Golf club head

• US 7,927,232 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Radcliffe, Nathaniel J., Wallans, Michael J., Horacek, Robert J., Lacey, Sam G., Rae, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/789,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, D21/733, D21/747, D21/748, D21/752, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown, and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a sole configured to rest on a planar surface;

a crown;

a toe;

a heel opposite the toe;

a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge and having a geometric center;

a rear portion;

a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion;

a hosel having a hosel axis, wherein the club head is oriented so that the hosel axis is positioned at a designated lie angle relative to the planar surface;

an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the strike face and passing through the geometric center of the strike face, the imaginary vertical plane containing an imaginary line tangent to the strike face at the geometric center and intersecting the planar surface;

a first reference point characterized by the intersection of the imaginary line and the planar surface;

a second reference point located up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the imaginary line in the direction of the crown;

a third reference point located in the imaginary vertical plane up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the planar surface in a direction toward the rear portion;

a first junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the first junction point defined by the projection of the second reference point onto the strike face in a direction normal to the imaginary line;

a second junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the second junction point defined by the projection of the third reference point onto the sole in a direction normal to the planar surface;

a first imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the first junction point, wherein the first imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a second imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the second junction point, wherein the second imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a junction delimited by the portion of the club head between the first imaginary junction-bounding line and the second imaginary junction-bounding line, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a heel-to-toe length dimension; and

a rib having an area of intersection with the strike face and an area of intersection with the sole, wherein the area of intersection with the strike face is located entirely within the junction and majority of the area of intersection with the sole is located within the junction.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the strike face comprises a coefficient of restitution measured at the geometric center, a location spaced from the geometric center a horizontal distance of at least 0.2 inch, and a coefficient of restitution measured at the location, wherein the coefficient of restitution at the location is greater than the coefficient of restitution at the geometric center.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one mass is disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the at least one first rib intersects the at least one mass.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the at least one first rib is oriented generally perpendicular to the strike face.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the golf club head further comprises at least one second rib disposed entirely within the top region.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the at least one mass extends along a minority of the heel-to-toe length dimension of one of the top region and the bottom region.

8. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the golf club head further comprises at least one second rib disposed entirely within the top region.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the at least one first rib and the at least one second rib are disposed generally perpendicular to the strike face.

10. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the coefficient of restitution measured at the location is greater than 0.82.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the location is disposed proximate the toe.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a volume greater than 300 cm³.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a sole configured to rest on a planar surface;

a crown;

a toe;

a heel opposite the toe;

a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge and having a geometric center;

a rear portion;

a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion;

a hosel having a hosel axis, wherein the club head is oriented so that the hosel axis is positioned at a designated lie angle relative to the planar surface;

an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the strike face and passing through the geometric center of the strike face, the imaginary vertical plane containing an imaginary line tangent to the strike face at the geometric center and intersecting the planar surface;

a first reference point characterized by the intersection of the imaginary line and the planar surface;

a second reference point located up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the imaginary line in the direction of the crown;

a third reference point located in the imaginary vertical plane up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the planar surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face toward the rear portion;

a first junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the first junction point defined by the projection of the second reference point onto the strike face in a direction normal to the imaginary line;

a second junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the second junction point defined by the projection of the third reference point onto the sole in a direction normal to the planar surface;

a first imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the first junction point, wherein the first imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a second imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the second junction point, wherein the second imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a junction delimited by the portion of the club head between the first imaginary junction-bounding line and the second imaginary junction-bounding line, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a length dimension; and

a first rib coupled to the strike face and the sole;

a second rib coupled to the strike face and the sole; and

a third rib having an area of intersection with the strike face and an area of intersection with the sole, wherein the area of intersection with the strike face is located entirely within the junction and a majority of the area of intersection with the sole is located within the junction.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the strike face comprises a plurality of locations evenly spaced from the geometric center in horizontal increments of 0.2 inch toward the toe, an average coefficient of restitution associated with the plurality of locations, wherein the average coefficient of restitution is greater than 0.82.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein at least one mass is disposed entirely within one of the top region and the bottom region, the at least one mass extending along a minority of the heel-to-toe length dimension of one of the top region and bottom region.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib are oriented generally perpendicular to the strike face.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a sole configured to rest on a planar surface;

a crown;

a toe;

a heel opposite the toe;

a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge and having a geometric center;

a rear portion;

a substantially enclosed interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion;

a hosel having a hosel axis, wherein the club head is oriented so that the hosel axis is positioned at a designated lie angle relative to the planar surface;

an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the strike face and passing through the geometric center of the strike face, the imaginary vertical plane containing an imaginary line tangent to the strike face at the geometric center and intersecting the planar surface;

a first reference point characterized by the intersection of the imaginary line and the planar surface;

a second reference point located up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the imaginary line in the direction of the crown;

a third reference point located in the imaginary vertical plane up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the planar surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face toward the rear portion;

a first junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the first junction point defined by the projection of the second reference point onto the strike face in a direction normal to the imaginary line;

a second junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the second junction point defined by the projection of the third reference point onto the sole in a direction normal to the planar surface;

a first imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the first junction point, wherein the first imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a second imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the second junction point, wherein the second imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a junction delimited by the portion of the club head between the first imaginary junction-bounding line and the second imaginary junction-bounding line, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a heel-to-toe length dimension; and

a first rib coupled to the strike face and the sole; and

a second rib coupled to the strike face and the crown, wherein the second rib is located entirely within the junction.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a sole configured to rest on a planar surface;

a crown;

a toe;

a heel opposite the toe;

a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge and having a geometric center;

a rear portion;

an interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion;

a hosel having a hosel axis, wherein the club head is oriented so that the hosel axis is positioned at a designated lie angle relative to the planar surface;

an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the strike face and passing through the geometric center of the strike face, the imaginary vertical plane containing an imaginary line tangent to the strike face at the geometric center and intersecting the planar surface;

a first reference point characterized by the intersection of the imaginary line and the planar surface;

a second reference point located up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the imaginary line in the direction of the crown;

a third reference point located in the imaginary vertical plane up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the planar surface in a direction toward the rear portion;

a first junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the first junction point defined by the projection of the second reference point onto the strike face in a direction normal to the imaginary line;

a second junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the second junction point defined by the projection of the third reference point onto the sole in a direction normal to the planar surface;

a first imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the first junction point, wherein the first imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a second imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the second junction point, wherein the second imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a junction delimited by the portion of the club head between the first imaginary junction-bounding line and the second imaginary junction-bounding line, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a heel-to-toe length dimension, the top region defined as the portion of the junction, proximate the top portion of the club head, between a first imaginary plane, oriented 45°

relative to the planar surface and passing through the geometric center of the face, and a second imaginary plane, oriented 45°

relative to the planar surface and passing through the geometric center of the face, wherein the first imaginary plane is perpendicular to the second imaginary plane, the bottom region of the junction defined by the portion of the junction, proximate the bottom portion of the club head, between the first imaginary plane and the second imaginary plane;

at least one mass disposed in the interior cavity at the bottom region of the junction, the at least one mass having a first outer surface;

a rib intersecting the at least one mass, the rib having a second outer surface;

at least one imaginary plane parallel to the planar surface and having a first intersection with the first outer surface and a second intersection with the second outer surface, the first intersection having a first point nearest to the rear portion of the club head, the second intersection having a second point nearest to the rear portion of the club head, the second point being closer to the rear portion of the club head than the first point; and

at least one transverse imaginary plane perpendicular to the planar surface and having a third intersection with the first outer surface and a fourth intersection with the second outer surface, the third intersection having a third point nearest to the crown of the club head, the fourth intersection having a fourth point nearest to the crown of the club head, the fourth point being closer to the crown of the club head than the third point.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the at least one mass extends along a minority of the heel-to-toe length dimension of one of the top region and bottom region of the junction.

20. A golf club head comprising:

a sole configured to rest on a planar surface;

a crown;

a toe;

a heel opposite the toe;

a strike face generally bounded by a face perimeter edge, the strike face comprising a geometric center, a coefficient of restitution measured at the geometric center, a location spaced from the geometric center a horizontal distance of at least 0.2 inch, and a coefficient of restitution measured at the location, wherein the coefficient of restitution at the location is greater than the coefficient of restitution at the geometric center;

an interior cavity at least partially delimited by the sole, the crown, the strike face, and the rear portion;

a hosel having a hosel axis, wherein the club head is oriented so that the hosel axis is positioned at a designated lie angle relative to the planar surface;

an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the strike face and passing through the geometric center of the strike face, the imaginary vertical plane containing an imaginary line tangent to the strike face at the geometric center and intersecting the planar surface;

a first reference point characterized by the intersection of the imaginary line and the planar surface;

a second reference point located up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the imaginary line in the direction of the crown;

a third reference point located in the imaginary vertical plane up to about 20 mm away from the first reference point along the planar surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face toward the rear portion;

a first junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the first junction point defined by the projection of the second reference point onto the strike face in a direction normal to the imaginary line;

a second junction point located in the imaginary vertical plane, the second junction point defined by the projection of the third reference point onto the sole in a direction normal to the planar surface;

a first imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the first junction point, wherein the first imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a second imaginary junction-bounding line forming a closed loop and passing through the second junction point, wherein the second imaginary junction-bounding line is parallel to the face perimeter edge;

a junction delimited by the portion of the club head between the first imaginary junction-bounding line and the second imaginary junction-bounding line, the junction comprising a top region and a bottom region, each having a heel-to-toe length dimension, the top region defined as the portion of the junction, proximate the top portion of the club head, between a first imaginary plane, oriented 45°

relative to the planar surface and passing through the geometric center of the face, and a second imaginary plane, oriented 45°

relative to the planar surface and passing through the geometric center of the face, wherein the first imaginary plane is perpendicular to the second imaginary plane, the bottom region of the junction defined as the portion of the junction, proximate the bottom portion of the club head, between the first imaginary plane and the second imaginary plane; and

at least one first rib disposed in the interior cavity at the bottom region of the junction, the at least one first rib being coupled to the strike face and the sole.