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Golf ballRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Ball, Particular Cover (e.g., Size, Material, Dimple Pattern, Etc.)Golf ball description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060068939, Golf ball. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a golf ball which excels in flight performance. [0002] For a golf ball to fly over a long distance, it should have a high rebound resilience and a low aerodynamic resistance attributable to dimples arranged on its surface. For the purpose of reducing aerodynamic resistance, there have been proposed several methods for arranging dimples on the ball surface as densely and uniformly as possible. [0003] FIG. 7 illustrates a golf ball (G) with dimples (s) arranged in an ordinary manner. Each dimple is a circular dent as viewed from above. If such circular dimples (s) are to be densely arranged, it is necessary to narrow down the flat part or land (t) separating adjoining dimples from each other. Even though the flat part (t) is infinitely narrow, there still exists a triangular or rectangular flat part of certain size in the area surrounded by three or four dimples. On the other hand, it is essential to arrange dimples as uniformly as possible on the ball's spherical surface. This necessitates making a compromise between the density and the uniformity of dimple arrangement. [0004] One conventional way to achieve the object of arranging dimples densely and uniformly was to arrange two to five kinds of dimples differing in diameter assuming that the ball's spherical surface is a polyhedron (e.g., regular octahedron or icosahedron). [0005] However, as far as dimples are circular, the total area of dimples practically accounts for only 75% or so in the surface area of the sphere, with the remainder being the area of flat parts or land. [0006] On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,615 discloses a new golf ball which has, in place of conventional dimples, a number of small hexagonal segments divided by thin ridges extending in a lattice pattern on the smooth spherical surface. [0007] However, such small hexagonal segments (which are not dimples) constitute the spherical surface whose center coincides with the center of the golf ball. Therefore, they do not reduce aerodynamic resistance so effectively. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention was completed in view of the foregoing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball which has improved aerodynamic performance due to dimples and achieves a long flying distance. [0009] After their extensive researches to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present inventors found that a golf ball having a number of dimples separated by edges on its surface exhibits improved aerodynamic performance due to dimples if the edges are formed from two or more edge elements joined together such that all or part of the joined parts as viewed from above are smoothly curved. The present invention is based on this finding. [0010] In general, the flight performance of a golf ball is affected by the total area of dimples that accounts for in the surface area of the golf ball. The greater the total area of dimples, the better the aerodynamic performance. The present invention is characterized in that the shape of the flat part or land is optimized so as to maximize the total area of the dimples. The golf ball designed in this manner has much better aerodynamic performance than conventional ones. An increase in the total area of dimples on the ball surface means a decrease in the area of flat parts. The present inventors found that the shape of flat parts separating dimples from each other greatly affects the flying distance of the golf ball. The present invention provides the golf ball defined in the following. [0011] [1] A golf ball having on its surface a number of dimples and a number of edges separating dimples from each other, wherein the edges are formed from a plurality of edge elements joined together such that some of the joining parts of the edge elements assume a smoothly curved shape as viewed from above. [2] The golf ball of [1], wherein the dimples include non-circular dimples and the joining parts of the edge elements dividing the non-circular dimples assume a smoothly curved shape as viewed from above. [3] The golf ball of [1], wherein the joining parts, which assume a smoothly curved shape as viewed from above, are arcs with a radius of curvature (R) of 0.5 to 10 mm. [4] The golf ball of [1], wherein the edge element has a cross section assuming an arc. [5] The golf ball of [1], wherein the dimples are formed by combination of circular dimples and non-circular dimples. [6] The golf ball of [1], wherein the wall surface of dimples which continues from the curved joining part of the edge elements is formed in a curved shape like the curved joining part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the golf ball of Example 1 of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 is a partly enlarged view of the surface of the golf ball shown in FIG. 1. [0014] FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2. [0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3. [0016] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the golf ball used in Examples of the present invention. Continue reading about Golf ball... Full patent description for Golf ball Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf ball patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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