Golf club head or other ball striking device having stiffened face portion
First Claim
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1. A golf club head comprising:
- a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball;
a body connected to the face;
a stiffening element contacting an inner surface of the face, the stiffening element including a chamber containing a viscous substance, wherein a viscosity of the viscous substance influences a stiffening effect on an area of the face contacted by the stiffening element;
a port accessible through an outer surface of the body, the port configured for at least one of filling and emptying the viscous substance in the chamber; and
a passage extending from the port to the chamber, wherein the passage provides access from the port for the at least one of filling and emptying the viscous substance in the chamber.
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Accused Products
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 contacting an inner surface of the face, to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. The stiffening element includes a chamber adapted to contain a viscous substance. The viscous substance can be selected and inserted into the chamber 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.
29 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face; a stiffening element contacting an inner surface of the face, the stiffening element including a chamber containing a viscous substance, wherein a viscosity of the viscous substance influences a stiffening effect on an area of the face contacted by the stiffening element; a port accessible through an outer surface of the body, the port configured for at least one of filling and emptying the viscous substance in the chamber; and a passage extending from the port to the chamber, wherein the passage provides access from the port for the at least one of filling and emptying the viscous substance in the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16)
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12. A face member for use in a ball striking device, comprising:
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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 stiffening element contacting an inner surface of the face, the stiffening element including a chamber containing a viscous substance, wherein a viscosity of the viscous substance influences a stiffening effect on an area of the face contacted by the stiffening element; a port accessible from an exterior of the face member, the port configured for at least one of filling and emptying the viscous substance in the chamber; and a passage extending from the port to the chamber, wherein the passage provides access from the port for the at least one of filling and emptying the viscous substance in the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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Specification