Golf Ball

Abstract

[Problem to be solved] To provide a golf ball with improved flight distance due to improvement in aerodynamic properties by means of contriving dimple designs. The golf ball is in the shape of a sphere and is composed of dimples and lands excluding dimples, wherein said dimples are formed by elliptical dimples together with circular dimples, wherein one said elliptical dimple overlaps said circular dimples at both end parts in its major axis direction, said circular dimples and said elliptical dimples are connected with each other, and one said land is formed between three said elliptical dimples.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention specifically relates to improving the configurations of dimples and lands on the surface of a sphere of a golf ball.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a golf ball has plurality of dimples arranged on the surface of a golf ball to increase the aerodynamic property (lift/drag) by reducing the drag and increasing the lift. For example, making the surface shape of dimples non-circular such as elliptical (Patent Document 1, 4), making dual dimples by providing convex portions or concave portions in dimples (Patent Document 2), and the configuration of connecting the dimples with grooves, and such (Patent Document 3, 5) have been proposed.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H08-191905

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H08-238336

Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication H08-276035

Patent Document 4: Japanese Utility Model Registration Publication 3157248

Patent Document 5: International Publication W02010-143655

Patent Document 6: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2000-317014

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a golf ball with improved flight distance due to improvement in aerodynamic properties by means of contriving dimple designs.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the problem described above, the present invention adopted a golf ball in which the surface of a sphere is composed of dimples and lands excluding dimples, wherein said dimples are formed by elliptical dimples together with circular dimples, wherein one said elliptical dimple overlaps said circular dimples at both end parts in its major axis direction, respectively, said circular dimples and said elliptical dimples are connected with each other, and one said land is formed between three said elliptical dimples.

Effect of the Invention

Therefore, differently to the conventional golf ball with circular dimples formed, this golf ball has elliptical dimples together with circular dimples, and further has the composition wherein elliptical dimples overlap circular dimples, and elliptical dimples and circular dimples are connected with each other. Thus, increase in the amount of spin is restrained and the aerodynamic property (lift/drag) is increased, resulting in improving the flight distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1] A schematic front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] An enlarged cross sectional view of a main part along line a-a in FIG. 1.

[FIG. 3] A schematic front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 4] An enlarged cross sectional view of a main part along line b-b in FIG. 3.

[FIG. 5] A schematic front view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 6] An enlarged cross sectional view of a main part along line c-c in FIG. 5.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

100 golf ball

101 surface of a sphere

102 dimples

103 land

104 elliptical dimples

105 circular dimples

115 circular dimples

125 circular dimples

AD the maximum depth of the overlapping portion of circular dimples and elliptical dimples

BD the maximum depth of the central portion of circular dimples

CD the maximum depth of the central portion of elliptical dimples

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, 100 is a golf ball and its surface of a sphere 101 is composed of dimples 102 and lands 103 excluding dimples 102, wherein said dimples 102 are formed by elliptical dimples 104 together with circular dimples 105.

As for dimples 102, one said elliptical dimple 104 overlaps said circular dimples 105 at both end parts in its major axis direction 104a, 104b, respectively, and said circular dimples 105 and said elliptical dimples 104 are connected with each other.

Meanwhile, as for said land 103, one land 103 is formed between three said elliptical dimples 104, 104, 104. Therefore, one land 103 is surrounded by the peripheral edges of elliptical dimples 104, 104, 104 excluding both end parts in the major axis direction of elliptical dimples 104, 104, 104.

Therefore, differently to the conventional golf ball with circular dimples formed, this golf ball 100 is a golf ball with said dimples and said land formed repeatedly in a definite relation, has elliptical dimples 105 together with circular dimples 104, and further has the composition wherein elliptical dimples 104 overlap circular dimples 105, and elliptical dimples 104 and circular dimples 105 are connected with each other. Thus, increase in the amount of spin when this golf ball 100 is struck is restrained and the aerodynamic property (lift/drag) is increased.

Further, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a golf ball which differs in the point having circular dimples 115 formed in a conical shape with a hexagonal surface as an alternative to said circular dimples 105. Moreover, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show circular dimples 125 in which the tip portion of the land 103 is cut diagonally 107 as an alternative to said circular dimples 105.

And now, the maximum depth of the overlapping portion of said circular dimples and said elliptical dimples is preferably 0.1 to 0.15 mm, the maximum depth of the central portion of said circular dimples is preferably 0.23 to 0.28 mm, and the maximum depth of the central portion of said elliptical dimples is preferably 0.33 to 0.38 mm.

Differently to the conventional golf ball with circular dimples formed, both of these golf balls have elliptical dimples together with circular dimples, and further have the composition wherein elliptical dimples overlap circular dimples, and elliptical dimples and circular dimples are connected with each other. Thus, increase in the amount of spin is restrained and the aerodynamic property (lift/drag) is increased, resulting in improving the flight distance.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The golf ball of the present invention may be used by golfers of from beginners to professionals.

Claims

1. A golf ball in which the surface of a sphere is composed of dimples and lands excluding dimples, wherein said dimples are formed by elliptical dimples together with circular dimples, wherein one said elliptical dimple overlaps said circular dimples at both end parts in its major axis direction, respectively, said circular dimples and said elliptical dimples are connected with each other, and one said land is formed between three said elliptical dimples.

2. The golf ball according to the scope of claim 1 wherein the maximum depth of the overlapping portion of said circular dimples and said elliptical dimples is 0.1 to 0.15 mm, the maximum depth of the central portion of said circular dimples is 0.23 to 0.28 mm, and the maximum depth of the central portion of said elliptical dimples is 0.33 to 0.38 mm.