Golf club head

• US 10,213,664 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2018
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Rice, Bradley C., Watson, William C., Dawson, Patrick, Ivanova, Irina, DeMille, Brandon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US16/031,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20180318670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part

Abstract

A golf club providing improved golf ball launch conditions is disclosed herein. The golf club includes a face component and a sole comprising an elongated recess disposed proximate the face component. The elongated recess preferably is tube shaped, and preferably has an opening with a smaller width than an innermost surface of the elongated recess. The elongated recess may be a separate piece that is permanently affixed within an opening in the sole. Some embodiments of the golf club also comprise a cover affixed to the sole and at least partially covering the opening of the elongated recess, while other embodiments comprise a filler material disposed within the elongated recess or between the elongated recess and an internal surface of the face.

Claims

1. A hybrid-type golf club head comprising:

a face having a front surface and an inner surface;

a crown;

a sole comprising an elongated groove; and

an interior cavity,

wherein each of the face and the sole is composed of a metal alloy material,

wherein the sole has a thickness of 0.030 to 0.50 inch,

wherein the groove comprises a groove opening disposed proximate to the face and extending approximately parallel with the face in a toe-to-heel direction, at least one negative draft wall, and a depth that varies as the groove extends from a heel side to a toe side,

wherein the groove opening comprises a toe-side portion having a first front-to-back width, a heel-side portion having a second front-to-back width, a central portion having a third front-to-back width connecting the toe-side portion to the heel-side portion, and an axis that is angled with respect to a ground plane,

wherein the first and second front-to-back widths are greater than the third front-to-back width,

wherein the groove opening is spaced 0.100 inch to 1.00 inch away from the front surface of the face,

wherein the groove has a wall thickness of between 0.010 inch and 0.200 inch, and

wherein the groove increases a ball speed of a golf ball upon impact with the face.

2. The hybrid-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole has a thickness of 0.040 to 0.100 inch.

3. The hybrid-type golf club head of claim 2, wherein the sole has a thickness of 0.060 inch.

4. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third front-to-back widths are between 0.010 and 1.00 inch.

5. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises a diameter of between 0.030 inch and 1.00 inch.

6. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises a volume of between 0.100 cubic inch and 1.00 cubic inch.

7. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove is spaced between 0.005 inch and 1.00 inch from the inner surface of the face.

8. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 7, wherein the groove is spaced between 0.010 inch and 0.050 inch from the inner surface of the face.

9. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove has a greatest depth at a central point between the heel side and the toe side.

10. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove has a smallest depth at a point proximate the toe side.

11. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove is at least partially filled with a low density material.

12. The hybrid -type golf club head of claim 11, wherein the groove is completely filled with the low density material.

13. The hybrid-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a low density filler material disposed within the interior cavity between the inner surface of the face and a groove wall.

14. The hybrid-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the filler material is compressed between the inner surface and the groove wall.

15. The hybrid-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises a tube-shaped portion.