GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH STIFFENING MEMBER

• US 20170028284A1
• Filed: 10/12/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Galvan, Darryl C., Cleghorn, Richard L., Evans, Clayton, Luttrell, Stephanie, Myrhum, Mark C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,076,694 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• 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, a weight port, an internal cavity, and a stiffening member. The weight port is affixed to the sole. The stiffening member is located in the interior cavity and permanently affixed to the hosel. The stiffening member is also permanently affixed to the sole and the weight port.

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, said sole comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a skirt 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 intersecting said sole at a leading edge;

an interior cavity defined by said crown, sole, skirt, and face;

a coordinate system with an x-axis located horizontal to said face, a y-axis located vertical to said face, and a z-axis located through said face;

a first weight port affixed to said sole, said first weight port extending into said interior cavity of said golf club head, said first weight port configured to receive an adjustable weight;

a second weight port affixed to said sole, said second weight port extending into said interior cavity of said golf club head, said second weight port configured to receive said adjustable weight;

wherein said adjustable weight comprises;

a heavy end at a first terminal end of said adjustable weight;

a lighter end at a second terminal end of said adjustable weight; and

a central portion placed between said heavy end and said lighter end;

a stiffening member located in said interior cavity, said stiffening member permanently affixed to first weight port, said stiffening member permanently affixed to said sole, and said stiffening member permanently affixed to said second weight port.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first weight port is configured to receive said lighter end and wherein said first weight port is configured to receive said heavy end.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said second weight port is configured to receive said lighter end and wherein said second weight port is configured to receive said heavy end.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said stiffening member and said sole are formed together as a monolithic structure.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said stiffening member, said sole, said first weight port, and said second weight port are formed together as a monolithic structure.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a location of a center of gravity of said golf club head depends on the orientation of said adjustable weight.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first weight port is located on a heel side of said golf club head and wherein said second weight port is located on a toe side of said golf club head.

8. 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, said sole comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a skirt 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 intersecting said sole at a leading edge;

an interior cavity defined by said crown, sole, skirt, and face;

a coordinate system with an x-axis located horizontal to said face, a y-axis located vertical to said face, and a z-axis located through said face;

a first weight port affixed to said sole, said first weight port extending into said interior cavity of said golf club head, said first weight port configured to receive an adjustable weight;

a second weight port affixed to said sole, said second weight port extending into said interior cavity of said golf club head, said second weight port configured to receive said adjustable weight;

wherein said first weight port is located on a heel side of said golf club head and wherein said second weight port is located on a toe side of said golf club head.

wherein said adjustable weight comprises;

a heavy end at a first terminal end of said adjustable weight;

a lighter end at a second terminal end of said adjustable weight; and

a central portion placed between said heavy end and said lighter end.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein said first weight port is configured to receive said lighter end and wherein said first weight port is configured to receive said heavy end.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein said second weight port is configured to receive said lighter end and wherein said second weight port is configured to receive said heavy end.

11. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein said stiffening member and said sole are formed together as a monolithic structure.

12. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein said stiffening member, said sole, said first weight port, and said second weight port are formed together as a monolithic structure.

13. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a location of a center of gravity of said golf club head depends on the orientation of said adjustable weight.

14. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a stiffening member located in said interior cavity, said stiffening member permanently affixed to first weight port, said stiffening member permanently affixed to said sole, and said stiffening member permanently affixed to said second weight port.

15. 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, said sole comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a skirt 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 intersecting said sole at a leading edge;

an interior cavity defined by said crown, sole, skirt, and face;

a coordinate system with an x-axis located horizontal to said face, a y-axis located vertical to said face, and a z-axis located through said face;

a weight port affixed to said sole, said weight port extending into said interior cavity of said golf club head, said weight port configured to receive a weight;

a stiffening member located in said interior cavity, said stiffening member permanently affixed to said hosel, said stiffening member permanently affixed to said sole, and said stiffening member permanently affixed to said weight port.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein said stiffening member and said sole are formed together as a monolithic structure.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein said stiffening member extends over at least a portion of said weight port.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein said stiffening member extends all the way over said weight port.

19. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein said weight port is affixed to a rear portion of said sole.

20. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein said weight port forms a recess on the exterior surface of said sole of said golf club head, said recess of said weight port configured to receive said weight.