GOLF CLUB HEADS WITH EDGE CONFIGURATION AND METHODS TO MANUFACTURE GOLF CLUB HEADS

• US 20120034997A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Swartz, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/330
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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

Embodiments of golf club heads with an edge configuration and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments of golf club heads with an edge configuration may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hosel defining an aperture configured to engage a shaft;

a face formed adjacent the hosel, the face being defined by a heel, toe, top edge, and leading edge,

a back defined opposite the face,

a sole defined between the face and the back, and

an edge configuration that transitions between the face and the sole with the edge configuration having a channel defined by an upper face portion and a lower sole portion.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the lower sole portion tapers away relative to the upper face portion.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the lower sole portion is substantially parallel to the upper face portion.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the lower sole portion is shorter than the upper face portion.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel is defined between the hosel and the toe of the golf club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel is defined between the toe and the heel of the golf club head.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel is defined between the hosel and the top edge of the golf club head.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel has a width of substantially 0.035 inches.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel has a depth that is substantially 0.02 inches or less.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the upper face portion has a radius that is substantially between 0.010 inches to 0.020 inches.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises at least one of a V-shaped configuration, C-shaped configuration, a square-shaped configuration, or a W-shaped configuration.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge configuration comprises at least two sections segmented between a first end and a second end of the golf club head.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a first shape configuration on a first end of the golf club head and a second shape configuration on a second end of the golf club head.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge configuration comprises a symmetrically tapered configuration extending between a first end and a second end of the golf club head.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge configuration comprises a non-symmetrically tapered configuration extending between a first end and a second end of the golf club head.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a hosel defining an aperture configured to engage a shaft;

a face formed adjacent the hosel, the face being defined by a heel, a toe, a top edge, and a leading edge,

a back defined opposite the face,

a sole defined between the face and the back, and

an edge configuration that transitions between the face and the sole, the edge configuration having a channel defined by first wall and an opposing second wall defined adjacent a third wall for receiving at least one of water, sand, or grass.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the channel comprises at least one of a V-shaped configuration, C-shaped configuration, a square-shaped configuration, or a W-shaped configuration.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the channel comprises a channel extending between a first end and a second end of the golf club head, wherein the first end comprises at least one of the toe or the top edge, and wherein the second end comprises at least one of the heel or the hosel.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the edge configuration comprises at least one of a symmetrically tapered configuration or a non-symmetrically tapered configuration extending between a first end and a second end of the golf club head.

20. A method for manufacturing a club head for a golf club comprising:

forming a golf club head having a hosel that defines an aperture configured to engage a shaft with a face formed adjacent the hosel, the face being defined by a heel, a toe, a top edge, and a leading edge, a back defined opposite the face, and a sole defined between the face and the back, and

forming an edge configuration that transitions between the face and the sole, wherein the edge configuration defines an upper face portion and a lower sole portion.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein forming the golf club head comprises at least one of casting the edge configuration, forging the edge configuration, or milling the edge configuration.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising forming a channel associated with the edge configuration, wherein the channel comprises at least one of a V-shaped configuration, C-shaped configuration, a square-shaped configuration, or a W-shaped configuration.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein forming the edge configuration comprises forming an edge configuration between a first end and a second end of the golf club head, wherein the first end comprises at least one of the toe or the top edge, and wherein the second end comprises at least one of the heel or the hosel.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein forming the edge configuration comprises forming at least one of a symmetrically tapered configuration or a non-symmetrically tapered configuration extending between a first end and a second end of the golf club head.