Patents by Inventor Michael R. Madson

Michael R. Madson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11717728
    Abstract: A method for printing a marking on a golf ball includes arranging ink in an etching pattern on a printing plate, matching a reference position on the plate to a reference position on the golf ball, transferring the ink from the printing plate to a pad, and transferring the ink from the pad to the golf ball such that the golf ball includes the marking. The pattern includes an etch corresponding to the marking, wherein the etch differs from the marking in a manner dependent on the position of the marking on the golf ball. The marking that results on the golf ball is a linear marking, and a centerline of the linear marking lies entirely within a marking plane that is not a centerline plane of the golf ball, and wherein the edges of the marking are parallel with the marking plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson
  • Patent number: 11707647
    Abstract: Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a Correction Area Centroid located on an axis of symmetry at a latitude greater than 0°, where 0° represents the hemispherical pole and 90° represents the equator. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and/or dimple plan shape. Optionally, the dimples have a catenary cross-sectional shape and the modified dimples are altered by changing the shape factor and/or chord depth. Such modifications preferably produce a golf ball that flies more consistently regardless of orientation when struck than a corresponding golf ball without such modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20230226414
    Abstract: Golf ball having a generally spherical surface and comprising a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the ball surface, wherein the plurality of dimples includes at least one non-spherical dimple having a non-axially symmetric plan shape and a defined point of maximum dimple depth, wherein: (i) each dimple cross-section of the non-spherical dimple consists of two arcs, each arc extending from the defined point of maximum dimple depth to a point at the land area of the golf ball; and (ii) every point on the perimeter of the non-spherical dimple is located at a radial angle, ?, about a unit circle, where 0???2?, and the edge angle value of the non-spherical dimple at any given point on the perimeter is defined by the solution of an edge angle function f(?), wherein f(?) is a non-periodic, continuous, differentiable function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 11697047
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20230211209
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 11691052
    Abstract: A golf ball dimple pattern based on a square dipyramid, i.e., two square pyramids connected base-to-base, is disclosed. The dimples are arranged within four substantially identical triangular sections on each of two substantially identical hemispheres of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson
  • Patent number: 11684824
    Abstract: Buoyant dimpled golf ball having CoR ?0.810, specific gravity <1.00 g/cc, initial velocity ?250 ft/s, first aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.25 and about 0.30 and first aerodynamic force angle between about 29 degrees and 34 degrees at Reynolds Number of 230000 and spin ratio of 0.085; and second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.31 and second aerodynamic force angle between about 31 degrees and 36 degrees at Reynolds Number of 180000 and spin ratio of 0.101. Golf ball may additionally have third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.27 and about 0.32 and third aerodynamic force angle between about 34 degrees and 39 degrees at Reynolds Number of 133000 and spin ratio of 0.133; and fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.33 and about 0.38 and fourth aerodynamic force angle between about 38 degrees and 43 degrees at Reynolds Number of 89000 and spin ratio of 0.183.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Courtney N. Engle, Derek A. Ladd, Michael J. Sullivan, Mark L. Binette, William E. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11673028
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a non-planar parting line on its spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci, David P. Hunt
  • Patent number: 11666802
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a non-planar parting line on its spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci, David P. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20230121950
    Abstract: Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a Correction Area Centroid located on an axis of symmetry at a latitude greater than 0°, where 0° represents the hemispherical pole and 90° represents the equator. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and/or dimple plan shape. Optionally, the dimples have a catenary cross-sectional shape and the modified dimples are altered by changing the shape factor and/or chord depth. Such modifications preferably produce a golf ball that flies more consistently regardless of orientation when struck than a corresponding golf ball without such modifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson
  • Patent number: 11617923
    Abstract: Golf ball having a generally spherical surface and comprising a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the ball surface, wherein the plurality of dimples includes at least one non-spherical dimple having a non-axially symmetric plan shape and a defined point of maximum dimple depth, wherein: (i) each dimple cross-section of the non-spherical dimple consists of two arcs, each arc extending from the defined point of maximum dimple depth to a point at the land area of the golf ball; and (ii) every point on the perimeter of the non-spherical dimple is located at a radial angle, ?, about a unit circle, where 0<?<2?, and the edge angle value of the non-spherical dimple at any given point on the perimeter is defined by the solution of an edge angle function f(?), wherein f(?) is a non-periodic, continuous, differentiable function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20230095376
    Abstract: Golf balls including a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof are provided. When all of the radar detectable marks present on any layer of the ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the resulting overall pattern of projected radar detectable marks includes a series of three or marks located on a 1.5 mm wide great circle band on the outer surface of the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Matthew F. Hogge, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Richard Daprato
  • Publication number: 20230087352
    Abstract: Golf balls including a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof are provided. When all of the radar detectable marks present on any layer of the ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the resulting overall pattern of projected radar detectable marks includes a series of three or marks located on a 1.5 mm wide great circle band on the outer surface of the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Matthew F. Hogge, Richard Daprato, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 11602673
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20230050722
    Abstract: A golf ball dimple pattern based on a square dipyramid, i.e., two square pyramids connected base-to-base, is disclosed. The dimples are arranged within four substantially identical triangular sections on each of two substantially identical hemispheres of the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Courtney N. Engle
  • Patent number: 11554294
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20220331667
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Courtney N. Engle, Michael R. Madson
  • Publication number: 20220323829
    Abstract: Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a Correction Area Centroid located on an axis of symmetry at a latitude greater than 0°, where 0° represents the hemispherical pole and 90° represents the equator. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and/or dimple plan shape. Optionally, the dimples have a catenary cross-sectional shape and the modified dimples are altered by changing the shape factor and/or chord depth. Such modifications preferably produce a golf ball that flies more consistently regardless of orientation when struck than a corresponding golf ball without such modifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20220280839
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Courtney N. Engle
  • Publication number: 20220249914
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a non-planar parting line on its spherical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Madson, Nicholas M. Nardacci, David P. Hunt