GOLF CLUB HEADS WITH ENERGY STORAGE CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20160114228A1
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Martin R., Morales, Eric J., Bacon, Cory S., Chen, Xiaojian, Wang, Calvin, Stokke, Ryan M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,688,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0437 with special crown 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

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads with energy storage characteristics are presented herein. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a crown, and an internal radius transition from the strikeface to at least one of the sole or the crown. In many embodiments, the internal radius transition region is not visible from an exterior of the golf club head and comprises a first tier, a second tier and a tier transition region between the first tier and the second tier.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising;

a strikeface;

a heel region;

a toe region opposite the heel region;

a sole;

a crown;

and

an internal radius transition from the strikeface to at least one of the sole or the crown;

and

wherein;

the internal radius transition region is not visible from an exterior of the golf club head and comprises;

a first tier;

a second tier;

and

a tier transition region between the first tier and the second tier.

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

the first tier comprises a first substantially constant thickness;

and

the second tier comprises a second substantially constant thickness different from the first substantially constant thickness.

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

the internal radius transition region further comprises a third tier having a third thickness smaller than a first thickness of the first tier and a second thickness of the second tier.

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

a first tier length of the first tier is approximately equal to a second tier length of the second tier; and

the first and second tier lengths are measured in a direction from the strikeface towards a rear of the golf club head.

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

the first tier is longer than the second tier, as measured in a direction from the strikeface towards a rear of the golf club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

the third tier is longer than the second tier, in a direction from the strikeface towards a rear of the golf club head.

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

the body further comprises an internal weight pad at the sole; and

the internal weight pad is thicker than the first tier of the internal radius transition.

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

the body further comprises an internal rib at the sole and approximately parallel to the strikeface; and

an internal rib thickness of the internal rib is greater than a final tier of the internal radius transition.

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

the golf club head is selected from the group consisting of a driver golf club head, a fairway wood golf club head, a hybrid golf club head, and an iron golf club head.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein:

each of the first and the second tier transitions comprises a first and a second arcuate surface, the first arcuate surface having a first radius of curvature and the second arcuate surface having a second radius of curvature.

11. The golf club of claim 10, wherein:

the first and the second radius of curvature of the first tier transition are at least 2 times the difference between the first thickness and the second thickness of the first tier and the second tier, respectively, and

the first and the second radius of curvature of the second tier transition are at least 2 times the difference between the second thickness and the third thickness of the second tier and the third tier, respectively.

12. The golf club of claim 10, wherein;

the first and the second radius of curvature of the first tier transition are approximately 6.5 times the difference between the first thickness and the second thickness of the first tier and the second tier, respectively, and

the first and the second radius of curvature of the second tier transition are approximately 6.5 times the difference between the second thickness and the third thickness of the second tier and the third tier, respectively.

13. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

the first tier is approximately 0.030 inch to approximately 0.060 inch thick;

the second tier is approximately 0.020 inch to approximately 0.050 inch thick;

and

the third tier is approximately 0.010 inch to approximately 0.040 inch thick.

14. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

the first tier is approximately 0.035 inch to approximately 0.065 inch thick;

the second tier is approximately 0.025 inch to approximately 0.055 inch thick;

and

the third tier is approximately 0.015 inch to approximately 0.045 inch thick.

15. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

the first tier is approximately 0.050 inch to approximately 0.080 inch thick;

the second tier is approximately 0.040 inch to approximately 0.070 inch thick;

and

the third tier is approximately 0.030 inch to approximately 0.060 inch thick.

16. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

the first tier is approximately 0.055 inch to approximately 0.085 inch thick;

the second tier is approximately 0.045 inch to approximately 0.075 inch thick;

and

the third tier is approximately 0.030 inch to approximately 0.060 inch thick.

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

a first crown thickness positioned on a front end of the club head behind the strike face or internal radius transition; and

a second crown thickness positioned behind the first crown thickness toward the rear of the club head, wherein the first crown thickness is greater than the second crown thickness.

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

a cavity comprising a top wall, a back wall, a bottom incline, a back cavity angle measured between the top and back walls of the cavity, and at least one channel;

wherein,

the cavity is located below a top rail of the crown, is located above a lower region of the crown, and is defined at least in part by an upper region of the crown and the lower region of the crown.

20. The method for manufacturing the golf club head of claim 18, wherein:

the internal radius transition region further comprises a third tier having a third thickness smaller than a first thickness of the first tier and a second thickness of the second tier.

19. A method for manufacturing a golf club head, comprising:

providing a body, the body having;

a strikeface;

a heel region;

a toe region opposite the heel region;

a sole;

and

a crown;

and

providing an internal radius transition region from the strikeface to at least one of the sole or the crown;

wherein;

the internal radius transition region is not visible from an exterior of the golf club head and comprises;

a first tier having a first thickness;

a second tier having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness;

and

a tier transition region between the first tier and the second tier.