GOLF CLUB HEAD OR OTHER BALL STRIKING DEVICE WITH THERMOREACTIVE FACE

• US 20150148147A1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert M., Thurston, Rachel M., Hadden, Jeffrey A., Tornes, Ivan E.
• Application Number:
  US14/550,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20150148147A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0429 the face insert comprising two or more layers of material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• 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 that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has an area of highest response located proximate a center of the ball striking surface. The face is formed of a first material and a second material that forms at least a portion of the area of highest response. The second material has a thermal modulus response that is different from a thermal modulus response of the first material.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A golf club head comprising:

a face having a ball striking surface and an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface;

a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, the body and the face defining a cavity behind the face;

a thermally-active device contacting the inner surface of the face and positioned in the cavity, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change a temperature of a portion of the face to change a modulus of the portion of the face; and

a power source positioned within the cavity and in communication with the thermally-active device, wherein the power source is configured to supply power to the thermally-active device to change the temperature of the portion of the face.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the portion of the face is formed of a material that has a thermally variable modulus, such that a temperature change generated by the thermally-active device is sufficient to change to a modulus of the material.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the head is a wood-type ball striking head, and the cavity is an enclosed internal cavity.

5. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the head is an iron-type ball striking head, and the cavity is a rear cavity having an opening to an exterior of the head.

6. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the power source is connected to an inner surface of the body.

7. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the body has a sole configured to confront a playing surface, and wherein the power source is connected to an upper surface of the sole.

8. The golf club head of claim 2, further comprising an accelerometer connected to the thermally-active device, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to determine when a swing of the head has occurred based on input from the accelerometer and to change the temperature of the portion of the face based on a determination that the swing has begun.

9. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change the temperature of the entire face.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a face having a ball striking surface and an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface;

a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face; and

a thermally-active device connected to the face, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change a temperature of a portion of the face to change a modulus of the portion of the face.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the portion of the face is formed of a material that is formed in a first molecular phase at ambient conditions, and a temperature change generated by the thermally-active device is sufficient to cause the material to change to a second molecular phase, the second molecular phase having a different modulus than the first molecular phase.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the thermally-active device is a heating device configured to heat the portion of the face.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the thermally-active device is a cooling device configured to cool the portion of the face.

14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the thermally-active device is a thermoelectric device.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the thermally-active device changes temperature based on a chemical reaction.

16. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the face has an area of highest response located proximate a center of the ball striking surface, and the thermally-active device is configured to change the temperature of at least a portion of the area of highest response.

17. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change the temperature of an area of the face local to the thermally-active device, relative to another area of the face spaced from the thermally-active device.

18. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change the temperature of the entire face.

19. The golf club head of claim 10, further comprising a power source in communication with the thermally-active device, wherein the power source is configured to supply power to the thermally-active device to change the temperature of the portion of the face.

20. The golf club head of claim 10, further comprising an actuator in communication with the thermally-active device, the actuator configured to activate the thermally-active device to change the temperature of the portion of the face.

21. A golf club head comprising:

a face having a ball striking surface and an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface;

a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, the body and the face defining a cavity behind the face;

a thermally-active device contacting the inner surface of the face and positioned in the cavity, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change a temperature of a portion of the face to change a modulus of the portion of the face; and

an actuator in communication with the thermally-active device, the actuator configured to be controllable by a user to activate the thermally-active device to change the temperature of the portion of the face.

22. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the portion of the face is formed of a material that is formed in a first molecular phase at ambient conditions, and a temperature change generated by the thermally-active device is sufficient to cause the material to change to a second molecular phase, the second molecular phase having a different modulus than the first molecular phase.

23. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the actuator is in wireless communication with the thermally-active device.

24. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change the temperature of the entire face.

25. A golf club comprising the golf club head of claim 21 and a shaft connected to the head.

26. The golf club of claim 25, wherein the actuator is located on the shaft.

27. The golf club of claim 25, wherein the shaft further comprises a grip element configured for grasping by a user, and wherein the actuator is located within the grip element.

28. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a face having a ball striking surface and an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, the face having an area of highest response, wherein at least a portion of the face located around the area of highest response is formed of a material that has a first molecular phase at ambient conditions and a second molecular phase at a different temperature, wherein the material has a different modulus in the second molecular phase compared to the first molecular phase;

a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, wherein the body and the face define an enclosed internal cavity behind the face;

a thermally-active device positioned within the cavity and connected to the inner surface of the face proximate the area of highest response, wherein the thermally-active device is configured to change a temperature of the portion of the face located around the area of highest response, and wherein the thermally active device is configured to generate a temperature change sufficient to cause the material to change to the second molecular phase; and

a power source positioned within the cavity and connected to an upper surface of the sole, wherein the power source is in communication with the thermally-active device and is configured to supply power to the thermally-active device to change the temperature of the portion of the face.