GOLF CLUB HEAD OPTIMIZED FOR SOUND

• US 20140274453A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Curtis, Andrew J., de la Cruz, Noah, Morin, John, Bezilla, Stephanie, Bennett, Thomas Orrin, Murphy, Stephen S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/002 Clubs made of composite, plastics or rubber materials, with integral head and shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head optimized for sound has a body that defines an interior cavity. The body includes at least one of a sole portion, skirt portion, or a crown portion. At least the sole portion is stiffened to provide a higher frequency sound. The stiffened sole portion increases the frequency range of the golf club head by at least 300 Hz with an overall frequency of greater than about 3000 Hz. The stiffened sole portion provides a higher frequency sound with a minimal increase in the overall weight of the golf club head. In one embodiment, the stiffened sole portion increases the weight of the golf club head by less than 10 grams with the overall weight of the golf club head less than 220 grams. In operation, the golf club head with at least the stiffened sole portion impacts the golf ball to provide an aesthetically pleasing sound.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including at least one of a crown portion, skirt portion, or a sole portion, the body defines an interior cavity and having an overall frequency in response to impacting a golf ball;

at least one or more means for stiffening at least the sole portion is provided to produce a higher frequency sound; and

whereby the golf club head provides an aesthetically pleasing sound upon impact with a golf ball.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the overall weight of the golf club head is less than 200 grams.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one or more means for stiffening the sole portion increases the overall weight of the club by less than about 10 grams.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the means for stiffening the sole portion provides a vibration having an overall frequency range of greater than 3000 Hz.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the means for stiffening the sole portion increases the overall frequency range of the golf club head by at least 70 Hz.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the means for stiffening the sole portion increases the overall frequency range of the golf club head by at least 300 Hz.

13. The golf club head of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one or more external means for stiffening the sole portion.

7. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including at least one of a crown portion, a skirt portion, or a sole portion, the body defines an interior cavity and having an overall frequency in response to impacting a golf ball;

at least one or more internal means for stiffening at least the sole portion is disposed within the interior cavity, the internal means for stiffening the sole portion engages at least an internal surface of the sole portion to provide a higher frequency sound;

whereby the golf club head provides an aesthetically pleasing sound upon impact with a golf ball.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the internal means for stiffening is one or more thickened regions wrapped along an internal surface from the sole portion, through the skirt portion, and into the crown portion.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the internal means for stiffening includes a box beam structure.

10. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the thickened region member is welded to an internal surface of the sole portion.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein a channel is cast into an internal surface of the sole portion and a plate is welded over the top of the channel to provide a box beam structure.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the box beam structure is welded to an internal surface of the sole portion.

14. A golf club head, comprising:

a body comprises at least one of a crown portion, skirt portion, or a sole portion, the body defines an interior cavity and has an overall frequency in response to impacting a golf ball;

at least one or more external means for stiffening at least the sole portion is on an external surface of the body, the external means for stiffening engages at least an external surface of the sole portion to provide an overall higher frequency;

whereby the golf club head provides an aesthetically pleasing sound upon impact with a golf ball.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the external means for stiffening is one or more thickened regions. wrapped along an external surface from the sole portion, through the skirt portion, and into the crown portion.

16. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the external means for stiffening is a box beam structure.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein a channel is cast into an external surface of the sole portion and a plate is welded over the top of the channel to provide a box beam structure.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the box beam structure is welded to an external surface of the sole portion.

19. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the overall higher frequency is greater than 3000 Hz.

20. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the means for stiffening the sole portion provides a higher frequency with minimal increase in the overall weight of the golf club head.