Golf club head or other ball striking device having stiffened face portion
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A golf club head comprising:
- a face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof;
a body connected to the face; and
a stiffening member connected to an inner surface of the face at a first contact location and a second contact location, the stiffening member comprising a first leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the first contact location, a second leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the second contact location, and an arm extending between the first and second legs, the arm being spaced from the inner surface of the face,wherein the stiffening member provides locally increased stiffness to the face such that areas of the face surrounding the first and second contact locations have locally greater stiffness relative to other areas of the face spaced from the contact locations, andwherein the stiffening member further comprises a third leg connected to the inner surface of the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at a third contact location, wherein the arm extends to each of the first, second, and third contact locations and connects the first, second, and third contact locations to one another.
1 Assignment
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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 proximate a heel thereof. The face includes one or more stiffening members or other structures on the inner surface of the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. Certain stiffening members may provide greater stiffness than other stiffening members, allowing the face to be configured for areas of greatest stiffness and greatest COR tailored to common impact patterns.
128 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A golf club head comprising:
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a face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof; a body connected to the face; and a stiffening member connected to an inner surface of the face at a first contact location and a second contact location, the stiffening member comprising a first leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the first contact location, a second leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the second contact location, and an arm extending between the first and second legs, the arm being spaced from the inner surface of the face, wherein the stiffening member provides locally increased stiffness to the face such that areas of the face surrounding the first and second contact locations have locally greater stiffness relative to other areas of the face spaced from the contact locations, and wherein the stiffening member further comprises a third leg connected to the inner surface of the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at a third contact location, wherein the arm extends to each of the first, second, and third contact locations and connects the first, second, and third contact locations to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A golf club head comprising:
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a face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof; a body connected to the face, the body adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel of the body and having a toe opposite the heel; and an elongated stiffening member extending rearward from an inner surface of the face and extending across the inner surface of the face such that a central longitudinal axis of the stiffening member extends between a first point and a second point, the first point positioned in an upper heel quadrant of the face, and the second point is positioned toward the lower toe quadrant of the face with respect to the first point, the stiffening member providing locally increased stiffness to the face, wherein the stiffening member includes an annular ring surrounding an enclosed internal area, wherein the annular ring is thicker than the enclosed internal area. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A golf club head comprising:
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a face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof; a body connected to the face, the body adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel of the body and having a toe opposite the heel; a first stiffening member extending rearward from an inner surface of the face and extending across the inner surface of the face from a first location to a second location, the first location positioned in an upper heel quadrant of the face, and the second location is positioned toward the lower toe quadrant of the face with respect to the first location, the first stiffening member providing locally increased stiffness to the face, and wherein the first stiffening member includes a curved surface that faces the heel; and a second stiffening member extending rearward from the inner surface of the face and extending across the inner surface of the face from a third location to a fourth location, the third location positioned in an upper heel quadrant of the face, and wherein the second stiffening member includes a curved surface that faces the toe. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A golf club head comprising:
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a face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof; a body connected to the face; and a stiffening member connected to an inner surface of the face at a first contact location and a second contact location, the stiffening member comprising a first leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the first contact location, a second leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the second contact location, and an arm extending between the first and second legs, the arm being spaced from the inner surface of the face, wherein the stiffening member provides locally increased stiffness to the face such that areas of the face surrounding the first and second contact locations have locally greater stiffness relative to other areas of the face spaced from the contact locations, and wherein the body is adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel of the body and having a toe opposite the heel, wherein the first contact location is positioned in an upper heel quadrant of the face, and the second contact location is positioned toward a lower toe quadrant of the face with respect to the first contact location. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A golf club head comprising:
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a face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof; a body connected to the face; and a stiffening member connected to an inner surface of the face at a first contact location and a second contact location, the stiffening member comprising a first leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the first contact location, a second leg connected to the face and extending substantially perpendicular to the face at the second contact location, and an arm extending between the first and second legs, the arm being spaced from the inner surface of the face, wherein the stiffening member provides locally increased stiffness to the face such that areas of the face surrounding the first and second contact locations have locally greater stiffness relative to other areas of the face spaced from the contact locations, and wherein the body is adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel of the body and having a toe opposite the heel, wherein the first contact location is positioned in an upper toe quadrant of the face, and the second contact location is positioned toward a lower heel quadrant of the face with respect to the first contact location. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification