Golf ball

A golf ball includes a ball cover including a first and second hemispheric cups attached to each other to form a hollow spheroid and a solid ball core covered by the ball cover. Each of the first and second hemispheric cups has two semi-conical engagement edges fittingly engaged with two semi-conical connection edges of the other hemispheric cup so as to integrally unite the first hemispheric cup and the second hemispheric cup together to form the ball cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The prevent invention relates to sport equipment, and more particularly to a golf ball which is capable of reducing the moment of inertia so as to enhance the spin motion thereof.

2. Description of Related Arts

Conventional golf balls are classified into thread wound golf balls and solid core golf balls. The solid golf ball, such as a two-piece solid golf ball, is generally approved or used by most of amateur golfers because of its long flying distance and excellent flying performance. Referring toFIG. 1, the conventional solid golf ball comprises a solid ball core and a ball cover covering the solid ball core. However, such conventional solid golf ball has several drawbacks.

In order to receive the solid ball core, having two halves cores C1, C2, in the ball cover, the ball cover is usually constructed by two hemispheric cups S1, S2in such a manner that the solid ball core is covered with the two hemispheric cups S1, S2. Then, by sealedly attaching the hemispheric cups S1, S2together in an edge to edge manner, the solid ball core is securely covered by the ball cover. However, a connection seam is formed on the circumference of the ball cover, which provides an uneven roundness of the golf ball. Especially every time when the golfer hits the golf ball, the golf ball will be preformed an irregular spin motion. Even though the manufacturer tries to minimize the irregular spin motion by altering the attachment of the hemispheric cups S1, S2, the connection seam cannot be eliminated due to the nature of connecting two physical matters together.

Moreover, when the spherical golf ball is required to be constructed by joining two semi-spherical halves, such as the ball cover or the solid ball core, to form a spheroid, the biggest problem is how to minimize the friction and torque formed therebetween during rotation and impact. Even applying extra strong adhesive between two connecting surfaces, such combined spheroid is still weak for torque.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball, which comprises a ball cover constructed by two identical joint portions of two hemispheric cups united together with minimum friction between the contacting surfaces and minimized stress occurred at the connecting joint portions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which comprises a solid ball core constructed by two symmetrical pieces while minimizing the friction between all contacting surfaces and the stress of all connecting portion during rotation and impact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball, wherein the two joint portions of two hemispheric cups are symmetrically identical that each provides a curved and smooth joint surface so as to enable the two joint portions to fittingly engage with each other integrally.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball, wherein the two hemispheric cups are perfectly and firmly connected together, so as to enhance the spin motion of the golf ball.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a golf ball, comprising:

a ball cover comprising a first hemispheric cup and a second hemispheric cup attached to the first hemispheric cup edge to edge to form a hollow spheroid; and

a solid ball core covered by the ball cover;

wherein the first hemispheric cup has two identical first semi-conical engagement edges symmetrically outwardly projecting at two sides thereof and two identical first semi-conical connection edges inwardly projecting between the two first semi-conical engagement edges, wherein the two first semi-conical engagement edges are symmetrically and continuously extended between the two first semi-conical connection edges so as to form a continuous first joint edge for the first hemispheric cup;

wherein the second hemispheric cup has two identical second semi-conical engagement edges symmetrically outwardly projecting at two sides thereof and two identical second semi-conical connection edges inwardly projecting between the second first semi-conical engagement edge, wherein the two second semi-conical engagement edges are symmetrically and continuously extended between the two second semi-conical connection edges so as to form a continuous second joint edge for the second hemispheric cup;

wherein a cone height of each of the first and second semi-conical engagement edges is equal to a cone height of each of the first and second semi-conical connection edges, and the size and shape of the first hemispheric cup and the second hemispheric cup are identical and symmetrical, wherein the two second semi-conical engagement edges are fittingly engaged with the two first semi-conical connection edges respectively while the two second semi-conical connection edges are fittingly engaged with the two first semi-conical engagement edges respectively, so as to integrally unite the first hemispheric cup and the second hemispheric cup together to form the ball cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 2 through 8, a golf ball according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the golf ball comprises a ball cover10comprising a first hemispheric cup11and a second hemispheric cup12attached to the first hemispheric cup11edge to edge to form a hollow spheroid and a solid ball core20covered by the ball cover10.

As shown inFIG. 3, the first hemispheric cup11has two identical first semiconical engagement edges111symmetrically outwardly projecting at two sides thereof and two identical first semi-conical connection edges112inwardly projecting between the two first semi-conical engagement edges111.

The two first semi-conical engagement edges111are symmetrically and continuously extended between the two first semi-conical connection edges112so as to form a continuous first joint edge110for the first hemispheric cup11.

The second hemispheric cup12has two identical second semi-conical engagement edges121symmetrically outwardly projecting at two sides thereof and two identical second semi-conical connection edges122inwardly projecting between the second first semi-conical engagement edges121.

The two second semi-conical engagement edges121are symmetrically and continuously extended between the two second semi-conical connection edges122so as to form a continuous second joint edge120for the second hemispheric cup12.

A cone height of each of the first and second semi-conical engagement edges111,121is equal to a cone height of each of the first and second semi-conical connection edges112,122, and the size and shape of the first hemispheric cup11and the second hemispheric cup12are identical and symmetrical, so that the two second semi-conical engagement edges121are fittingly engaged with the two first semi-conical connection edges112respectively while the two second semi-conical connection edges122are fittingly engaged with the two first semi-conical engagement edges111respectively, so as to integrally unite the first hemispheric cup11and the second hemispheric cup12together to form the ball cover10.

Accordingly, simply applying an axial pressure to attach the first and second hemispheric cups11,12towards each other, the continuous first and second joint edges110,120will be firmly joint together to form the ball cover10. Since the continuous first and second joint edges110,120share a common center point100and both contacting surfaces of the continuous first and second joint edges110,120are curved and smooth edge surfaces extended radially for the center point100to the circumference of the ball cover10, the continuous first joint edge110of the first hemispheric cup11is intercrossed with the continuous second joint edge120of the second hemispheric cup12that the first and second semi-conical engagement edges111,121are respectively engaged with the second and first semi-conical connection edges122,112with maximum contact surface area therebetween. Preferably, an attachment element such as glue is applied on each of the continuous first and second joint edges110,120of the first and second hemispheric cups11,12in order to securely and sealedly attach the first and second hemispheric cups11,12together to form the hollow spheroid of the ball cover10.

As shown inFIG. 3, each of the first and second hemispheric cups11,12has a plurality of dimples101spacedly provided on the an outer circumferential surface thereof wherein the dimples101are provided along each of the continuous first and second joint edges110,120of the first and second hemispheric cups11,12respectively. In other words, each of the dimples101is not formed on a connection edge between the continuous first and second joint edges110,120of the first and second hemispheric cups11,12respectively.

The first and second hemispheric cups11,12are arranged to cover the conventional solid ball core C in order to form the golf ball, wherein the center of the conventional solid ball core C is the center point100of the ball cover10.

As shown inFIG. 5, the solid ball core20comprises a first core body201and a second core body202attached to the first core body201to form a spheroid, wherein a radius of the solid ball core20must be slightly smaller than an inner radius of the ball cover10, so that the solid ball core20is fittingly covered by the first and second hemispheric cups11,12of the ball cover10.

Accordingly, the first core body201has a first joint portion21which comprises two identical first semi-conical engagement tongues211symmetrically projecting at two sides thereof so as to define two identical first semi-engagement grooves212symmetrically indented between the two first semi-conical engagement tongues211. The two first semi-conical engagement tongues211respectively define two first conically curved tongue surfaces213symmetrically facing with each other, and the two first semi-conical engagement grooves212respectively define two first conically curved groove surfaces214symmetrically and continuously extended between the two first conically curved tongue surfaces213, so as to form a continuous first joint surface210for the first joint portion21.

The second core body202has a second joint portion22which comprises two identical second semi-conical engagement tongues221symmetrically projecting at two sides thereof so as to define two identical second semi-engagement grooves222symmetrically indented between the two second semi-conical engagement tongues221. The two second semi-conical engagement tongues221respectively define two second conically curved tongue surfaces223symmetrically facing with each other, and the two second semi-conical engagement grooves222respectively define two second conically curved groove surfaces224symmetrically and continuously extended between the two second conically curved tongue surfaces223, so as to form a continuous second joint surface220for the second joint portion22.

A cone height of each of the first and second semi-conical engagement tongues211,221is equal to a cone height of each of the first and second semi-conical engagement grooves212,222, and thus the size of the shape of the first joint portion21and the second joint portion22are identical and symmetrical, so that the two second semi-conical engagement tongues221are fittingly engaged in the two first semi-conical engagement grooves212respectively while the first semi-conical engagement tongues211are fittingly engaged in the two second semi-conical engagement grooves222respectively, so as to integrally unite the first joint portion21and the second portion22together to form the spheroid of the solid ball core20.

Accordingly, the solid ball core20is capable of forming the ball cover10, by excavating center portions of the first and second bodies201,202to form the first and second hemispheric cups11,12respectively wherein each of the first and second hemispheric cups11has the uniformed thickness.

It is worth to mention that each of the continuous first joint edge110of the first hemispheric cup11and the continuous second joint edge120for the second hemispheric cup12is inclinedly extended from an inner circumferential surface to an outer circumferential surface, i.e. projecting from the center point100of the respective first and second hemispheric cup11,12, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Therefore, the continuous first joint edge110of the first hemispheric cup11is fittedly engaged with the continuous second joint edge120of the second hemispheric cup12with maximum contact surface area therebetween, so as to symmetrically unite with each other to form an integral body. Moreover, the continuous first and second joint edges110,120are mutually support with each other in all directions for resisting any axial separating force so as to provide a perfect spin motion of the golf ball.

As shown inFIG. 6, the first and second core bodies201,202are separated and shown in edge to edge condition so as to illustrate their symmetrical shapes, wherein four tip edges of the two first conically curved tongue surfaces213and the two second conically curved tongue surfaces223form a square space having a side equal to a radius of the spheroid formed by joining the first and second core bodies201,202together.

As shown inFIGS. 6to8, it is worth to indicate that the four first and second conically curved tongue surfaces213,223and the four first and second conically curved groove surfaces214,224are extended from a geometrical center of each of the first and second core bodies201,202outwardly at 45°. When we need to combine the two core bodies201,202symmetrically to form the solid ball core20, such spheroid as disclosed above is a prefect joint structure to be used.

In order to form the first joint portion21for the first core body201or the second joint portion22for the second core body202, two cone holes can be drilled at two opposing end of a sphere body coaxially to form the two semi-conical engagement grooves, wherein the cone height of each cone hole must be equal to the radius of the sphere body. Then, form a continuous groove extended between the two cone holes so as to define the two semi-conical engagement tongues projected between the two semiconical engagement grooves. Thus, the first and second core bodies201,202, which are made in this way and have an identical shape and size, are capable of joint together to form the spheroid of the solid ball core20.

It is worth to mention again that, as shown inFIGS. 5to8, simply applying an axial pressure to push the first and second core bodies201,202towards each other, the first and second joint portions21,22will be firmly joined together to form the spheroid of the solid ball core20, wherein the first joint surface210and the second joint surface220are also fittingly met with each other.

Again, since the first and second joint portions21,22share the common center point200and all contacting surfaces of the first and second joint portions21,22are curved and smooth surfaces extended outwardly and radially at 45° from the center point200to the circumference of the solid ball core20, the first portion21is intercrossed with the second portion22that the first and second semi-engagement tongues211,221are respectively engaged in the second and first semi-engagement grooves222,212with maximum contact surface area therebetween, so as to symmetrically unite with each other to form the spheroid, wherein each of the first and second semi-conical engagement tongues211,221is embraced by the respective second and first semi-conical engagement groove222,212, so that all the 45° inclined engaging surfaces contacting between the first and second joint portions21,22mutually support with each other in all directions. When adhesive is applied to the first and second joint surfaces210,220, the first and second core bodies201,202will be unite to an integral spherical body, i.e. the spheroid, having minimized friction between the first and second joint surfaces210,220and minimized stress in the first and second joint portions21,22during rotation and impacts.

The ball solid core20is adapted for being covered by the conventional ball cover having two hemispheric cups S1, S2, as shown inFIG. 1, to form the golf ball, wherein the center of the conventional ball cover S1, S2is the center point100of the ball solid core20. Ideally, the ball solid core20is formed by the first and second core bodies201,202and the ball cover10is formed by the first and second hemispheric cups11,12wherein the ball solid core20is covered by the ball cover10and share the common center point100to form the golf ball.