Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features

• US 9,770,634 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Oldknow, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US15/005,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20160136489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 473327, 473328, 473338, 473341, 473344
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel and the crown. The sole includes a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe. An insert is received within the channel. The club head further includes means for detachably securing the insert to the channel. A second insert configured for being received within the channel may be provided.

Claims

1. A golf club head for a metal wood type club, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at an intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, and the crown;

the sole including a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe, wherein the channel extends across a centerline of the golf club head; and

an insert located within the channel,

wherein the insert is made of a thermoplastic and has a thickness of at least a portion of the insert that is less than a depth of the channel; and

wherein the insert includes a plurality of grooves that extend along a top surface of the insert.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel has a constant depth.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the insert is secured in the channel using an adhesive.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the insert is secured to the channel in the sole defined by a frictional fit configuration.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the insert having a top surface and defining a recess in the top surface.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the insert has a portion that is flexible.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a plurality of inserts is configured for interchangeable receipt by the channel.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel forms a recess that gradually increases in cross-sectional area as it extends away from the hosel region.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel has a width and a length and wherein the insert extends the entire width of the channel and extends a partial length of the channel.

10. A golf club head for a metal wood type club, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, and the crown;

the sole including a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe, the channel defining a front side wall and a rear side wall, wherein the front side wall and rear side wall are parallel to each other,

wherein the channel extends across a centerline of the golf club head, and

an insert located within the channel,

wherein a portion of the insert is flexible; and

wherein the insert defines a top surface and a recess located in the top surface; and

further wherein a portion of the insert is below a surface of the sole.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the recess forms an elongated feature extending generally in a heel-to-toe direction of the golf club head and oriented generally parallel to the front side wall.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the insert forms a recess that gradually increases in cross-sectional area as it extends away from the hosel region.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the channel is located in a forward region of the golf club head and the forward region of the golf club head is the forward 30 percent of a breadth of the golf club head.

14. A golf club head for a metal wood type club, the golf club head comprising:

a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, and the crown;

the sole including a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe across a centerline of the golf club head;

wherein the channel comprises a front side wall and a rear side wall, wherein the front side wall and rear side wall are parallel to each other,

wherein the channel is located in a forward region of the golf club head and the forward region of the golf club head is the forward 40 percent of a breadth of the golf club head,

an insert located within the channel,

wherein the insert comprises a portion made of a flexible material, and

wherein the insert further comprises a top surface and a recess located in the top surface wherein a portion of the insert is below a surface of the sole and wherein the recess forms an elongated feature extending generally in a heel-to-toe direction of the golf club head and has a forward wall oriented generally parallel to the front side wall of the channel.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the forward region of the golf club head is the forward 30 percent of a breadth of the golf club head.

16. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the insert has a width and a length and wherein the insert extends the entire width of the channel and extends a partial length of the channel.

17. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the channel has a constant depth.