MODIFIED GOLF BALL

Abstract

Provided is a ball for leisure and sports of a new concept which is an application of a golf game. The ball relates to a modified golf ball which includes an external member having air vent holes and a core member of a rib form, in which a flight distance is shortened due to resistance of air when struck and in flight. The external member of the modified golf ball is configured to have a spherical outer cover integrated with and overlapped with the outer surface of a hemispherical inner cover. Since the modified golf ball is lightly flied when struck but its flight distance is shortened due to resistance of air, an effect of saving a land can be obtained in view of a practical use of the land, when a golf playing field is constructed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0048574, filed on May 30, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ball for leisure and sports of a new concept which is an application of a golf game, and more particularly, to a modified golf ball which includes an external member having air vent holes and a core member of a rib form, in which a flight distance is shortened due to resistance of air when struck and in flight.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, a golf ball includes a core 2 which is formed in the inside of the golf ball, and a cover 1 which has a repelling power or elastic force and is formed of a material of a different quality from that of the cover 2, in which the cover 1 is integrally formed around the core 2. Here, a flight distance and a spin amount of the golf ball when struck is determined according to how many pieces and what kind of materials the cover 1 and the core 2 are constructed. According to how many pieces the cover 1 and the core 2 are constructed, the golf ball is classified into a one-piece ball or a two-piece ball. In addition, it is known that the golf ball can fly much more far than when predetermined scars are formed on the surface of the ball, that is, the outer surface of the cover 1, than when the former is not formed on the latter. Accordingly, research and development about the shape or depth of dimples 3 formed on the surface of the golf ball is concentrated.

The conventional research and development about the materials of the core 2 and the cover 1 of the golf ball and the forms of the dimples 3 are performed under the general purpose of increasing a flight distance of a golf ball when struck and in flight or inducing minute golfers' techniques. As a result, the conventional research and development about the golf ball has caused a result that a wider land is required to construct a golf playing field. Accordingly, there is a problem that immense facilities and maintenance costs for golfer environment are required.

Such an economical burden of construction of the golfers' environment heightens a substantial cost of enjoying a golf play. As a result, such an expansive cost weakens a popular base of a golf play. Further, in the case of a social structure that bipolarization becomes conspicuous between the rich and the poor, a golf play may be recognized as leisure sports that promote sense of incongruity. As a result, a positive exercising effect of a golf play influencing upon a physical function may be misguided. Finally, the golf play has a limit of being neglected and evaded from publics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problems of the conventional art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modified golf ball which includes an external member having air vent holes which are penetrated between the interior of the golf ball and the exterior thereof, and a core member of a rib form for division and support of the inner space, to thereby have the golf ball fly lightly and enable a direction control of a struck golf ball, in which a flight distance is shortened due to resistance of air when struck and in flight.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a modified golf ball comprising: an external member having a plurality of vent holes and a core member of a rib form.

In particular, the external member of the modified golf ball is configured to have a spherical outer cover integrated with and overlapped with the outer surface of a hemispherical inner cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional golf ball whose part is cut out;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a modified golf ball whose part is cut out and separated according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a modified golf ball according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to explain an operational action of the modified golf ball during flight;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a modified golf ball whose part is cut out and separated according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified golf ball whose part is cut out and separated according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The structures of modified golf balls according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A modified golf ball according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a core member 20 forming a spherical outer appearance and an external member 10 which is provided in the inside of the external member 10 as in the structure of a general golf ball.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of vent holes 11 which perforate the inside and outside of the golf ball are provided in the external member 10, and the core member 20 is formed of ribs 21 for division and support of the inner space of the golf ball. The vent holes 11 of the present invention are respectively formed into a kind of a hole form, but the hole form is not limited into a circle or other polygon form. A certain form of making air smoothly communicate between the interior and exterior of the external member 10 may be applied to the vent holes 11.

The ribs 21 in the core member 20 are formed of a plurality of circular plates. That is, the ribs 21I are radially arranged based on a central axis 21a which corresponds to diameter of the circular plates. Here, the diameter of the circular plates is made to be equal the inner diameter of the external member 10. Accordingly, the inner space of the external member 10 is equally divided by the circular plates, and the inner support state of the external member 10 can be kept firmly by the ribs 21.

In addition, the external member 10 and the core member 20 according to the present invention are made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene through an injection molding method etc. Accordingly, a flight distance of a golf ball is reduced when struck, and a player enjoys fully an exciting swing as in the conventional golf play. Of course, the modified golf ball including the external member 10 and the core member 20 may be formed of a structure of solving consumer's economical burdens ultimately through curtailment of a production cost and considering a form that can raise productivity, in a manufacturing process.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A, according to a preferably exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the external member 10 is formed of a structure of superimposing a hemispherical inner cover 12 on an outer cover 13 that seals up a hemispherical coupling state in a form of surrounding the outer surface of the inner cover 12. Here, coupling members 12a are provided in the hemispherical inner covers 12, respectively, in order to combine the hemispherical inner covers 12 at the state where the core member 20 is filled in the inner space formed by the hemispherical inner covers 12. The outer cover 13 plays a role of preventing the inner covers 12 coupled with the coupling members 12a from being disassembled during use, and heightening a striking sense transmitted to a player at an impact time.

The coupling members 12 according to the present invention may be made of a screw coupling structure as shown in FIG. 3. However, it is preferable that the coupling members 12 are made of a form which can be coupled with a plurality of hooks as shown in FIG. 2.

In the case of the inner cover 12 and the outer cover 13 which form the external member 10, the outer cover 13 is integrated with the outer surface of the inner cover 12, which can be implemented by various methods such as an injection molding method or a method of using ultrasonic waves.

Further, dimples can be applied on the surface of the external member 10 of the present invention as in a general golf ball.

Hereinbelow, the operational action of the modified golf ball according to the preferably exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As illustrate in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the modified golf ball according to a preferably exemplary embodiment of the present invention is fabricated by the operations of putting a core member 20 formed of ribs 21 into a space formed by hemispherical inner covers 12, assembling the hemispherical inner covers 12 using hooks or screw coupling members 12a, integrating an outer cover 13 with the outer surface of the hemispherical inner cover 12, and sealing up a coupling state between the inner covers 12 with the hooks or coupling members 12a. Here, a synthetic resin material, that is, a plastic material such as polyethylene can be applied in the fabrication of the modified golf ball. Accordingly, a production cost in a manufacturing process is reduced and a flight distance is shortened when struck and in flight.

In particular, a plurality of vent holes 11 equipped on the surface of the external member 10 made of the inner covers 12 and the outer cover 13 make air flow into the inside of the external member 10 when a modified golf ball which has been struck by a golf club flies along a predetermined track. Accordingly, a flight distance of the modified golf ball is shortened due to resistance of air. That is, air that is flown into the vent holes 11 causes friction with the ribs 21 which are the core member 20 which is provided in the inside of the external member 10.

The ribs 21 according to the preferably exemplary embodiment of the present invention are formed by a plurality of circular plates which are radially arranged around a central axis 21a. Here, diameters of the circular plates are made equally with the inner diameter of the external member 10, to thus divide the inner space formed by the external member 10, and support the inner surface of the external member 10. Accordingly, the ribs 21 stand against an impact transmitted when a golfer's swing for striking is hit on the outer surface of the modified golf ball, to thereby prevent distortion of the external member 10.

In addition, the ribs 21 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention can make the whole weight of the modified golf ball correctable properly at a manufacturing process. Thus, since the weight of the modified golf ball can be revised properly according to a predetermined reference value, the ribs 21 can be designed considering a change in a track of a struck golf ball according to external factors such as strength of wind.

As described above, the modified golf ball according to the preferable embodiment of the present invention can have a little error depending upon the physical conditions of golf players. However, in the case of the modified golf ball according to the present invention, an average flight distance of a driver golf club is about 38.5 m, and an average flight distance of an iron golf club is 33.5 m or so. Thus, the total average flight distance of the golf club is about 36 m. As a result, it can be seen that the flight distance of the modified golf ball according to the present invention is reduced more than half of the flight distance of a general golf ball through experimental data.

As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, a modified golf ball according to the respective exemplary embodiments of the present invention, includes an external member having air vent holes which are penetrated between the interior of the golf ball and the exterior thereof, and a core member of a rib form for division and support of the inner space. Accordingly, when the modified golf ball is struck, the struck golf ball can fly lightly, but its flight distance is shortened due to resistance of air. Thus, an effect of saving a land can be obtained in view of a practical use of the land, when a vast golf playing field is constructed.

In particular, the present invention provides a leisure sports article of a new concept enabling an application of a rule similar to that of a golf play game for popularization of a golf play. Accordingly, a popular base of a golf play can be extended. A recreational pastime and a health promotion are planned according to a social situation change such as five working days per week and social members which are gradually older, to thus provide an effect of improving a quality of life still more.

Claims

1. A modified golf ball comprising:

an external member forming a spherical outer appearance; and

a core member which is provided in the inside of the external member,

wherein a plurality of vent holes which perforate the inside and outside of the golf ball are provided in the external member, and the core member is formed of ribs for division and support of the inner space of the golf ball.

2. The modified golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are made of a form that a plurality of circular plates are radially arranged around a central axis which is based on the diameter of the circular plates.

3. The modified golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the external member comprises hemispherical inner covers provided with coupling members and an outer cover which seals up a hemispherical coupling state with a form of surrounding the outer surface of the inner covers, in which the inner covers and the outer cover overlap with each other.

4. The modified golf ball according to claim 3, wherein the inner covers and the outer cover are integrated through an injection molding method or an ultrasonic method.

5. The modified golf ball according to claim 3, wherein the coupling members are coupled with a hook or screw coupling method.

6. The modified golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the external member and the core member 20 are made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene.

7. The modified golf ball according to claim 2, wherein the external member and the core member 20 are made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene.

8. The modified golf ball according to claim 3, wherein the external member and the core member 20 are made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene.

9. The modified golf ball according to claim 4, wherein the external member and the core member 20 are made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene.

10. The modified golf ball according to claim 5, wherein the external member and the core member 20 are made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene.