Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device Having Impact-Influencing Body Features
First Claim
1. A golf club head comprising:
- a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball;
a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; and
an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the elongated channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, the elongated channel having a width defined in a front to rear direction and a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole,wherein the elongated channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe,wherein the elongated channel has a variable wall thickness defined between an inner and outer surface of the elongated channel that is greater in the center portion of the elongated channel than in at least one of the heel and toe portions; and
wherein a ratio of the width of the center portion of the elongated channel to the depth of the center portion of the elongated channel is in a range between 3.5;
1 to 4.5;
1.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; and an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the elongated channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, the elongated channel having a width defined in a front to rear direction and a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the elongated channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the elongated channel has a variable wall thickness defined between an inner and outer surface of the elongated channel that is greater in the center portion of the elongated channel than in at least one of the heel and toe portions; and wherein a ratio of the width of the center portion of the elongated channel to the depth of the center portion of the elongated channel is in a range between 3.5;
1 to 4.5;
1. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; an elongated channel comprising;
a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe;wherein the elongated channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, and wherein the depth of the elongated channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion; wherein the elongated channel has a front edge, a rear edge, and a width defined between the front and rear edges, wherein the width of the center portion of the elongated channel is substantially constant; and wherein the elongated channel has a variable wall thickness defined between an inner and outer surface of the elongated channel, wherein a wall thickness in the center portion is greater than a wall thickness in at least one of the heel and toe portions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction comprising;
a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe;wherein the elongated channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the elongated channel has a front edge, a rear edge, a trough, and sidewalls extending inwardly from the front and rear edges to the trough, wherein the elongated channel further has a width defined in a front to rear direction, wherein the elongated channel has a variable wall thickness between inner and outer surfaces of the body;
wherein the wall thickness in the center portion is approximately 1.25 to 1.75 times greater than the wall thickness in at the toe portion; andwherein a ratio of a face height of the golf club head to a depth a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole at the center portion is in a range of 20;
1 to 25;
1. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification