Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 10,675,520 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2019
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Michael G., Wallans, Michael, Stites, John T., Jones, Sherry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US16/377,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20190232135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head has a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe, the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown. At least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void. The golf club head may additionally or alternately include one or more weight receptacles connected to the sole and having an opening in the sole, such that each weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a weight through the opening.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a ball striking face, a rear opposite the ball striking face, a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe,

wherein the ball striking face defines a plane,

the body having a void defined by a peripheral edge on the sole, and

the body further defining a cover that extends over the void and forms at least a portion of the crown,

wherein at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the void includes a lip extending from the peripheral edge inwardly into the void,

further comprising a first weight receptacle connected to the sole and having a first opening in the sole,

such that the first weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a first weight through the first opening,

wherein the first weight receptacle comprises a first receiving tube connected to an underside of the crown and an upper side of the sole and extending from the crown to the sole,

wherein the first weight receptacle defines a first weight receptacle axis;

further comprising second weight receptacle connected to the sole and having a second opening in the sole,

such that the second weight receptacle is configured to receive insertion of a second weight through the second opening,

wherein the second weight receptacle comprises a second receiving tube connected to an underside of the crown and an upper side of the sole and extending from the crown to the sole,

wherein the second weight receptacle defines a second weight receptacle axis;

a first wall extending from the underside of the crown to the sole and extending forwardly from the first and second weight receptacles to the toe of the body, and a second wall extending from the underside of the crown to the sole and extending from the first and second weight receptacles to the heel of the body; and

wherein a portion of the first and second walls separate the void from an interior cavity;

wherein the first weight receptacle axis is angled with respect to the face, such that the portion of the first weight receptacle being connected to the upper side of the sole is closer to the face than the portion of the first weight receptacle being connected to the underside of the crown; and

wherein the second weight receptacle axis is angled with respect to the face, such that the portion of the second weight being connected to the underside of the crown is closer to the face than the portion of the second weight receptacle being connected to the upper side of the sole;

wherein the first weight receptacle is positioned closer to the face than the second weight receptacle.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the angle between the vertical axis of the club head and the first weight receptacle axis is between 20 degrees and 50 degrees.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, further comprising a first weight received in the first receiving tube,

wherein the first weight has a heavier portion and a lighter portion, and

wherein the first weight is removable and insertable in the first receiving tube in multiple positions to adjust weighting characteristics of the golf club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first receiving tube contains threading proximate the first opening.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the golf club head further comprises a first threaded fastener that is releasably engaged with the threading in the first receiving tube to retain the first weight in the receiving tube.

6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the sole has a recessed area recessed inwardly with respect to adjacent areas of the sole, and

wherein the recessed area surrounds the first opening.

7. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first weight receptacle has a first window to allow one to see the orientation of the first weight.

8. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first weight is rotatable, removable, and adjustable with respect to the first weight receptacle.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the angle between the vertical axis of the club head and the second weight receptacle axis is approximately 15 degrees.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising a second weight received in the second receiving tube,

wherein the second weight has a heavier portion and a lighter portion, and

wherein the second weight is removable and insertable in the second receiving tube in multiple positions to adjust weighting characteristics of the golf club head.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second receiving tube contains threading proximate the second opening.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the golf club head further comprises a second threaded fastener that is releasably engaged with the threading in the second receiving tube to retain the second weight in the receiving tube.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the sole has a recessed area recessed inwardly with respect to adjacent areas of the sole, and

wherein the recessed area surrounds the second opening.

14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second weight receptacle has a second window to allow one to see the orientation of the second weight.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second weight is rotatable, removable, and adjustable with respect to the second weight receptacle.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the lip extends around the entire peripheral edge.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge defines the void in a U-shaped configuration,

having a heel portion and a toe portion extending from proximate the rear of the body toward the ball striking face, and

a connecting portion that connects the heel portion and the toe portion proximate the rear of the body,

wherein the void defines a peninsula on the sole extending rearwardly from a point proximate the ball striking face,

such that the heel portion and the toe portion are positioned on opposite sides of the peninsula.

18. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one wall extending from the crown to the sole and from the heel to the toe of the body to define a completely enclosed interior cavity between the at least one wall and the ball striking face,

wherein the at least one wall separates the void from the interior cavity.

19. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a channel extending across the sole in a heel to toe direction.

20. A golf club comprising the golf club head of claim 1 and a shaft connected to the golf club head.