Golf ball dimple constructed of radial channels

Abstract

A golf ball includes a generally spherical surface and a plurality of dimples separated by a land area. At least one of the dimples has a perimeter edge connected to the land area and a dimple surface surrounded by the perimeter edge. The dimple surface includes a plurality of channels and a plurality of channel edges that extend continuously from the perimeter edge to an intersection at a dimple center. The dimple surface defines a dimple point depth in relation to continuation of the land area and a channel point depth in relation to the channel edges. Each channel includes a first area having a plan shape of a circular sector of a channel circle. The channel edges extend radially from the dimple center to a terminal end at the channel circle. The perimeter edge intersects the channel circle only at terminal ends of the plurality of channel edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a generally spherical surface; and   a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the surface, wherein at least one of the dimples comprises:
 a perimeter edge connected to the land area; and 
 a dimple surface surrounded by the perimeter edge and defining a dimple point depth in relation to a phantom surface that is a continuation of the land area, the dimple surface comprising a plurality of channels and a plurality of channel edges, wherein at least one of (i) the plurality of channels or (ii) the plurality of channel edges extend continuously from the perimeter edge to an intersection at a dimple center, 
   wherein each channel comprises a portion of the dimple surface between a first edge of the plurality of channel edges and a second edge of the plurality of channel edges, wherein the dimple surface defines a channel point depth relative to the first and second edges,   wherein each channel comprises a first area having a plan shape of a circular sector of a channel circle,   wherein the first and second edges are edges of the circular sector and extend radially from the dimple center to a terminal end at the channel circle, and   wherein the perimeter edge intersects the channel circle only at terminal ends of the plurality of channel edges.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the dimple point depth continuously increases toward the dimple center along all radii of the channel circle. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the channel point depth continuously decreases toward the dimple center along all radii of the channel circle that are centerlines of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter edge is non-circular in a plan view of the at least one dimple. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the perimeter edge comprises a scalloped edge shape in a plan view of the at least one dimple. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each channel further comprises a second area between the perimeter edge and the channel circle. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the perimeter edge in the second area comprises a rounded shape in a plan view. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the dimple surface in the second area defines an entrance depth in relation to the land area, and wherein the entrance depth increases radially from the perimeter edge toward a central channel point. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the central channel point is near a midpoint between the terminal ends of the first and second edges on the channel circle. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the dimple surface comprises at least ten channels and at least ten channel edges. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the dimple surface comprises at least twenty channels and at least twenty channel edges. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each channel further comprises a circular arc profile having a channel radius between approximately 0.01 in. and 0.13 in. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the channel point depth at the channel circle is approximately 1-20% of the dimple point depth at the dimple center. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels and the plurality of channel edges are axially symmetric about the dimple center. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels and the plurality of channel edges are not axially symmetric about the dimple center. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the dimples further comprises a dimple profile comprising a circular arc. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the dimples further comprises a dimple profile comprising a catenary curve. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the dimples further comprises a dimple profile comprising converging linear paths. 
     
     
         19 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a generally spherical surface;   a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the surface, wherein at least one of the dimples comprises:
 a perimeter edge connected to the land area; and 
 a dimple surface surrounded by the perimeter edge and defining a dimple point depth in relation to the land area, the dimple surface comprising a plurality of channels radiating from a dimple center and a plurality of channel edges separating the channels, 
   wherein the dimple point depth continuously increases from the perimeter edge to the dimple center along all radii of a dimple circle that circumscribes the perimeter edge.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a golf ball, comprising forming a generally spherical surface, the generally spherical surface comprising:
 a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the surface, wherein at least one of the dimples comprises:
 a perimeter edge connected to the land area; and 
 a dimple surface surrounded by the perimeter edge and defining a dimple point depth in relation to the land area, the dimple surface comprising a plurality of channels radiating from a dimple center and a plurality of channel edges separating the channels, 
   wherein the dimple point depth continuously increases from the perimeter edge to the dimple center along all radii of a dimple circle that circumscribes the perimeter edge.