GOLF CLUB HAVING AN ELASTOMER ELEMENT FOR BALL SPEED CONTROL

• US 20180028883A1
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Morin, John, Golden, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,086,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact

Abstract

A golf club has a club head body with a back portion and striking face. A cradle is attached to an internal surface of the back portion, and an elastomer extends from the cradle towards a rear surface of the striking face. The golf club head may also have an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the elastomer and the back portion of the golf club. Adjustment of the adjustment mechanism causes a change in compression of the elastomer element. The adjustment mechanism may be a threaded element such as a screw, and the golf club head may be a part of a kit included multiple differently weighted screws.

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a back portion and a striking face;

a cradle attached to an internal surface of the back portion; and

an elastomer extending from the cradle towards a rear surface of the striking face at an angle substantially perpendicular to the striking face, wherein the elastomer contacts the rear surface of the striking face at a geometric center of the striking face.

2. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the elastomer and the back portion, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a compression of the elastomer.

3. The iron-type golf club head of claim 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a screw having a screw drive at least partially external to the club head body and wherein the screw is engaged with the cradle.

4. The iron-type golf club head of claim 3, wherein the back portion includes a threaded hole for receiving the screw such that turning of the screw adjusts the compression of the elastomer.

5. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the elastomer displays an elastic modulus of about 1 to about 40 gigapascals (GPa).

6. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a sole connecting the back portion to the striking face, wherein the sole at least partially defines a channel.

7. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cradle encompasses at least 25% of a volume of the elastomer.

8. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the elastomer is frustoconical and the cradle is formed to substantially match a shape of a rear portion of the elastomer.

9. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a securing structure attached to the rear surface of the striking face, the securing structure configured to secure the elastomer to a position on the rear surface of the striking face.

10. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a club head body having a back portion and a striking face;

an elastomer in contact with a rear surface of the striking face; and

an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the elastomer, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust a compression of the elastomer, and wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment driver that defines a recess that partially encompasses a rear portion of the elastomer.

11. The iron-type golf club head of claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a screw having a screw drive at least partially external to the club head body and an interface operatively connected to the elastomer.

12. The iron-type golf club head of claim 11, wherein the back portion includes a threaded hole for receiving the screw such that turning of the screw adjusts the compression of the elastomer.

13. The iron-type golf club head of claim 12, wherein the interface includes a cradle at least partially encompassing the elastomer, wherein the cradle is in contact with the adjustment mechanism.

14. The iron-type golf club head of claim 10, wherein the elastomer displays an elastic modulus of about 1 to about 50 GPa.

15. The iron-type golf club head of claim 14, wherein the elastomer displays an elastic modulus of about 4 to about 15 GPa.

17. The iron-type golf club head of claim 10, wherein a portion of the striking face in contact with the elastomer has a thickness different from a thickness of another portion of the striking face.

18. The iron-type golf club head of claim 10, further comprising a securing structure attached to the rear surface of the striking face, the securing structure configured to secure the elastomer to a position on the rear surface of the striking face.

21. The iron-type golf club of claim 10, wherein at least one of the recess of the adjustment mechanism and the rear portion of the elastomer is lubricated to prevent twisting of the elastomer element during adjustment of the adjustment mechanism.

16. (canceled)

19. A kit for assembling an iron-type golf club, the kit comprising:

a club head body having a back portion and a striking face;

an elastomer having a first portion in contact with a rear surface of the striking face and a second portion in contact with a cradle;

a set of differently weighted adjustment drivers, wherein the set of differently weighted adjustment drivers comprises adjustment drivers having different lengths configured to provide different maximum compressions of the elastomer; and

an adjustment receiver incorporated in the back portion, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to receive an adjustment driver that, when manipulated, adjusts a compression of the elastomer between the back portion and the striking face.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the set of differently weighted adjustment drivers comprises a set of differently weighted screws, and wherein the adjustment receiver is a threaded hole extending through the back portion.