Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features
First Claim
1. A golf club head comprising:
- a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball;
a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe;
an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and has a variable depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion having a curved and generally semi-circular cross-sectional shape and parallel to the face extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe,wherein the channel has a front edge, a rear edge, and a width defined between the front and rear edges, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, andwherein the depth of the channel is variable over a length of the channel and is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion, such that the depth of the channel at the heel and toe portions increases from the heel end of the center portion toward the heel and from the toe end of the center portion toward the toe, and further wherein an access for a hosel connecting structure is in communication with and intersects the heel portion of the channel.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a channel extending across a portion of the sole. The channel may be recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and have a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion.
1008 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and has a variable depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion having a curved and generally semi-circular cross-sectional shape and parallel to the face extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the channel has a front edge, a rear edge, and a width defined between the front and rear edges, wherein the width and the depth of the center portion of the channel are substantially constant, and wherein the depth of the channel is variable over a length of the channel and is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion, such that the depth of the channel at the heel and toe portions increases from the heel end of the center portion toward the heel and from the toe end of the center portion toward the toe, and further wherein an access for a hosel connecting structure is in communication with and intersects the heel portion of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; a channel extending across a portion of the sole, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and has a variable depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion having a curved and generally semi-circular cross-sectional shape and parallel to the face extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the depth of recession of the channel is variable over a length of the channel and is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion such that the depth of recession of the channel at the heel and toe portions increases from the heel end of the center portion toward the heel and from the toe end of the center portion toward the toe, and further wherein an access for a hosel connecting structure is in communication with and intersects the heel portion of the channel; a void defined on the sole of the body and a cover defining a top of the void; and wherein the body and the face combine to define an internal cavity, with a top surface of the cover partially defining the internal cavity, such that a portion of the internal cavity is positioned between the cover and the crown. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A golf club head comprising:
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a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole, the channel having a width defined in a front to rear direction and a variable depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion having a curved and generally semi-circular cross-sectional shape and parallel to the face extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe, and wherein the depth of recession of the channel is variable over a length of the channel such that the depth of the channel at the heel and toe portions increases from the heel end of the center portion toward the heel and from the toe end of the center portion toward the toe and at least one of the width and the depth of the channel is greater at the heel portion and the toe portion than at the center portion, and further wherein an access for a hosel connecting structure is in communication with and intersects the heel portion of the channel; and a void defined on the sole of the body, wherein the body comprises a first leg and a second leg extending rearwardly from a base portion of the body, with the void being defined between the first and second legs. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification