Golf Ball Dimple Patterns Using Irregular Polyhedral Domains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball dimple patterns struggle to achieve optimal aerodynamic symmetry and surface coverage, limiting their ability to enhance flight stability and performance, as they are often constrained by geometric shapes that result in less than optimal arrangements and surface coverage.
Innovation Solution
The use of irregular domains generated from polyhedrons, such as tetrahedrons, to create unique dimple patterns on the surface of golf balls, allowing for a uniform and flexible arrangement of dimples with varying diameters and patterns across multiple domains, which are tessellated to cover the ball's surface without great circles, thereby improving symmetry and aerodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional geometric shapes (circles, hexagons, triangles, Platonic Solids, Archimedian Solids) are used for dimple patterns, then aerodynamic symmetry is achieved, but surface coverage is suboptimal and dimple arrangement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using irregular domains with non-straight segments instead of traditional symmetric geometric shapes. The irregular domains are defined by control points connected with non-straight segments, creating asymmetric patterns that can achieve both aerodynamic symmetry at the macro level and optimal surface coverage at the micro level. This resolves the contradiction by allowing asymmetric local patterns within an overall symmetric arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the dimple pattern by using variable curvature non-straight segments instead of straight lines, and by allowing irregular domain shapes with varying numbers of segments. This enables flexible adjustment of domain size, shape, and arrangement to maximize surface coverage while maintaining aerodynamic symmetry through the tessellation process.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional geometric dimple patterns are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but dimple arrangement flexibility and packing efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the golf ball surface into multiple irregular domains, each defined by control points and non-straight segments. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each domain's shape and size while maintaining overall pattern consistency through tessellation. The segmentation approach enables flexible dimple arrangement within each domain while keeping the manufacturing process systematic and repeatable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional degree of freedom by using non-straight segments with variable curvature in the 2D domain definition, rather than being constrained to straight-line geometric shapes. This dimensional enhancement in the pattern design space allows for more flexible and efficient dimple arrangements while maintaining manufacturability through the systematic tessellation process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the aerodynamic properties of golf balls by increasing symmetry, improving dimple distribution, and potentially increasing packing efficiency, leading to more stable flight characteristics and better masking of the ball's parting line.
Implementation Method 1
tessellating the domains onto the surface of the golf ball in a uniform pattern
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.