GOLF CLUB HEADS AND METHODS TO MANUFACTURE GOLF CLUB HEADS

• US 20160375324A1
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, Llc
• Original Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, Llc
• Inventors: Parsons, Robert R., Nicolette, Michael R., Schweigert, Bradley D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,878,220 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/20 Injection nozzles B29C45/1603 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. The interior cavity may be filled with an elastic polymer material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and an interior cavity extending between the top and sole portions; and

a plurality of exterior ports along a periphery of the back portion below a horizontal midplane of the golf club head,

wherein a width of the interior cavity below the horizontal midplane is greater than or equal to 20% of a width of the hollow body portion below the horizontal midplane and less than or equal to 80% of a width of the hollow body portion below the horizontal midplane, and

wherein more than 50% of a mass of the body portion is located below the horizontal midplane of the golf club head.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one port above the horizontal midplane.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of exterior ports is associated with a port diameter, and wherein at least two adjacent exterior ports are separated by less than the port diameter.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the interior cavity is partially or entirely filled with an elastic polymer material.

5. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of weight portions, wherein each port of the plurality of exterior ports is configured to receive a weight portion of the plurality of weight portions.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the exterior ports is connected to the interior cavity, and wherein the interior cavity is partially or entirely filled with an elastic polymer material from the at least one exterior port.

7. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the face portion comprises a thickness of less than 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inch).

8. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and an interior cavity extending between the top and sole portions;

an elastic polymer material injection molded in the interior cavity through an opening on the back portion to structurally support the face portion during impact with a golf ball; and

a plurality of weight portions coupled the hollow body portion at a location below a horizontal midplane of the golf club head,

wherein at least 50% of the elastic polymer material in the interior cavity is below the horizontal midplane of the golf club head.

9. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 8 further comprising a bonding portion configured to bond the elastic polymer material to the face portion.

10. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the interior cavity comprises a cavity having at least 50% filled with a thermoplastic elastomer material.

11. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the interior cavity is configured to separate the face portion and the plurality of weight portions.

12. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the face portion comprises a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inch).

13. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a hollow body portion having a face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and an interior cavity extending between the top and sole portions, the back portion comprising;

an upper back wall portion above a horizontal midplane of the hollow body portion, a width of the hollow body portion above the horizontal midplane being defined by a distance between the upper back wall portion and the face portion;

a lower back wall portion below the horizontal midplane, a width of the hollow body portion below the horizontal midplane being defined by a distance between the lower back wall portion and the face portion; and

a ledge portion extending between the upper back wall portion and the lower back wall portion in a direction from the face portion to the back portion; and

a plurality of exterior ports along a periphery of the back portion below the horizontal midplane of the golf club head,

wherein the interior cavity is between the exterior ports and the face portion, and

wherein a width of the ledge portion is greater than a width of the hollow body portion above the horizontal midplane by a factor of greater than 1.0.

14. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein a width of the ledge portion is greater than the width of the hollow body portion above the horizontal midplane by a factor of greater than 1.0 and less than 3.0.

15. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13 further comprising a plurality of weight portions, wherein each port of the plurality of exterior ports is configured to receive a weight portion of the plurality of weight portions.

16. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the interior cavity comprises a cavity having at least 50% filled with a thermoplastic elastomer material.

17. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the interior cavity comprises a cavity having at least 50% filled with a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a bonding portion configured to bond the thermoplastic elastomer material to the face portion.

18. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the interior cavity is filled with a thermoplastic elastomer material, and wherein at least 50% of the thermoplastic elastomer material in the interior cavity is below the horizontal midplane of the golf club head.

19. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the face portion comprises a thickness of less than 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inch).

20. An iron-type golf club head as defined in claim 13 further comprising at least one port above the horizontal midplane.