Golf club head or other ball striking device having adjustable stiffened face portion

• US 7,967,700 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US12/261,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20100113178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. The head may include one or more stiffening elements or other structures engaging the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element can be movable to create regions of increased stiffness in desired locations, leaving other regions of the face to have increased flexibility as compared to the stiffened regions.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;

a body connected to the face;

a pivot member connected to the inner surface of the face and defining a pivot point spaced from the face; and

a moveable stiffening element rotatably mounted to the pivot member at the pivot point, the stiffening element comprising an arm extending outwardly from the pivot point and spaced from the inner surface of the face and an engaging member at a distal end of the arm, the engaging member engaging a contact point on the inner surface of the face, and wherein the arm is movable by rotating the stiffening element about the pivot member to change a location of the contact point on the inner surface of the face.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the movable stiffening element engages a plurality of contact points on the inner surface of the face.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein movement of the stiffening element changes at least one of the plurality of contact points.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein movement of the stiffening element changes all of the plurality of contact points.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the movable stiffening element has a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the pivot point and spaced from the inner surface of the face, each arm having an engaging member at a distal end thereof to engage a plurality of contact points on the inner surface of the face, wherein the arms are movable by rotating the stiffening element about the pivot member to change locations of the contact points on the inner surface of the face.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the movable stiffening element has four arms extending outwardly from the pivot point and arranged in an X-shape and four engaging members, each of the arms having one of the engaging members positioned proximate the distal end thereof and engaging one of the contact points.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the movable stiffening element has three arms extending outwardly from the pivot point and arranged in a Y-shape and three engaging members, each of the arms having one of the engaging members positioned proximate the distal end thereof and engaging one of the contact points.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the movable stiffening element provides increased stiffness to an area of the face proximate the contact point.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the pivot member comprises a threaded pin, and the movable stiffening element is connected to the pivot member by a threaded connection to the threaded pin.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body is removable to provide access to the movable stiffening element.

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

a face member comprising the face and a wall extending rearward from the face; and

a backbody member connected to the wall of the face member, wherein the backbody member and at least a portion of the wall of the face member define the body,

wherein the backbody member is removable to provide access to the movable stiffening element.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of different backbody members, each configured to be connected to the wall of the face member; and

a plurality of different gaskets, each configured to be positioned between one or more of the backbody members and the wall of the face member when the respective backbody member is connected to the face member,

wherein each of the backbody members and each of the gasket members are removable and interchangeable after connection to the face member.

13. A golf club comprising the golf club head of claim 1 and a shaft connected to the golf club head.

14. A face member for use in a ball striking device, comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface located rearward and opposite of the outer surface;

a wall extending rearward from an outer periphery of the face;

a pivot member connected to the inner surface of the face and defining a pivot point spaced from the face; and

a moveable stiffening element rotatably mounted to the pivot member at the pivot point, the stiffening element comprising an arm extending outwardly from the pivot point and spaced from the inner surface of the face and an engaging member at a distal end of the arm, the engaging member engaging a contact point on the inner surface of the face to provide increased stiffness to an area of the face proximate the contact point, and wherein the arm is movable by rotating the stiffening element about the pivot member to change a location of the contact point on the inner surface of the face.

15. The face member of claim 14, wherein the movable stiffening element engages a plurality of contact points on the inner surface of the face.

16. The face member of claim 15, wherein movement of the stiffening element changes at least one of the plurality of contact points.

17. The face member of claim 15, wherein movement of the stiffening element changes all of the plurality of contact points.

18. The face member of claim 14, wherein the movable stiffening element has a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the pivot point and spaced from the inner surface of the face, each arm having an engaging member at a distal end thereof to engage a plurality of contact points on the inner surface of the face, wherein the arms are movable by rotating the stiffening element about the pivot member to change locations of the contact points on the inner surface of the face.

19. The face member of claim 14, wherein the pivot member comprises a threaded pin, and the movable stiffening element is connected to the pivot member by a threaded connection to the threaded pin.

20. A method for use with a golf club head including a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, a body connected to the face, a pivot member connected to the inner surface of the face and defining a pivot point spaced from the face, and a moveable stiffening element rotatably mounted to the pivot member at the pivot point, the stiffening element comprising an arm extending outwardly from the pivot point and spaced from the inner surface of the face and an engaging member at a distal end of the arm, the engaging member engaging a contact point on the inner surface of the face to provide increased stiffness to an area of the face proximate the contact point, the method comprising:

moving the stiffening element by rotating the stiffening element about the pivot member to change a location of the contact point on the inner surface of the face.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the movable stiffening element engages a plurality of contact points on the inner surface of the face, and wherein moving the stiffening element changes at least one of the plurality of contact points.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein moving the stiffening element changes all of the plurality of contact points.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

attaching a shaft to the golf club head to form a golf club.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the stiffening element is adapted for engagement by a tool, and wherein moving the stiffening element includes moving the stiffening element using the tool.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein a portion of the body is removable to provide access to the movable stiffening element, the method further comprising:

removing the portion of the body prior to moving the stiffening element; and

reconnecting the portion of the body subsequent to moving the stiffening element.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the golf club head further comprises a face member, including the face and a wall extending rearward from the face, and a backbody member connected to the wall of the face member, wherein the backbody member and at least a portion of the wall of the face member define the body, and wherein the backbody member is removable to provide access to the movable stiffening element, the method further comprising:

removing the backbody member prior to moving the stiffening element; and

reconnecting the backbody member subsequent to moving the stiffening element.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the golf club head further comprises a face member, including the face and a wall extending rearward from the face, a backbody member connected to the wall of the face member, and a gasket positioned between the backbody member and the wall of the face member, wherein the backbody member and at least a portion of the wall of the face member define the body, and wherein the backbody member is removable to provide access to the movable stiffening element, the method further comprising:

removing at least one of the backbody member and the gasket; and

replacing the at least one of the backbody member and the gasket with at least one of a replacement backbody member and a replacement gasket.

28. A golf club head comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;

a body connected to the face; and

a rotatable stiffening element connected to the inner surface of the face and being rotatable about a pivot point, the stiffening element having an arm extending from the pivot point and engaging the inner surface of the face at a contact point spaced from the pivot point to create an area of increased stiffness on the face,

wherein the stiffening element is rotatable about the pivot point to move the arm about the pivot point and change a location of the contact point on the inner surface of the face.

29. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the stiffening element further comprises a plurality of arms extending from the pivot point, the arms engaging the inner surface of the face at a plurality of separate contact points spaced from the pivot point to create a plurality of areas of increased stiffness on the face, wherein the stiffening element is rotatable about the pivot point to move the arms about the pivot point and change locations of the contact points on the inner surface of the face.

30. A golf club head comprising:

a face member comprising a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and a wall extending rearward from the face;

a plurality of different backbody members, each configured to be connected to the wall of the face member, such that the backbody member and at least a portion of the wall of the face member define a body connected to the face;

a plurality of different gaskets, each configured to be positioned between one or more of the backbody members and the wall of the face member when the respective backbody member is connected to the face member; and

a rotatable stiffening element connected to the inner surface of the face and being rotatable about a pivot point, the stiffening element having an arm extending from the pivot point and engaging a contact point on the inner surface of the face spaced from the pivot point wherein the stiffening element is rotatable about the pivot point to move the arm about the pivot point and change a location of the contact point on the inner surface of the face, and wherein each of the backbody members and each of the gasket members are removable and interchangeable after connection to the face member to provide access to the movable stiffening element.

31. A method for use with a golf club head including a face member including a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and a wall extending rearward from the face, a backbody member connected to the wall of the face member, wherein the backbody member and at least a portion of the wall of the face member define a body connected to the face, and a rotatable stiffening element connected to an inner surface of the face and being rotatable about a pivot point, the stiffening element having an arm extending from the pivot point and engaging a contact point on the inner surface of the face spaced from the pivot point to provide increased stiffness to an area of the face proximate the contact point, wherein the backbody member is removable to provide access to the movable stiffening element, the method comprising:

removing at least one of the backbody member and the gasket;

moving the stiffening element to change the contact point on the inner surface of the face; and

replacing the at least one of the backbody member and the gasket with at least one of a replacement backbody member and a replacement gasket.

32. A golf club head comprising:

a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;

a body connected to the face;

a pin connected to the inner surface of the face; and

a stiffening element connected to the pin at a connection point, such that the pin moveably mounts the stiffening element to the inner surface of the face to permit movement of the stiffening element with respect to the inner surface of the face, the stiffening member including a plurality of engaging members engaging a plurality of contact points on the inner surface of the face, each engaging member providing increased stiffness to an area of the face proximate the respective contact point, wherein movement of the stiffening element changes a location of each of the contact points on the inner surface of the face.