Golf Club Head Or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features

• US 20130288822A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Akiyama, Hiromitsu
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,705 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A ball striking device has a face with a striking surface and a body extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face. A channel extends across at least a portion of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The body further includes a spacing portion that forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face. The rear edge of the channel is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion of the channel as compared to the heel portion and/or the toe portion. One or more stiffening ribs may also be provided rearwardly of the channel, to increase the stiffness of the sole.

Claims

1. A ball striking device comprising:

a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face being defined by an outer periphery;

a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, the body having a sole configured to face a playing surface and a crown opposite the sole; and

a channel extending across at least a portion of the sole of the body, the channel having an inward recess defined between a front edge and a rear edge extending in a heel-toe direction, the channel having a center portion, a heel portion more proximate a heel of the body, and a toe portion more proximate a toe of the body,

wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to at least one of the heel portion and the toe portion, such that a distance between the rear edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is different proximate the center portion as compared to a point proximate the heel or the toe.

2. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to at least one of the heel portion and the toe portion, such that a distance between the rear edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is larger proximate the center portion and smaller proximate the heel or the toe.

3. The ball striking device of claim 2, wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared both the heel portion and the toe portion, such that a distance between the rear edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is larger proximate the center portion and smaller proximate the heel and the toe.

4. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein the point is located more proximate to the toe of the body, and wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to the toe portion.

5. The ball striking device of claim 4, wherein the front edge and the rear edge are both spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to the toe portion.

6. The ball striking device of claim 4, wherein the body further comprises a spacing portion that junctures with the front edge of the channel at least at the center portion and forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face to space the channel rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, and wherein the spacing portion is oriented at an acute angle to the striking surface of the face.

7. The ball striking device of claim 6, further comprising a stiffening rib on the sole, spaced rearwardly from the channel, wherein the stiffening rib increases the stiffness of the sole.

8. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to both the heel portion and the toe portion, such that the distance between the rear edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is smaller proximate the heel portion and the toe portion and is larger proximate the center portion.

9. The ball striking device of claim 8, wherein a width of the channel defined between the front and rear edges is greater proximate the center portion as compared to both the heel portion and the toe portion.

10. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein the front edge is also spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to at least one of the heel portion and the toe portion, and wherein the body further comprises a spacing portion that junctures with the front edge of the channel at least at the center portion and extends from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face to space the channel rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, the spacing portion having a width, defined between the front edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face, that is different at a center of the spacing portion as compared to a second point more proximate to the heel or the toe of the body.

11. The ball striking device of claim 1, further comprising a stiffening rib on the sole, spaced rearwardly from the channel, wherein the stiffening rib increases the stiffness of the sole.

12. The ball striking device of claim 11, wherein the stiffening rib projects inwardly into the body.

13. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein a width of the channel defined between the front and rear edges is greater proximate the center portion as compared to at least one of the heel portion and the toe portion.

14. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein a wall thickness of the body is reduced at the channel as compared to the wall thickness at other locations of the body.

15. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to influence an impact of a ball on the striking surface by exerting a reaction force on the face in response to the impact.

16. The ball striking device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a spacing portion that junctures with the front edge of the channel at least at the center portion and forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face to space the channel rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, and wherein the channel has surface texturing that is different from the spacing portion.

17. A golf club comprising the ball striking device of claim 1 and a shaft connected to the ball striking device.

18. A ball striking device comprising:

a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face being defined by an outer periphery;

a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, the body having a sole configured to face a playing surface and a crown opposite the sole; and

a channel extending across at least a portion of the sole of the body, the channel having an inward recess defined between a front edge and a rear edge extending in a heel-toe direction, the front edge being spaced rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face,

wherein the rear edge is bowed rearwardly away from the face at a center of the channel, such that a distance between the rear edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is larger proximate the center of the channel and is smaller proximate at least one of the heel and the toe.

19. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein the distance between the rear edge and the outer periphery of the face is larger proximate the center of the channel and is smaller proximate the toe.

20. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein the distance between the rear edge and the outer periphery of the face is larger proximate the center of the channel and is smaller proximate both the heel and the toe.

21. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein the front edge is also bowed rearwardly away from the face at the center of the channel, such that a distance between the front edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is larger proximate the center of the channel and is smaller proximate at least one of the heel and the toe.

22. The ball striking device of claim 18, further comprising a stiffening rib on the sole, spaced rearwardly from the channel, wherein the stiffening rib increases the stiffness of the sole.

24. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein a width of the channel defined between the front and rear edges is greater proximate the center portion and smaller proximate at least one of the heel and the toe.

25. The ball striking device of claim 24, wherein a width of the channel defined between the front and rear edges is greater proximate the center portion and smaller proximate both the heel and the toe.

26. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein a wall thickness of the body is reduced at the channel as compared to the wall thickness at other locations of the body.

27. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein the channel is configured to influence an impact of a ball on the striking surface by exerting a reaction force on the face in response to the impact.

28. The ball striking device of claim 18, wherein the body further comprises a spacing portion that junctures with the front edge of the channel at least at the center portion and forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face to space the channel rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face.

29. The ball striking device of claim 28, wherein the channel has surface texturing that is different from the spacing portion.

30. A golf club comprising the ball striking device of claim 18 and a shaft connected to the ball striking device.

23. The ball striking device of claim 23, wherein the stiffening rib projects inwardly into the body.

31. A ball striking device comprising:

a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face being defined by an outer periphery;

a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, the body having a sole configured to face a playing surface and a crown opposite the sole;

a recessed channel extending across at least a portion of the sole of the body, the channel being defined between a front edge and a rear edge extending in a heel-toe direction, the channel having a center portion, a heel portion more proximate a heel of the body, and a toe portion more proximate a toe of the body, wherein at least one of the front and rear edges is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to a point proximate the heel or the toe; and

a stiffening rib on the sole, spaced rearwardly from the channel, wherein the stiffening rib increases the stiffness of the sole.

32. The ball striking device of claim 31, wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to the point proximate the heel or the toe.

33. The ball striking device of claim 32, the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to points proximate the heel and the toe.

34. The ball striking device of claim 33, wherein a width of the channel defined between the front and rear edges is greater proximate the center portion and smaller proximate both the heel and the toe.

35. The ball striking device of claim 31, wherein the stiffening rib projects inwardly into the body.

36. The ball striking device of claim 31, further comprising multiple stiffening ribs on the sole, spaced rearwardly from the channel, wherein each stiffening rib increases the stiffness of the sole.

37. The ball striking device of claim 36, wherein each stiffening rib projects inwardly into the body.

38. The ball striking device of claim 31, wherein a width of the channel defined between the front and rear edges is greater proximate the center portion and smaller proximate at least one of the heel and the toe.

39. A golf club comprising the ball striking device of claim 31 and a shaft connected to the ball striking device.