GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20180126228A1
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Penney, Michelle, Bennett, David, Sargent, Nathan T., Story, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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 60/52 with slits

Abstract

Disclosed golf club heads include a body defining an interior cavity, a face, a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a hosel. Certain embodiments include a channel positioned in a forward portion of the sole. Some embodiments include one or more of a split mass pad and/or one or more weight ports positioned behind the channel. Additionally or alternatively, one or more mass pads or weight ports may be positioned adjacent to the periphery of the sole portion. Some embodiments further include an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly configured to adjustably couple the hosel to a golf club shaft.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body defining an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown defining a top portion of the golf club head, a skirt portion defining a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and crown, a face defining a forward portion of the golf club head and extending between a heel portion of the golf club head and a toe portion of the golf club head, a rearward portion opposite the face, and a hosel;

a channel positioned in a forward portion of the sole and extending into the interior cavity of the golf club head, the channel extending substantially in a heel-toe direction; and

a mass pad positioned on an interior of the sole rearward of and adjacent to the channel, the mass pad comprising at least three integral mass sections, including a heel mass section positioned adjacent the heel, a toe mass section positioned adjacent the toe, and a middle mass section positioned between the heel mass section and the toe mass section, wherein each of the heel and toe mass sections has a mass that is greater than the mass of the middle mass section, and further wherein a forward to rearward dimension of each of the heel and toe mass sections is greater than a forward to rearward dimension of the middle mass section;

wherein the golf club head has a height less than about 46 mm and a volume of between about 125 and 240 cm³.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about an x axis (Ixx) greater than about 70 kg-mm².

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a z axis (Izz), greater than about 170 kg-mm².

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has an above ground center-of-gravity location, Zup, that is less than about 18 mm.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity located horizontally rearward of a center of the face of less than about 40 mm.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the heel mass section comprises a first heel mass portion having a first forward to rearward dimension and a second heel mass portion between the first heel mass portion and the middle mass section having a second forward to rearward dimension that is different from the first forward to rearward dimension, and further wherein the toe mass section comprises a first toe mass portion having a third forward to rearward dimension and a second toe mass portion between the first toe mass portion and the middle mass section having a fourth forward to rearward dimension that is different from the third forward to rearward dimension.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a void section positioned within the interior cavity rearward of and adjacent to the middle mass section, and between the heel and toe mass sections.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a weight port positioned in the sole of the golf club head rearward of and adjacent to the middle mass section, the weight port extending into the interior cavity of the golf club head.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, further comprising at least one removable weight having a mass between approximately 0.5 grams and approximately 20 grams, the at least one removable weight configured to be installed at least partially within the weight port.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the toe mass section and the heel mass section each has a mass between about 10 grams and about 40 grams, and further wherein the middle mass section has a mass between about 5 grams and about 15 grams.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the mass pad comprises a first mass pad, and wherein the golf club head further comprises a second mass pad positioned on an interior of the sole rearward of the first mass pad and adjacent to the skirt portion in the rearward portion of the golf club head.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second mass pad is positioned in the heel portion of the golf club head.

13. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body defining an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown defining a top portion of the golf club head, a skirt portion defining a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and crown, a face defining a forward portion of the golf club head and extending between a heel portion of the golf club head and a toe portion of the golf club head, a rearward portion opposite the face, and a hosel;

a channel positioned in a forward portion of the sole and extending into the interior cavity of the golf club head, the channel extending substantially in a heel-toe direction;

a first plurality of weight ports positioned in the sole of the golf club head rearward of and adjacent to the channel; and

a second plurality of weight ports in addition to the first plurality of weight ports, positioned in the sole of the golf club head adjacent the skirt portion rearward of the channel.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the second plurality of weight ports comprises weight ports situated in each of the toe portion and the rearward portion of the golf club head.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the second plurality of weight ports comprises weight ports situated in each of the heel portion and the rearward portion of the golf club head.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the second plurality of weight ports comprises weight ports situated in each of the toe portion and the heel portion of the golf club head.

17. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the second plurality of weight ports comprises at least three weight ports.

18. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of weight ports comprises at least three weight ports.

19. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of rib sections, each extending between one of the first plurality of weight ports and a corresponding one of the second plurality of weight ports.

20. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly configured to adjustably couple the hosel to a golf club shaft.

21. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the golf club head has a height less than about 46 mm and a volume of between about 130 and 300 cm³.