Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,901,792 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, David N., Kammerer, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/290,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20150031474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A head for a ball striking device includes a face having a striking surface and a rear side located behind the face, a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, and a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, such that the resilient member engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member. The face member has projections extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate the heel and toe sides of the head. The rear member has receivers in the front surface on the heel and toe sides of the head, where the projections are received in the corresponding receivers.

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 located behind the face, the face member having a first projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a heel side of the head and a second projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a toe side of the head, the face member further including a shaft connection structure configured for connection of a golf club shaft;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a first receiver in the front surface on the heel side of the head and a second receiver in the front surface on the toe side of the head, wherein the first projection is received in the first receiver and the second projection is received in the second receiver;

an engagement member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member, and wherein the engagement member is located between the first and second projections and between the first and second receivers; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the resilient material covers the first and second projections and separates the first and second projections from the first and second receivers.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin connected to the face member and received in an aperture in the rear member.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the rear member has perimeter weighting portions located at the heel side and the toe side of the head and a thinned portion between the perimeter weighting portions, and wherein the first receiver and the second receiver are located in the perimeter weighting portions.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion;

a hosel connected to the face member and configured for connection of a golf club shaft;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, further comprising:

an engagement member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the resilient material is positioned between a front surface of the rear member and a rear surface of the face portion of the face member and between a top surface of the rear member and an underside of the wall.

8. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the wall covers a front portion of a top surface of the rear member.

9. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the wall and the face portion of the face member are formed of a single integral piece.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member,

wherein the face member further comprises a first projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a heel side of the head and a second projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a toe side of the head, and wherein the rear member further comprises a first receiver in a front surface of the rear member on the heel side of the head and a second receiver in the front surface on the toe side of the head, wherein the first projection is received in the first receiver and the second projection is received in the second receiver.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the rear member has perimeter weighting portions located at the heel side and the toe side of the head and a thinned portion between the perimeter weighting portions, and wherein the first receiver and the second receiver are located in the perimeter weighting portions.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the resilient material covers the first and second projections and separates the first and second projections from the first and second receivers.

13. A golf club head further comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head;

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member; and

an engagement member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the engagement member comprises a pin connected to the face member and received in an aperture in the rear member.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the engagement member is approximately aligned laterally with a center of gravity of the head.

16. The golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member,

wherein the rear member has perimeter weighting portions located at a heel side and a toe side of the head and a thinned portion between the perimeter weighting portions, and wherein the wall follows contours of the rear member to at least partially cover the perimeter weighting portions and the thinned portion.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member,

wherein the face member has a recess located on the sole and below the wall, wherein at least a portion of the rear member is received in the recess.

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 located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion, the face member further having a first projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a heel side of the head and a second projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a toe side of the head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head, wherein the rear member has a first receiver in the front surface on the heel side of the head and a second receiver in the front surface on the toe side of the head, and wherein the first projection is received in the first receiver and the second projection is received in the second receiver;

an engagement member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.

19. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member comprising a face portion at least partially defining the face and two arms extending rearward from the face portion, wherein the arms are spaced from each other;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member is positioned below the arms, such that the arms cover at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head;

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, further comprising:

an engagement member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member.

21. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the rear member has perimeter weighting portions located at a heel side and a toe side of the head that are raised with respect to other portions of the rear member, and wherein the resilient material further separates outer surfaces of the arms from inner surfaces of the perimeter weighting portions.

22. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the rear member comprises a base member and two legs extending rearwardly from the base member, wherein a void is defined between the legs.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the void is V-shaped, and wherein the resilient material also comprises a base member and two legs extending rearwardly from the base member, wherein the void is further defined between the legs of the resilient material.

24. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member having a first projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a heel side of the head and a second projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a toe side of the head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a first receiver in the front surface on the heel side of the head and a second receiver in the front surface on the toe side of the head, wherein the first projection is received in the first receiver and the second projection is received in the second receiver;

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member; and

an engagement member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the engagement member forms a joint between the face member and the rear member,

wherein the engagement member is approximately aligned laterally with a center of gravity of the head.

25. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member having a first projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a heel side of the head and a second projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a toe side of the head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a first receiver in the front surface on the heel side of the head and a second receiver in the front surface on the toe side of the head, wherein the first projection is received in the first receiver and the second projection is received in the second receiver; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member;

wherein the face member comprises a face portion at least partially defining the face and a wall extending rearward from the face portion, wherein the rear member is positioned below the wall, such that the wall covers at least a portion of the rear member, and wherein the rear member forms at least a portion of a sole of the head.

26. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the rear member has perimeter weighting portions located at the heel side and the toe side of the head and a thinned portion between the perimeter weighting portions, and wherein the wall follows contours of the rear member to at least partially cover the perimeter weighting portions and the thinned portion.

27. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the wall covers a front portion of a top surface of the rear member.

28. A golf club head comprising:

a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, the face member having a first projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a heel side of the head and a second projection extending rearwardly from the rear side of the face member proximate a toe side of the head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and having a front surface confronting the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a first receiver in the front surface on the heel side of the head and a second receiver in the front surface on the toe side of the head, wherein the first projection is received in the first receiver and the second projection is received in the second receiver; and

a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and the rear member,

wherein the face member has a recess located on a sole of the head, wherein at least a portion of the rear member is received in the recess, such that the rear member forms at least a portion of the sole.