GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING RIBS

• US 20080132355A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Hoffman, Joseph Henry, Johnson, Matt D., Dipert, Joshua J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,641,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/346
• 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

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a golf club head having at least one fin or rib with an external portion. For example, according to one embodiment, a wood-type golf club head includes a body that has at least one wall defining an interior cavity. The golf club head further includes at least one fin projecting from the at least one wall. The at least one fin can include an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a body comprising at least one wall defining an interior cavity; and

at least one fin projecting from the at least one wall, the at least one fin comprising an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.

2. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body comprises an internal surface and an external surface, the external surface defining at least one concave portion, and wherein the external portion of the at least one fin projects from the concave portion.

3. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one fin and the body comprise a unitary one-piece construction.

4. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the internal portion of the at least one fin comprises at least a first internal portion and a second internal portion, the external portion being intermediate the first and second internal portions.

5. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a front portion, rear portion, heel portion and toe portion, and wherein the at least one fin extends from the front portion to the rear portion.

6. The wood-type golf club head of claim 5, wherein the body comprises a ball impact plate having a ball impact surface adjacent the front portion of the body, and wherein the at least one fin extends generally perpendicular to the ball impact surface of the ball impact plate.

7. The wood-type golf club head of claim 5, wherein the body comprises a crown portion, a skirt portion and a sole portion, and wherein the at least one fin extends along at least the crown portion of the body.

8. The wood-type golf club head of claim 5, wherein the body comprises a crown portion, a skirt portion and a sole portion, and wherein the at least one fin extends along at least the sole portion of the body.

9. The wood-type golf club head of claim 5, wherein the body comprises a crown portion, a skirt portion and a sole portion, and wherein the at least one fin extends along the crown portion, skirt portion and sole portion of the body.

10. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one fin comprises at least three fins.

11. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a front portion, rear portion, heel portion and toe portion, and wherein the at least one fin extends along the toe portion.

12. The wood-type golf club head of claim 11, wherein the body comprises a ball impact plate having a ball impact surface adjacent the front portion of the body, and wherein the at least one fin extends generally parallel to the ball impact surface of the ball impact plate.

13. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a body comprising at least one wall having an interior surface defining an interior cavity and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the exterior surface having at least one recessed area; and

at least one rib projecting from the at least one wall and extending from the exterior surface outwardly away from the interior surface, wherein at least a portion of the at least one rib is positioned within the at least one recessed area.

14. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the at least one rib extends from the interior surface inwardly toward the interior cavity.

15. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a crown, skirt and sole, and wherein the at least one recessed area is positioned on the crown.

16. The wood-type golf club head of claim 15, wherein the at least one recessed area comprises a first recessed area, the body further comprising a second recessed area positioned on the sole, wherein at least a portion of the at least one rib is positioned within the first and second recessed areas

17. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a crown, skirt and sole, and wherein the at least one recessed area is positioned on the sole.

18. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a crown, skirt, sole, heel portion and toe portion generally opposite the heel portion, and wherein the at least one recessed area is positioned on the toe portion.

19. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the at least one rib extends generally perpendicularly away from the at least one wall.

20. The wood-type gold club head of claim 13, wherein an overall resonant frequency of the club head resulting from an impact with a golf ball is at least approximately 3,000 Hertz.

21. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a body comprising at least one wall defining an interior cavity, the at least one wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and

at least one fin projecting from the at least one wall, wherein at least a portion of the fin projects outwardly from the exterior surface of the wall;

wherein the at least one fin is configured to increase the overall frequency of the club head resulting from an impact with a golf ball.

22. The wood-type golf club head of claim 21, wherein the at least one fin increases the overall frequency of the club head by at least 400 Hertz.

23. The wood-type golf club head of claim 21, wherein the exterior surface of the body defines at least one concave portion, and wherein the portion of the at least one fin is positioned at least partially within the at least one concave portion.

24. The wood-type golf club head of claim 23, wherein the portion of the at least one fin is an external portion, the fin further comprising at least one internal portion projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the wall and positioned within the interior cavity.