Golf ball dimple profile

Abstract

Golf ball dimples having a cross-sectional profile shape defined by the product of a base profile and one or more weighting functions are disclosed.

1 . A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the recessed dimples have a cross-sectional weighted profile defined by a weighted function, wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of a single continuous, differentiable function of a base dimple profile and at least one weighting function selected from the group consisting of polynomial, exponential, and trigonometric functions, the weighted function resulting in a cross-sectional weighted dimple profile,
 wherein the dimple diameter and maximum dimple depth of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are substantially the same, while the volume and the edge angle of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are different.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of spherical, catenary, elliptical, and polynomial functions. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of Witch of Agnesi, frequency, and trigonometric functions. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of the single, continuous differentiable function and a linear combination of two or more weighting functions. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted function is a continuous, differentiable function. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the weighted volume ratio of the weighted dimple profile to the base dimple profile is about 1.17 to about 1.70. 
     
     
         7 . A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the recessed dimples have a cross-sectional weighted profile defined by a weighted function, wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of a single continuous, differentiable function of a base dimple profile and at least one weighting function selected from the group consisting of polynomial, exponential, and trigonometric functions, the weighted function resulting in a cross-sectional weighted dimple profile,
 wherein the dimple diameter and edge angle of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are substantially the same, while the volume and the maximum dimple depth of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are different.   
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of spherical, catenary, elliptical, and polynomial functions. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of Witch of Agnesi, frequency, and trigonometric functions. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of the single, continuous differentiable function and a linear combination of two or more weighting functions. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the weighted function is a continuous, differentiable function. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the weighted volume ratio of the weighted dimple profile to the base dimple profile is about 1.47 to about 1.77. 
     
     
         13 . A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the recessed dimples have a cross-sectional weighted profile defined by a weighted function, wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of a single continuous, differentiable function of a base dimple profile and at least one weighting function selected from the group consisting of polynomial, exponential, and trigonometric functions, the weighted function resulting in a cross-sectional weighted dimple profile,
 wherein the dimple diameter, maximum dimple depth and edge angle of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are substantially the same, while the volume of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are different.   
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of spherical, catenary, elliptical, and polynomial functions. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of Witch of Agnesi, frequency, and trigonometric functions. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of the single, continuous differentiable function and a linear combination of two or more weighting functions. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the weighted function is a continuous, differentiable function. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the weighted volume ratio of the weighted dimple profile to the base dimple profile is about 1.15 to about 1.21. 
     
     
         19 . A golf ball having a plurality of recessed dimples on the surface thereof, wherein at least a portion of the recessed dimples have a cross-sectional weighted profile defined by a weighted function, wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of a single continuous, differentiable function of a base dimple profile and at least one weighting function selected from the group consisting of polynomial, exponential, and trigonometric functions, the weighted function resulting in a cross-sectional weighted dimple profile,
 wherein the dimple diameter of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are substantially the same, while the maximum dimple depth, edge angle and volume of the base dimple profile and the weighted dimple profile are different.   
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of spherical, catenary, elliptical, and polynomial functions. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the single, continuous differentiable function is selected from the group consisting of Witch of Agnesi, frequency, and trigonometric functions. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the weighted function is the multiplication of the single, continuous differentiable function and a linear combination of two or more weighting functions. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the weighted function is a continuous, differentiable function. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the weighted volume ratio of the weighted dimple profile to the base dimple profile is about 2.00.