Golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads

• US 10,576,336 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Solheim, John A., Morales, Eric J., Henrikson, Erik M., Cole, Eric V., Wood, Paul D., Schweigert, Bradley D., Jertson, Marty R., Shaw, Tyler A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US16/230,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20190126109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face portion, a back portion generally opposite the face portion, a heel portion extending between the face portion and the back portion, and a toe portion opposite to the heel portion and extending between the face portion and the back portion;

a crown portion extending between the face portion, the back portion, the heel portion and the toe portion, the crown portion comprising a plurality of apertures;

wherein the number of the plurality of apertures is in a range of between 60 and 1500 apertures; and

wherein the plurality of apertures further comprises;

a plurality of first apertures extending in a first row between the heel portion and the toe portion; and

a plurality of second apertures extending in a second row between the heel portion and the toe portion;

wherein;

at least two apertures of the plurality of first apertures have different largest dimensions; and

at least two apertures of the plurality of second apertures have different largest dimensions.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures defines at least one repeating pattern of apertures.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a recessed portion defined in the crown portion, wherein the plurality of apertures is defined within the recessed portion.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a protective cover configured to engage the crown to cover the plurality of apertures.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the largest dimension of each adjacent aperture progressively increases in a direction generally from the face portion towards the back portion.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures has a largest dimension being less than or equal to 0.40 inch.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a face portion, a back portion generally opposite the face portion, a heel portion extending between the face portion and the back portion, and a toe portion opposite to the heel portion and extending between the face portion and the back portion;

a crown portion extending between the face portion, the back portion, the heel portion and the toe portion, the crown portion comprising a plurality of apertures;

wherein the number of the plurality of apertures is in a range of between 60 and 1500 apertures; and

wherein the plurality of apertures further comprises;

a plurality of first apertures comprising a first largest dimension and extending in a first row between the heel portion and the toe portion; and

a plurality of second apertures comprising a second largest dimension and extending in a second row between the heel portion and the toe portion;

wherein;

the first row is nearest to the face portion;

the second row is between the first row and the back portion; and

the first largest dimension is less than the second largest dimension.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures defines at least one repeating pattern of apertures.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, further comprising a recessed portion defined in the crown portion, wherein the plurality of apertures is defined within the recessed portion.

10. The golf club head of claim 7, further comprising a protective cover configured to engage the crown to cover the plurality of apertures.

11. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the largest dimension of each adjacent aperture progressively increases in a direction generally from the face portion towards the back portion.

12. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures has a largest dimension being less than or equal 0.40 inch.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a face portion, a back portion generally opposite the face portion, a heel portion extending between the face portion and the back portion, and a toe portion opposite to the heel portion and extending between the face portion and the back portion;

a crown portion extending between the face portion, the back portion, the heel portion and the toe portion, the crown portion comprising a plurality of apertures;

wherein the number of the plurality of apertures is in a range of between 60 and 1500 apertures; and

wherein the plurality of apertures further comprises;

a plurality of first apertures extending in a first row between the heel portion and the toe portion;

a plurality of second apertures extending in a second row between the heel portion and the toe portion; and

a plurality of third apertures extending in a third row between the heel portion and the toe portion;

wherein;

the first row is nearest to the face portion;

the second row is between the first row and the back portion;

the third row is between the second row and the back portion;

at least two apertures of the plurality of first apertures have different largest dimensions;

at least two apertures of the plurality of second apertures have different largest dimensions; and

at least two apertures of the plurality of third apertures have different largest dimensions.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures defines at least one repeating pattern of apertures.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising a recessed portion defined in the crown portion, wherein the plurality of apertures is defined within the recessed portion.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising a protective cover configured to engage the crown to cover the plurality of apertures.

17. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the largest dimension of each adjacent aperture progressively increases in a direction generally from the face portion towards the back portion.