Multi-layer Golf Ball Core with Orthogonal Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls struggle to balance soft feel and resilience, affecting distance and control, as well as durability and aerodynamics, due to inconsistent hardness distribution across layers.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer golf ball design featuring a core with a contoured outer surface, an intermediate layer bonded to the core, and a cover, where the core includes polygonal land portions and annular grooves that enhance surface area and adhesion, and the layers are composed of specific materials like ionomeric and thermoplastic materials for optimized performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the core is made harder to achieve greater distance, then distance is improved, but spin is reduced making the ball more difficult to control on shorter shots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core with non-uniform hardness distribution through the polygonal land portions and grooves. The core has harder regions (land portions) and softer regions (grooves), allowing different areas to provide different functions - harder areas for distance and softer areas for spin and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The core is segmented into multiple polygonal land portions separated by grooves, dividing the core surface into distinct functional zones. This segmentation allows the core to simultaneously provide characteristics of both hard and soft regions, resolving the contradiction between distance and control.
2Ease of operation
If the core is made softer to achieve more spin and easier control, then control is improved, but distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core with non-uniform hardness distribution through the polygonal land portions and grooves. The core has harder regions (land portions) and softer regions (grooves), allowing different areas to provide different functions - harder areas for distance and softer areas for spin and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The core is segmented into multiple polygonal land portions separated by grooves, dividing the core surface into distinct functional zones. This segmentation allows the core to simultaneously provide characteristics of both hard and soft regions, resolving the contradiction between distance and control.
3Reliability
If the intermediate layer is bonded to the core across the entire outer surface to enhance adhesion, then durability is improved, but the complexity of manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding surfaces are prepared in advance during the molding process. The core is molded with the polygonal land portions and grooves already formed, and the intermediate layer is molded to mate with these features. This preliminary preparation of bonding surfaces simplifies the overall manufacturing process while ensuring strong adhesion.
4Reliability
If the core surface area is increased through polygonal land portions and grooves to enhance adhesion, then durability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding surfaces are prepared in advance during the molding process. The core is molded with the polygonal land portions and grooves already formed, and the intermediate layer is molded to mate with these features. This preliminary preparation of bonding surfaces simplifies the overall manufacturing process while ensuring strong adhesion.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-layer golf ball includes a core having an outer surface, and intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer defines a radially inward facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and the cover defines the outermost surface of ball. The outer surface of the core includes a plurality of polygonal land portions aligned on a common sphere. The outer surface of the core further defines a first plurality of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, a second plurality of annular grooves disposed about a second axis, and a third plurality of annular grooves disposed about a third axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are mutually orthogonal, and each groove respectively extends from the common sphere and is concave relative to the core.