(19)Fresh off Patent
(45) Week of Oct 5, 2026 No. 5 3,852 lapsed 197 picks
Sports & Fitness · lapsed Aug 7, 2026

Golf ball with small matching bumps or hollows around dimples

This is a multilayer golf ball whose surface dimples are surrounded at their outer periphery by a ring of small, spaced depressed or raised portions. Each of those peripheral features copies part of the dimple contour, is narrow (width < length), and is between about 10% and 50% of the dimple's outer-peripheral length. The design is intended for golfers and ball makers seeking modest aerodynamic changes to reduce uneven dimple effects and improve carry distance.

Sheet 1 of the patent drawingsSheet 2 of the patent drawingsSheet 3 of the patent drawings

(57) What the patent covered

The ball has plural dimples and, around at least one dimple, multiple spaced depressed or protruding portions arranged outside the dimple's outer periphery; each peripheral portion includes as part of its contour a shape substantially similar to part of the dimple contour, has length >1/10 and <1/2 of the dimple's outer peripheral length, a width smaller than that length, inner and outer contour parts of substantially the same shape, and a substantially uniform width.

The distinctive part: Using multiple small, spaced peripheral features that geometrically mimic a portion of the dimple contour, sized to a specific fraction (10, 50%) of the dimple perimeter.

Novelty 3/5. Dimples and secondary surface roughness were common; the patent's contribution is a specific arrangement and size range for peripheral protrusions or depressions that mirror part of the dimple outline.

Making it

molded cover with dimple tooling (injection or compression molding of cover over core), surface finishing and painting; tooling must include fine features for the peripheral depressed/protruded portions.

Materials: ionomer or urethane cover (typical golf ball cover materials), rubber core materials (polybutadiene), possible thin paint/topcoat

Manufacturability 4/5. Requires detailed mold tooling to form many small, uniform peripheral features; otherwise manufacturing is standard for golf balls (core production, cover molding, finishing).

Is anyone buying?

Comparable products are on sale; this exact design wasn't found. Typical retail price: $30–$35. marketed as a 4‑dimensional construction ball with 314 aerodynamic dimples and a low price point for recreational players; listed with multiple box options

This demand check was run with a web search in the week of Sep 14, 2026. Listings change often, so treat it as a starting point for your own research.

Who buys it: distance-focused golfers and golf ball manufacturers

Before you make it

We didn't find any related continuation or divisional patents still in force, although that doesn't rule out design patents, trademarks or unrelated patents covering the same product.

Practical impact on performance depends on exact geometry and material; effect may be subtle, and producing consistent fine features raises tooling and quality-control demands.

Owners occasionally revive lapsed patents (about 1.5% are), and this page is a research lead rather than legal advice, so get a freedom-to-operate opinion before you manufacture anything.

Claim 1, as granted

1. A golf ball comprising: plural dimples formed on a surface thereof; and plural depressed or protruded portions spaced apart from each other and arranged along and outside an outer periphery of at least one of the plural dimples, the plural depressed or protruded portions each having, as a part of a contour thereof, a shape substantially similar to a part of a contour of the dimple surrounded with the plural depressed or protruded portions, the plural depressed or protruded portions each having a length of more than 1/10 and less than ½ of an outer peripheral length of the dimple surrounded with the plural depressed or protruded portions, wherein the plural depressed or protruded portions each has a width smaller than the length thereof, the length of the depressed or protruded portion being along a length of an inner contour part of the depressed or protruded portion between both ends of the substantially similar shape to a contour part of the dimple, and the width of the depressed or protruded portion being a longest distance between the inner contour part and an outer contour part of the depressed or protruded portion, wherein the inner contour part and the outer contour part of the depressed or protruded portion have the substantially same shape, and the depressed or protruded portion has a substantially uniform width.