Golf Ball
A golf ball including a plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide on the exterior surface of the golf ball, such that each continuous dynamic focus patterns circumscribes the golf ball and the center of each said continuous dynamic focus pattern coincides with the center of said golf ball. A golf ball including at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across on the exterior surface of the golf ball. A golf ball including both a plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns and at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns on the exterior surface of the golf ball.
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This invention relates to the field of sports equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to golf balls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA golfer may desire to improve range and accuracy of his/her shot by aligning their club to the ball prior to each swing. Because typical golf balls lack alignment features, it may be problematic to achieve a desired alignment. Furthermore, because typical golf balls may not have markings in view of the golfer during a swing, it may be difficult to focus on a site on the golf ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention, and is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description that is presented later.
A golf ball may have one, two, three or more continuous dynamic focus patterns on the exterior surface of the golf ball, in which each continuous dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide and circumscribes the golf ball and the center of each continuous dynamic focus pattern coincides with the center of the golf ball. The golf ball may have at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns uniformly distributed on the exterior surface, in which each discrete dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The continuous dynamic focus patterns may be the same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns. Similarly, the discrete dynamic focus patterns may be the same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns.
The present invention is described with reference to the attached figures, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not drawn to scale and they are provided merely to illustrate the invention. Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference to example applications for illustration. It should be understood that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide an understanding of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. The present invention is not limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordance with the present invention. For the purposes of this description, the term “approximately” is understood to mean within tolerances incurred during formation of the embodiments described herein.
In a first set of embodiments, a golf ball may have one, two, three or more continuous dynamic focus patterns on an exterior surface of the golf ball. Each continuous dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide. Each continuous dynamic focus pattern circumscribes the golf ball and a center of each continuous dynamic focus pattern coincides with a center of the golf ball. The continuous dynamic focus patterns may have a same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns. In an embodiment with two continuous dynamic focus patterns, the two continuous dynamic focus pattern may intersect each other at right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into four approximately equal areas. In an embodiment with three continuous dynamic focus patterns, each continuous dynamic focus pattern may intersect the other continuous dynamic focus patterns at right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into eight approximately equal areas.
In a second set of embodiments, a golf ball may have at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns distributed on the exterior surface. Each discrete dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across. The discrete dynamic focus patterns may be a same color and/or pattern or different colors and/or patterns. In one embodiment, a golf ball may have four discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 109 degrees (a circumference of the golf ball having 360 degrees). In another embodiment, a golf ball may have six discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 90 degrees. In yet another embodiment, a golf ball may have eight discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 70 degrees. In a further embodiment, a golf ball may have twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 63 degrees. In yet a further embodiment, a golf ball may have twenty discrete dynamic focus patterns in which each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 42 degrees.
In a third set of embodiment, a golf ball may have any combination of continuous dynamic focus patterns and at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns distributed on the exterior surface. One or more of the discrete dynamic focus patterns may be located in paths of one or more of the continuous dynamic focus patterns.
For the purposes of this description, the term “substantially equal” is understood to mean equal within manufacturing tolerances or unintended variations encountered during fabrication of embodiments.
In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) may intersect the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) at right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into four approximately equal areas. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be approximately the same width. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may have similar patterns, that is, may both have solid patterns, or both be linear patterns of similar shapes such as squares. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be of the same color. In another version, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (202) and the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (204) may be of different colors.
In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may intersect at angles substantially equal to right angles, so as to divide the exterior surface of the golf ball into eight approximately equal areas. In one version of the instant embodiment, widths of the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be substantially equal. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may have similar patterns, that is, all three may have solid patterns, or both be linear patterns of similar shapes such as squares. In one version of the instant embodiment, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be of the same color. In another version, the first continuous dynamic focus pattern (302), the second continuous dynamic focus pattern (304) and the third continuous dynamic focus pattern (306) may be of different colors.
It will be recognized that a golf ball may be formed with both continuous dynamic focus patterns and discrete dynamic focus patterns, as depicted in
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A golf ball, comprising a plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns on an exterior surface of said golf ball, such that:
- each of said continuous dynamic focus patterns is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide;
- each of said continuous dynamic focus patterns circumscribes said golf ball; and
- a center of each said continuous dynamic focus patterns coincides with a center of said golf ball.
2. The golf ball of claim 1, in which each of said continuous dynamic focus patterns intersects every other said continuous dynamic focus pattern at right angles.
3. The golf ball of claim 1, in which at least one of said continuous dynamic focus patterns is a solid stripe of a single color.
4. The golf ball of claim 1, in which at least one of said continuous dynamic focus patterns is formed of a plurality of colored shapes.
5. The golf ball of claim 1, in which said continuous dynamic focus patterns are light colored and said exterior surface of said golf ball is dark colored.
6. The golf ball of claim 1, in which said plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns consists of three continuous dynamic focus patterns, such that each of said three continuous dynamic focus patterns intersect at angles substantially equal to right angles, so as to divide said exterior surface of the golf ball into eight approximately equal areas.
7. The golf ball of claim 6, in which widths of said continuous dynamic focus patterns are substantially equal.
8. The golf ball of claim 1, in which said plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns consists of three continuous dynamic focus patterns, such that said three continuous dynamic focus patterns intersect at two opposite locations on said exterior surface of said golf ball.
9. The golf ball of claim 8, in which said continuous dynamic focus patterns are light colored and said exterior surface of said golf ball is dark colored.
10. A golf ball, comprising a plurality of at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns on an exterior surface of said golf ball, such that each said discrete dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across.
11. The golf ball of claim 10, in which said discrete dynamic focus patterns are different colors.
12. The golf ball of claim 10, in which said discrete dynamic focus patterns are different shapes.
13. The golf ball of claim 10, in which sizes of said discrete dynamic focus patterns are substantially equal.
14. The golf ball of claim 10, in which said plurality of discrete dynamic focus patterns consists of twelve discrete dynamic focus patterns, disposed on said exterior surface of said golf ball such that each pair of adjacent discrete dynamic focus patterns is separated by approximately 63 degrees.
15. A golf ball, comprising:
- a plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns on an exterior surface of said golf ball, such that: each of said continuous dynamic focus patterns is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters wide; each of said continuous dynamic focus patterns circumscribes said golf ball; and a center of each said continuous dynamic focus patterns coincides with a center of said golf ball; and
- a plurality of at least four discrete dynamic focus patterns on an exterior surface of said golf ball, such that each said discrete dynamic focus pattern is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters across
16. The golf ball of claim 15, in which at least one of said discrete dynamic focus patterns are disposed in paths of said continuous dynamic focus patterns.
17. The golf ball of claim 15, in which:
- said plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns consists of five continuous dynamic focus patterns, such that: four members of said five continuous dynamic focus patterns intersect at two opposite locations on said exterior surface of said golf ball; and a fifth member of said five continuous dynamic focus patterns is located substantially equally between said two intersection locations of said four continuous dynamic focus patterns so that said fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern intersects each of said first four continuous dynamic focus patterns at angles substantially equal to a right angle; and
- said plurality of discrete dynamic focus patterns consists of 26 discrete dynamic focus patterns, such that: eight members of said 26 discrete dynamic focus patterns are disposed in paths of said fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern at intersections of said fifth continuous dynamic focus pattern with said first four continuous dynamic focus patterns; two members of said 26 discrete dynamic focus patterns are disposed in paths of said first four continuous dynamic focus patterns at said intersection locations of said first four continuous dynamic focus patterns; and 16 members of said 26 discrete dynamic focus patterns are disposed in regions bounded by said continuous dynamic focus patterns, distributed one discrete dynamic focus pattern per said bounded region.
18. The golf ball of claim 15, in which:
- said plurality of continuous dynamic focus patterns consists of three continuous dynamic focus patterns, such that each member of said three continuous dynamic focus patterns intersects each remaining continuous dynamic focus pattern at angles substantially equal to a right angle; and
- said plurality of discrete dynamic focus patterns consists of fourteen discrete dynamic focus patterns, such that: six members of said fourteen discrete dynamic focus patterns are disposed at intersections of said continuous dynamic focus patterns; and eight members of said fourteen discrete dynamic focus patterns are disposed in regions bounded by said continuous dynamic focus patterns, distributed one discrete dynamic focus pattern per said bounded region.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 16, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 22, 2012
Applicant: (Plano, TX)
Inventor: Byron Lovell Williams (Plano, TX)
Application Number: 12/884,171
International Classification: A63B 37/12 (20060101);