Golf club head or other ball striking device
First Claim
1. A golf club head comprising:
- a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face;
a weight member positioned at least partially behind the rear side of the face member;
a protrusion engaging a front side of the weight member at a point aligned with a center of gravity of at least one of the face member and the weight member; and
a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member, the resilient member having greater flexibility than the face member, the weight member, and the protrusion, the resilient member engaging the rear side of the face member and the weight member to space the weight member from the face member, wherein the weight member has at least a first surface that is engaged by the resilient member and at least a second surface that is exposed and not engaged by the resilient member,wherein the resilient member is compressible to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface, andwherein engagement between the protrusion and the weight member is configured to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A head for a ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face member having a face with a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the striking surface, a weight member connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. The resilient member is compressible to permit energy and/or momentum to be transferred between the weight member and the face member through the resilient member during impact, including an off-center impact on the striking surface. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A golf club head comprising:
-
a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face; a weight member positioned at least partially behind the rear side of the face member; a protrusion engaging a front side of the weight member at a point aligned with a center of gravity of at least one of the face member and the weight member; and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member, the resilient member having greater flexibility than the face member, the weight member, and the protrusion, the resilient member engaging the rear side of the face member and the weight member to space the weight member from the face member, wherein the weight member has at least a first surface that is engaged by the resilient member and at least a second surface that is exposed and not engaged by the resilient member, wherein the resilient member is compressible to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface, and wherein engagement between the protrusion and the weight member is configured to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A golf club head comprising:
-
a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face; a weight member positioned at least partially behind the rear side of the face member; a protrusion engaging the rear side of the face member at a point aligned with a center of gravity of at least one of the face member and the weight member; and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member, the resilient member having greater flexibility than the face member, the weight member, and the protrusion, the resilient member engaging the rear side of the face member and the weight member to space the weight member from the face member, wherein the weight member has at least a first surface that is engaged by the resilient member and at least a second surface that is exposed and not engaged by the resilient member, wherein the resilient member is compressible to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface, and wherein engagement between the protrusion and the face member is configured to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A golf club head comprising:
-
a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face; a weight member positioned at least partially behind the rear side of the face member; a first member positioned between the rear side of the face member and a front side of the weight member and engaging the rear side of the face member and the front side of the weight member at a point aligned with a center of gravity of at least one of the face member and the weight member; and a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member, the resilient member engaging the rear side of the face member and the weight member to space the weight member from the face member, wherein the weight member has at least a first surface that is engaged by the resilient member and at least a second surface that is exposed and not engaged by the resilient member, wherein the resilient member is compressible to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface, wherein the first member is configured to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member, and wherein the first member is surrounded by the resilient member at least on a heel side and a toe side of the first member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A golf club head comprising:
-
a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face, the face member further having a heel side and a toe side; a weight member positioned at least partially behind the rear side of the face member; a resilient member positioned between the weight member and the face member and engaging the rear side of the face member and the weight member to space the weight member from the face member, wherein the weight member has at least a first surface that is engaged by the resilient member and at least a second surface that is exposed and not engaged by the resilient member, wherein the resilient member comprises a center portion located proximate a center of gravity of the face member, a heel portion located proximate the heel side of the face member, and a toe portion located proximate the toe side of the face member, wherein the heel portion and the toe portion of the resilient member have greater flexibility than the center portion, and wherein the heel portion, the toe portion, and the center portion are manufactured to form the resilient member by a co-molding process, and wherein the heel portion of the resilient member is compressible to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface on the heel side of the face member, and wherein the toe portion of the resilient member is compressible to permit the weight member to transfer momentum to the face member through the resilient member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface on the toe side of the face member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification