GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20110312437A1
• Filed: 06/22/2011
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Willett, Kraig A., Sargent, Nathan T., Harbert, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics

Abstract

A wood-type golf club head comprises a body having one or more ribs extending across the internal surface of the sole. The plurality of ribs can include two or more ribs, such as three or four ribs, that converge at a convergence location, such as above a recessed pocket in the sole configured to receive an adjustable sole piece. At least one rib can extend along an internal surface of the recessed pocket and along an internal surface of a surrounding sole region. The ribs can extend from the convergence location to a toe weight port, to a heel weight port, to a rear portion of the body and/or toward the face. At least one rib can extend from a hosel, such as to the toe weight port.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole, and a plurality of ribs positioned on an internal surface of the sole, wherein the plurality of ribs includes a first rib extending from the toe portion in a rearward and heelward direction, a second rib extending from the heel portion in a rearward and toeward direction, and a third rib extending from the rear portion in a frontward direction, wherein the first, second and third ribs converge at a convergence location.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a first weight port positioned at the toe portion and a second weight port positioned at the heel portion, the first rib being connected to the first weight port and the second rib being connected to the second weight port.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs comprises a fourth rib extending from the convergence location in a frontward direction.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a hosel and the plurality of ribs comprises a fourth rib extending from the hosel to the first weight port.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the convergence location is rearward and heelward of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a convergence zone that is recessed with respect to a surrounding sole region and the convergence location is positioned within the convergence zone.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first, second and third ribs extend across a raised internal surface of the sole directly above the convergence zone and across an internal surface of the surrounding sole region.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the first, second and third ribs converge at an aperture in the sole, the aperture being at the center of the convergence zone.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable sole piece coupled to a pocket via a fastener that passes through the sole piece and is secured to an aperture in the sole.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the adjustable sole piece is configured to be positioned at a plurality of axial positions with respect to an axis extending through the sole piece, the adjustable sole piece being releasably lockable to the sole at a selected one of the plurality of axial positions on the sole.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the adjustable sole piece has a generally triangular configuration and is adapted to be positioned at three distinct axial positions with respect to the axis extending through the aperture.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the adjustable sole piece is configured to receive at least two projections located on the sole.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the body, the sole portion having a frequency of a first fundamental sole mode that is greater than 2,500 Hz;

a hosel portion positioned at a heel portion of the body;

a crown portion located on an upper portion of the body; and

a striking face portion located on a front portion of the body;

the sole portion comprising a recessed zone configured to receive an adjustable sole piece and a surrounding sole region, and at least one rib that extends along a portion of an internal surface of the sole portion wherein the adjustable sole piece is configured to provide at least a first position associated with at least a first club head face angle, the adjustable sole piece configured to further provide at least a second position associated with at least a second club head face angle, and wherein the adjustable sole piece is configured to receive at least two projections located on the sole.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the body further comprises a weight port positioned at a toe portion of the body, and the one or more ribs positioned on an internal surface of the sole include a first rib that extends along the interior surface of the sole from the hosel to the weight port;

wherein the sole portion further comprises a front sole region configured to contact the ground when the golf club head is in an address position, a recessed sole region that is recessed relative to the front sole region such that the recessed sole region is spaced from the ground, and a sloped sole transition zone extending inward from the front sole region to the recessed sole region; and

wherein the first rib extends from a first portion of the front sole region adjacent the hosel, across a first portion of the sole transition zone adjacent the hosel, across the recessed sole region, across a second portion of the sole transition zone adjacent the weight port, and across a second portion of the front sole region adjacent the weight port.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein, when the golf club head is in the address position, the first rib extends in a straight line when projected onto an X-Y plane parallel with the ground.

16. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the first rib has a height that varies along its length between the hosel and the weight port, a height adjacent the hosel and a height adjacent the weight port being greater than a height where the first rib extends across the recessed sole region.

17. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the adjustable sole piece is capable of being positioned in three discrete positions to adjust the face angle of the club head.

18. A golf club comprising:

a body;

a shaft connected to the body;

a grip connected to the shaft;

a crown portion located on an upper portion of the body;

a striking face located on a front portion of the body; and

a sole portion located on a bottom portion of the body;

the sole portion comprising a recessed zone configured to receive an adjustable sole piece and a surrounding sole region, and at least one rib that extends along a portion of an internal surface of the sole portion, wherein the adjustable sole piece is configured to provide at least a first position associated with at least a first club head face angle, and the adjustable sole piece is configured to further provide at least a second position associated with at least a second club head face angle.

19. The golf club of claim 18, further comprising an adjustable sole piece positioned in the recessed zone and a fastener securing the adjustable sole piece to the recessed zone, wherein a portion of the at least one rib extends along a portion of the internal surface of the recessed zone and is positioned within a region directly above the adjustable sole piece when the golf club is in the address position.

20. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the sole portion includes a frequency of a first fundamental sole mode that is greater than 2,500 Hz.

21. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the sole portion includes a frequency of a first fundamental sole mode that is greater than 3,000 Hz.