Golf club head

• US 20070275792A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company Incorporated (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Radcliffe, Nathaniel J., Wallans, Michael J., Horacek, Robert J., Lacey, Sam G., Rae, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a skirt;

a striking face;

at least one stiffening member;

a junction interconnecting the sole, crown and skirt to the striking face, the junction comprising a height, H, between about 1 mm and about 20 mm and a length, L, between about 1 mm and about 20 mm; and

the at least one stiffening member is disposed entirely within the junction.

29. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein H is between about 1 mm and about 14 mm and L is between about 1 mm and about 14 mm.

30. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein H is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm and L is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm.

31. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the head volume is greater than 200 cm³.

32. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the head volume is greater than 300 cm³.

33. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the at least one stiffening member comprises a mass, the mass having a maximum thickness, T, between about 1 mm and about 8 mm.

34. The golf club head of claim 33, wherein T is between about 3 mm and about 7 mm.

35. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a skirt;

a striking face; and

at least one stiffening member attached to the strike face and at least one of the crown, sole, and skirt,

wherein at least a point on the strike face, other than the geometric center, comprises a coefficient of restitution that is greater than 0.83.

36. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the head volume is greater than 300 cm³.

37. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the at least one stiffening member comprises a rib, the rib comprising a maximum true height, H_MAX, between about 2 mm and about 12 mm.

38. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the at least one stiffening member comprises a width, W, between about 2 mm and about 15 mm.

39. The golf club head of claim 38, wherein W is between about 3 mm and about 7 mm.

40. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the at least one stiffening member is on the exterior portion of the head.

41. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the head further comprises a heel region, a toe region, a top region, and a bottom region, wherein the at least one stiffening member is located in at least one of the regions.

42. The golf club head of claim 40, wherein the at least one stiffening member is located in the top region and at least one stiffening member is located in the bottom region.

43. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a skirt;

a striking face;

a junction interconnecting the sole, the crown, and the skirt to the striking face;

at least one mass disposed entirely within the junction; and

a rib disposed within the junction proximate the mass.

44. The golf club head of claim 43, wherein the rib comprises a maximum true height, H_max, between about 2 mm and about 12 mm.

45. The golf club head of claim 44, wherein H_max is between about 4 mm and about 8 mm.

46. The golf club head of claim 43, wherein the head further comprises a heel region, a toe region, a top region, and a bottom region, wherein the at least one mass is located in at least one of the regions.

47. The golf club head of claim 46, wherein the at least one mass is located in the top region and at least one mass is located in the bottom region.

48. The golf club head of claim 46, wherein two masses are located in the bottom region.

49. The golf club head of claim 43, wherein the junction comprising a height, H, between about 1 mm and about 20 mm and a length, L, between about 1 mm and about 20 mm.

50. The golf club head of claim 49, wherein H is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm and L is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm.

51. The golf club head of claim 43, wherein the at least one mass comprises a width, W, between about 2 and about 15 mm.

52. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a skirt;

a strike face;

a junction interconnecting the sole, the crown, and the skirt to the striking face;

at least one mass disposed entirely within the junction; and

a rib disposed in the junction, the rib intersecting the mass.

53. The golf club head of claim 52, wherein the rib comprises a maximum true height, H_max, between about 2 mm and about 12 mm.

54. The golf club head of claim 53, wherein H_max is between about 4 mm and about 8 mm.

55. The golf club head of claim 52, wherein the head further comprises a heel region, a toe region, a top region, and a bottom region, wherein the mass is located in at least one of the regions.

56. The golf club head of claim 55, wherein the at least one mass is located in the top region and at least one mass is located in the bottom region.

57. The golf club head of claim 55, wherein two masses are located in the bottom region.

58. The golf club head of claim 54, wherein the junction comprising a height, H, between about 1 mm and about 20 mm and a length, L, between about 1 mm and about 20 mm.

59. The golf club head of claim 58, wherein H is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm and L is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm.

60. The golf club head of claim 52, wherein the at least one mass comprises a width, W, between about 2 and about 15 mm.