FR2661101A1 - BALL OF GOLF HAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF ALVEOLES IN ITS SPHERICAL SURFACE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A particular shape of the alveoli on the surface of a golf ball improved surface coverage and aerodynamic properties over conventional circular alveoli. According to the invention, the hollows or cells (14) each have the shape of a regular isodiametric figure with an odd number of sides and rounded vertices. The number of sides of each cell is advantageously from three (equilateral triangle) to thirteen (regular tridecagon). The cells are preferably arranged in a repeating uniform pattern defined by the projection of the ridges (12-23) of a regular polyhedron onto the surface of the ball (10). The invention relates to improving the characteristics, in particular aerodynamics, of balls used in the practice of golf.

Description

This invention relates to golf balls and more particularly

  the hollow called formed cells

in their spherical surfaces.

  For many years now, it has been known to equip a golf ball with a large number of cells in order to optimize the aerodynamic properties of the ball. These cells are generally circular in plan view, although it has also been used , in particular, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal shapes

and hexagonal.

  The rules laid down by the

  athletes in this sport require relatively

  golf balls from an aerodynamic point of view

  the golf player also attaches great importance to the distance likely to be covered by the reduction of the drag exerted on the ball during its flight. In order to meet these needs, the patterns of the cells of a golf ball have a great importance both with regard to the shape of the cells and with regard to the reason according to which

the cells are arranged.

  The use of circular cells imposes undesirable stresses on the surface coverage and the maintenance of the optimal relationship between neighboring cells to minimize the drag exerted on the bullet, but a constant diameter is also a desirable feature for create

  uniformity in aerodynamic behavior.

  However, it has been found that cells that are non-circular but "isodiametral is T (having the same

  length in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction

  tal or following two directions or orthogonal diameters) plan views, can not only bring a much greater surface coverage efficiency, but

  also provide better aerodynamic properties

  Thus, the invention provides a golf ball, having in its spherical surface a plurality of cells, which is characterized in that each cell, seen from above, affects the shape of a regular isodiametral figure with a odd number of sides and vertices in the form of arcs. The isodiametral figure can have up to thirteen sides and can be, for example, an equilateral triangle, a pentagon, heptagon or regular enneagon, or a regular polygon with eleven or thirteen

sides.

  The cells are preferably arranged in a repeating uniform pattern on the surface

spherical ball.

  This pattern can be defined, according to an advantageous embodiment, by the projection of the edges of a regular polyhedron on the spherical surface of the ball. Examples of regular polyhedra

  the invention include cube, octahedron, dodecyl

  cedar, licosahedron and licosi-dodecahedron (32-sided polyhedron). The invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a golf ball having triangular isodiametral cells arranged in a regular dodecahedral pattern; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a golf ball having pentagonal isodiametric cells arranged in a regular icosahedral pattern; and FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a golf ball having pentagonal isodiametric cells arranged in a regular dodecahedral pattern. FIG. 1 shows a golf ball 10 provided with a large number of cells 11. Each cell has the shape of an equilateral triangle with arcuate tops. The pattern of the cells is indicated by dashed lines indicated by 12 to 23 and representing the projection of the edges of a regular dodecahedron on the

spherical surface of the ball.

  FIG. 2 shows a golf ball 30 having a large number of cells 31. Each cell has the shape of a regular pentagon with arcuate tops and the pattern of the cells is indicated by dashed lines designated 32 to 41. and representing the projection of the edges of a regular icosahedron on the

spherical surface of the ball.

  According to FIG. 3, a golf ball 50 is provided with a large number of cells 51. Each cell is in the form of a regular pentagon with arcuate tops and the pattern of the cells is indicated by dashed lines designated by FIG. at 61 and representing the projection of the edges of a regular dodecahedron on the

spherical surface of the ball.

Claims (4)

REVENDI CATIONS   1 Golf ball having a plurality of golf balls   vesoles in its spherical surface, characterized in that each cell (11, 31, 51), seen from above, affects the shape of an isodiametral figure (of the same length along two orthogonal diameters) regular with a   odd number of sides and vertices in the form of arcs.   2 golf ball according to claim 1, characterized in that the isodiametral figure is an equilateral triangle (11) or a regular pentagon (31, 51). Golf ball according to claim 1, characterized in that the isodiametral figure is a regular heptagon, a regular enneagon, a regular polygon having eleven sides or a regular polygon having thirteen sides.   Golf ball according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cells are arranged on the surface of the ball in a repetitive uniform pattern and that the pattern is defined by the projection on the surface of the ball (10, 30, 50) the edges (12 to   23, 32 to 41, 52 to 61) of a regular polyhedron.   Golf ball according to claim 4, characterized in that the regular polyhedron is a cube,   a regular octahedron, a regular dodecahedron, an ico-   regular sahedron or an icosi-dodecahedron (polyhedron 32 faces) regular.