Dimple patterns for golf balls

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface that significantly improves aerodynamic symmetry and minimizes parting line visibility by arranging the dimples in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. One or more irregular domains may have an initial dimple sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples wherein the dimple sub-pattern is packed in one or more irregular domains; and the unfilled regions of the irregular domains are packed with dimples and the irregular domains are tessellated around the golf ball surface.

1 . A golf ball surface having a polyhedral arrangement of dimples comprising: one or more irregular domains containing dimples; and an initial sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples within at least one of the irregular domain(s). 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a dimple sub-pattern is packed within the edges of one or more irregular domains, and the unfilled regions of the irregular domains are packed with dimples and the irregular domains are tessellated around the golf ball surface. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a dimple sub-pattern is packed on the edges of one or more irregular domains, and the unfilled regions of the irregular domains are packed with dimples and the irregular domains are tessellated around the golf ball surface. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a dimple sub-pattern includes being packed, both on the edges and within the edges of one or more irregular domains, and the unfilled regions of the irregular domains are packed with dimples and the irregular domains are tessellated around the golf ball surface. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a dimple sub-pattern is packed in a first irregular domain; and the unfilled region of the first irregular domain is packed with dimples surrounding the sub-pattern; additional irregular domains are packed with an arrangement of dimples and the irregular domains are tessellated around the golf ball surface. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a dimple sub-pattern is packed in a first and second irregular domain; the unfilled regions of the first and second irregular domains are packed with dimples surrounding the sub-pattern; and the irregular domains are tessellated around the ball surface. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples is visually distinct from the other packed dimples. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball according to  claim 7 , wherein the sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples exhibit different perimeter shape, or dimple profile, or color, or texture, or grooves, or brambles or a combination therein from the dimples not contained within the sub-pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball according to  claim 6 , wherein the sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples has a circular perimeter with a diameter ranging between 0.100 to 0.220 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball according to  claim 8 , wherein the sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples have non-circular perimeters which if circumscribed by a circle are in a diameter range between 0.100 to 0.270 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball according to  claim 2 , wherein each sub-pattern contains 2 to 80 nearest neighbor dimples within the irregular domain. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the base geometry of each irregular domain contains 10 to 115 dimples. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the surface coverage of dimples on the golf ball is between 70 to 90 percent. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball according to  claim 2 , wherein the surface coverage of the sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples is between 10 to 60 percent. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 8 , wherein the dimple profile is selected from a group consisting of spherical, Gabriel's horn, catenary, conical, Witch of Agnesi, ellipse, superposition of two curves or spherically weighted profiles. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 8 , wherein the dimple profile is selected from a group consisting of circular, polygonal, or elliptical. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyhedron is selected from a group consisting of tetrahedron, or cube, or octahedron, or dodecahedron, or icosahedron. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein a parting line of the golf ball intersects two edges of each sub-pattern section. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the dimples are arranged to create a staggered parting line through the segment.