Wind tolerant ball

Abstract

The ball is a thin-walled hollow sphere that includes an array of apertures with dimples in a pattern that are concentric to the aperture array. Dimples are provided on the exterior surface of the ball between the apertures with the pattern and dimensions of the dimples varying based on proximity to the apertures. Internal protuberances are provided on the interior surface of the hollow ball such that the interior surface also manages aerodynamic airflow through the ball. Channels are also provided around each of the apertures within the ball which may intersect proximate dimples or be spaced therefrom. The ball also includes apertures having converging and diverging sidewalls that form a venturi shape to increase inflow air into the apertures and outflow air out of the apertures. Finally, the ball also maintains a weight:diameter ratio within a fixed range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball, comprising:
 a shell comprising a hollow core, a diameter, a weight, a thickness between an exterior surface and an interior surface and a weight: diameter ratio between the weight and the diameter, wherein the weight is between 27 and 52 grams, wherein the diameter is between 2.5 and 3.5 inches and wherein the weight:diameter ratio is between 9.3 and 20.8;   a plurality of apertures within the exterior surface; and   a plurality of dimples on the exterior surface, wherein each dimple comprises a perimeter edge along the exterior surface and a depression recessed a dimple depth from the perimeter edge into the exterior surface.   
     
     
         2 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter edge of each of the plurality of dimples further comprise a circumferential shape and a dimple diameter, wherein the depression of each of the plurality of dimples further comprises a hemispherical shape, and wherein a group of dimples from the plurality of dimples concentrically surround at least one of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The ball of  claim 2  further comprising a circumferential channel surrounding at least one of the apertures, wherein the circumferential channel comprises a pair of opposing edges along the exterior surface and a base recessed a channel depth from the opposing edges into the exterior surface of the shell, wherein the circumferential channel intersects a respective set of dimples from the group of dimples concentrically surrounding the aperture, wherein the opposing edges are spaced by a channel width, wherein the channel width is less than the dimple diameter of the respective set of dimples, and wherein the channel depth is no greater than the dimple depth of the respective set of dimples. 
     
     
         4 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a circumferential ring surrounding at least one of the apertures, wherein the circumferential ring comprises a pair of ring edges along the interior surface and a sidewall spacing the pair of ring edges by a ring width, wherein the sidewall comprises a curvature between the pair of ring edges and protrudes a ring height to a ring peak within the hollow core of the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein the shell further comprises a pair of opposing poles and an equator equidistant from each of the opposing poles, wherein a first aperture from the plurality of apertures is centered on a first of the opposing poles, wherein a second aperture from the plurality of apertures is centered on a second of the opposing poles, wherein a first group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a first line of latitude between the first pole and the equator, wherein a second group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a second line of latitude between the first line of latitude and the equator, wherein a third group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a third line of latitude between the second pole and the equator, and wherein a fourth group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a fourth line of latitude between the third line of latitude and the equator. 
     
     
         6 . The ball of  claim 5 , wherein the first group of apertures and the third group of apertures each consist of 5 apertures equally spaced around the first line of latitude and the third line of latitude, respectively, and wherein the wherein the second group of apertures and the fourth group of apertures each consist of 10 apertures equally spaced around the second line of latitude and the fourth line of latitude, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising an ink indicia printed on the exterior surface, wherein the ink indicia comprises a center region having first ink depth, a middle region having a second ink depth, and an outer region having a third ink depth, wherein the second ink depth is less than the third ink depth and greater than the first ink depth. 
     
     
         8 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein a group of dimples from the plurality of dimples comprise a proximal set of dimples and a distal set of dimples, wherein the proximal set of dimples are situated proximate to a corresponding aperture, and wherein the distal set of dimples are spaced a distance away from the proximal set of dimples opposite from the corresponding aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The of ball  claim 8  further comprising a middle set of dimples between the proximal set of dimples and the distal set of dimples, wherein at least one of the dimple diameter and the dimple depth of the second distal set of dimples are unequal to the respective dimple diameter and the respective dimple depth of at least one of the proximal set of dimples and the distal set of dimples. 
     
     
         10 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein each of the apertures further comprises an exterior edge and an interior edge connected by a sidewall, wherein the exterior edge connects to the exterior surface, wherein the interior edge connects to the interior surface, wherein the sidewall comprises a first segment, a second segment and an inflection between the first segment and the second segment, wherein the first segment is angled between the inflection and the exterior edge, and wherein the second segment is angled between the inflection and the interior edge. 
     
     
         11 . The ball of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of protuberances on the interior surface of the shell, wherein each protuberance comprises a perimeter base along the interior surface and a peak protruding a height from the perimeter base into the hollow core. 
     
     
         12 . The ball of  claim 1 , wherein a group of dimples from the plurality of dimples respectively comprise a plurality of sets of dimples concentrically surrounding a corresponding aperture from the plurality of apertures, wherein a proximal set of dimples from the plurality of sets of dimples is proximate to the corresponding aperture, wherein a distal set of dimples from the plurality of sets of dimples are spaced a distance away from the proximal set of dimples opposite from the corresponding aperture, wherein the proximal set of dimples of at least one group of dimples is more proximate to the corresponding aperture than the proximal set of dimples of at least one other group of dimples is to the other corresponding aperture, wherein at least one group of dimples comprises a circumferential offset between adjacent dimples in each set of dimples, and wherein each of the circumferential offsets are radially aligned with one another. 
     
     
         13 . A ball, comprising:
 a shell comprising a hollow core, a diameter, a thickness between an exterior surface and an interior surface exterior surface;   a plurality of apertures within the exterior surface;   a plurality of dimples on the exterior surface, wherein each dimple comprises a circumferential perimeter edge along the exterior surface, a dimple diameter and a depression recessed a dimple depth from the perimeter edge into the exterior surface, and wherein a group of dimples from the plurality of dimples concentrically surround a corresponding aperture from the plurality of apertures; and   an ink indicium printed on the exterior surface, wherein the ink indicium comprises a first region having first ink depth, a second region having a second ink depth, and an third region having a third ink depth, and wherein the second ink depth is less than the third ink depth and greater than the first ink depth.   
     
     
         14 . The ball of  claim 13  further comprising a circumferential channel surrounding at least one of the apertures on the exterior surface and a circumferential ring surrounding at least one of the apertures on the interior surface, wherein the circumferential channel comprises a pair of opposing edges along the exterior surface and a base recessed a channel depth from the opposing edges into the exterior surface of the shell, wherein the circumferential channel intersects a respective set of dimples from the group of dimples concentrically surrounding the aperture, wherein the opposing edges are spaced by a channel width, wherein the channel width is less than the dimple diameter of the respective set of dimples, wherein the channel depth is no greater than the dimple depth of the respective set of dimples, wherein the circumferential ring comprises a pair of ring edges along the interior surface and a sidewall spacing the pair of ring edges by a ring width, wherein the sidewall comprises a curvature between the pair of ring edges and protrudes a ring height to a ring peak within the hollow core of the shell, wherein the shell further comprises a weight and a weight: diameter ratio between the weight and the diameter, wherein the weight is between 27 and 52 grams, and wherein the diameter is between 2.5 and 3.5 inches and wherein the weight:diameter ratio is between 9.3 and 20.8. 
     
     
         15 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the shell further comprises a pair of opposing poles and an equator equidistant from each of the opposing poles, wherein a first aperture from the plurality of apertures is centered on a first of the opposing poles, wherein a second aperture from the plurality of apertures is centered on a second of the opposing poles, wherein a first group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a first line of latitude between the first pole and the equator, wherein a second group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a second line of latitude between the first line of latitude and the equator, wherein a third group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a third line of latitude between the second pole and the equator, and wherein a fourth group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a fourth line of latitude between the third line of latitude and the equator. 
     
     
         16 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein each group of dimples from the plurality of dimples comprise a plurality of sets of dimples, wherein a proximal set of dimples from the plurality of sets of dimples is proximate to the corresponding aperture, wherein a distal set of dimples from the plurality of sets of dimples are spaced a distance away from the proximal set of dimples opposite from the corresponding aperture, wherein the proximal set of dimples of at least one group of dimples is more proximate to the corresponding aperture than the proximal set of dimples of at least one other group of dimples is to the other corresponding aperture, wherein at least one group of dimples comprises a circumferential offset between adjacent dimples in each set of dimples, and wherein each of the circumferential offsets are radially aligned with one another. 
     
     
         17 . A ball, comprising:
 a shell comprising a hollow core, a diameter, a thickness between an exterior surface and an interior surface exterior surface;   a plurality of apertures within the exterior surface;   a plurality of dimples on the exterior surface, wherein each dimple comprises a circumferential perimeter edge along the exterior surface, a dimple diameter and a depression recessed a dimple depth from the perimeter edge into the exterior surface, wherein a group of dimples from the plurality of dimples respectively comprise a plurality of sets of dimples concentrically surrounding a corresponding aperture from the plurality of apertures, wherein a proximal set of dimples from the plurality of sets of dimples is proximate to the corresponding aperture, wherein a distal set of dimples from the plurality of sets of dimples are spaced a distance away from the proximal set of dimples opposite from the corresponding aperture, wherein the proximal set of dimples of at least one group of dimples is more proximate to the corresponding aperture than the proximal set of dimples of at least one other group of dimples is to the other corresponding aperture, wherein at least one group of dimples comprises a circumferential offset between adjacent dimples in each set of dimples, and wherein each of the circumferential offsets are radially aligned with one another; and   a circumferential channel surrounding at least one of the apertures, wherein the circumferential channel comprises a pair of opposing edges along the exterior surface and a base recessed a channel depth from the opposing edges into the exterior surface of the shell, and the circumferential channel intersects a respective set of dimples from the group of dimples concentrically surrounding the corresponding aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The ball of  claim 17  further comprising an ink indicium printed on the exterior surface, wherein the ink indicium comprises a center region having first ink depth, a second region having a second ink depth, and an third region having a third ink depth, wherein the second ink depth is less than the third ink depth and greater than the first ink depth, wherein the shell further comprises a weight and a weight: diameter ratio between the weight and the diameter, wherein the weight is between 27 and 52 grams, and wherein the diameter is between 2.5 and 3.5 inches and wherein the weight:diameter ratio is between 9.3 and 20.8. 
     
     
         19 . The ball of  claim 17  further comprising a circumferential channel surrounding at least one of the apertures on the exterior surface and a circumferential ring surrounding at least one of the apertures on the interior surface, wherein the circumferential channel comprises a pair of opposing edges along the exterior surface and a base recessed a channel depth from the opposing edges into the exterior surface of the shell, wherein the circumferential channel intersects a respective set of dimples from the group of dimples concentrically surrounding the aperture, wherein the opposing edges are spaced by a channel width, wherein the channel width is less than the dimple diameter of the respective set of dimples, wherein the channel depth is no greater than the dimple depth of the respective set of dimples, wherein the circumferential ring comprises a pair of ring edges along the interior surface and a sidewall spacing the pair of ring edges by a ring width, wherein the sidewall comprises a curvature between the pair of ring edges and protrudes a ring height to a ring peak within the hollow core of the shell. 
     
     
         20 . The ball of  claim 17 , wherein the shell further comprises a pair of opposing poles and an equator equidistant from each of the opposing poles, wherein a first aperture from the plurality of apertures is centered on a first of the opposing poles, wherein a second aperture from the plurality of apertures is centered on a second of the opposing poles, wherein a first group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a first line of latitude between the first pole and the equator, wherein a second group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a second line of latitude between the first line of latitude and the equator, wherein a third group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a third line of latitude between the second pole and the equator, wherein a fourth group of apertures from the plurality of apertures are aligned along a fourth line of latitude between the third line of latitude and the equator, wherein the first group of apertures and the third group of apertures each consist of 5 apertures equally spaced around the first line of latitude and the third line of latitude, respectively, and wherein the wherein the second group of apertures and the fourth group of apertures each consist of 10 apertures equally spaced around the second line of latitude and the fourth line of latitude, respectively.