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Inside structure of dimple for golf ball

Inside structure of dimple for golf ball description/claims

The present invention relates, in general, to dimple structures for golf balls and, more particularly, to a dimple structure for golf balls in which a protrusion is integrally provided in a dimple of a golf ball, thus increasing the contact area between the golf ball and the head of a golf club when striking the golf ball with the golf club, thereby preventing the golf ball from being deformed due to the impact force applied to the golf ball when striking the golf ball, and increasing the distance that the golf ball is driven by increasing the resilient force of the golf ball to promote rapid initial motion of the golf ball, and in which, because a plurality of protrusions gives the golf ball a more closely circular shape, a rolling action of the golf ball on a putting green becomes stable, thus ensuring more precise and accurate putting.

Generally, golf balls are classified according to the structure thereof into various kinds of golf balls, for example, a one piece golf ball having a single structure, a two piece golf ball which is provided with a core and a cover to surround the core, and a three piece golf ball of a solid type which has a double core structure, including an inner core and an outer core surrounding the inner core, and which is provided with a cover to surround the double core.

Typically, such various golf balls have plural dimples which have predetermined concave shapes and are configured on an outer surface of a golf ball in a predetermined arrangement.

Dimples are intended to improve the driving distance of a golf ball when struck by a golf club by reducing air resistance on the driving golf ball.

Every existing golf ball includes such dimples on an outer surface thereof. Because driving characteristics of a golf ball depend on the disposition, sizes, shapes and depths of the dimples, studies have been conducted on the dimples. In particular, it has been a goal to reduce air resistance on the driven golf ball by varying the shape, number or arrangement of dimples of the golf ball.

However, in conventional golf balls which are provided with dimples having concave shapes, when a golf ball is struck by a golf club, the golf ball may be deformed at a contact surface between the golf ball and the head of the golf club. As such, if the golf ball is deformed when struck by the golf club, air resistance on the golf ball increases. As a result of this, the driven golf ball curves in an undesirable direction. Furthermore, the time required to drive the golf ball using the reaction force and resilient force occurring when the golf ball is struck increases, thus decreasing the distance that the golf ball is driven.

As an example of prior arts to solve the above-mentioned problems, a golf ball having a plurality of reinforcing members as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was proposed.

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the conventional golf ball having the reinforcing members. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional golf ball having the reinforcing members. As shown in the drawings, the conventional golf ball includes an inner core 10 having an elastic body, an outer core 20 and a cover 30. The reinforcing members 40 are radially provided between the inner core 10 and the outer core 20. Each reinforcing member 40 is made of metal and has a bar shape. Furthermore, a plurality of circular dimples is formed on an outer surface of the cover 30.

In the above-mentioned conventional golf ball having therein the reinforcing members 40, because the reinforcing members 40 are provided in the golf ball in radial directions from the center of the golf ball to the outside, when the golf ball is struck by a golf club, the impact, transmitted from the golf club head to the outer surface of the cover 30 of the golf ball, is gathered through the reinforcing members 40 at the inner core 10, which is located at the center of the golf ball. At this time, the reinforcing members 40 prevent the golf ball from being undesirably deformed due to the impact transmitted from the golf club, thus increasing the distance that the golf ball is driven.

However, the conventional golf ball having the reinforcing members therein is problematic in that manufacturing costs increase due to the separate reinforcing members. Furthermore, because the reinforcing members are made of metal bars, when impact is transmitted from a golf club to the golf ball, the elastic inner and outer cores and the cover may be damaged by the reinforcing members.

In FIG. 3, a golf ball having a plurality of impact transmission members therein is shown as another example of prior arts unlike the golf ball of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the golf ball having the impact transmission members therein. As shown in FIG. 3, this golf ball includes a spherical inner core 10 which is positioned at the center of the golf ball and has a first core 10a and a second core 10b, and an outer core 20 which surrounds an outer surface of the inner core 10. The golf ball further includes the impact transmission members 40a which are placed in the outer core 20 and supported by the inner core 10 to transmit outside impact to the inner core 10. The golf ball further includes a cover 30 which surrounds the outer core 20 and prevents the impact transmission members 40a from being exposed to the outside.

In the above-mentioned conventional golf ball having the impact transmission members 40a, because the impact transmission members 40a are provided in the golf ball in radial directions from the center of the golf ball to the outside, when the golf ball is struck by a golf club, the impact, transmitted from the golf club head to the outer surface of the cover 30 of the golf ball, is transmitted through the impact transmission members 40a to the first core 10a of the inner core 10 which is placed at the center of the golf ball. At this time, the impact transmission members 40a prevent the golf ball from being deformed due to the impact transmitted from the golf club, thus increasing the distance that the golf ball is driven.

In other words, when impact energy from the golf club head is applied to the golf ball, the impact energy is transmitted to the first core of the inner core via the cover and the impact transmission members. This impact energy acts as the force to drive the golf ball. At this time, reaction force reacting to the impact energy transmitted to the inner core is generated in the golf ball. This reaction force is transmitted to the cover through the impact transmission members, thus preventing the golf ball from being deformed at the impact portion thereof at which the golf ball comes into contact with the golf club head.

However, this golf ball has a problem of increased manufacturing costs due to the separate impact transmission members, as in the above-mentioned golf ball having therein the reinforcing members. Furthermore, the productivity is reduced. In addition, in a process of striking the golf ball with a golf club, the impact transmission members may damage the elastic inner and outer cores and the cover when the impact is transmitted to impact transmission members.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dimple structure for golf balls in which a protrusion is integrally provided in a dimple of a golf ball having a concave shape, thus increasing the contact area between the golf ball and the head of a golf club when striking the golf ball with the golf club, and increasing the resilient force of the golf ball against the golf club head, thereby increasing the distance that the golf ball is driven.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dimple structure for golf balls which is able to prevent a golf ball, which comes into contact with the head of a golf club when struck by the golf club, from being undesirably deformed, and increase the resilient force of the golf ball to promote a rapid initial motion of the golf ball.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dimple structure for golf balls in which, as a plurality of protrusions gives a golf ball a more closely circular shape, a rolling action of the golf ball on a putting green becomes stable, thus ensuring more precise and accurate putting, and which is able to increase the amount of backspin on the golf ball when an approach shot is executed near the putting green, thus allowing the rolling action of the golf ball on the putting green to be easily controlled.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dimple structure for golf balls which prevents the elastic inner and outer cores and a cover of a golf ball from damage.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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