface coverage is that golf ball10behaves more like a true sphere and less like a faceted object when putting. This would result in a truer direction of departure from the putter face, and a truer roll along the ground. This would be advantageous to all golfers, but especially to highly skilled golfers who will enjoy the full benefit of their putting skills because of the reduced influence of randomness.

In one example, as shown inFIG. 1, channels12provide ball10with unique orientation-specific aerodynamic properties. Ball10can be orientated at tee-off with arrow14,16, or18at the top of ball10and pointed along the target line. When ball10is struck along arrow14, it will have back spin in the direction of arrow14. The airflow over ball10would flow across the most channels12in this embodiment resulting in the most lift and causing the ball to have a relatively high trajectory and greater carry distance. The roll distance would be relatively short not only because of the high trajectory, but also because of extra traction provided by the groove orientation as the backspinning ball impacts the ground. When ball10is struck along arrows16or18, the airflow over the ball would flow along a plurality of channels12and across a smaller number of channels12, resulting in less lift and causing the ball to have a shallower trajectory and less carry distance. Roll distance would be longer, not only because of the low trajectory but also because of reduced traction provided by the groove orientation as the backspinning ball impacts the ground. This embodiment is expected to have at least one and preferably at least two different orientations, e.g.,14and16producing a peak trajectory height difference of at least 10% when compared to a third orientation, e.g.18, when launched at an initial speed of about 235 ft/sec, a launch angle of about 9.5°, and a backspin rate of about 3,000 rpm. The orientation specific aerodynamic properties are applicable to balls with channels12only and to balls with channels12and dimples.

Hence, the golfer may choose orientations14or16/18to tee the ball as playing conditions dictate. For example, when teeing into the wind a low trajectory using orientation16or18is preferred and teeing with the wind a high trajectory using orientation14is preferred. Similar orientations are shown inFIG. 2. Orientation dependent golf balls offer advantages in recreational non-tournament golf where it is not required to play a ball that conforms to USGA or R&A standards.

In cases where USGA or R&A standards are in force, it may be required to use a ball that flies essentially the same regardless of orientation. Accordingly, the orientation-specific aerodynamic properties produced by channels could actually be used to reduce a ball's tendency to fly differently in different orientations. Often, golf balls without channels will display orientation-specific flight characteristics due to a lack of symmetry in the arrangement of dimples, or as a result of artifacts of the manufacturing process such as seam buffing, or for other reasons. In such cases the orientation-specific properties of a system of channels could be used to partially or fully cancel those effects and make a ball that is less affected by orientation.

On the other hand, the embodiments shown inFIGS. 6,13A-13C and16-19provide airflow over the balls that are less orientation dependent due to the more symmetric distribution of channels12. For example, ball10inFIG. 17would have the same aerodynamic characteristics if it was oriented along arrow14,16, or18, as illustrated inFIG. 17.

The channels of the present invention can be used to produce golf balls having unique or specific appearances, such as the appearances of balls used in other sports, such as baseball or tennis (FIGS. 13A-13C), volleyball (FIG. 16), or soccer (FIGS. 18-19), or other non-traditional appearances that enhance their consumer appeal.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to include dimples, bumps, or other surface textures on the golf ball surface in addition to the channels. The dimples may be circular, or may have non-circular perimeters such as oval, hour-glass shape, regular and irregular polygons. Accordingly, the dimples may be triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or any other suitable polygonal shape or non-polygonal shapes, or may have polygonal and non-polygonal portions. Another advantage of the present invention is that channels12provide more efficient demarcation lines or groupings of non-traditional dimples. Exemplary non-traditional dimples include the surface textures disclosed in parent application Ser. No. 11/025,952, previously incorporated by reference in its entirety. In one example, the surface pattern shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of patent '952 application is added to a portion of ball10, illustrated inFIG. 7Cat grouping20. All surface patterns disclosed in this parent application can be used in the present invention. This pattern may be added to all the areas not covered by channels12, or combinations of distinct patterns can be used. Traditional circular dimples can also be used, as shown in grouping22. Non-traditional dimples such as figure-eight or barbell dimples can be used as well.

The channels are combined with dimples to increase the percentage of golf ball surface covered in dimples and channels to a level comparable to or greater than traditional golf balls. In one example, the surface coverage of channels12is in between about 5% to about 40% and the dimple coverage can be from about 40% to about 90%, with a total dimple/channel coverage ranging from about 60% to 95%. More preferably, the total dimple/channel coverage ranges from about 70% to 90%, and most preferably from about 75% to 85%. Theoretically the total coverage could reach virtually 100%, but this is likely to cause durability issues without producing any performance benefit.

In other embodiments, the channels are replaced with raised ridges. These ridges serve the same purposes as the channels, but may perturb the boundary layer in different, beneficial ways that may make ridges more useful for some of the purposes.