Golf ball dimple constructed of radial channels

Abstract

A golf ball has 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 has 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 plurality of channels have at least a first type channel and a second type channel. The plurality of channel edges have a plurality of shared edges, wherein each shared edge is shared between a first type channel that is directly adjacent to a second type channel. Each shared edge extends radially from the dimple center to a terminal end and includes an intersection point therebetween. The portion of the shared edge that extends from the intersection point to the terminal end is an extension edge, and the extension edge is a portion of the perimeter edge.

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 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 the plurality of channels comprise at least a first type channel and a second type channel,   wherein the plurality of channel edges comprise a plurality of shared edges, wherein each shared edge is shared between a first type channel that is directly adjacent to a second type channel,   wherein each shared edge extends radially from the dimple center to a terminal end and includes an intersection point therebetween,   wherein the portion of the shared edge that extends from the intersection point to the terminal end is an extension edge, and   wherein the extension edge is a portion of the perimeter edge.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first type channels include an area having a plan shape of a first circular sector of a first channel circle and the second type channels include an area having a plan shape of a second circular sector of a second channel circle, and wherein a diameter of the first channel circle is greater than a diameter of the second channel circle. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein each shared edge includes a terminal end, and the first channel circle intersects all of the terminal ends. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the second channel circle intersects all of the intersection points. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the perimeter edge further comprises connector edges at distal portions of the first type channels and second type channels. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the connector edges of the first type channels are each connected to at least one terminal end. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the connector edges of the second type channels are each connected to at least one intersection point. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein each first type channel further comprises a second area between the perimeter edge and the first channel circle. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the portion of the perimeter edge in the second area of the first type channel connects terminal ends of shared edges. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein each second type channel further comprises a second area between the perimeter edge and the second channel circle. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the perimeter edge in the second area of the second type channel connects intersection points of shared edges. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the perimeter edges in the second areas of the second type channels each peak at an inner dimple circle, wherein the inner dimple circle has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the first channel circle. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the perimeter edge comprises at least ten extension edges. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the perimeter edge comprises at least twenty extension edges. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels and the plurality of channel edges are rotationally symmetric about the dimple center. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels and the plurality of channel edges are not rotationally symmetric about the dimple center. 
     
     
         17 . 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 comprising a plurality of channels and a plurality of channel edges, 
   wherein the plurality of channels comprise at least a first type channel and a second type channel,   wherein the first type channels include an area having a plan shape of a first circular sector of a first channel circle and the second type channels include an area having a plan shape of a second circular sector of a second channel circle, and wherein a diameter of the first channel circle is greater than a diameter of the second channel circle such that the first type channels include extension areas.   
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein the extension areas include extension edges that are both a portion of a channel edge and a portion of the perimeter edge. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the perimeter edge comprises at least ten extension edges. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the perimeter edge comprises at least twenty extension edges