Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 8,398,506 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/730,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20100203983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

Golf club heads including first section and a second section that are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a portion of the golf club head. The first section may include a first ledge member and the second section may include a second ledge member and the first ledge member may be engaged with the second ledge member to form a junction area. The first ledge member may include a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween and the second ledge member may include a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween. The first and second ledge members may be complementary. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making a golf club and golf club heads also are provided.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a wood type golf club head body including a ball striking face portion, a top and a sole;

wherein at least one of the ball striking face portion, the top and the sole of the golf club head body constitutes a first portion that includes a first section and a second section that are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a part of the first portion,

wherein the first section includes a first ledge member, the second section includes a second ledge member and the first ledge member and the second ledge member are engaged to form a junction area,

wherein the first ledge member includes a first vertical side, a second vertical side, a third vertical side, a first horizontal side between the first vertical side and the second vertical side, and a second horizontal side between the second vertical side and the third vertical side, wherein the first vertical side of the first ledge member extends inward from an outer surface of the first section to the first horizontal side of the first ledge member such that the first horizontal side of the first ledge member is recessed from the outer surface of the first section, and wherein the third vertical side of the first ledge member extends inwardly from an inner surface of the first section to the second horizontal side of the first ledge member such that the second horizontal side of the first ledge member projects inwardly from the inner surface of the first section into an interior of the golf club head body, and the second ledge member includes a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween,

wherein the first and second ledge members are complementary wherein when the first and second ledge members are engaged, the first vertical side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the first vertical side of the second ledge member, the second vertical side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the second vertical side of the second ledge member, and the first horizontal side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the horizontal side of the second ledge member.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, the first ledge member is configured such that when the club head body is at the address position, the first vertical side of the first ledge member is at a greater height than the second vertical side of the first ledge member and first horizontal side of the first ledge member extends between a lower edge of the first vertical side of the first ledge member and an upper edge of the second vertical side of the first ledge member, wherein a surface of the first horizontal side of the first ledge member faces upward and the second horizontal side of the first ledge member extends between a lower edge of the third vertical side of the first ledge member and a lower edge of the second vertical side of the first ledge member;

and

the second ledge member is configured such that when the club head body is at the address position, the first vertical side of the second ledge member is at a greater height than the second vertical side of the second ledge member and the horizontal side of the second ledge member extends between a lower edge of the first vertical side of the second ledge member and an upper edge of the second vertical side of the second ledge member, wherein a surface of the horizontal side of the second ledge member faces downward.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein each of the first vertical side, the second vertical side and the first horizontal side of the first ledge member is in flush contact with a matching side of the second ledge member.

4. The golf club head according to claim 3, wherein the shape and dimensions of the first vertical side of the first ledge member are substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the first vertical side of the second ledge member, wherein the shape and dimensions of the second vertical side of the first ledge member are substantially the same shape and dimensions as second vertical side of the second ledge member, wherein the shape and dimensions of the first horizontal side of the first ledge member are the substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the horizontal side of the second ledge member.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the junction area includes three different planar surfaces of the first ledge member and three different planar surfaces of the second ledge member, and

wherein each of the three planar surfaces of the first ledge member are abutting and in planar contact with the three respective planar surfaces of the second ledge member.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sections are joined together at the junction area by adhesives, soldering, brazing, welding, fusing or mechanical connectors.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a second portion of the golf club head body includes a third section and a fourth section that are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a part of the second portion,

wherein the third section includes a third ledge member, the fourth section includes a fourth ledge member and the third ledge member and the fourth ledge member are engaged to form a second junction area,

wherein the third ledge member includes a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween and the fourth ledge member includes a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween,

wherein the third and fourth ledge members are complementary such that when the third and fourth ledge members are engaged the first vertical side of the third ledge member matches and engages with the first vertical side of fourth ledge member, the second vertical side of the third ledge member matches and engages with the second vertical side of the fourth ledge member, and the horizontal side of the third ledge member matches and engages with the horizontal side of the fourth ledge member.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the third ledge member is configured such that when the club head body is at the address position, the first vertical side of the third ledge member is at a greater height than the second vertical side of the third ledge member and the horizontal side of the third ledge member extends between a lower edge of the first vertical side of the third ledge member and an upper edge of the second vertical side of the third ledge member, wherein the surface of the horizontal side of the third ledge member faces upward;

the fourth ledge member is configured such that when the club head body is at the address position, the first vertical side of the fourth ledge member is at a greater height than the second vertical side of the fourth ledge member and the horizontal side of the fourth ledge member extends between a lower edge of the first vertical side of the fourth ledge member and an upper edge of the second vertical side of the fourth ledge member, wherein the surface of the horizontal side of the fourth ledge member faces downward.

9. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein each of the first vertical side, the second vertical side and the horizontal side of the third ledge member is in flush contact with a matching side of the fourth ledge member.

10. The golf club head according to claim 9, wherein the shape and dimensions of the first vertical side of the third ledge member are substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the first vertical side of the fourth ledge member, wherein the shape and dimensions of the second vertical side of the third ledge member are substantially the same shape and dimensions as the second vertical side of the fourth ledge member, wherein the shape and dimensions of the horizontal side of the third ledge member are substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the horizontal side of the fourth ledge member.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the first portion is the top and the second portion is the sole.

12. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the junction area includes three different planar surfaces of the third ledge member and three different planar surfaces of the fourth ledge member, and

wherein each of the three planar surfaces of the third ledge member are abutting and in planar contact with the three respective planar surfaces of the fourth ledge member.

13. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the first and second sections are joined together at the junction area by adhesives, soldering, brazing, welding, fusing or mechanical connectors.

14. A golf club head comprising:

a wood type golf club head body including a top and a sole;

wherein the top of the golf club head body includes a first section and a second section that are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a part of the top,

wherein the first section includes a first ledge member, the second section includes a second ledge member and the first ledge member is engaged with the second ledge member to form a first junction area,

wherein the first ledge member includes a first vertical side, a second vertical side, a third vertical side, a first horizontal side between the first vertical side and the second vertical side, and a second horizontal side between the second vertical side and the third vertical side, wherein the first vertical side of the first ledge member extends inward from an outer surface of the first section to the first horizontal side of the first ledge member such that the first horizontal side of the first ledge member is recessed from the outer surface, and wherein the third vertical side of the first ledge member extends inwardly from an inner surface of the first section to the second horizontal side of the first ledge member such that the second horizontal side of the first ledge member projects inwardly from the inner surface into an interior of the golf club head body, and the second ledge member includes a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween

wherein the first and second ledge members are complementary wherein when the first and second ledge members are engaged the first vertical side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the first vertical side of the second ledge member, the second vertical side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the second vertical side of the second ledge member, and the horizontal side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the horizontal side of the second ledge member,

wherein the sole of the golf club head body includes a third section and a fourth section that are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a part of the sole,

wherein the third section includes a third ledge member, the fourth section includes a fourth ledge member and the third ledge member is engaged with the fourth ledge member to form a second junction area,

wherein the third ledge member includes a first vertical side, a second vertical side, a third vertical side, a first horizontal side between the first vertical side and the second vertical side, and a second horizontal side between the second vertical side and the third vertical side, wherein the first vertical side of the third ledge member extends inward from an outer surface of the third section to the first horizontal side of the third ledge member such that the first horizontal side of the third ledge member is recessed from the outer surface of the third section, and wherein the third vertical side of the third ledge member extends inwardly from an inner surface of the third section to the second horizontal side of the third ledge member such that the second horizontal side of the third ledge member projects inwardly from the inner surface of the third section into an interior of the golf club head body, and the fourth ledge member includes a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween

wherein the third and fourth ledge members are complementary wherein when the third and fourth ledge members are engaged the first vertical side of the third ledge member matches and engages with the first vertical side of fourth ledge member, the second vertical side of the third ledge member matches and engages with the second vertical side of the fourth ledge member, and the horizontal side of the third ledge member matches and engages with the horizontal side of the fourth ledge member.

15. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face portion and a rear portion;

wherein the ball striking face portion and the rear portion are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a part of the iron type golf club head body,

wherein the ball striking face portion includes a first ledge member, the rear portion includes a second ledge member and a top surface and the first ledge member and the second ledge member are engaged to form a junction area,

wherein the first ledge member includes a top surface, a first vertical side, extending downward from the top surface of the first ledge member, a second vertical side, and a horizontal side between the first and second vertical sides of the first ledge member, and the second ledge member includes a first vertical side extending downward from the top surface of the rear portion, a second vertical side, and a horizontal side between the first and second vertical sides of the second ledge member,

wherein the first and second ledge members are complementary so that when the first and second ledge members are engaged the first vertical side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the first vertical side of second ledge member, the second vertical side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the second vertical side of the second ledge member, the horizontal side of the first ledge member matches and engages with the horizontal side of the second ledge member, and the top surface of the first ledge member is flush with the top surface of the rear portion.

16. The golf club head according to claim 15, wherein the first ledge member is configured such that when the club head body is at the address position, the first vertical side of the first ledge member is at a greater height than the second vertical side of the first ledge member and the horizontal side of the first ledge member extends between a lower edge of the first vertical side of the first ledge member and an upper edge of the second vertical side of the first ledge member, wherein the surface of the horizontal side of the first ledge member faces downward;

the second ledge member is configured such that when the club head body is at the address position, the first vertical side of the second ledge member is at a greater height than the second vertical side of the second ledge member and the horizontal side of the second ledge member extends between a lower edge of the first vertical side of the second ledge member and an upper edge of the second vertical side of the second ledge member, wherein the surface of the horizontal side of the second ledge member faces upward.

17. The golf club head according to claim 16, wherein each of the first vertical side, the second vertical side and the horizontal side of the first ledge member is in flush contact with a matching side of the second ledge member.

18. The golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the shape and dimensions of the first vertical side of the first ledge member are substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the first vertical side of the second ledge member, wherein the shape and dimensions of the second vertical side of the first ledge member are substantially the same shape and dimensions as the second vertical side of the second ledge member, wherein the shape and dimensions of the horizontal side of the first ledge member are the substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the horizontal side of the second ledge member.

19. The golf club head according to claim 15, wherein the junction area includes three different planar surfaces of the first ledge member and three different planar surfaces of the second ledge member, and

wherein each of the three planar surfaces of the first ledge member are abutting and in planar contact with the three respective planar surfaces of the second ledge member.

20. The golf club head according to claim 15, wherein the first and second sections are joined together at the junction area by adhesives, soldering, brazing, welding, fusing or mechanical connectors.