Hollow golf club head with polymeric cap

• US 9,517,393 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2015
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Cardani, Jason, Daraskavich, Matt, Kammerer, Brian, Maldonado, Pedro, Pinto, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANDERVEEN, JEFFREY S
• Application Number:
  US14/708,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A hollow golf club head includes a metallic body, a club face, and a polymeric insert that cooperate to at least partially define a closed internal cavity. The metallic body includes a sole, a topline, and a rear wall defining an opening, with the rear wall being disposed between the topline and the sole. The club face is disposed between the topline and the sole, and on an opposite side of the sole from the rear wall. A strut extends across the opening and is secured to the body, and a polymeric insert covers the opening and is secured both to the body and to the strut.

Claims

1. A hollow golf club head comprising:

a metallic body including a sole, a topline, and a rear wall defining an opening, wherein the rear wall is disposed between the topline and the sole;

a club face disposed between the topline and the sole, and on an opposite side of the sole from the rear wall;

a strut extending across the opening and secured to the body;

a polymeric insert defining a channel, wherein the polymeric insert is adhered to an outer surface of the body such that the insert covers the opening and such that the strut extends within the channel; and

wherein the body, the club face, and the polymeric insert define a closed internal cavity therebetween.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club face has a loft angle of from about 17 degrees to about 60 degrees.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first bond area and a second bond area that each respectively encircle at least a portion of the opening;

wherein the first bond area is within 45 degrees of parallel to the opening, and wherein the second bond area is within 45 degrees of perpendicular to the opening; and

wherein the polymeric insert is adhered to both the first bond area and the second bond area using an adhesive.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the ratio of the size of the second bond area to the size of the first bond area is from about 0.7:

1 to about 2.0;

1.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymeric insert is adhered to opposing sides of the strut.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the closed internal cavity has a volume of from about 20 cc to about 120 cc.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the strut divides the opening into a first opening and a second opening;

and

wherein the polymeric insert extends within each of the first opening and the second opening.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the first opening and the second opening have a combined area of from about 800 mm² to about 1200 mm².

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the strut is integrally formed with the metallic body and is operative to stiffen the topline.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the metallic body further includes a weighted toe portion of the sole;

and

wherein the strut extends between the weighted toe portion of the sole and a central portion of the topline.

11. A hollow golf club head comprising:

a metallic body including a sole, a topline, and a rear wall defining an opening having an area of from about 800 mm² to about 1200 mm², wherein the rear wall is disposed between the topline and the sole;

a club face disposed between the topline and the sole, and on an opposite side of the sole from the rear wall, wherein the club face is disposed at a loft angle of from about 17 degrees to about 60 degrees;

a strut extending across the opening and secured to the body;

a polymeric insert defining a channel, wherein the polymeric insert is adhered to an outer surface of the body and strut such that the insert covers the opening and such that the strut extends within the channel; and

wherein the body, the club face, and the polymeric insert define a closed internal cavity therebetween.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the body includes a first bond area and a second bond area;

wherein the first bond area is within 45 degrees of parallel to the opening, and wherein the second bond area is within 45 degrees of perpendicular to the opening; and

wherein the polymeric insert is adhered to both the first bond area and the second bond area using an adhesive.

13. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the ratio of the size of the second bond area to the size of the first bond area is from about 0.7:

1 to about 2.0;

1.

14. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the polymeric insert is adhered to opposing sides of the strut.

15. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the closed internal cavity has a volume of from about 20 cc to about 120 cc.

16. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the strut is integrally formed with the metallic body and is operative to stiffen the topline.

17. The golf club of claim 16, wherein the metallic body further includes a weighted toe portion;

and

wherein the strut extends between the weighted toe portion and the topline.