Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 10,046,211 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, David N., Jacaman, Jamil, Kammerer, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US14/994,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A head for a ball striking device includes a face having a striking surface and a rear side located behind the face, a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, and a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, such that the resilient member engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member;

an engagement member engaging the face member and the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a single point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member, wherein the resilient material has a vertical portion engaging the front surface of the rear member, and wherein the vertical portion of the resilient material has a thickness that is larger proximate a heel side and a toe side of the head and smaller proximate a centerline of the head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin that is fixedly engaged with one of the face member and the rear member and is non-fixedly engaged with another of the face member and the rear member.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a wall extending rearward from the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the resilient material further has a horizontal portion positioned between the wall and the rear member and engaging a top surface of the rear member and an underside of the wall.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the front surface of the rear member includes a lip that extends forward from the rear member, and the face member includes an indent receiving the lip, and wherein the vertical portion of the resilient material has a jog portion positioned between the lip and the indent.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the thickness of the vertical portion is smaller at the jog portion and larger proximate the heel side and the toe side.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the vertical portion of the resilient material is at least two times greater at the heel side and the toe side than the thickness proximate the centerline of the head.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member;

an engagement member engaging the face member and the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a single point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member, wherein the resilient material has a thinned portion located proximate the engagement member, the thinned portion having a thickness that is reduced relative to other portions of the resilient material.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin that is fixedly engaged with one of the face member and the rear member and is non-fixedly engaged with another of the face member and the rear member.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising a wall extending rearward from the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the resilient material is further positioned between the wall and the rear member and engages a top surface of the rear member and an underside of the wall.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the engagement member is laterally aligned with a center of gravity of the rear member.

15. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the thickness of the other portions of the resilient material is at least two times greater than the thickness of the thinned portion.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a heel end and a toe end;

an engagement member engaging the face member and the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a single point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member,

wherein the resilient material has a periphery that is substantially flush with the face member and the rear member along a portion of the periphery, and the periphery of the resilient material is recessed from the face member and the rear member at the heel end and the toe end of the rear member, such that empty spaces exist between the heel and toe ends of the rear member and the rear side of the face member.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the periphery of the resilient material is substantially flush with the face member and the rear member along a majority of the periphery.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the periphery of the resilient material is substantially flush with the face member and the rear member along a bottom edge of the periphery.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin that is fixedly engaged with one of the face member and the rear member and is non-fixedly engaged with another of the face member and the rear member.

20. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

21. The golf club head of claim 16, further comprising a wall extending rearward from the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head.

22. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member having a cavity on the rear side;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member has a projection forming at least a portion of the front surface, and the projection extends into the cavity and is at least partially received within the cavity, and wherein the projection is recessed inwardly from a periphery of the rear member around at least a portion of the periphery;

an engagement member engaging the face member and the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a single point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member, wherein at least a portion of the resilient material is positioned in the cavity between the front surface of the rear member and the rear side of the face member, such that the resilient material engages the projection and an inner surface of the cavity.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the projection is recessed inwardly from the periphery of the rear member at a heel end and a toe end of the rear member.

24. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin that is fixedly engaged with one of the face member and the rear member and is non-fixedly engaged with another of the face member and the rear member.

25. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

26. The golf club head of claim 22, further comprising a wall extending rearward from the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head.

27. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the rear side of the face member having walls extending rearwardly and defining a cavity on the rear side, wherein the walls comprise a top wall at least partially defining a top of the cavity and side walls at least partially defining heel and toe portions of the cavity;

a rear member having a solid-body construction and connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is at least partially received within the cavity, wherein the rear member is positioned below the top wall, such that the top wall at least partially covers a top side of the rear member, and the side walls at least partially cover heel and toe sides of the rear member, and wherein the side walls extend around the heel and toe sides of the rear member and cover a portion of a bottom side of the rear member;

an engagement member engaging the face member and the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a single point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member, wherein at least a portion of the resilient material is positioned in the cavity between the front surface of the rear member and the rear side of the face member.

28. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the bottom side of the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head.

29. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the rear side of the face member having walls extending rearwardly and defining a cavity on the rear side, wherein the walls comprise a top wall at least partially defining a top of the cavity and side walls at least partially defining heel and toe portions of the cavity;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is at least partially received within the cavity, wherein the rear member is positioned below the top wall, such that the top wall at least partially covers a top side of the rear member, and the side walls at least partially cover heel and toe sides of the rear member, and wherein the side walls extend around the heel and toe sides of the rear member and cover a portion of a bottom side of the rear member;

an engagement member engaging the face member and the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a single point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member, wherein at least a portion of the resilient material is positioned in the cavity between the front surface of the rear member and the rear side of the face member.

30. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin that is fixedly engaged with one of the face member and the rear member and is non-fixedly engaged with another of the face member and the rear member.

31. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

32. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member, wherein the resilient material has a vertical portion engaging the front surface of the rear member, and wherein the vertical portion of the resilient material has a thickness that is larger proximate a heel side and a toe side of the head and smaller proximate a centerline of the head,

wherein the front surface of the rear member includes a lip that extends forward from the rear member, and the face member includes an indent receiving the lip, and wherein the vertical portion of the resilient material has a jog portion positioned between the lip and the indent, and

wherein the thickness of the vertical portion is smaller at the jog portion and larger proximate the heel side and the toe side.