Club head with club head alignment aid and related method

• US 9,358,433 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Flaherty, Kevin W., Loudenslager, John H., Radeleff, Nicholas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US14/176,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-256, 473/409, 473345-346, D21/733, D21/735, D21/746, D21/751, D21/759
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A wood-type club head can include a front end having a front face, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a rear end opposite the front end, a crown surface having a front crown end and a rear crown end, and an alignment aid at the crown surface. The front crown end can be closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end can be closer to the rear end than to the front end. The alignment aid can include four alignment aid stripes. The four alignment aid stripes can include a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wood-type club head comprising:

a front end comprising a front face;

a toe end;

a heel end opposite the toe end;

a rear end opposite the front end;

a crown surface comprising a front crown end and a rear crown end; and

an alignment aid at the crown surface;

wherein;

the front crown end is closer to the front end than to the rear end;

the rear crown end is closer to the rear end than to the front end;

the alignment aid comprises four alignment aid stripes;

the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than to the heel end;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than to the toe end;

the second toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than the first toe alignment aid stripe;

the second heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than the first heel alignment aid stripe;

the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first toe alignment aid stripe width;

the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe width;

the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe width;

the second heel alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first heel alignment aid stripe width; and

the first toe alignment aid stripe, the second toe alignment aid stripe, the first heel alignment aid stripe, and the second heel alignment aid stripe each extend on the crown surface to at least the front crown end.

2. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the four alignment aid stripes each comprise at least one of;

(a) a varying width or (b) a substantially constant width; and

the alignment aid is located approximately equidistant between the toe end and the heel end.

3. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the wood-type club head comprises a driver club head; and

the four alignment aid stripes comprise racing stripes.

4. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the four alignment aid stripes extend from the front crown end to the rear crown end.

5. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the first heel alignment aid stripe width; and

the second toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the second heel alignment aid stripe width.

6. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe, the first heel alignment aid stripe, the second toe alignment aid stripe, and the second heel alignment aid stripe are approximately parallel with each other.

7. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first color; and

the crown surface comprises a second color different from the first color.

8. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width;

the toe offset region width has a constant width;

the heel offset region width has a constant width; and

the center offset region width has a constant width.

9. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and

the toe offset region width is approximately equal to the heel offset region width.

10. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and

the toe offset region width and the heel offset region width are each narrower than the center offset region width.

11. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width;

the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first color;

the crown surface comprises a second color different from the first color; and

the toe offset region, the heel offset region, and the center offset region comprise the second color.

12. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and

wherein one of;

the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, and the center offset region width are approximately equal to each other;

or

at least one of the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, or the center offset region width is less than at least one other of the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, or the center offset region width.

13. The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and

the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, and the center offset region width are each narrower than each of the first toe alignment aid stripe width and the first heel alignment aid stripe width.

14. A wood-type club head comprising:

a front end comprising a front face;

a toe end;

a heel end opposite the toe end;

a rear end opposite the front face;

a crown surface comprising a front crown end and a rear crown end; and

an alignment aid at the crown surface and extending between the front crown end and the rear crown end;

wherein;

the front crown end is closer to the front end than to the rear end;

the rear crown end is closer to the rear end than to the front end;

the alignment aid comprises four alignment aid stripes;

each of the four alignment aid stripes are non-collinear with each other;

the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than to the heel end;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than to the toe end;

the second toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than the first toe alignment aid stripe;

the second heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than the first heel alignment aid stripe;

the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe length;

the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe length;

the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe length;

the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe length; and

the first toe alignment aid stripe length, the second toe alignment aid stripe length, the first heel alignment aid stripe length, and the second heel alignment aid stripe length are each greater than or equal to approximately 8.0 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 12 centimeters;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region;

the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width;

the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width;

the center offset region comprises a center offset region width;

the toe offset region width is approximately equal to the heel offset region width; and

the toe offset region width and the heel offset region width are each narrower than the center offset region width.

15. The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe length is approximately equal to the first heel alignment aid stripe length; and

the second toe alignment aid stripe length is approximately equal to the second heel alignment aid stripe length.

16. The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein:

the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first color; and

the crown surface comprises a second color different from the first color.

17. The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein:

the alignment aid is orthogonal with the front face.

18. The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first toe alignment aid stripe width;

the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe width;

the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe width; and

the second heel alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first heel alignment aid stripe width.

19. The wood-type club head of claim 18 wherein:

the first toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the first heel alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the second heel alignment aid stripe width; and

the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, and the center offset region width are each narrower than each of the first toe alignment aid stripe width and the first heel alignment aid stripe width.

20. A method comprising:

providing a wood-type club head comprising;

a front end comprising a front face;

a toe end;

a heel end opposite the toe end;

a rear end opposite the front end; and

a crown surface comprising a front crown end and a rear crown end, the front crown end closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end closer to the rear end than to the front end; and

providing an alignment aid at the crown surface extending between the front crown end and the rear crown end, the alignment aid comprising four alignment aid stripes,

wherein;

the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe;

the first toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than to the heel end;

the first heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than to the toe end;

the second toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than the first toe alignment aid stripe;

the second heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than the first heel alignment aid stripe;

the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe width;

the second toe alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first toe alignment aid stripe width;

the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe width;

the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe width;

the second heel alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first heel alignment aid stripe width; and

the first toe alignment aid stripe, the second toe alignment aid stripe, the first heel alignment aid stripe, and the second heel alignment aid stripe each extend on the crown surface to at least the front crown end.