GOLF CLUB OR GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE BALL STRIKING FACE

• US 20110207552A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Finn, Michael E., Oldknow, Andrew G.V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,210,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

This invention relates generally to golf clubs or golf club heads, having an adjustable ball striking face. The golf club head includes a club head body, a ball striking face, and a brace extending from a sole of the club head body to an inner surface of the ball striking face. The brace may further include an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face, a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, a biasing member attached to the fixed rod. The biasing member may provide a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable between a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a front, a crown, a sole, and a face engaging area extending around the outer perimeter of the front of the club head body between the crown and the sole;

a ball striking face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof, wherein the ball striking face is configured to engage the face engaging area; and

a brace extending from the sole to a contact point on an inner surface of the ball striking face, wherein the brace includes a biasing member such that the ball striking face is adjustable in a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and adjustable in a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.

2. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head body and the ball striking face define a cavity, and wherein the brace extends through a portion of the cavity between the sole and the ball striking face.

3. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the brace further comprises a ball-joint connection located adjacent to the contact point to connect the brace to the ball striking face.

4. The wood-type golf club head of claim 3, wherein the contact point is located approximately in the middle of the ball striking face.

5. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the biasing member maintains a constant force applied to the ball striking face when the ball striking face is adjusted in the first direction and the second direction.

6. The wood-type golf club head of claim 5, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring loaded member located adjacent to the sole.

7. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the ball striking face includes a plurality of adjustment points.

8. The wood-type golf club head of claim 7, wherein the plurality of adjustment points includes a first adjustment point located approximately at a high-heel area of the ball striking face, a second adjustment point located approximately at a high-toe area of the ball striking face, and a third adjustment point located approximately between a low-heel area and a low-toe area of the ball striking face.

9. The wood-type golf club head of claim 7, wherein the plurality of adjustment points includes a first adjustment point located approximately at a high-heel area of the ball striking face, a second adjustment point located approximately at a high-toe area of the ball striking face, a third adjustment point located approximately between a low-heel area and a low-toe area of the ball striking face, and a fourth adjustment point located approximately between the high-heel area and the high-toe area of the ball striking face.

10. The wood-type golf club head of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of the adjustment points comprises a screw that engages the ball striking face to the face engaging area.

11. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head further comprises a second brace extending from the sole to the inner surface of the ball striking face, wherein the second brace applies a biasing force to the ball striking face.

12. The wood-type golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second brace further comprises a second ball-joint connection located adjacent to the ball striking face to connect the second brace to the ball striking face.

13. The wood-type golf club head of claim 12, wherein the second brace further comprises a second spring loaded member located adjacent to the sole.

14. The wood-type golf club head of claim 11, wherein the club head further comprises a third brace extending from the sole to the inner surface of the ball striking face, wherein the third brace provides a biasing force to the ball striking face.

15. The wood-type golf club head of claim 14, wherein the third brace further comprises a second ball-joint connection located adjacent to the ball striking face to connect the third brace to the ball striking face.

16. The wood-type golf club head of claim 15, wherein the third brace further comprises a third spring loaded member located adjacent to the sole.

17. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face engaging area comprises a support rib configured to engage the ball striking face when the ball striking face is attached to the club head.

18. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face engaging area comprises a plurality of support blocks configured to engage the ball striking face when the ball striking face is attached to the club head.

19. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the wood-type golf club head is a driver head.

20. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face angle of the club head is adjustable +/−

3 degrees.

22. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the loft angle of the club head is adjustable +/−

5 degrees.

25. A wood-type golf club comprising the wood-type golf club head of claim 1, and a shaft engaged with the wood-type golf club head.

26. The wood-type golf club of claim 25, wherein the wood-type golf club is a driver.

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27. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a front, a crown, a sole, and a support rib extending around the outer perimeter of the front of the club head body between the crown and the sole;

a ball striking face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof, wherein the ball striking face is configured to engage the support rib;

a brace extending from the sole to an inner surface of the ball striking face, wherein the brace includes;

an end portion engaged with the inner surface of the ball striking face,

a fixed rod located between the end portion and an inner surface of the club head at the sole, wherein the fixed rod also includes a retractable rod located within the fixed rod, and

a biasing member attached to the retractable rod, wherein the biasing member surrounds at least a portion of the fixed rod and provides a biasing force to the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable in a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and adjustable in a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.

28. The wood-type golf club head of claim 27, wherein the club head body and the ball striking face define a cavity, and wherein the brace extends through a portion of the cavity between the sole and the ball striking face.

29. The wood-type golf club head of claim 27, wherein the end portion further comprises a ball-joint connection located adjacent to the inner surface of the ball striking face to connect the brace to the ball striking face.

30. The wood-type golf club head of claim 27, wherein the biasing member maintains a constant force applied to the ball striking face when the ball striking face is adjusted in the first direction and the second direction.

31. The wood-type golf club head of claim 30, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring loaded member.

32. The wood-type golf club head of claim 27, wherein the ball striking face includes a plurality of adjustment points.

33. The wood-type golf club head of claim 32, wherein the plurality of adjustment points includes a first adjustment point located approximately at a high-heel area of the ball striking face, a second adjustment point located approximately at a high-toe area of the ball striking face, and a third adjustment point located approximately between a low-heel area and a low-toe area of the ball striking face.

34. The wood-type golf club head of claim 32, wherein the plurality of adjustment points includes a first adjustment point located approximately at a high-heel area of the ball striking face, a second adjustment point located approximately at a high-toe area of the ball striking face, a third adjustment point located approximately between a low-heel area and a low-toe area of the ball striking face, and a fourth adjustment point located approximately between the high-heel area and the high-toe area of the ball striking face.

35. The wood-type golf club head of claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of the adjustment points comprises a screw that engages the ball striking face to the face engaging area.

36. The wood-type golf club head of claim 27, wherein the face angle of the club head is adjustable +/−

3 degrees.

38. The wood-type golf club head of claim 27, wherein the loft angle of the club head is adjustable +/−

5 degrees.

41. A wood-type golf club comprising the wood-type golf club head of claim 27, and a shaft engaged with the wood-type golf club head.

42. The wood-type golf club of claim 41, wherein the wood-type golf club is a driver.

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43. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a front, a crown, a sole, and a face engaging area extending around the outer perimeter of the front of the club head body between the crown and the sole;

a ball striking face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof, wherein the ball striking face is configured to engage the face engaging area; and

a brace extending from the sole to a contact point on an inner surface of the ball striking face, wherein the brace includes a biasing member such that the ball striking face is adjustable in a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head.

44. The wood-type golf club head of claim 43, wherein the ball striking face is adjustable in a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head.

45. The wood-type golf club head of claim 44, wherein the biasing member maintains a constant force applied to the ball striking face when the ball striking face is adjusted in the first direction and the second direction.

46. The wood-type golf club head of claim 43, wherein the ball striking face includes a plurality of adjustment points.

47. The wood-type golf club head of claim 46, wherein the plurality of adjustment points includes a first adjustment point located approximately at a high-heel area of the ball striking face, a second adjustment point located approximately at a high-toe area of the ball striking face, and a third adjustment point located approximately between a low-heel area and a low-toe area of the ball striking face.

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51. A wood-type golf club, comprising:

a golf club head including;

a club head body having a front, a crown, a sole, and a face engaging area extending around the outer perimeter of the front of the club head body between the crown and the sole,

a ball striking face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof, wherein the ball striking face is configured to engage the face engaging area, and

a brace extending from the sole to a contact point on an inner surface of the ball striking face, wherein the brace includes a biasing member such that the ball striking face is adjustable in a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and adjustable in a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head; and

a shaft engaged with the golf club head.

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75. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a front, a crown, a sole, and a face engaging area extending around the outer perimeter of the front of the club head body between the crown and the sole; and

a ball striking face configured for striking a ball with an outer surface thereof, wherein the ball striking face is configured to engage the face engaging area,

wherein the face engaging area includes a resilient support member that maintains a biasing force against the ball striking face such that the ball striking face is adjustable in a first direction thereby adjusting a face angle of the club head and adjustable in a second direction thereby adjusting a loft angle of the club head, and the resilient support member further maintains a force applied to the ball striking face when the ball striking face is adjusted in the first direction and the second direction.

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