With Internal Support Rib Or Injected Material Patents (Class 473/346)
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Patent number: 7798913Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a body and a restrictor mechanism coupled to a first portion of the body. The restrictor mechanism can have a base coupled to the first portion of the body, and a weight coupled to the base. The restrictor mechanism can be configured to (1) present a first resistance to a first deformation of the base in response to a rotational inertia of the weight relative to a rotation of the golf club head in a first direction, and (2) present a second resistance to a second deformation of the base in response to the rotational inertia of the weight relative to a rotation of the golf club head in a second direction opposite the first direction, where the first resistance is greater than the second resistance. Other examples and related methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Randall B. Noble, Jeff A. Blankenship, Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 7798914Abstract: In some embodiments, a golf club head has a body with a front section, a first restrictor of a restrictor mechanism coupled to a first portion of the body, and a weight having a first end coupled to the restrictor mechanism and to the body. The first restrictor has a first stiffness and is non-integral with the weight. Responsive to impact at a first zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react towards each other, and the first stiffness can resist a deformation of the first restrictor by the first end of the weight. Responsive to impact at a second zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react away from each other such that the first stiffness is substantially non-involved with first end of the weight. Other examples and related methods are also described herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Randall B. Noble, Jeff A. Blankenship, Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 7798916Abstract: This invention provides a hollow metal golf club head including at least a face portion, sole portion, side portion, and crown portion. This golf club head includes a head main body having an opening in the face portion, and a face plate engaged and welded with the opening. The head main body comprises a protruding portion which forms a part of the face portion and protrudes upward from a central portion, in a toe-and-heel direction, of a corner portion between the face portion and the sole portion in the golf club head. The face plate comprises s a recessed portion which extends upward from the lower edge of the face plate and engages with the protruding portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., LtdInventors: Hideo Matsunaga, Makoto Kubota, Masaomi Hiruta
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Patent number: 7794335Abstract: Embodiments of club heads with contoured back faces and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Eric V. Cole, Randall B. Noble, David L. Petersen
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Patent number: 7789771Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Sharon J. Park, Douglas E. Roberts, Andrew P. Chick
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Patent number: 7785212Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a club head body member defining an interior chamber; (b) a weight system engaged with a rear perimeter portion of the club head body member; and (c) a connection system connecting the weight system with the club head body (e.g., with the rear of the ball striking face portion). The club heads further may include one or more damping members in the interior chamber to alter the sound and/or otherwise attenuate a vibrational response of the club head. The damping members may extend between the ball striking face and the weight system, and optionally may engage the connection system. The damping member(s) may constitute a foam material compressed within the interior chamber of the club head. Methods of making such golf club head structures also are described.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Robert Lukasiewicz, Jr., Robert Boyd
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Publication number: 20100210373Abstract: At least three clubs of a set of golf clubs may have an average volume between about 75 cm3 and about 90 cm3. The transverse dimensions of the at least three clubs may progressively decrease from a highest volume club to a lowest volume club. At least one club of a set may include a constraining member in a cavity. A linear distance between a sweet spot and a center of gravity may progressively decrease from a lower lofted club to a higher lofted club within a set. At least one golf club of a set may include a face plate portion, and at least two golf clubs of the set may include a cup face portion. At least two clubs of a set may include a progressively increasing hosel length from a lowest lofted club to a highest lofted club. The strike face of at least one club of a set may include a bulge and a roll. A first club of a set may have a face thickness that is less than a face thickness of a second club of the set.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.Inventors: Sharon J. PARK, Nathaniel J. RADCLIFFE, Daniel J. STONE, Brad S. HOOLEY, Robert J. HORACEK, Sam G. LACEY, Kevin SCHAEFFER, Craig R. SCHNELL, Douglas E. ROBERTS, Jimmy H. KUAN, John J. RAE, Dan S. NIVANH, Andrew P. CHICK
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Patent number: 7775903Abstract: A golf club head enables the initial velocity of a ball to be increased and enables the carry to be lengthened. In some example structures, the golf club includes a face plate formed from metal and club head body (e.g. a crown and sole) formed from fiber reinforced plastic. A weighted body is provided inside the rearmost portion of the golf club head and a low rigidity portion whose width becomes gradually narrower as it approaches the rearmost portion is provided in the crown extending from the vicinity of the face plate to the rearmost portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Michael F. Kelly, Hitoshi Kodama, Tsuneo Takano
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Patent number: 7775906Abstract: A golf club has a shaft, and a head of a hollow structure fixed to an end of the shaft to be set to have a predetermined lie angle and a predetermined loft angle with respect to a reference horizontal plane. The head has a face portion which includes a ball hitting surface by which a ball is hit, a crown portion, a side portion, and a sole portion. A rib is provided at a part, which is lower than a central part of the face portion, on an inner surface of the face portion to protrude toward the center of the head.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.Inventor: Harunobu Kusumoto
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Publication number: 20100197425Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The main portion of the hitting face is a plate-like face made from a first material having a first density. An internal insert made from a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density is attached directly or indirectly to the plate-like face at or near the geometric center thereof. The internal insert increases the flexural stiffness of in a central zone of the hitting face so that a golf club head that has a larger zone of substantially uniform high initial ball speed. In another embodiment, the hitting face includes an insert that includes main plate and at least one wing extending therefrom. The insert is welded to the golf club head so that the main plate does not deflect separately from the remainder of the hitting face. The geometry of the insert controls the stiffness in the axial directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Scott A. Rice
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Patent number: 7762907Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having a location of longest characteristic time shifted away from the geometric center of the hitting face. The hitting face of the club head has varying thickness, with a thickest portion being at or near the geometric center of the plate-like hitting face. A second thickened portion of the hitting face substantially surrounds the thickest portion. The portions of varying thickness taper therebetween for relatively smooth cross-sectional profiles.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Scott A. Rice
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Patent number: 7762909Abstract: A hollow metal golf club head having a shell structure comprises a crown portion having a thickness gradually decreasing from the front edge toward the rear end of the head. A method of manufacturing the head comprises: making a face plate having an upper turnback which defines a front zone of the crown portion; making a crown plate which defines a back zone of the crown portion; making a hollow main shell having a front opening, a top opening and an in-between lateral frame defining a middle zone of the crown portion; and welding the face and crown plats to the main shell to cover the openings.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Yasushi Sugimoto
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Patent number: 7758453Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention comprises a striking surface having a face center, a crown portion, and a sole portion, four quadrants, and a linear stiffening element coupled to at least one of the crown portion and the sole portion. The linear stiffening element may extend from the heel region to the toe region of the club head. The stiffening element is disposed in at least three of the four quadrants, at an angle between 50° and 85° relative to an imaginary vertical plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the striking surface and containing the face center. The stiffening element has a survey length, the ratio of the overall width to the survey length being less than 0.97.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Robert J. Horacek, Dustin J. Brekke
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Patent number: 7749104Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may generally include a strike face, a top portion, a bottom portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a hosel having a central axis located in an first imaginary vertical plane. A discrete, at least partially curvilinear stiffening element, having generally vertical side surfaces, may be coupled to at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion to improve the dynamic-excitation response of the club head. Preferably, the stiffening element is oriented such that an imaginary horizontal line intersects at least one of the vertical surfaces at least two points. Additionally, the stiffening element may have at least two inflection points located along a non-linear path characterized by the vertical projection of one of the side surfaces onto at least one of the bottom portion and the top portion of the club head.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2008Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventors: Dustin J. Brekke, Robert J. Horacek
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Publication number: 20100167839Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The head has a shell with an inner surface defining a hollow interior portion. The inner surface has a plurality of inwardly extending ribs made of resin and a single continuous filament located in the resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventor: William R. Weaver
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Publication number: 20100151964Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
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Publication number: 20100120556Abstract: A head 2 is hollow. The head 2 has a face 4, a crown and a sole 8. A rib 20 is provided on the inner surface of the head. Preferably, the rib 20 has a toe side part 20t located on the inner surface of a side 10 of a toe side, a sole disposing part 20s located on the inner surface of the sole 8, and a heel side part 20h located on the side 10 of a heel side. Preferably, the toe side part 20t and the sole disposing part 20s are connected with each other. Preferably, the sole disposing part 20s and the heel side part 20h are connected with each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2009Publication date: May 13, 2010Inventors: Akio Yamamoto, Seiji Hayase
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Patent number: 7713141Abstract: A golf club head having a good impact-absorbing property improved to provide a good hitting feel without deteriorating the repulsion property, which includes a metallic face member 8 including at least a part of face F, and a metallic head body 9 to be joined with face member 8, wherein the face member 8 has back surface 8b, and the head body 9 has receiving surface 12 contacting a periphery 8be of the back surface 8b, and fold-back portion 14 which extends backward of the head from the receiving surface 12 and is folded toward the head center without contacting the back surface 8b so that it has opposite surface 18 facing the back surface 8b and it forms space 13 between them, and wherein at least one impact-absorbing member 15 made of an elastic material is disposed in the space 18 such that a front portion 15a thereof is in contact with the back surface 8b, a rear portion 15b thereof is in contact with the opposite surface 18 and a middle portion thereof between them extends in the space 13 without contactType: GrantFiled: May 29, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Akio Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7713142Abstract: A wood-type golf club head is described that includes a body including one or more walls defining an interior cavity and multiple weight ports formed in the body. At least one weight is configured to be retained at least partially within at least one of the weight ports. One or more fins or ribs are secured to each of the weight ports and to another structural member of the golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Henry Hoffman, Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
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Publication number: 20100105501Abstract: A golf club head maintains a low weight of a face part, keeps the resilience property of the face part in the rule conformity range, and prevents the resilience performance from decreasing even when a ball is hit by a face part deviating from the sweet spot. The golf club head has a sole, a crown, a toe, and a heel and comprises a face part formed of a metallic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2009Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kozue Wada, Hideo Matsunaga
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Patent number: 7704162Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having a location of longest characteristic time shifted away from the geometric center of the hitting face. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. In another embodiment, the hitting face as a central zone that is thicker than the surrounding material. In another embodiment, a dense insert is attached directly or indirectly to a plate-like face insert at or near the geometric center of the insert. In another embodiment, the central zone of the hitting face is reinforced with ribs. In another embodiment, the central zone is elliptical with varying thickness. In this embodiment, the central zone minor axis is thinner than the major axis. The central zone is positioned within the hitting face such that the minor axis is oriented from the low heel region to the high toe region.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20100087272Abstract: A hollow wood-type golf club head having an increased weight budget and improved mass characteristics at minimum structural mass is disclosed. The club head has a striking face portion, a sole portion, a skirt portion, and a crown portion having a total surface area. A hosel portion joins the club head for connecting a shaft to the club head. The crown portion has a major crown portion and a minor crown portion, the major portion having greater surface area than the minor portion, and the major portion being displaced vertically lower relative to the minor crown portion. The major crown portion may have a generally concave curvature and the minor crown portion may have a generally convex curvature such that the major crown portion is in effect inverted with respect to the minor crown portion. The major crown portion may be upwardly inclined from the heel to the toe of the head. The head may exhibit a parabolic top view silhouette.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Michael J. Wallans
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Patent number: 7686706Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head including a head main body, a face plate and a hollow portion. The head main body includes an opening in a face portion, and the opening is provided with a plurality of pawls to receive the face plate which is to fit in the opening. The pawls include a large pawl and a small pawl. The large pawl is arranged in each of a heel-side upper portion and a toe-side lower portion and the small pawl is arranged in at least either one of a heel-side lower portion and a toe-side upper portion when the opening is divided into four vertically and horizontally about a face center as the center. The face plate is fitted in the opening and fixed by welding.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Matsunaga, Makoto Kubota, Masaomi Hiruta
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Patent number: 7686708Abstract: A golf club head is formed with a crown having an aperture with an arcuate rear edge and a forward edge that is substantially parallel to the striking face. The aperture is transected by an arcuate rib that extends from a region proximal the heel end of the crown to a region proximal the toe end of the crown and is concave toward the striking face. A pair of linear ribs extend radially outward from the arcuate rib to join the arcuate rib to a perimeter region of the crown. Openings formed in the aperture by the ribs are filled with an organic-composite material such as graphite epoxy.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Eric J. Morales, John C. Bliss
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Patent number: 7682262Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved flexural stiffness properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. Each material has a different tensile modulus of elasticity, where the center of the hitting face has a much higher tensile modulus of elasticity than the surrounding portions of the hitting face. This creates a stiff center and a more easily deflected concentric portion. In another embodiment, the materials have different yield strengths, where the center of the hitting face has a very high yield strength compared to the surrounding portions of the hitting face. The hitting face may then plastically deform around its periphery, while the center retains its original shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2006Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
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Publication number: 20100062872Abstract: A golf club head includes a face plate and a body member positioned rearwardly of the face plate and having at least two body components. Each of a plurality of apertures is formed in one of the face plate and the body components. At least one fastener extends through at least two of the apertures, the fasteners being configured to removably secure the face plate and the body components together upon being turned a portion of a revolution.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Mark J. Perry, Megan Sesslar Moore, Matthew S. Young, David M. Walters
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Publication number: 20100062875Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a golf club head having at least one rib with an external portion. For example, according to one embodiment, a wood-type golf club head includes a body that has at least one wall defining an interior cavity. The golf club head further includes at least one rib projecting from the at least one wall. The at least one rib can include an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Joseph Henry Hoffman, Matt D. Johnson, Joshua J. Dipert
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Patent number: 7670236Abstract: An iron club head for an iron golf club, includes: an upper portion of a face member; and a lower portion of the face member, wherein: a maximum height (H) on the face member at which a ball is to be hit is obtained by an equation: H=Rb×(1?sin(loft angle?8)+DP/2×cos(loft angle) where, Rb: ball radius (21.4 mm), and Dp: strike mark diameter (15 mm); the upper portion is arranged upper than the height (H) obtained by the equation as a boundary; and a thickness of the upper portion, excluding a circumferential edge, is formed thinner than a thickness of the lower portion, the thickness of the upper portion being made to be 1±0.2 mm (0.8 to 1.2 mm).Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryota Kajita
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Publication number: 20100048325Abstract: To provide a golf club head which is easy-to-hit and which restrains the reduction of flight distance at the time of off-center shot to the minimum without making a sacrifice of the flight distance at the time of sweet spot shot, and a method for manufacturing the golf club head, a golf club head (1) has a hollow structure including a face portion (2) and a body portion (6), the body portion (6) includes a ring-shaped body barrel portion (26) as a front portion, and a tail portion (27) as a rear portion, and the average thickness of the body barrel portion (26) is 0.1 to 0.6 mm, and the mass of the tail portion (27) including a weight portion (8) is 20 to 70 g. The relations kb/kf?3 and 2 kN/mm?1/(1/kb+1/kf)?5 kN/mm are satisfied where kf (kN/mm) is the rigidity of the face portion (2) and kb (kN/mm) is the rigidity of the body barrel portion (26).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventor: Toshio Tanimoto
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Publication number: 20100048324Abstract: There is provided a golf club head that produces a loud hitting sound satisfying the golfer even if the volume of the golf club head having a hollow structure is increased to at least about 400 cc. A golf club head 1 having a hollow structure comprises a face part 2, a side part 3 comprising a back side, a sole part 4, a crown part 5, and a hosel part 9 having a shaft insertion hole, and the crown part 5. The crown part comprises a thick region 6 and a thin region 8. The thick region 6 extends through a distance WA of at least about 20 mm from the center axis line C of the shaft insertion hole toward the highest point T of the crown part 5 and extends through a distance WB of at least about 30 mm from the center axis line C of the shaft insertion hole toward the back side so that the crown part 5 has the first-order natural frequency of at least about 3000 Hz.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kozue Wada, Hiroshi Takahashi, Wataru Ban
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Publication number: 20100041495Abstract: A golf driver kit includes a front portion and a plurality of rear portions exchangeably connectable to the front portion and being of different respective shapes for imparting different flight characteristics to a struck golf ball. The front portion includes a front face plate and a hosel for receiving a shaft, plus a rearwardly projecting base on which the rear portion is seated. The rear portion is removably attached to the front portion by screws.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: DICK'S SPORTING GOODS, INC.Inventors: Richard Ray NORTH, III, Ben S. Lavallee
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Patent number: 7658687Abstract: A hollow wood-type golf club head with improved directional stability having, in head periphery region Ao including head contour line OL defined by crown portion 4 when viewed from above as a plane view of the head in the standard state, thick wall portion 9 extending along the contour line and expanding toward the hollow portion side to have an increased thickness, wherein the thick wall portion 9 comprises crown thick wall portion 9c which forms a part of crown portion 4 and has a thickness of 1.2 to 2.0 mm, and side thick wall portion 9s which is continuous with the crown thick wall portion 9c and forms a part of side portion 6 and has a thickness of 1.2 to 3.0 mm, and wherein the thick wall portion 9 has a width along the head outer surface of 6 to 16 mm in a vertical section passing through the head center of gravity G in the standard state.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Tomoya Hirano
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Publication number: 20100029409Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with variable moment of inertia and methods of manufacture thereof are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Randall B. Noble, Jeff A. Blankenship, Eric V. Cole
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Publication number: 20100029402Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with variable moment of inertia and methods of manufacture thereof are described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Randall B. Noble, Jeff A. Blankenship, Eric V. Cole
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Publication number: 20100022327Abstract: A head 2 is hollow. The head 2 includes a face part 4, a crown part 6 and a sole part 8. Ribs 20 and 22 are provided on the inner surface of the head. The ribs 20 and 22 have a height being greater than a thickness. The ribs 20 and 22 are separated from the face part, and are separated from the crown part. An extending direction of the rib 20 is inclined with respect to a front-back direction of the head. The rib 20 has a height change part 30 formed in a face side end part of the rib 20, the height change part 30 having a height gradually lowered as approaching a rib end part. The rib 20 extends toward a heel side in the direction of a backside of the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Inventor: Takashi NAKANO
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Patent number: 7651414Abstract: A hollow wood-type golf club head having an increased weight budget and improved mass characteristics at minimum structural mass is disclosed. The club head has a striking face portion, a sole portion, a skirt portion, and a crown portion having a total surface area. A hosel portion joins the club head for connecting a shaft to the club head. The crown portion has a major crown portion and a minor crown portion, the major portion having greater surface area than the minor portion, and the major portion being displaced vertically lower relative to the minor crown portion. The major crown portion may have a generally concave curvature and the minor crown portion may have a generally convex curvature such that the major crown portion is in effect inverted with respect to the minor crown portion. The major crown portion may be upwardly inclined from the heel to the toe of the head. The head may exhibit a parabolic top view silhouette.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: John J. Rae, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, Daniel J. Stone, Trent E. Garner, Brad S. Hooley, Robert J. Horacek, Michael J. Wallans
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Patent number: 7651410Abstract: A golf club head that includes: a pedestal composed of at least two ribs each having convex portions at both ends and formed on an inner face of the head; a metal weight disposed on the ribs; and a weld bead extending on a surface of the weight between the convex portions, the weight being fixed on the inner face of the head by the weld bead.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hideo Shimazaki
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Patent number: 7651412Abstract: A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, with a body comprising of a first body portion and a second body portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high density material in the first body portion with a low density material in the second body portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. Thickening the lower area of the front face lowers the center of gravity and upwardly shifts the coefficient of restitution to the geometric center of the face.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey W. Meyer, Christopher D. Harvell, Stephen S. Murphy, Douglas C. Jorgensen
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Patent number: 7632193Abstract: A golf club is described having a club head which is fastened to a club shaft end and whose striking plate is connected at an edge side to a main body, with the main body made as a hollow body having a receiver and fixing for a central weight disposed opposite and centered with respect to the striking plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Thielen Feinmechanik GmbH & Co. Fertigungs KGInventor: Klaus Thielen
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Publication number: 20090305814Abstract: A golf club head with reinforced crown is described herein. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2009Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Publication number: 20090298613Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Robert D. Hirsch, Joshua G. Breier
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Publication number: 20090286615Abstract: A hollow golf club is provided having an outer shell and an inner frame. The outer shell comprises one or more lightweight members, such as the crown or the skirt, and preferably fits within an envelope of about 5 inches×5 inches×2.8 inches. The inner frame fits within a smaller envelope and sits on the sole of the club head. One or more weights are located either on or within the inner frame to optimize the moment of inertia of the club head about both the vertical axis running through the center of gravity or geometric center of the club head, hereinafter referred to as the “y-axis,” and the axis running through the center of the shaft of the golf club, hereinafter referred to as the “hosel axis.” The weights can be attached to the inner frame or can be distributed within the inner frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: November 19, 2009Inventors: Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, John Morin
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Patent number: 7618331Abstract: A golf club head comprises a face portion having a front face defining the club face and a rear face facing a hollow, wherein the face portion is provided on the rear face with an upper rib, a lower rib, a toe-side groove and a heel-side groove which extend radially from a thickest central region, so as to form a toe-side upper region, a toe-side lower region, a heel-side upper region and a heel-side lower region. The thickness distribution of the face portion satisfies the following magnitude relations: (Central region>=upper rib); (central region>=Lower rib); (upper rib>Toe-side upper region>Toe-side groove); (Lower rib>Toe-side lower region>Toe-side groove); (upper rib>Heel-side upper region>Heel-side groove); and (Lower rib>Heel-side lower region>Heel-side groove).Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Tomoya Hirano
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Patent number: 7614964Abstract: A hollow golf club head comprises a face portion having a front face defining a clubface and a rear face facing the hollow. The face portion is provided in the rear face with a central protrusion and a plurality of radial protrusions extending radially from the central protrusion towards the peripheral edge of the face portion. The radial protrusions include at least one variable-width radial protrusion having a variable width increasing towards the peripheral edge from the radially inside. Preferably, a variable-width radial protrusion extending towards the crown portion, and a variable-width radial protrusion extending towards the sole portion of the club head are included.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Kiyofumi Matsunaga
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Patent number: 7597634Abstract: A method of assembly of construction and assembly of golf club head parts used to manufacture golf club heads primarily composed of strong plastic materials that can be formed by injection plastic molding processes in a minimum of two parts. Draft is practical for both molded parts to simplify mold making. A preferred plastic is polycarbonate. Internal reinforcement elements are designed and arranged to provide structural features to facilitate assembly and improve strength of bonds. Internal reinforcement elements may be molded as separate parts to join with the face and shell structure. A hosel, which is not considered part of the shell and which may be made of plastic or metal, is bonded into the golf club head parts described.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Origin, Inc.Inventors: Frank D. Werner, Richard C. Greig
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Publication number: 20090239680Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown, and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Patent number: 7585233Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a sole, a crown, a skirt, and a striking face. The golf club includes a junction interconnecting the sole, crown and skirt to the striking face, the junction including at least one stiffening member.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Co., Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Horacek, Nathaniel J. Radcliffe, John J. Rae, Michael J. Wallans, Sam G. Lacey
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Patent number: 7578754Abstract: An iron-type golf club head 1 having top 3, sole 4, and toe 4 connecting the top and the sole on the toe side, and comprising a face plate 7 forming at least a part of a club face 2 and a head body 8 to which the face plate is attached; wherein the face plate 7 is made from a metal material formed by forging or rolling and the head body 8 is made from a metal material having a larger specific gravity than the face plate, and wherein the face plate 7 has upper (top side) edge surface 11, lower (sole side) edge surface 12 and outer peripheral edge surface 10 including toe side edge surface 13 connecting the upper and lower edge surfaces 11 and 12, and at least a part of the upper edge surface 11 is exposed to the top 3 to constitute a part of the top as an upper exposed portion 15, and the upper exposed portion 15 is welded to the head body at the top face. The club head has a low center of gravity and the ball controllability is improved.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Takashi Nakamura
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Publication number: 20090209365Abstract: A golf club head with reinforced crown is described herein. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
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Patent number: 7575524Abstract: Golf club-heads are disclosed that have a body and a face plate. Exemplary club-heads are hollow metal-wood club-heads. The face plate is attached to the front of the body and has obverse and reverse surfaces, and a peripheral zone, toe zone, heel zone, upper zone, lower zone, and central zone. The reverse surface defines in the central zone a recess surrounded by a substantially annular ridge. The reverse surface also defines in the toe zone and heel zone respective horizontal flanking recesses. The reverse surface also defines in the upper zone and lower zone respective vertical flanking recesses. The maximal thickness of the annular ridge is greater than the respective thicknesses of the central recess and flanking recesses, and the respective thicknesses of the flanking recesses are no greater than the thickness of the central recess.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman