Golf ball dimple patterns with multiple phyllotactic elements

Abstract

A golf ball is disclosed having a plurality of dimples on its surface, the dimples being arranged in patterns determined by the science of phyllotaxis. Phyllotactic patterns are used to ascertain the placement of dimples in each polygonal face of a polyhedron based dimple pattern. Phyllotactic patterns provide for the arrangement of multiple spiral shaped strings of dimples within individual polygonal faces of a golf ball surface, with each polygonal face area having its own phyllotactic origination point at its center. The resulting multiple axes of symmetry in the overall dimple pattern provide improved symmetry of flight performance.

1 . A golf ball, comprising:
 an outer surface having a plurality of spherical polygonal regions;   multiple strings of dimples arranged in phyllotactic patterns within each polygonal region; and   each polygonal region having its own phyllotactic origination point,   wherein the overall dimple pattern has more than one axis of symmetry.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the origination point is at the geometric center of the polygonal region. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the dimples are defined by the phyllotactic patterns. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , further comprising dimples of at least two different sizes. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the golf ball includes between about 250 to about 450 dimples. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the golf ball includes between about 300 to about 400 dimples. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the dimples include generally rounded dimples. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein each generally rounded dimple has substantially the same width and depth. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the generally rounded dimples have a plurality of widths and depths. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein dimples overlap each other along the phyllotactically arranged strings. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each polygonal region comprises alternating types of phyllotactically arranged dimple strings. 
     
     
         12 . A method of packing dimples on a golf ball, comprising:
 defining polygonal regions on an outer surface based on a polyhedron pattern having a plurality of polygonal faces;   defining a dimple arrangement in at least one polygonal face using arms derived from a phyllotactic pattern; and   providing dimples in each polygonal face,   wherein the overall dimple pattern has more than one axis of symmetry.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein all the polygonal faces provide dimples based on phyllotactic patterns. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein substantially all of the dimples are of the same size. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the dimples are of at least two different sizes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein there are between about 250 to about 450 total dimples on the ball. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein there are between about 300 to about 400 total dimples on the ball. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the dimples are generally rounded. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the generally rounded dimples has substantially the same width and depth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the generally rounded dimples have a plurality of widths and depths.