Golf clubs and golf club heads having fluid-filled bladders and/or interior chambers

• US 7,749,100 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Larson, Eric A., Tavares, Gary G., Cheng, Chia-Chyi, Stites, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/456,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 473/332, 473/345, 473/349, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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

Abstract

Golf club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; (b) a fluid-filled bladder in the cavity; and (c) a retaining member holding the fluid-filled bladder in the cavity. Other club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; and (b) an insert member in the rear cavity, wherein the insert member interior includes one or more chambers facing the rear surface of the ball striking face. The chamber(s) may cover at least 30% of a total surface area of the interior surface of the insert member and/or at least 30% of a total interior major surface area of the rear cavity. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body including a ball striking face, the club head body defining a rear cavity opposite the ball striking face;

a fluid-filled bladder at least partially located within the rear cavity;

a retaining member engaged with the club head body, the retaining member at least partially holding the fluid-filled bladder within the rear cavity;

a bridge member extending along a portion of an exterior surface of the retaining member, wherein the bridge member is engaged with the club head body.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member includes a window element, wherein at least a portion of the fluid-filled bladder is adjacent the window element.

3. A golf club head according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the fluid-filled bladder is visible through the window element.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a gap is defined between an interior surface of the bridge member and at least some portion of the exterior surface of the retaining member.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body includes at least one seat member defined therein, wherein the bridge member is engaged with the club head body at the seat member.

6. A golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the seat member engages the retaining member.

7. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight member engaged with the retaining member.

8. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member defines a chamber into which at least a portion of the fluid-filled bladder fits.

9. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the chamber includes an opening facing a rear surface of the ball striking face.

10. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body includes a perimeter weighting member that, at least in part, defines the rear cavity.

11. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the retaining member engages at least a portion of the perimeter weighting member.

12. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the retaining member further engages a rear surface of the ball striking face.

13. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is an iron type club head.

14. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight member engaged with the fluid-filled bladder.

15. A golf club, comprising:

a golf club head including;

(a) a club head body including a ball striking face, wherein the club head body defines a rear cavity opposite the ball striking face,

(b) a fluid-filled bladder at least partially located within the rear cavity,

(c) a retaining member engaged with the club head body, the retaining member at least partially holding the fluid-filled bladder within the rear cavity, and

(d) a bridge member extending along a portion of an exterior surface of the retaining member, wherein the bridge member is engaged with the club head body; and

a shaft member engaged with the golf club head.

16. A golf club according to claim 15, wherein the retaining member includes a window element, wherein at least a portion of the fluid filled bladder is adjacent the window element.

17. A golf club according to claim 15, wherein a gap is defined between an interior surface of the bridge member and at least some portion of the exterior surface of the retaining member.

18. A golf club according to claim 15, wherein the retaining member defines a chamber that includes an opening facing a rear surface of the ball striking plate, wherein at least a portion of the fluid-filled bladder fits into the chamber.

19. A golf club according to claim 15, wherein the golf club head is an iron type club head.