Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features

• US 8,758,156 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John Thomas, Boyd, Robert, Tavares, Gary G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/945,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20110281663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/305, D21/752, D21/733, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/305
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• 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 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a rear, and a hosel region. The heel includes an airfoil-like surface shaped like the leading edge of an airfoil that extends over a majority of the length of the heel. The back may include a Kammback feature having a concavity extending from the heel-side to the toe-side of the back. The heel-side edge of the concavity may be shaped like the leading edge of an airfoil. Further, the sole may include a diffuser that extends at an angle of from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 80 degrees from a moment-of-impact trajectory direction. A hosel fairing that extends from the hosel region toward the toe may also be provided on the crown. A golf club including the golf club head is also disclosed.

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 ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back, and a hosel region for receiving a shaft;

the back including a Kammback feature having a concavity extending from the heel-side to the toe-side of the back, wherein the heel-side of the concavity includes a leading edge of an airfoil; and

the heel including an airfoil surface defined as a single smoothly curved surface extending from the sole to the crown and extending from the hosel region to the back.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the airfoil surface of the heel extends over the entire heel.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the airfoil surface of the heel is provided with a quasi-parabolic cross-sectional shape that is generally oriented perpendicular to a centerline of the club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the airfoil surface of the heel tangentially merges with the crown, and wherein the airfoil surface and the crown form a smooth continuous surface.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the heel tapers from a maximum height adjacent to the hosel region down to a minimum height at the back.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the toe-side edge of the concavity of the Kammback feature includes a tapered trailing edge of an airfoil.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the toe-side edge of the concavity of the Kammback feature is oval-shaped.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the concavity of the Kammback feature undercuts the crown and the sole.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the concavity of the Kammback feature undercuts the heel.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the concavity of the Kammback feature is bounded by a rearmost edge of the crown, a rearmost edge of the heel, and a rearmost edge of the sole.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, further including a hosel fairing that extends from the hosel region toward the toe.

20. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

the golf club head according to claim 1, 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 ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region located at an intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole;

the sole including a diffuser that extends at an angle of from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 80 degrees from a moment-of-impact trajectory direction, wherein the diffuser is recessed within the sole; and

wherein the diffuser extends to the crown; and

the heel including an airfoil surface that extends over a majority of the heel.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the diffuser extends from adjacent the hosel region at an angle of from approximately 15 degrees to approximately 75 degrees from the moment-of-impact trajectory direction.

14. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the diffuser extends at an angle of from approximately 40 degrees to approximately 70 degrees from the moment-of-impact trajectory direction.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein a cross-sectional area of the diffuser increases as the diffuser extends away from the hosel region.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the back includes a concave Kammback feature.

17. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the airfoil surface of the heel extends over the entire heel.

18. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the airfoil surface of the heel is provided with a quasi-parabolic cross-sectional shape.

19. The golf club head of claim 12, further including a hosel fairing on the crown that extends from the hosel region toward the toe.

21. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

the golf club head according to claim 12, wherein the golf club head is secured to a first end of the shaft.