Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device with Removable Face and/or Internal Support Structure

• US 20160166893A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Akiyama, Hiromitsu
• Granted Patent: US 10,413,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A ball striking device has a head that includes a face member having a striking surface and an inner surface opposite the striking surface, and a body member connected to the face member, where the body member includes a crown portion and a supporting structure. The face member includes a frame portion connected to the supporting structure and forming at least a portion of an outer periphery of the striking surface, where the frame portion includes a mounting structure, and a face plate connected to the mounting structure to form at least a portion of a central region of the striking face. The supporting structure includes a base member forming at least a portion of the sole of the head and a plurality of truss members connected to the base member, such that the truss members connect the base member to the crown portion and the frame portion of the face member.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

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

a body member connected to the face member and extending rearwardly from the face member, wherein the body member includes a crown portion and a supporting structure;

wherein the face member comprises a frame portion connected to the supporting structure and forming at least a portion of an outer periphery of the striking surface, the frame portion having a mounting structure, and a face plate removably connected to the mounting structure to form at least a portion of a central region of the striking face, and

wherein the supporting structure comprises a base member forming at least a portion of a sole of the head and a plurality of truss members connected to the base member, wherein the truss members connect the base member to the crown portion and the frame portion of the face member.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body member further includes one or more body panels supported by the supporting structure and forming portions of a heel, a toe, a rear, and the sole of the head, wherein the crown portion and the one or more body panels combine to define an enclosed volume of the club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown portion comprises a shell member that extends from the frame portion of the face member rearward to a rearmost point on the club head and covers a top of the club head entirely.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one opening is defined between the base member and the crown portion of the body member.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a weight port, wherein a weight member is received in the weight port.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of weight ports, wherein at least one weight member is received in the plurality of weight ports, wherein the at least one weight member is interchangeable among the plurality of weight ports.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of weight members that are interchangeable among the plurality of weight ports, wherein at least one of the weight members is weighted differently from at least one other weight member, such that interchanging the plurality of weight members among the weight ports is configured to change a weighting configuration of the head.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face plate is removably connected to the mounting structure by a plurality of fasteners, and wherein the fasteners are accessible from a rear side of the face plate for connection and removal of the fasteners to and from the face plate.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the frame portion of the face member further comprises a wall extending rearward from the striking surface and forming a portion of the sole.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure comprises a recess in the frame portion of the face member, wherein the face plate is received within the recess.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the face plate is removably connected to a recessed surface within the recess by a plurality of fasteners.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the mounting structure has a plurality of receivers within the recess, and the face plate comprises a plurality of pegs, each peg being received in one of the receivers.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein a plurality of fasteners are connected to the pegs to connect the face plate to the frame portion.

14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the frame portion has an opening located within the recess and extending completely through the frame portion, wherein the face plate covers the opening.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a face member having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface opposite the striking surface, wherein the face member comprises;

a frame portion forming at least a portion of an outer periphery of the striking face, the frame portion having a mounting structure comprising a recess in the frame portion of the face member and a plurality of receivers within the recess, wherein the frame portion has an opening located within the recess and extending completely through the frame portion,

a face plate received within the recess and connected to the mounting structure to form at least a portion of a central region of the striking face, such that the face plate covers the opening in the frame portion, wherein the face plate comprises a plurality of pegs, each peg being received in one of the receivers, and

a plurality of fasteners connected to the pegs to connect the face plate to the frame portion; and

a body member connected to the face member and extending rearwardly from the face member.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the frame portion of the face member further comprises a wall extending rearward from the striking surface and forming a portion of the sole.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the body member includes a crown portion and a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure comprises a base member forming at least a portion of a sole of the head and a plurality of truss members connected to the base member, wherein the truss members connect the base member to the crown portion and the frame portion of the face member.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the body member further includes one or more body panels supported by the supporting structure and forming portions of a heel, a toe, a rear, and the sole of the head, wherein the crown portion and the one or more body panels combine to define an enclosed volume of the club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one opening is defined between the base member and the crown portion of the body member.

20. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the base portion comprises a weight port, wherein a weight member is received in the weight port.

21. The golf club head of claim 15, further comprising an adjustable hosel structure connected to the face member, the adjustable hosel structure configured for connection to a shaft.

22. A golf club head comprising:

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

a body member connected to the face member and extending rearwardly from the face member, wherein the body member comprises;

a crown portion formed as a shell member that extends from a frame portion of the face member rearward to a rearmost point on the club head and covers a top of the club head entirely; and

a supporting structure comprising a base member forming at least a portion of a sole of the head and a plurality of truss members connected to the base member, wherein the truss members connect the base member to the crown portion and the face member, wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of weight ports; and

a plurality of weight members that are interchangeable among the plurality of weight ports, wherein at least one of the weight members is weighted differently from at least one other weight member, such that interchanging the plurality of weight members among the weight ports is configured to change a weighting configuration of the head.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the body member further includes one or more body panels supported by the supporting structure and forming portions of a heel, a toe, a rear, and the sole of the head, wherein the crown portion and the one or more body panels combine to define an enclosed volume of the club head.

24. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein at least one opening is defined between the base member and the crown portion of the body member.

25. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the supporting structure further comprises:

a first pair of truss members extending from the base member to a bottom portion of the face member to connect the base member to the bottom portion of the face member;

a second pair of truss members extending from the base member to a top portion of the face member to connect the base member to the top portion of the face member; and

a third pair of truss members extending rearwardly from the base member to a rear portion of the crown portion to connect the base member to the crown portion.

26. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the first pair of truss members extends forwardly from a front of the base portion, the second pair of truss members extends upwardly and forwardly from a rear of the base portion, and the third pair of truss members extends upwardly and rearwardly from the rear of the base portion.

27. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the supporting structure further comprises:

a first truss member extending from the base member to a bottom portion of the face member to connect the base member to the bottom portion of the face member;

a second truss member extending from the base member to a top portion of the face member to connect the base member to the top portion of the face member; and

a third truss member extending rearwardly from the base member to a rear portion of the crown portion to connect the base member to the crown portion.

28. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the weight ports are exposed to an exterior of the club head, such that the weight members can be inserted into the weight ports from the exterior of the club head.

29. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the base portion includes three weight ports aligned in a front-to-rear direction.

30. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the base member is directly and solely supported by the plurality of truss members.