Bridgestone keeps rolling forward

Bridgestone has a new and improved aesthetic appearance that will enhanced flying performance.

Bridgestone recently applied for a patent simply titled "golf ball". I would have never thought of anything like this but I do look forward to giving it a try to see if it holds up to its claims...

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having an improved aesthetic appearance and enhanced flying performance.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides golf balls as described below. (1) A golf ball on which a plurality of dimples are arranged on the spherical surface thereof, wherein each of the dimples has at least two contour main parts and contour connecting parts; and the at least two contour main parts are connected to each other by the contour connecting parts, and the contour connecting parts are formed so as to be curved toward the inside of the contour main parts from the outermost points. (2) The golf ball described in the item (1), wherein all of the at least two contour main parts each are formed into a circular shape. (3) The golf ball described in the item (1), wherein the at least two contour main parts are formed by combination of a circular shape and a noncircular shape. (4) The golf ball described in the item (1), wherein all of the at least two contour main parts each are formed into a noncircular shape. (5) The golf ball described in the item (1), wherein the number of the dimples is about 150 to 500. The golf ball described in the item (1), wherein the bottom part of the dimple is formed into a flat shape. (7) The golf ball described in the item (1), wherein the bottom part of the dimple is formed into a spherical surface shape. (8) A golf ball on which a plurality of dimples are arranged on the spherical surface thereof, wherein each of the dimples has at least two contour main parts and contour connecting parts; the at least two contour main parts are connected to each other by the contour connecting parts, and the contour connecting parts are formed so as to be curved toward the inside of the contour main parts from the outermost points; and a curved part is provided which is formed so as to be curved toward the center direction of the spherical surface between the contour main parts and contour connecting parts and the bottom part of the dimple. (9) The golf ball described in the item (8), wherein all of the at least two contour main parts each are formed into a circular shape. (10) The golf ball described in the item (8), wherein the at least two contour main parts are formed by combination of a circular shape and a noncircular shape. (11) The golf ball described in the item (8), wherein all of the at least two contour main parts each are formed into a noncircular shape. (12) The golf ball described in the item (8), wherein the number of the dimples is about 150 to 500. (13) The golf ball described in the item (8), wherein the bottom part is formed into a flat shape. (14) The golf ball described in the item (8), wherein the bottom part is formed into a spherical surface shape.

According to the golf ball described in the item (1), the area percentage and volume percentage of the dimples can be changed by the portion surrounded by the contour main parts and the contour connecting parts, so that the lift and the drag can be balanced. Since the contour connecting part has a curved streamline shape, the flow of air can be made smooth between the contour main parts. By changing such a curved shape, the drag etc. can be restrained. Therefore, the lift and the drag acting on the golf ball when the golf ball is flied can be balanced easily. The flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced. The curved contour connecting part has a characteristic shape. By the dimples having the contour connecting parts, the appearance of golf ball can be made characteristic.

According to the golf ball described in the item (2), excellent aerodynamic characteristics are provided, so that the flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced. The dimple has streamline beauty emphasized by the contour main parts formed into a circular shape only and the curved contour connecting parts. By the dimples having such characteristics, the aesthetic appearance of golf ball can be improved further.

According to the golf ball described in the item (3), excellent aerodynamic characteristics are provided, so that the flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced. The dimple has both of a characteristic shape emphasized by the noncircular contour main parts and streamline beauty emphasized by the circular contour main parts and the curved contour connecting parts. By the dimples having such characteristics, the aesthetic appearance of golf ball can be improved further.

According to the golf ball described in the item (4), excellent aerodynamic characteristics are provided, so that the flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced. The dimple has both of a characteristic shape emphasized by the contour main parts formed into a noncircular shape only and streamline beauty emphasized by the curved contour connecting parts. By the dimples having such characteristics, the aesthetic appearance of golf ball can be improved further.

According to the golf ball described in the item (5), the area percentage of the dimples is secured sufficiently, so that the flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced further.

According to the golf ball described in the item (6), the dimple has a characteristic shape due to the flat shaped bottom part. By the dimples having such characteristics, the aesthetic appearance of golf ball can be improved further.

According to the golf ball described in the item (7), further excellent aerodynamic characteristics are provided, so that the flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced. Especially in the case where the bottom part of the dimple is formed into a spherical surface shape of a spherical body having the center at a position approximately equal to the center of the spherical surface, in designing, the volume of the dimple can be changed by adjusting the radius of the spherical surface shape of the bottom part. By adjusting the radius of the spherical surface shape, even if the dimple has an intricate shape as in the present invention, the volume can be adjusted effectively for the golf balls having various structure. Thereby, the lift and the drag acting on the golf ball when the golf ball is flied can be balanced easily, so that the flying performance of the golf ball 1 can be enhanced further.

According to the golf ball described in the item (8), the same effects as those of the golf ball described in the item (1) can be achieved. Further by the curved part curved toward the center direction of the spherical surface between the contour main parts and contour connecting parts and the bottom part, the flow of air on the spherical surface from the dimples is made smooth, so that the drag can be restrained. Therefore, the flying performance of golf ball can be enhanced further. -US PATEN OFFICE