GOLF CLUB HEADS WITH RIBS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20190009144A1
• Filed: 09/17/2018
• Published: 01/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Stokke, Ryan M., Jertson, Martin R., Higdon, David A., Chen, Xiaojian
• Granted Patent: US 10,449,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

Golf club heads with ribs are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a front end;

a back end opposite the front end;

a heel portion;

a toe portion opposite the heel portion;

a sole;

a crown opposite the sole;

a faceplate; and

a ribbed region positioned on a portion of the crown;

wherein the ribbed region comprises;

a ribbed wall comprising;

a ribbed wall interior surface facing an interior of the golf club head;

a ribbed wall exterior surface facing an exterior of the golf club head opposite the ribbed wall interior surface; and

a thickness measured from the ribbed wall interior surface to the ribbed wall exterior surface that is less than 0.8 mm;

one or more external ribs protruding from the ribbed wall exterior surface, wherein the one or more external ribs extend from near the back end toward near front end of the club head in the ribbed region;

the one or more external ribs comprise a first external rib having;

a first, first external rib endpoint;

a second, first external rib endpoint; and

a first external rib axis intersecting the first, first external rib endpoint and the second, first external rib endpoint; and

the one or more external ribs further comprise a second external rib having;

a first, second external rib endpoint;

a second, second external rib endpoint; and

a second external rib axis intersecting the first, second external rib endpoint and the second, second external rib endpoint;

wherein;

the first external rib axis and the second external rib axis intersect each other external to the golf club head, rearward the faceplate.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first external rib axis and the second external rib axis intersect each other at a common point.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first external rib axis and the second external rib axis are tangent to a locus defined by a conic section perimeter.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

the conic section perimeter comprises a circular perimeter.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a front distance measured from the top of the faceplate to the ribbed region;

the front distance is the same for the first and second external ribs.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a heel side rear distance measured from a heel club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the heel club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the heel portion;

wherein the heel side rear distance varies along the heel portion.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a toe side rear distance measured from a toe club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the toe club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the toe portion;

wherein the toe side rear distance varies along the toe portion.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more external ribs comprises;

a longitudinal edge extending in a direction from the back end to the front end of the golf club head;

a lateral edge extending in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion of the golf club head;

wherein;

an obtuse angle is defined between the longitudinal edge and the lateral edge of the one or more external ribs.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more external ribs comprise an external rib height, where the external rib height decreases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more external ribs comprise an external rib width, where the external rib width increases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a thickness of the crown is less than 0.8 mm.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a front end;

a back end opposite the front end;

a heel portion;

a toe portion opposite the heel portion;

a sole;

a crown opposite the sole;

a faceplate; and

a ribbed region positioned on a portion of the crown, the ribbed region comprising;

a ribbed wall comprising;

a ribbed wall interior surface facing an interior of the golf club head;

a ribbed wall exterior surface facing an exterior of the golf club head opposite the ribbed wall interior surface; and

a thickness measured from the ribbed wall interior surface to the ribbed wall exterior surface that is less than 0.8 mm;

one or more external ribs protruding from the ribbed wall exterior surface, wherein the one or more external ribs extend from near the back end toward near front end of the club head in the ribbed region;

the one or more external ribs comprise a first external rib having;

a first, first external rib endpoint;

a second, first external rib endpoint; and

a first external rib axis intersecting the first, first external rib endpoint and the second, first external rib endpoint; and

the one or more external ribs further comprise a second external rib having;

a first, second external rib endpoint;

a second, second external rib endpoint; and

a second external rib axis intersecting the first, second external rib endpoint and the second, second external rib endpoint;

wherein;

the first external rib axis and the second external rib axis do not intersect each other and are tangent to a locus defined by a conic section perimeter external to the golf club head, rearward the face plate.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the conic section perimeter comprises a circular perimeter.

14. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

a front distance measured from the top of the faceplate to the ribbed region;

the front distance is the same for the first and second external ribs.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

a heel side rear distance measured from a heel club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the heel club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the heel portion;

wherein the heel side rear distance varies along the heel portion.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

a toe side rear distance measured from a toe club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the toe club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the toe portion;

wherein the toe side rear distance varies along the toe portion.

17. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the one or more external ribs comprises;

a longitudinal edge extending in a direction from the back end to the front end of the golf club head;

a lateral edge extending in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion of the golf club head;

wherein;

an obtuse angle is defined between the longitudinal edge and the lateral edge of the one or more external ribs.

18. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the one or more external ribs comprise an external rib height, where the external rib height decreases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the one or more external ribs comprise an external rib width, where the external rib width increases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head.

20. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

a thickness of the crown is less than 0.8 mm.