Golf clubs and golf club heads

• US 9,956,463 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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:
  US14/290,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20150343285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 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 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0429 the face insert comprising two or more layers of material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3638 Normal golf clubs with directly attached weights

Abstract

Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face member including a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side located behind the face, a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, and a resilient material separating the rear member from the face member. The first connection member is directly engaged with the rear member, and the club head further includes a first spacer separating the first connection member from the face member. The first spacer is flexible, and the first connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the first spacer against the face member. 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.

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;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member is directly engaged with the rear member, and wherein the club head further includes a first spacer separating the first connection member from the face member, wherein the first spacer is flexible, and the first connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the first spacer against the face 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,

wherein the face member comprises a face portion defining at least a portion of the face and a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion and forming at least a portion of a sole of the club head, wherein the rear member is positioned behind the face portion and above the sole portion, and wherein the first connection member connects the sole portion to an underside of the rear member; and

wherein the first connection member has a threaded portion and an enlarged head, wherein the rear member has a threaded receiver on the underside that receives and engages the threaded portion of the first connection member, wherein the face member has an opening in the sole portion and a shoulder surrounding the opening, such that the first connection member extends upwardly through the opening and into the receiver, and wherein the first spacer is positioned around the opening and is engaged between the enlarged head and the shoulder.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

an engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member to form a joint, wherein the engagement member forms a sole area of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a second connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the second connection member is directly engaged with the rear member, and wherein the club head further includes a second spacer separating the second connection member from the face member, wherein the second spacer is flexible, and the second connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the second spacer against the face member.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first connection member is positioned in a heel portion of the club head and the second connection member is positioned in a toe portion of the club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the face member has a cavity surrounding the opening, the cavity being wider than the opening and defined by a cylindrical projection extending from the face member toward the rear member, wherein the shoulder is defined within the cavity, and wherein the enlarged head of the first connection member and the first spacer are received in the cavity;

the rear member has a channel surrounding the receiver, wherein a portion of the cylindrical projection is received within the channel; and

the resilient material has a portion that is received within the channel and separates the cylindrical projection from the rear member.

6. 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 sole portion extending rearward from the face portion and forming at least a portion of a sole of the club head, the sole portion having a first opening on a heel side of the club head and a second opening on a toe side of the club head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member has first and second receivers located on an underside of the rear member, the first receiver aligned with the first opening and the second receiver aligned with the second opening;

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;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member extends upward through the first opening in the face member and into the first receiver, and wherein the first connection member engages the first receiver by complementary threading members; and

a second connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the second connection member extends upward through the second opening in the face member and into the second receiver, and wherein the second connection member engages the second receiver by complementary threading members,

wherein the first and second connection members each have an enlarged head, wherein the sole portion of the face member further has a first cavity surrounding the first opening, the first cavity being wider than the first opening and defined by a first cylindrical projection extending upwardly from the sole portion toward the rear member, the first cavity including a first shoulder surrounding the first opening and a first side wall extending downward from the first shoulder, wherein the enlarged head of the first connection member is received in the first cavity and engages the first shoulder, and

wherein the sole portion of the face member further has a second cavity surrounding the second opening, the second cavity being wider than the second opening and defined by a second cylindrical projection extending upwardly from the sole portion toward the rear member, the second cavity including a second shoulder surrounding the second opening and a second side wall extending downward from the second shoulder, wherein the enlarged head of the second connection member is received in the second cavity and engages the second shoulder.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first and second connection members are separated from one of the face member and the rear member by a flexible material to prevent rigid engagement with the first and second connection members, the club head further comprising:

an engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member to form a joint, wherein the engagement member forms a sole point of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, further comprising a first flexible spacer positioned around the first opening and being engaged between the enlarged head of the first connection member and the first shoulder, such that the first connection member has a non-rigid engagement with the first shoulder, and a second flexible spacer positioned around the second opening and being engaged between the enlarged head of the second connection member and the second shoulder, such that the second connection member has a non-rigid engagement with the second shoulder.

9. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein:

the rear member has first and second channels surrounding the first and second receivers, wherein a portion of the first cylindrical projection is received within the first channel and a portion of the second cylindrical projection is received within the second channel; and

the resilient material has portions that are received within the first and second channels and separate the first and second cylindrical projections from the rear member.

10. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the sole portion of the face member and the rear member each have a first leg extending rearwardly along the heel side of the club head and a second leg extending rearwardly along the toe side of the club head, wherein the first and second legs of the face member and the rear member are spaced from each other to define a void at a rear central portion of the club head.

11. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the sole portion and the face portion of the face member are formed of a single integral piece.

12. 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 opening therein;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member has a second opening therein, the second opening being aligned with the first opening;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member is received in the first opening and the second opening to connect the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member indirectly engages one of the face member and the rear member due to a first flexible spacer positioned around at least a portion of the first connection member and separating the first connection member from the one of the face member and the rear member, and wherein the first connection member directly and rigidly engages the other of the face member and the rear member;

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 rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member to form a joint, wherein the engagement member forms a sole area of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the face member has a third opening and the rear member has a fourth opening aligned with the third opening, and wherein the club head further comprises a second connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the second connection member is received in the third opening and the fourth opening to connect the face member to the rear member, wherein the second connection member indirectly engages the one of the face member and the rear member due to a second flexible spacer positioned around at least a portion of the second connection member and separating the second connection member from the one of the face member and the rear member, and wherein the second connection member directly and rigidly engages the other of the face member and the rear member.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the rear member has perimeter weighting members on a heel side and a toe side of the club head and a thinned center portion, and wherein the second opening and the fourth opening are located in the perimeter weighting members.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the face member comprises a face portion at least partially defining the face and a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion and forming at least a portion of a sole of the club head, wherein the first and third openings are formed in the sole portion of the face member, and wherein the second and fourth openings are formed in an underside of the rear member.

16. 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 opening on a heel side of the club head and a second opening on a toe side of the club head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member has first and second receivers, the first receiver aligned with the first opening and the second receiver aligned with the second opening;

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;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member extends through the first opening in the face member and into the first receiver, such that the first connection member directly and rigidly engages the first receiver, and wherein the club head further includes a first spacer separating the first connection member from the face member, wherein the first spacer is flexible, and the first connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the first spacer against the face member;

a second connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the second connection member extends through the second opening in the face member and into the second receiver, such that the second connection member directly and rigidly engages the second receiver, and wherein the club head further includes a second spacer separating the second connection member from the face member, wherein the second spacer is flexible, and the second connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the second spacer against the face member; and

an engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member to form a joint, wherein the engagement member forms a sole area of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the engagement member comprises a projection immovably fixed to one of the face member and the rear member and abutting the other of the face member and the rear member.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the first connection member and the second connection member each has a threaded portion and an enlarged head, and wherein the first receiver and the second receiver are threaded and engage the threaded portions of the first and second connection members, wherein the face member has a first shoulder surrounding the first opening and a second shoulder surrounding the second opening, wherein the first spacer is positioned around the first opening and is engaged between the enlarged head of the first connection member and the first shoulder, and wherein the second spacer is positioned around the second opening and is engaged between the enlarged head of the second connection member and the second shoulder.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein:

the face member has a first cavity surrounding the first opening, the first cavity being wider than the first opening, wherein the first shoulder is defined within the first cavity, and wherein the enlarged head of the first connection member and the first spacer are received in the first cavity; and

the face member has a second cavity surrounding the second opening, the second cavity being wider than the second opening, wherein the second shoulder is defined within the second cavity, and wherein the enlarged head of the second connection member and the second spacer are received in the second cavity.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein:

the first cavity is defined by a first cylindrical projection extending from the face member toward the rear member, and the second cavity is defined by a second cylindrical projection extending from the face member toward the rear member;

the rear member has a first channel surrounding the first receiver, and a second channel surrounding the second receiver, wherein portions of the first and second cylindrical projections are received within the first and second channels; and

the resilient material has portions received within the first and second channels and separating the first and second cylindrical projections from the rear member.

21. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the first cavity has a cylindrical side wall that is transverse to the first shoulder, wherein the first spacer is further positioned between the enlarged head and the side wall.

22. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the face member comprises a face portion defining at least a portion of the face and a sole portion extending rearward from the face portion and forming at least a portion of a sole of the club head, wherein the rear member is positioned behind the face portion and above the sole portion, wherein the first and second openings extend through the sole portion of the face member, wherein the first and second receivers are defined in an underside of the rear member, and wherein the first and second connection members extend upward through the first and second openings and into the first and second receivers to connect the sole portion to the underside of the rear member.

23. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the engagement member is laterally aligned with a center of gravity of the face member and a center of gravity of the rear member.

24. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the first spacer completely separates the first connection member from the face member such that the first connection member can only engage the face member indirectly.

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;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member is directly engaged with the rear member, and wherein the club head further includes a first spacer separating the first connection member from the face member, wherein the first spacer is flexible, and the first connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the first spacer against the face member;

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 rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member to form a joint, wherein the engagement member forms a sole area of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.

26. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the engagement member comprises a projection fixed to one of the face member and the rear member and abutting the other of the face member and the rear member.

27. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the resilient material has a gap allowing the engagement member to extend through the resilient material to engage both the face member and 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;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member is directly engaged with the rear member, and wherein the club head further includes a first spacer separating the first connection member from the face member, wherein the first spacer is flexible, and the first connection member indirectly engages the face member by compressing the first spacer against the face 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,

wherein the first connection member has a threaded portion and an enlarged head, wherein the rear member has a threaded receiver receiving and engaging the threaded portion of the first connection member, wherein the face member has an opening and a shoulder surrounding the opening, such that the first connection member extends through the opening and into the receiver, and wherein the first spacer is positioned around the opening and is engaged between the enlarged head and the shoulder,

wherein the face member has a cavity surrounding the opening, the cavity being wider than the opening and defined by a cylindrical projection extending from the face member toward the rear member, wherein the shoulder is defined within the cavity, and wherein the enlarged head of the first connection member and the first spacer are received in the cavity,

wherein the rear member has a channel surrounding the receiver, wherein a portion of the cylindrical projection is received within the channel, and

wherein the resilient material has a portion that is received within the channel and separates the cylindrical projection from the rear member.

29. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the cavity has a cylindrical side wall that is transverse to the shoulder, wherein the first spacer is further positioned between the enlarged head and the side wall.

30. 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 sole portion extending rearward from the face portion and forming at least a portion of a sole of the club head, the sole portion having a first opening on a heel side of the club head and a second opening on a toe side of the club head;

a rear member connected to the rear side of the face member, wherein the rear member has first and second receivers located on an underside of the rear member, the first receiver aligned with the first opening and the second receiver aligned with the second opening;

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;

a first connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the first connection member extends upward through the first opening in the face member and into the first receiver, and wherein the first connection member engages the first receiver by complementary threading members; and

a second connection member connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the second connection member extends upward through the second opening in the face member and into the second receiver, and wherein the second connection member engages the second receiver by complementary threading members,

wherein the sole portion of the face member and the rear member each have a first leg extending rearwardly along the heel side of the club head and a second leg extending rearwardly along the toe side of the club head, wherein the first and second legs of the face member and the rear member are spaced from each other to define a void at a rear central portion of the club head.

31. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the first receiver is defined within the first leg of the rear member and the second receiver is defined within the second leg of the rear member, and wherein the first opening is defined within the first leg of the face member and the second opening is defined within the second leg of the face member.

32. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the void is narrower proximate the face and wider proximate a rear of the club head.