Arch reinforced golf club head

• US 5,839,975 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black Rock Golf Corporation (Aurus Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Black Rock Golf Corporation (Aurus Corp.)
• Inventors: Lundberg, Harry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/950,425
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/329, 473/332, 473/345, 473/346, 473/350, 473/290, 473/291
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• 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

Abstract

A golf club head made of metal has a hollow construction with a pair of arcuate reinforcing ribs extending in horizontal and vertical planes with the arcuate ribs terminating at the striking plate of the golf club where a base structure of reinforcing ribs interconnect the ends of the arcuate ribs. The rib structure is molded integrally with the walls of the hollow club head and function to desirably reinforce the club head to prevent collapse or other distortion while providing a relatively large sweet spot and preventing undesired torque on the club head when a golf ball is hit at an off center location on the striking plate.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow body including a top wall, a sole plate spaced from and opposite said top wall, a striking plate interconnecting said top wall and sole plate along forward edges thereof, and an arcuate side wall interconnecting said top wall, sole plate and striking plate, said side wall defining toe, heel and rear portions, said top wall, side wall, striking plate and sole plate being integrated to define closure to said hollow body, a reinforcing ribbed primary superstructure with first and second arcuate ribs integral with said walls and sole plate, said first arcuate rib protruding inwardly and extending across said top wall, said rear portion of the side wall and said sole plate and having ends adjacent to upper and lower positions on said striking plate, said second arcuate rib comprised of an inwardly protruding rib extending along said side wall in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane encompassing said first arcuate rib, said first and second arcuate ribs intersecting at said back portion of the side wall and said second arcuate rib having ends adjacent to heel and toe positions on said striking plate, and a base superstructure protruding inwardly from said striking plate interconnecting the ends of said first and second arcuate rib structures, all of said ribs having a depth dimension that is no greater than the width dimension.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said ribs are of semi-circular cross-section.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said ribs are triangular in cross-section.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said base superstructure includes a substantially vertical rib interconnecting the ends of said first arcuate rib and a second substantially horizontal rib interconnecting the ends of said second arcuate rib.

5. The golf club head of claim 4 wherein said base rib superstructure further includes supplementary ribs interconnecting each end of said first arcuate rib to each end of said second arcuate rib.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said ribs are of non-rectangular cross-section.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said depth dimension is approximately 2.2 mm.