GOLF CLUB HEADS AND METHODS TO MANUFACTURE GOLF CLUB HEADS

• US 20170340928A1
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• 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 10,729,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0479 Wedge-type clubs, details thereof
• 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 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

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 having a face portion with a face portion thickness extending between a front surface and a back surface. The body portion may be associated with a body portion volume. The golf club head may also include an interior cavity. The interior cavity may include an elastic polymer material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a front portion having a face portion, an interior cavity at least partially filled with an elastic polymer material, and a channel on the back portion extending in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion;

wherein a width of the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion or the depth of the channel increases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion, and

wherein a mass of the body portion below the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 wherein the channel extends from the toe portion at or above a horizontal midplane of the body portion to the heel portion at or below the horizontal midplane of the body portion.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the width of the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion and the depth of the channel increases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a plurality of ports on the back portion below the channel.

5. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion includes a plurality of ports on the back portion, and wherein a greater number of the ports of the plurality of ports are closer to the toe portion than the heel portion.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion includes a plurality of ports on the back portion, and wherein a greater number of the ports of the plurality of ports are below the channel.

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

8. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a front portion having a face portion, and a channel on the back portion extending from the toe portion at or above a horizontal midplane of the body portion to the heel portion at or below the horizontal midplane of the body portion; and

a plurality of weight portions on the back portion;

wherein a mass of the body portion below the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.

9. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the body portion comprises an interior cavity at least partially filled with an elastic polymer material.

10. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the width of the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion or the depth of the channel increases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.

11. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the plurality of weight portions are below the channel.

12. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein a greater number of the weight portions of the plurality of weight portions are closer to the toe portion than to the heel portion.

13. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein a greater number of the weight portions of the plurality of weight portions are below the channel.

14. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, a front portion having a face portion with a face portion thickness extending between a front surface and a back surface, a channel on the back portion extending from the toe portion at or above a horizontal midplane of the body portion to the heel portion at or below the horizontal midplane of the body portion, and an interior cavity, the body portion being associated with a body portion volume; and

an elastic polymer material in the interior cavity, the elastic polymer material being associated with an elastic polymer material volume,

wherein the elastic polymer material volume is related to the body portion volume by the equation 0.2≦

V_e/V_b≦

0.5, where V_e is the elastic polymer material volume in units of in³, and V_b is the body portion volume in units of in³.

15. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein the face portion thickness is related to the elastic polymer material volume by the equation 0.01≦

T_f/V_e≦

0.2, where T_f is the face portion thickness in units of inches, and V_e is the elastic polymer material volume in units of in³.

16. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein the interior cavity is associated with an interior cavity volume, and wherein the interior cavity volume is related to the body portion volume by equation 0.2≦

V_c/V_b≦

0.5, where V_c is the interior cavity volume in units of in³, and V_b is the body portion volume in units of in³.

17. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein the width of the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.

18. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein the depth of the channel increases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.

19. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of ports below the channel and a plurality of weight portions, wherein each port of the plurality of ports is configured to receive a weight portion of the plurality of weight portions.

20. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein a mass of the body portion below the channel decreases in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.