Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features

• US 9,956,459 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Boyd, Robert M., Stites, John T., Oldknow, Andrew G.V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US15/155,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20160317879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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 head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a back and a hosel region, located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, the crown and the sole. The body member may have a first cross-section having a first airfoil-shaped surface in the heel. The first cross-section may be oriented at approximately 90° from the centerline of the club head. The body member may have a second cross-section having a second airfoil-shaped surface. The second cross-section may be oriented at approximately 45° or at approximately 70°. The airfoil-shaped surfaces may be defined by spline points or by equations. A golf club including the golf club head is also provided.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

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

a recess defined on the sole and spaced from the ball striking face, wherein the recess;

extends from a region of the sole that is adjacent to the hosel region toward the toe and toward the back, and

includes a V-shaped structure having a pair of legs extending to a point proximate to the toe and away from the ball striking face; and

a vane provided as part of the sole and located between the pair of legs of the V-shaped structure of the recess.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the recess has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side of the recess are straight.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the recess has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side of the recess are curved.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a cross sectional area of the recess increases in a direction extending away from the hosel region.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a plurality of secondary recesses are formed in a bottom surface of the recess.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the vane is centered within the recess.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the vane extends partially along a length of the recess.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

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

a recess defined on the sole and spaced from the ball striking face, wherein the recess;

extends from a region of the sole that is adjacent to the heel toward the toe and includes a V-shaped structure having a pair of legs extending to a point proximate to the toe and away from the ball striking face; and

a vane provided as part of the sole and located between the pair of legs of the V-shaped structure of the recess.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the recess has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side of the recess are straight.

10. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the recess has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side of the recess are curved.

11. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a cross sectional area of the recess increases in a direction extending away from the hosel region.

12. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein a plurality of secondary recesses are formed in a bottom surface of the recess.

13. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the vane is centered in the recess.

14. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the vane extends partially along a length of the recess.