US4090716A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf ball
Assignee: Uniroyal Inc
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Filing: 1976-03-30
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Granted: 1978-05-23
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Expires: 1996-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A golf ball having improved flight characteristics having a spherical surface with 252 depressions therein. 240 of the depressions are in the shape of inverted pyramids with hexagonal bases and 12 of the depressions are in the shape of inverted pyramids with pentagonal bases. The ball has two poles and an equator, and the pentgonal bases serve as the two poles and as the vertices of similar equilateral spherical triangles into which the surface of the ball may be divided.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank S. Martin
- 👤 Thaddeus A. Pietraszek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:25
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B37/00; A63B37/0003; A63B37/0004; A63B37/0006; A63B37/00065; A63B37/0007; A63B37/0009; A63B37/0012; A63B37/0018; A63B37/0019; A63B37/0021; A63B37/0023; A63B37/0029; A63B37/0033; A63B37/0038; A63B37/004; A63B37/0045; A63B37/005; A63B37/0051; A63B37/0052; A63B37/006; A63B37/0064; A63B37/007; A63B37/0072; A63B37/0075; A63B37/0077; A63B37/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A golf ball having a spherical surface containing therein a plurality of depression-forming regions distributed over the surface of the ball, the distribution being arranged in a repeating pattern of equilateral spherical triangles, substantially all of the depression-forming regions having substantially the shape of inverted pyramids having an apex with polygonal bases the bases intersecting the surface and capable of being circumscribed by a circle having a diameter of 0.165 inch which passes through the vertices of the polygonal bases and the depression-forming regions having a depth of 0.015 inch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A golf ball having a spherical surface containing therein a plurality of depression-forming regions distributed over the surface of the ball, the distribution being arranged in a repeating pattern of equilateral spherical triangles, substantially all of the depression-forming regions having substantially the shape of inverted pyramids having an apex with polygonal bases the bases intersecting the surface and capable of being circumscribed by a circle having a diameter of 0.165 inch which passes through the vertices of the polygonal bases and the depression-forming regions having a depth of 0.015 inch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A golf ball according to claim 1, wherein there are approximately 252 depression-forming regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A golf ball according to claim 1 wherein there are approximately 240 depression-forming regions with hexagonal bases and approximately 12 depression-forming regions which are the vertices of the spherical triangles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
A golf ball having a spherical surface; an axis of rotation passing through the center of the ball; a plurality of depressions distributed over the spherical surface in a repeating pattern for a given plurality of increments of rotation about the axis; each depression having a perimeter intersecting with the surface, the perimeter being circumscribed by a respective circle capable of being drawn on the spherical surface, the circle having a diameter of 0.165 inches and touching as many points of the depression perimeter as possible and each depression having a depth of 0.015 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
A golf ball having a spherical surface; an axis of rotation passing through the center of the ball; a plurality of depressions distributed over the spherical surface in a repeating pattern for a given plurality of increments of rotation about the axis; each depression having a perimeter intersecting with the surface, the perimeter being circumscribed by a respective circle capable of being drawn on the spherical surface, the circle having a diameter of 0.165 inches and touching as many points of the depression perimeter as possible and each depression having a depth of 0.015 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A golf ball according to claim 4 wherein the intersection of the axis of rotation with the spherical surface defines a pair of poles on the spherical surface, the depression pattern including five equilateral spherical triangles having a common vertex at each pole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A golf ball according to claim 4 wherein a substantial number of the depressions are polygonally shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A golf ball according to claim 4 wherein there are five increments of rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A golf ball according to claim 4 wherein the pattern conforms to a regular polyhedron inscribed on the spherical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
A golf ball having a spherical surface; an axis of rotation passing through the center of the ball and intersecting the surface to define a pair of poles on the surface; a plurality of depressions distributed over the spherical surface, the depressions being arranged in a repeating pattern having a symmetry about each pole; each depression having a perimeter intersecting with the surface and having therein as a vertex a center for a circumscribed circle of 0.165 inch diameter, the circle touching as many points of the depression perimeter as possible, and each depression having a depth from the spherical surface of 0.015 inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A golf ball having a spherical surface; an axis of rotation passing through the center of the ball and intersecting the surface to define a pair of poles on the surface; a plurality of depressions distributed over the spherical surface, the depressions being arranged in a repeating pattern having a symmetry about each pole; each depression having a perimeter intersecting with the surface and having therein as a vertex a center for a circumscribed circle of 0.165 inch diameter, the circle touching as many points of the depression perimeter as possible, and each depression having a depth from the spherical surface of 0.015 inch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A golf ball according to claim 9 wherein the pattern between the poles conforms to a regular icosahedron inscribed on the spherical surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A golf ball according to claim 9 wherein the depression pattern includes a plurality of equilateral spherical triangles having a common vertex at each pole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A golf ball according to claim 11 in which all of the depressions except the vertices of the spherical triangles have substantially the shape of inverted pyramids having an apex with hexagonal bases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A golf ball according to claim 11 wherein each spherical triangle contains a substantially equal number of the depressions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A golf ball according to claim 11 wherein each spherical triangle is bounded by an arcuate side, each of the arcuate sides passing through a plurality of the depressions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB377354A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-22 | 1981-11-21 | 1982-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-22 | 1985-11-21 | 1986-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-22 | 1989-11-21 | 1990-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |