Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 8,187,116 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Rahrig, Donald S., Oldknow, Andrew, Hatton, Philip J., Moody, George W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US12/490,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 473/329, 473/332, 473/333, 473345-346
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to golf club heads which include a wood type golf club head body with a double wall structure that includes a ball striking face portion, which is configured to be disengaged from a rear portion of the golf club head body. Further aspects relate to a second wall portion which is configured to be disengaged from the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a wood type golf club head body with a double wall structure, wherein the wood type golf club head body includes;

a ball striking face portion which includes a first wall and an outer perimeter portion,

a rear portion opposite to the first wall and engaged with the ball striking face portion;

a crown portion;

a sole portion;

a toe end portion;

a heel end portion; and

a second wall behind the first wall,

wherein a cavity between 0.1-6.0 millimeters is defined between the first wall and the second wall,

wherein the ball striking face portion is configured to be disengaged from the rear portion of the golf club head body,

wherein the ball striking face portion has a cup shape wherein the outer perimeter portion includes a portion which extends rearwardly away from the first wall and engages with a perimeter portion of an open face of the rear portion of the golf club head body,

wherein the outer perimeter portion does not include more of a bottom surface of the wood type golf club head body than the rear portion of the golf club head.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the outer perimeter portion aligns with or surrounds the perimeter portion of the open face of the rear portion of the golf club head body.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the ball striking face portion is engaged with the rear portion of the golf club head body via releasable mechanical connectors.

4. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the outer perimeter portion of the ball striking face portion includes one or more flanges, further wherein the rear portion of the golf club head body includes one or more receiving portions for receiving the flanges.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the one or more flanges and the one or more receiving portions contain screw holes and the ball striking face portion is engaged with the rear portion of the golf club head body via screws.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein when the ball striking face portion and the rear portion are engaged, the cavity defined between the first wall and the second wall allows the first wall to fully deflect upon impact when the golf club head is swung at a first speed, and when the golf club head is swung at a second speed, the cavity prevents the first wall from fully deflecting upon impact.

7. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein the first speed is a speed less than 160 ft/sec and the second speed is a speed of 160 ft/sec or more.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is between 1.0-1.9 millimeters.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first wall has a thickness between 1.3-3.0 millimeters.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second wall has a thickness between 1.3-3.0 millimeters.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second wall includes at least one flange which engages with an interior of the golf club head at least one of the toe end portion and the heel end portion.

12. The golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the interior of the golf club head body includes at least one recess for receiving the at least one flange of the second wall.

13. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second wall comprises a strip that extends across an interior of the golf club head around the center portion of first wall, further wherein the second wall includes a flange on at least two opposite sides so that the second wall exhibits a “

U”

-shape.

14. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second wall is configured to be removably engagable with an interior of the golf club head.

15. The golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the second wall is engaged with the interior of the golf club head body via releasable mechanical connectors.

16. The golf club head according to claim 15, wherein the interior of the golf club head body includes a plurality of recesses for receiving the second wall, wherein the recesses are spaced from each other based on characteristics of the first wall.

17. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the ball striking face portion and the second wall are configured to be engaged, wherein the second wall is engaged within an interior of the outer perimeter portion of ball striking face portion.

18. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising an airbag positioned in the cavity defined between the first wall and the second wall.

19. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising a material positioned in the cavity defined between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the material is one of a polymer, polymeric material, plastic, elastomer or elastomeric material.

20. A golf club head comprising:

a wood type golf club head body with a double wall structure, wherein the wood type golf club head body includes;

a cup shaped ball striking face portion which includes a first wall, an outer perimeter portion which extends rearwardly away from the first wall, and one or more engaging portions;

a rear portion opposite the cup shaped ball striking face portion which includes an open face and a perimeter portion of the opening face which includes one or more receiving portions for receiving the one or more engaging portions;

a crown portion;

a sole portion;

a toe end portion;

a heel end portion;

a second wall behind the first wall; and

a cavity defined between the ball striking face portion and the second wall,

wherein the ball striking face portion is configured to be disengaged from the rear portion of the golf club head body,

wherein when the ball striking face portion and the rear portion are engaged by the outer perimeter portion of the cup face aligning with the perimeter portion of the open face of the rear portion of the golf club head body and the engaging portions of the ball striking face portion engaging an outer surface of the rear portion of the club head body and being received in the receiving portions of the rear portion of the golf club head body,

wherein the second wall is configured to be removably engagable with an interior of the golf club head.

21. A golf club head comprising:

a wood type golf club head body with a double wall structure, wherein the wood type golf club head body includes;

a cup shaped ball striking face portion which includes a first wall, an outer perimeter portion which extends rearwardly away from the first wall;

a rear portion opposite the ball striking face portion which includes an open face and a perimeter portion;

a crown portion;

a sole portion;

a toe end portion;

a heel end portion;

a second wall behind the first wall; and

a cavity is defined between the ball striking face portion and the second wall,

wherein the ball striking face portion is configured to be disengaged from the rear portion of the golf club head body,

wherein the ball striking face portion engages the rear portion of the golf club head body by the outer perimeter portion of the cup face surrounding the perimeter portion of the rear portion of the golf club head body,

wherein the rear portion of the golf club head includes a majority of a bottom surface of the wood type golf club head body.