Golf ball   

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of sports equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to golf balls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A golfer may desire to improve range and accuracy of his/her shot by aligning their club to the ball prior to each swing. Because typical golf balls lack alignment features, it may be problematic to achieve a desired alignment. Furthermore, because typical golf balls may not have markings in view of the golfer during a swing, it may be difficult to focus on a site on the golf ball.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention, and is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description that is presented later.

A golf ball may have one, two, three or more continuous dynamic focus patterns on the exterior surface of the golf ball, in which each continuous dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide and circumscribes the golf ball and the center of each continuous dynamic focus pattern coincides with the center of the golf ball. The golf ball may have at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns uniformly distributed on the exterior surface, in which each discrete dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The continuous dynamic focus patterns may be the same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns. Similarly, the discrete dynamic focus patterns may be the same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns.

FIG. 1 depicts a golf ball formed according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a golf ball formed according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a golf ball formed according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a golf ball formed according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a golf ball formed according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts examples of continuous dynamic focus patterns.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball formed according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball formed according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball formed according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball formed according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball formed according to a eighth embodiment.

FIG. 12 depicts possible shapes of discrete dynamic focus patterns.

FIG. 13, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 depict golf balls with both continuous dynamic focus patterns and discrete dynamic focus patterns.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described with reference to the attached figures, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawn to scale and they are provided merely to illustrate the invention. Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide an understanding of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. The present invention is not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordance with the present invention. For the purposes of this description, the term “approximately” is understood to mean within tolerances incurred during formation of the embodiments described herein.

In a first set of embodiments, a golf ball may have one, two, three or more continuous dynamic focus patterns on an exterior surface of the golf ball. Each continuous dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. Each continuous dynamic focus pattern circumscribes the golf ball and a center of each continuous dynamic focus pattern coincides with a center of the golf ball. The continuous dynamic focus patterns may have a same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns. In an embodiment with two continuous dynamic focus patterns, the two continuous dynamic focus pattern may intersect each other at right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into four approximately equal areas. In an embodiment with three continuous dynamic focus patterns, each continuous dynamic focus pattern may intersect the other continuous dynamic focus patterns at right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into eight approximately equal areas.

In a second set of embodiments, a golf ball may have at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns distributed on the exterior surface. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The discrete dynamic focus patterns may be a same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns. In one embodiment, a golf ball may have four discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 109 degrees (a circumference of the golf ball having 360 degrees). In another embodiment, a golf ball may have six discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 90 degrees. In yet another embodiment, a golf ball may have eight discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 70 degrees. In a further embodiment, a golf ball may have twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 63 degrees. In yet a further embodiment, a golf ball may have twenty discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 42 degrees.

In a third set of embodiment, a golf ball may have any combination of continuous dynamic focus patterns and at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns distributed on the exterior surface. One or more of the discrete dynamic focus patterns may be located in paths of one or more of the continuous dynamic focus patterns.

For the purposes of this description, the term “substantially equal” is understood to mean equal within manufacturing tolerances or unintended variations encountered during fabrication of embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts a golf ball (100) formed according to a first embodiment. The golf ball (100) has exactly one continuous dynamic focus pattern (102) disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (100). A center of a circle traced by the continuous dynamic focus pattern (102) coincides with a center of the golf ball (100). The continuous dynamic focus pattern (102) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. The continuous dynamic focus pattern (102) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of circles, squares, or other shapes so as to form a stripe. The continuous dynamic focus pattern (102) may be one color, for example, black, red, blue or green, or may be composed of more than one color, such as alternating red and black areas, so as to form a stripe.

FIG. 2 depicts a golf ball (200) formed according to a second embodiment. The golf ball (200) has exactly two continuous dynamic focus patterns: a first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and a second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (200). A center of a first circle traced by the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) coincides with a center of the golf ball (200). Similarly, a center of a second circle traced by the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) coincides with the center of the golf ball (200). The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of circles, squares, or other shapes so as to form a stripe. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of shapes so as to form a stripe. The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) may be one color, for example, black, red, blue or green, or may be composed of more than one color, such as alternating red and black areas, so as to form a stripe. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be one color or may be composed of more than one color. Intersections of the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be symmetric, as depicted in FIG. 2, or may have the first stripe (202) overlapping the second stripe (204), or vice versa.

In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) may intersect the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) at right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into four approximately equal areas. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be approximately the same width. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may have similar patterns, that is, may both have solid patterns, or both be linear patterns of similar shapes such as squares. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be of the same color. In another version, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be of different colors.

FIG. 3 depicts a golf ball (300) formed according to a third embodiment. The golf ball (300) has exactly three continuous dynamic focus patterns: a first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), a second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and a third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (300). A center of a first circle traced by the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), a center of a second circle traced by the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304), and a center of a third circle traced by the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) each coincide with a center of the golf ball (300). The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide, and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of circles, squares, or other shapes so as to form a stripe. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of shapes so as to form a stripe, and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of shapes so as to form a stripe. The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302) may be one color, for example, black, red, blue or green, or may be composed of more than one color, such as alternating red and black areas, so as to form a stripe. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) may be one color or may be composed of more than one color, and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be one color or may be composed of more than one color. Intersections of the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be symmetric, or may have one stripe (302), (304), (306) overlapping another stripe (302), (304), (306) as depicted in FIG. 3.

In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may intersect at angles substantially equal to right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into eight approximately equal areas. In one version of the instant embodiment, widths of the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be substantially equal. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may have similar patterns, that is, all three may have solid patterns, or both be linear patterns of similar shapes such as squares. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be of the same color. In another version, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be of different colors.

FIG. 4 depicts a golf ball (400) formed according to a fourth embodiment. The golf ball (400) has exactly three continuous dynamic focus patterns: a first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402), a second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404) and a third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (400). A center of a first circle traced by the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402), a center of a second circle traced by the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404), and a center of a third circle traced by the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) each coincide with a center of the golf ball (400). The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide, and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of circles, squares, or other shapes so as to form a stripe. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of shapes so as to form a stripe, and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) may be a solid pattern, or a linear pattern of shapes so as to form a stripe. The first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402) may be one color, for example, black, red, blue or green, or may be composed of more than one color, such as alternating red and black areas, so as to form a stripe. Similarly, the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404) may be one color or may be composed of more than one color, and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) may be one color or may be composed of more than one color. In the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) may intersect at common locations, as depicted in FIG. 4. Moreover, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (402), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (404) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (406) may be uniformly distributed on the exterior surface of the golf ball (400) as depicted in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 depicts a golf ball (500) formed according to another embodiment. Any of the continuous dynamic focus pattern configurations described in reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 may be manifested as light colored (for example white, light yellow, pale blue, pale green or light gray) continuous dynamic focus patterns (502) on a dark colored exterior surface of the golf ball (500). Regions (504) of the exterior surface of the golf ball (500) between the continuous dynamic focus patterns (502) may be a single color or shade, or may be different colors or shades as depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 depicts examples of continuous dynamic focus patterns as discussed in reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5. In one embodiment, a first continuous dynamic focus pattern (600) may be a solid stripe of a single color. In another embodiment, a second continuous dynamic focus pattern (602) may be an interrupted stripe of elongated colored shapes (604), in which separations (606) between the elongated colored shapes (604) are less than 1 millimeter long. In a further embodiment, a third continuous dynamic focus pattern (608) may be formed of a plurality of colored shapes. In yet another embodiment, a fourth continuous dynamic focus pattern (610) may include non-rectangular shapes such as circles, separated by less than 1 millimeter distance. In another embodiment, a fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern (612) may include more than one shape, for example circles and rectangles, separated by less than 1 millimeter distance.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball (700) formed according to a fourth embodiment. The golf ball (700) has exactly four discrete dynamic focus patterns (702), depicted as circles, disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (700). The discrete dynamic focus patterns (702) are disposed so that each pair of discrete dynamic focus patterns (702) is separated by approximately 109 degrees (a circumference of the golf ball (700) having 360 degrees). Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (702) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The four discrete dynamic focus patterns (702) may be the same size, or different sizes. FIG. 12 depicts possible shapes of discrete dynamic focus patterns, such as the four discrete dynamic focus patterns in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (702) may be, for example, a hollow circle with a filled center, a lightening bolt, a heart, an arrow, a solid circle, a solid square, a solid triangle, a star, a cross, a reverse cross, a hollow circle, a hollow square, a hollow triangle, as depicted in FIG. 12, or other shape. The four discrete dynamic focus patterns (702) may be the same shape, or may be different shapes. The four discrete dynamic focus patterns (702) may be a same color, or may be different colors.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball (800) formed according to a fifth embodiment. The golf ball (800) has exactly six discrete dynamic focus patterns (802), depicted as circles, disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (800). The discrete dynamic focus patterns (802) are disposed so that each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns (802) is separated by approximately 90 degrees. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (802) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The six discrete dynamic focus patterns (802) may be the same size, or different sizes. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (802) may be, for example, a solid circle, a solid square, a solid triangle, a star, a cross, a reverse cross, a hollow circle, a hollow square, a hollow triangle, as depicted in FIG. 12, or other shape. The six discrete dynamic focus patterns (802) may be the same shape, or may be different shapes. The six discrete dynamic focus patterns (802) may be a same color, or may be different colors.

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball (900) formed according to a sixth embodiment. The golf ball (900) has exactly eight discrete dynamic focus patterns (902), depicted as circles, disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (900). The discrete dynamic focus patterns (902) are disposed so that each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns (902) is separated by approximately 70 degrees. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (902) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The eight discrete dynamic focus patterns (902) may be the same size, or different sizes. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (902) may be, for example, a solid circle, a solid square, a solid triangle, a star, a cross, a reverse cross, a hollow circle, a hollow square, a hollow triangle, as depicted in FIG. 12, or other shape. The eight discrete dynamic focus patterns (902) may be the same shape, or may be different shapes. The eight discrete dynamic focus patterns (902) may be a same color, or may be different colors.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball (1000) formed according to a seventh embodiment. The golf ball (1000) has exactly twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns (1002), depicted as circles, disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (1000). The discrete dynamic focus patterns (1002) are disposed so that each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns (1002) is separated by approximately 63 degrees. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (1002) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns (1002) may be the same size, or different sizes. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (1002) may be, for example, a solid circle, a solid square, a solid triangle, a star, a cross, a reverse cross, a hollow circle, a hollow square, a hollow triangle, as depicted in FIG. 12, or other shape. The twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns (1002) may be the same shape, or may be different shapes. The twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns (1002) may be a same color, or may be different colors.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are front and back views, respectively, of a golf ball (1100) formed according to a eighth embodiment. The golf ball (1100) has exactly twenty discrete dynamic focus patterns (1102), depicted as circles, disposed on an exterior surface of the golf ball (1100). The discrete dynamic focus patterns (1102) are disposed so that each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns (1102) is separated by approximately 42 degrees. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (1102) is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The twenty discrete dynamic focus patterns (1102) may be the same size, or different sizes. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern (1102) may be, for example, a solid circle, a solid square, a solid triangle, a star, a cross, a reverse cross, a hollow circle, a hollow square, a hollow triangle, as depicted in FIG. 12, or other shape. The twenty discrete dynamic focus patterns (1102) may be the same shape, or may be different shapes. The twenty discrete dynamic focus patterns (1102) may be a same color, or may be different colors.

It will be recognized that a golf ball may be formed with both continuous dynamic focus patterns and discrete dynamic focus patterns, as depicted in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. FIG. 13 depicts a golf ball (1300) with two continuous dynamic focus patterns (1302) and four discrete dynamic focus patterns (1304).

FIG. 14 depicts a golf ball (1400) with five continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402) and 26 discrete dynamic focus patterns (1404) of which 17 discrete dynamic focus patterns (1404) are shown in the face of the golf ball (1400) depicted in FIG. 14 and another nine are present on an opposing face. Four of the five continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402) intersect at two opposite locations on the exterior surface of the golf ball (1400). The fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern (1402) is located substantially equally between the two intersection locations of the first four continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402) so that the fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern (1402) intersects each of the first four continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402) at angles substantially equal to a right angle. Eight of the discrete dynamic focus patterns (1404) are disposed in paths of the fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern (1402) at the intersections of the fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern (1402) with the first four continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402). Two of the discrete dynamic focus patterns (1404) are disposed in paths of the first four continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402) at the intersection locations of the first four continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402). Each of the remaining 16 discrete dynamic focus patterns (1404) are disposeds in a region bounded by the continuous dynamic focus patterns (1402), distributed one discrete dynamic focus pattern (1404) per bounded region.

FIG. 15 depicts a golf ball (1500) with three continuous dynamic focus patterns (1502) and fourteen discrete dynamic focus patterns (1504) of which nine discrete dynamic focus patterns (1504) are shown in the face of the golf ball (1500) depicted in FIG. 15 and another five are present on an opposing face. Each of the continuous dynamic focus patterns (1502) intersects the remaining two continuous dynamic focus patterns (1502) at angles substantially equal to a right angle. Six of the discrete dynamic focus patterns (1504) are disposed at the intersections of the continuous dynamic focus patterns (1502). Each of the remaining eight discrete dynamic focus patterns (1504) is disposed in a region bounded by the continuous dynamic focus patterns (1502), distributed one discrete dynamic focus pattern (1504) per bounded region.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.