Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features

• US 8,366,565 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Boyd, Robert, Stites, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/779,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/228, D21/752, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region, located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. The body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.

Claims

1. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the first crown-side surface is defined by the following spline points;

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first sole-side surface is defined by the following spline points:

3. A golf club head of claim 1,

wherein the body member further has a second cross-section, wherein the second cross-section includes the apex point located on the leading edge, a second crown-side surface extending from the apex point, and a second sole-side surface extending from the apex point,

wherein the second cross-section is oriented at approximately 70°

from the centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point further represents an origin of a second x₂- and z₂-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the second cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the second crown-side surface is defined by the following spline points;

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the second sole-side surface is defined by the following spline points:

5. A golf club head of claim 1,

wherein the body member further has a second cross-section, wherein the second cross-section includes the apex point located on the leading edge, a second crown-side surface extending from the apex point, and a second sole-side surface extending from the apex point,

wherein the second cross-section is oriented at approximately 45°

from the centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point further represents an origin of a second x₂- and z₂-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the second cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the second crown-side surface is defined by the following spline points;

6. The golf club head of claim 1,

wherein the body member is configured for attachment to a shaft having a longitudinal axis, and

wherein the apex point is located approximately 15 mm to approximately 25 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

7. The golf club head of claim 1,

wherein the body member is configured for attachment to a shaft having a longitudinal axis, and

wherein the apex point is located approximately 20 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body member further includes a groove extending at least partially along a horizontal length of the toe and extending at least partially along a horizontal length of the back.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a volume of 420 cc or greater.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a face height of 53 mm or greater.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.92 or greater.

34. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

the golf club head according to one of the claims 1, 12, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33, wherein the golf club head is secured to a first end of the shaft.

12. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface curve extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface curve extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first crown-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1U=3(17)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1U=3(10)(1−

t)²t+3(26)(1−

t)t²+(26)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1, and

wherein the value of z_1U may vary by ±

10%.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first sole-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1L=3(11)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1L=3(−

10)(1−

t)²t+3(−

26)(1−

t)t²+(−

32)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1,

wherein the value of z_1L may vary by ±

10%.

14. The golf club head of claim 12,

wherein the body member further has a second cross-section, wherein the second cross-section includes the apex point located on the leading edge, a second crown-side surface curve extending from the apex point, and a second sole-side surface curve extending from the apex point,

wherein the second cross-section is oriented at approximately 70°

from the centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point further represents an origin of a second x₂- and z₂-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the second cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the x_2U- and z_2U-coordinates of the second crown-side surface curve is defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_2U=3(19)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_2U=3(10)(1−

t)²t+3(25)(1−

t)t²+(25)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1,

wherein the value of z_2U may vary by ±

10%.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the x_1L- and z_1L-coordinates of the second sole-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_2L=3(13)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_2L=3(−

10)(1−

t)²t+3(−

26)(1−

t)t²+(−

30)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1,

wherein the value of z_2L may vary by ±

10%.

16. The golf club head of claim 12,

wherein the body member is configured for attachment to a shaft having a longitudinal axis, and

wherein the apex point is located approximately 15 mm to approximately 25 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

17. The golf club head of claim 12,

wherein the body member is configured for attachment to a shaft having a longitudinal axis, and

wherein the apex point is located approximately 20 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

18. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the body member further includes a groove extending at least partially along a length of the toe and extending at least partially along a length of the back.

19. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the volume of the club head is 420 cc or greater and the club breadth-to-face length ratio is 0.92 or greater.

20. A golf club head comprising:

a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole,

wherein the body member is configured for attachment to a shaft having a longitudinal axis, the body member including an apex point located in the heel approximately 10 mm to approximately 30 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft,

the body member having a first cross-section oriented at approximately 90°

from a centerline of the club head,

the body member further having a second cross-section oriented at approximately 45°

from the centerline of the club head,

wherein the first and second cross-sections each include the apex point located in the heel and each having a respective crown-side surface curve extending from the apex point and a respective sole-side surface curve extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section has a first airfoil-shaped curvature in the heel and a first concave-shaped surface opposed to the heel, and

wherein the second cross-section has a second airfoil-shaped curvature in the heel and a second concave-shaped surface opposed to the heel.

21. The golf club head of claim 20,

wherein the apex point represents the origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the first crown-side surface curve is defined by the following spline points;

22. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the first sole-side surface curve is defined by the following spline points:

23. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the apex point further represents the origin of a second x₂- and z₂-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the second cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the second crown-side surface curve is defined by the following spline points;

24. The golf club head of claim 23, wherein the second sole-side surface curve is defined by the following spline points:

25. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the apex point is located approximately 15 mm to approximately 25 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

26. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the apex point is located approximately 20 mm from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

27. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the first and the second concave-shaped surfaces are formed by a continuous groove extending at least partially along a length of the toe and at least partially along a length of the back.

28. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the first crown-side surface is defined by the following spline points;

29. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface curve extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface curve extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first crown-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1U=3(22)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1U=3(8)(1−

t)²t+3(23)(1−

t)t²+(23)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1, and

wherein the value of z_1U may vary by ±

10%, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first sole-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1L=3(18)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1U=3(−

12)(1−

t)²t+3(−

25)(1−

t)t²+(−

33)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1,

wherein the value of z_1L may vary by ±

10%.

30. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the first crown-side surface is defined by the following spline points;

31. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface curve extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface curve extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first crown-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1U=3(17)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1U=3(5)(1−

t)²t+3(12)(1−

t)t²+(11)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1, and

wherein the value of z_1U may vary by ±

10%, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first sole-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1L=3(7)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1L=3(−

15)(1−

t)²t+3(−

32)(1−

t)t²+(−

44)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1,

wherein the value of z_1L may vary by ±

10%.

32. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the first crown-side surface is defined by the following spline points;

33. A golf club head for a driver, the golf club head having a volume of 400 cc or greater and a club breadth-to-face length ratio of 0.90 or greater, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a crown, a sole, and a heel, and further including a leading edge in the heel, the leading edge defined as the surface of the heel having a vertical slope when the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position,

the body member further having a first cross-section, wherein the first cross-section includes an apex point located on the leading edge, a first crown-side surface curve extending from the apex point, and a first sole-side surface curve extending from the apex point,

wherein the first cross-section is oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head,

wherein the apex point represents an origin of a first x₁- and z₁-coordinate system oriented in the plane of the first cross-section at a roll angle of approximately 15°

, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first crown-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1U=3(31)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1U=3(9)(1−

t)²t+3(21)(1−

t)t²+(20)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1, and

wherein the value of z_1U may vary by ±

10%, and

wherein the x₁- and z₁-coordinates of the first sole-side surface curve are defined by the following Bé

zier equations;

x_1L=3(30)(1−

t)t²+(48)t³

z_1L=3(−

17)(1−

t)²t+3(−

37)(1−

t)t²+(−

40)t³

over the range of;

0≦

t≦

1,

wherein the value of z_1L may vary by ±

10%.