GOLF CLUB HEAD OR OTHER BALL STRIKING DEVICE HAVING MULTIPLE FACE INSERTS

• US 20100267466A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/424,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20100267466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and a plurality of cavities in the face, each cavity configured to receive an insert. The head may also include a plurality of inserts received within the cavities. The inserts may be made from one or more different materials having different densities. Different inserts having different densities can be connected to the face to customize the weighting of the face, such as to adjust the location of the center of gravity of the face or to change the moment of inertia of the head.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball;

a body connected to the face; and

a plurality of cavities in the face, each cavity configured to receive an insert.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cavities is located on a heel side of the face and at least one of the cavities is located on a toe side of the face.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein at least one of the cavities is located on a vertical centerline of the face.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cavities is located on a top side of the face and at least one of the cavities is located on a bottom side of the face.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein at least one of the cavities is located on a horizontal centerline of the face.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face comprises four quadrants extending from a geometric center of the face, and wherein at least one cavity is located entirely in a high-heel quadrant, at least one cavity is located entirely in a high-toe quadrant, at least one cavity is located entirely in a low-heel quadrant, and at least one cavity is located entirely in a low-toe quadrant.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein at least one of the cavities is located on a horizontal centerline of the face.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cavities extend to the outer surface of the face.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cavities extend to an inner surface of the face opposite the outer surface.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cavities extend completely through the face.

11. A golf club comprising the golf club head of claim 1 and a shaft connected to the golf club head.

12. A face member for use in a ball striking device, comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball;

a wall extending rearward from an outer periphery of the face; and

a plurality of cavities in the face, each cavity configured to receive an insert.

13. A method comprising:

providing a golf club head including a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface, and a plurality of cavities in the face; and

inserting a plurality of inserts into the plurality of cavities.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing at least one of the plurality of inserts and replacing the removed insert with a second insert having a density different from the removed insert.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the inserts has a first density and at least one of the inserts has a second density that is different from the first density.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the inserts has a density that is different from a density of at least a portion of the face.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and a plurality of cavities in the face;

a body connected to the face; and

a plurality of inserts, each insert received within one of the cavities.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the plurality of inserts extend completely through the face.

19. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the plurality of inserts extend to the outer surface of the face and each insert has an outer surface that is flush with the outer surface of the face.

20. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one of the inserts has a density that is different from a density of at least a portion of the face.

21. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one of the inserts is made from a first material and at least a portion of the face is made from a second material that is different from the first material.

22. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one of the inserts has a first density and at least one of the inserts has a second density that is greater than the first density.

23. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one of the inserts is made from a first material and at least one of the inserts is made from a second material that is different from the first material.

24. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the inserts are removable.

25. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the face has grooves and at least one of the inserts has an outer surface with grooves that are contiguous with the grooves of the face.

26. A golf club comprising the golf club head of claim 17 and a shaft connected to the golf club head.

27. A face member for use in a ball striking device, comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and a plurality of cavities in the face;

a wall extending rearward from an outer periphery of the face; and

a plurality of inserts, each insert received within one of the cavities.

28. A golf club kit comprising:

a golf club head comprising a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball, a plurality of cavities in the face, and a body connected to the face; and

a plurality of inserts, each configured for connection to the face.

29. The golf club kit of claim 28, wherein at least one of the cavities has a first shape and at least another of the cavities has a second shape, and the plurality of inserts comprise at least one insert having the first shape and at least one insert having the second shape, such that each cavity is configured to receive at least one of the plurality of inserts.

30. The golf club kit of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the face is made from a first material, and wherein at least one of the inserts is made from a second material that is different from the first material.

31. The golf club kit of claim 30, wherein at least one of the inserts is made from a third material that is different from the first material and the second material.

32. The golf club kit of claim 28, wherein at least one of the inserts has a first density and at least one of the inserts has a second density that is greater than the first density.

33. The golf club kit of claim 28, further comprising:

a shaft configured for connection to the golf club head to form a golf club.