GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH FLEXURE

• US 20150165283A1
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Galvan, Darryl C., Martens, Grant M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,421,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face, and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency. In addition to the above, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention may also have flexures on or around the striking face portion to further improve performance.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a crown defining an upper surface of the golf club head;

a sole defining a lower surface of the golf club head;

a skirt wall extending between the crown and the sole;

a hosel extending from the crown and including a shaft bore;

a face defining a ball-striking surface and intersection the lower surface at a leading edge; and

a plurality of two or more flexure located on the face,

wherein the plurality of two or more flexures have a depth of between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the depth of the plurality of two or more flexures has a depth of between 0.75 mm and 1.25 mm.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the depth of the plurality of two or more flexures has a depth of about 1.0 mm.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said plurality of two or more flexures is symmetrical about a face center.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the depth of said plurality of two or more flexures is between 20% and 50% of a thickness of the face.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the depth of said plurality of two or more flexures is between 30% and 45% of a thickness of the face.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the depth of said plurality of two or more flexures is about 35% of a thickness of the face.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of two or more flexures appears on the ball-striking surface.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of two or more flexures appears on a rear surface of the face.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of two or more flexures appears as cutouts on the face.

11. A golf club head, comprising:

a crown defining an upper surface of the golf club head;

a sole defining a lower surface of the golf club head;

a skirt wall extending between the crown and the sole;

a hosel extending from the crown and including a shaft bore;

a face defining a ball-striking surface and intersection the lower surface at a leading edge; and

a plurality of two or more flexure located on the face,

wherein the flexure forms an elongated corrugation geometry.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said plurality of two or more flexures appears on the ball-striking surface.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the plurality of two or more flexures appears on a rear surface of the face.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the plurality of two or more flexures appears as cutout on the face.

15. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the depth of said plurality of two or more flexures is between 20% and 50% of a thickness of the face.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the depth of said plurality of two or more flexures is between 30% and 45% of a thickness of the face.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the depth of said plurality of two or more flexures is about 35% of a thickness of the face.