GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20090239680A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• 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 7,815,522 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. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a toe;

a heel;

a strike face;

an interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, and the strike face;

a junction between the strike face and at least the sole and the crown, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a length dimension in a direction from the heel to the toe;

at least one mass disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region, the at least one mass having a maximum true thickness; and

a rib intersecting the at least one mass, the rib having a maximum true height exceeding the maximum true thickness.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one mass extends along a minority of the length dimension of one of the top region and bottom region.

3. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a heel;

a toe;

a crown;

a strike face comprising a geometric center, a coefficient of restitution measured at the geometric center, a location spaced from the geometric center a horizontal distance of at least 0.2 inches, and a coefficient of restitution measured at the location, wherein the coefficient of restitution at the location is greater than the coefficient of restitution at the geometric center;

an interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown and the strike face;

a junction between the strike face and at least the sole and the crown, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a length dimension in a direction from the heel to the toe; and

at least one first rib disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein at least one mass is disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the at least one first rib intersects the at least one mass.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the at least one first rib is oriented generally perpendicular to the strike face.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the golf club head further comprises at least one second rib, the at least one first rib disposed entirely within the bottom region, the at least one second rib disposed entirely within the top region.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the at least one mass extends along a minority of the length dimension of one of the top region and bottom region.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the at least one mass comprises a true thickness and the at least one first rib comprises a maximum true height exceeding the maximum true thickness.

10. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the golf club head further comprises at least one second rib, the at least one first rib disposed entirely within the bottom region, the at least one second rib disposed entirely within the top region.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the at least one first rib and the at least one second rib are disposed generally perpendicular to the strike face.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the coefficient of restitution measured at the location is greater than 0.82.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the location is disposed proximate the toe.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising a volume greater than 300 cm³.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a heel;

a toe;

a crown;

a strike face comprising a geometric center and a plurality of locations spaced from the geometric center in horizontal increments toward the toe, an average coefficient of restitution associated with the plurality of locations, wherein the average coefficient of restitution is greater than 0.82;

an interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown and the strike face;

a junction between the strike face and at least the sole and the crown, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a length dimension in a direction from the heel to the toe; and

at least one rib disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region.

16. The golf club head of claim 15 wherein each of the horizontal increments is 0.2 inches.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the average coefficient of restitution is greater than 0.825.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one mass is disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region, the at least one mass extending along a minority of the length dimension of one of the top region and bottom region.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the at least one rib intersects the at least one mass, the at least one rib oriented generally perpendicular to the strike face.

20. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a striking face;

an interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown and the strike face;

a junction interconnecting at least the sole and the crown to the striking face; and

a stiffening mound disposed in the interior cavity at the junction between the crown and the striking face, the mound disposed along a minority of the junction between the crown and the striking face, wherein no other stiffening mound is disposed within the junction between the crown and the striking face.