Golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element

• US 20050119066A1
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Taylor, Michael G., Franklin, David N., Kawaguchi, Hiroshi, Stites, John T., Slaughter, Byron C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,476,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• 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 cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a top portion;

a sole portion;

a striking face extending from the top portion to the sole portion, the striking face providing a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear face opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear face to vary a center of gravity of the golf club head; and

a damping element positioned between the rear face and the bridge member, the damping element forming first and second rear cavities.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head further comprises a space between the damping element and the rear face.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second rear cavity is located between the bridge member and the sole portion.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the damping element reduces vibration upon impact of the striking face with the golf ball.

5. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the damping element reduces sound upon impact of the striking face with the golf ball.

6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the damping element comprises a polymer.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the polymer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the polymer comprises a high density polymer resin for varying the center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second rear cavity is at least partially filled with the damping element.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first rear cavity is at least partially filled with the damping element.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, further including a wall extending from the sole portion to the bridge member.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, further including a wall extending from the top portion to the bridge member.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the golf club head comprises a long iron cavity back golf club head.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the long iron cavity back golf club head comprises a two iron.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the long iron cavity back golf club head comprises a three iron.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the long iron cavity back golf club head comprises a four iron.

17. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the long iron cavity back golf club head comprises a five iron.

18. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head comprises a short iron cavity back golf club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the short iron cavity back golf club head comprises a six iron.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the short iron cavity back golf club head comprises a seven iron.

21. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the short iron cavity back golf club head comprises an eight iron.

22. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the short iron cavity back golf club head comprises a nine iron.

23. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the short iron cavity back golf club head comprises a pitching wedge.

24. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the bridge member extends across the first rear cavity, the bridge member connects the heel and the toe, and the bridge member has a curved upper edge and a curved lower edge such that height dimensions of end portions of the bridge member are greater than a height dimension of a central portion of the bridge member.

25. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the bridge member extends across the first rear cavity, the bridge member connects the heel and the toe, and the bridge member has a first height dimension in an area adjacent the heel, a second height dimension adjacent the toe, and a third height dimension between the heel and the toe, the third height dimension being less than the first height dimension and the second height dimension.

26. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the bridge member extends across the first rear cavity, the bridge member connects the heel and the toe, and the bridge member has a curved upper edge and a curved lower edge such that height dimensions of end portions of the bridge member are greater than a height dimension of a central portion of the bridge member, and the bridge member curving outward from the first rear cavity.

27. A set of iron golf clubs, the set of iron golf clubs comprising:

a plurality of increasing numbered iron golf clubs, the plurality of increasing numbered iron clubs each having a shaft and a golf club head;

the golf club head positioned on an end of the shaft, the golf club head of each iron golf club comprising;

a striking face extending from the top portion to the sole portion, the striking face providing a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear face opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear face to vary a center of gravity of the golf club head; and

a damping element positioned between the rear face and the bridge member, the damping element forming first and second rear cavities.

28. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 27, wherein the damping element comprises a polymer.

29. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 28, wherein the polymer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

30. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 28, wherein the polymer comprises a high density polymer resin for varying the center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face.

31. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 27, wherein the second rear cavity is at least partially filled with the damping element.

32. A method of reducing vibrations of a golf club head upon impact with a golf ball, the method comprising:

inserting a damping element between a rear face of the golf club head and a bridge member extending across the rear face of the golf club head.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the damping element comprises a polymer.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the polymer comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the polymer comprises a high density polymer resin for varying the center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to a striking face.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising at least partially filling an area adjacent the rear face with the damping element.