With Internal Support Rib Or Injected Material Patents (Class 473/346)
  • Patent number: 7575524
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kraig Alan Willett, Todd P. Beach, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7572193
    Abstract: A golf club head comprises: a face portion having a front face forming a club face and a rear face facing a hollow; a sole portion extending backward from the face portion and having an outer surface forming an undersurface of the head and an inner surface facing the hollow, the sole portion provided with a tubular part whose hole forms a socket; and a weight member secured in the socket. The tubular part protrudes from the inner surface of the sole portion into the hollow. The sole portion is provided on the outer surface with at least one stiffening groove so that said at least one stiffening groove forms at least one stiffening rib on the, inner surface of the sole portion, and the stiffening groove is partially included in a vicinity zone which is defined as extending 10 mm from the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 7568985
    Abstract: One embodiment of a golf club head having movable weights includes a body with a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. Two or more weight ports are formed in the body and at least two weights are configured to be retained at least partially within the weight ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7563177
    Abstract: A golf club head with a front wall, a rear wall and a reinforced crown includes ribs in the crown that are spaced more closely together near the front wall than near the rear wall. Preferably, the ribs radiate from a point in space located forward of the front wall. This arrangement of ribs significantly increases the fundamental structural frequency of the club head and significantly reduces the peak stress in the crown of the club head when compared with ribs extending perpendicular to the front wall and parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
  • Patent number: 7553241
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20090163295
    Abstract: A golf club head has a body, a shock absorber and a plug assembly. The body has multiple faces, an inner chamber, an injection base and at least one discharging hole. The injection base is formed on one of the faces beside the front and has an injection hole defined through the injection base and communicating with the inner chamber. The shock-absorber is hollow, is mounted in the inner chamber and tightly abuts with the inner surface of the inner chamber and the hitting plate. The plug assembly is securely mounted in the injection base and has an airtight inflating pad and a plug base. The airtight inflating pad is mounted in the injection hole and seals a passage between the injection hole and the inner chamber. The plug base is mounted in the injection hole and presses against the airtight inflating pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Wen-Cheng Tseng
  • Patent number: 7549934
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Scott A. Rice
  • Patent number: 7540811
    Abstract: One embodiment of a golf club head having movable weights includes a body with a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. Two or more weight ports are formed in the body and at least two weights are configured to be retained at least partially within the weight ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Alan Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7530904
    Abstract: One embodiment of a golf club head having movable weights includes a body with a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. Two or more weight ports are formed in the body and at least two weights are configured to be retained at least partially within the weight ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Thomas Olsavsky, Benoit Vincent, Ian Wright, Kraig Willett, Gery Mel Zimmerman, Joseph Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7520819
    Abstract: 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. A dense 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 dense 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Publication number: 20090088270
    Abstract: 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 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: ROGER CLEVELAND GOLF CO., INC.
    Inventors: Dustin J. BREKKE, Robert J. HORACECK
  • Publication number: 20090088269
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club head includes a body and a face positioned at a forward portion of the body. The golf club head also includes one or more mass elements positioned at predetermined locations about the head. The mass elements assist in achieving desired relationship between the moment of inertia about a center of gravity x-axis and the moment of inertia about a center of gravity z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Peter L. Larsen, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7507168
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a hollow head body, a metal plate, and a compression resistant plate. The hollow head body is formed with an opening. The metal plate is fixed to the hollow head body, covers the opening, and has a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The compression resistant plate is bonded to an inner surface of the metal plate and spans the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced International Multitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Nan Chou, Tai-Kung Liu, Chieh-Fu Tseng, Chang-Horng Lai, Yuan-Jen Hou
  • Patent number: 7500924
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head comprises a face portion whose front face defines a club face for striking a golf ball, a sole portion intersecting the club face at the lower edge thereof, at least one groove being provided on an outer surface of the sole portion, the groove extending in a v-shaped formation whose corner portion is smoothly bended and protrudes toward a leading edge of the head, the groove having a ratio (W/L) of a length w in its front-rear direction to a length L in its toe-heel direction being from 0.20 to 1.50 at least partially, and a distance between the leading edge and the corner of the groove being in the range. of from 5 to 30 mm in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 7494425
    Abstract: The invention provides a wood-type golf club head comprising a body, a striking plate, and crown. The body has a sole, a front defining a front opening, a top portion defining an upper opening, an upper edge disposed between and separating the front opening and the upper opening, and a side portion. The side portion extends rearward of the front opening and has toe, rear and heel regions. The body is comprised of a metallic material having a density of at least about 4 g/cc. The striking plate is attached to the body, enclosing the front opening. The crown is attached to the body and encloses the upper opening. The crown is comprised of a non-metallic material. The golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and a volume of at least 150 cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew T. De Shiell, Kraig Willett, Michael Scott Burnett, Benoit Vincent, Joseph Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20090029800
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head is provided comprising a golf club head housing including a hollow portion having a cavity. A material can be inserted into the cavity to dampen a frequency response of walls of the hollow portion. The golf club head further comprises sight cues to assist a golfer to align the golf club head with a golf ball. Various other embodiments may be described herein and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: David D. Jones, Xiaojian Chen
  • Publication number: 20080318705
    Abstract: A set of golf clubs having a plurality of construction types. The clubs of each construction type are constructed to have a volumetric bias in a pre-selected range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Scott A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20080318707
    Abstract: A golf club head having improved properties such as structural rigidity and weight distribution comprises a core formed of a first material such as metallic or ceramic foam. The golf club head may be fabricated by intercalating a second material into the foam core to provide a composite core. The composite core is formed into at least a portion of a club head body. Optionally, a coating is applied to the composite core and, thereafter, the second material is pyrolized and removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Mergy, Anthony D. Serrano, David D. Jones
  • Patent number: 7462109
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head (40) having a major body (50), a striking plate insert (55) and a minor body (60) is disclosed herein. The major body (50) is composed of a metal material and has a front wall section (72), a return section (74), a sole section (76), a ribbon section (78) and a ledge portion (80). The minor body (50) is preferably composed of a low density material and has a crown section (62) and a ribbon section (64). The striking plate insert (55) is composed of a metal material. An epoxy-based composition (200) is placed at a face-sole junction (205) to lower the amplitude of the sound of the golf club head (40) during impact with a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Erickson, Bradley C. Rice, D. Clayton Evans, Evan D. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7462112
    Abstract: A golf club head and associated method for minimizing flex of a golf club striking face upon impact with a golf ball. The golf club head comprises a shell having front and rear portions. The front portion includes an impact segment with a striking face for impacting a golf ball. The golf club head advantageously includes a laterally positioned, light weight, hollow support member within the shell for reinforcing the striking face. The method for minimizing flex and thereby maximizing force transferred from a golf club head to a golf ball includes supporting the striking face with a shell and a laterally positioned, hollow support member within the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Chien-Min Sung
  • Patent number: 7448961
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club head body and a complex plate. The golf club head body includes an assembling opening to mount the complex plate. The complex plate includes a base plate and a protrusion structure which are made of different metal material. The upraised protrusion structure has a buffer structure formed therein. The complex plate has an outer (front) surface and an inner (rear) surface opposite to the outer surface. The protrusion structure is disposed on the inner surface of the complex plate. In assembling operation, the complex plate is received in the assembling opening of the golf club head body so as to constitute the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignees: Fu Sheng Industrial Co., Ltd., Nelson Precision Casting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 7448964
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a hollow body having a front wall, a crown and a sole. The crown has a thickness dimension measured between its inner and outer surfaces. An outer edge of the crown extends in a generally arcuate path between heel and toe ends of the hollow body. A plurality of thin regions in the crown is arranged in a matrix pattern. The plurality of thin regions includes a first row of thin regions disposed adjacent the outer edge of the crown and a second row of thin regions disposed inwardly of the first row of thin regions. The crown thickness dimension in the plurality of thin regions is reduced when compared with the crown thickness dimension in other regions of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Schweigert, John C. Bliss
  • Patent number: 7445563
    Abstract: An internal vibration damper for hollow golf club heads is disclosed. Of particular concern is vibration of the club sole and crown when the face of the club impacts a golf ball. At least one column extends from the sole to the crown, approximately perpendicular to the surfaces of the sole and crown. The column construction or its mounting acts to dampen and reduce vibrations of the sole and crown toward and apart from each other upon ball impact on the face of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Origin, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Werner
  • Patent number: 7445564
    Abstract: A golf club head includes: a hollow shell head body that defines a face portion for hitting a ball and a crown portion; and a weight-massed portion that is formed on at least crown portion, wherein the weight-massed portion extends in a face-to-back direction of the head body and has a larger mass than that of a peripheral portion of the head body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.
    Inventor: Harunobu Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 7442132
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a face including a bulge formed at the center of a backside thereof and having a thickness of 2.0 or more times the thickness of the thinnest part, and a plurality of ribs extended from the bulge toward a circumference of the face. Six or more ribs are provided as the plural ribs and an angle ?(°) formed between extension directions of a respective pair of adjoining ribs is less than 90°. The maximum thickness of the bulge is not more than 3.5 times the thickness of the thinnest part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: SRI Sports Limited
    Inventor: Masayoshi Nishio
  • Publication number: 20080261717
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Kraig A. Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
  • Publication number: 20080254912
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a metal head body and a non-metal tubular member. The metal head body includes a hollow body portion having a bottom plate, and a neck connected integrally to the hollow body portion and opposite to the bottom plate. The neck has an outer open end, and an integral inner tubular part extending into the hollow body portion from the outer open end. The non-metal tubular member extends within the hollow body portion, and has a top portion connected to the neck and a bottom portion connected to the bottom plate of the hollow body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Chon-Chen LIN, Chin-Lung LIU, Tieh-Lung TANG
  • Patent number: 7435191
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a face part, a crown part, a sole part, a side part, and a hosel part. The head has a volume of 300 to 460 cm3 and a weight of 175 to 220 g. The crown part includes a large-thickness crown part formed along an overall edge thereof, and a small-thickness crown part which is formed inside the large-thickness crown part and has a thickness less than a thickness of the large-thickness crown part. The side part includes a heel-side small-thickness side part formed at a heel side, a toe-side small-thickness side part formed at a toe side, and a large-thickness side part which is formed at a portion of the side part other than the heel-side small-thickness side part and the toe-side small-thickness side part and has a thickness greater than thickness of the side parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tateno, Hideo Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20080248896
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Tomoya Hirano
  • Patent number: 7431668
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a face part, a crown part, a sole part, a side part, and a hosel part. The head has a volume of 80 to 200 cm3 and a weight of 205 to 250 g, a distance between face-side and back-side edges divided by a distance between a toe-side edge and a intersecting point on a heel-side edge of a horizontal line passing through a face center point is 0.3 to 0.7. The crown part includes a large-thickness crown part formed along an overall edge thereof, and a small-thickness crown part formed inside the large-thickness crown part. The side part includes a heel-side small-thickness side part formed at a heel side, a toe-side small-thickness side part formed at a toe side, and a large-thickness side part formed at a portion of the side part other than the heel-side and toe-side small-thickness side parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tateno, Hideo Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20080220894
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo MATSUNAGA, Makoto Kubota, Masaomi Hiruta
  • Publication number: 20080214322
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a hollow head body, a metal plate, and a compression resistant plate. The hollow head body is formed with an opening. The metal plate is fixed to the hollow head body, covers the opening, and has a thickness ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The compression resistant plate is bonded to an inner surface of the metal plate and spans the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: I-Nan Chou, Tai-Kung Liu, Chieh-Fu Tseng, Chang-Horng Lai, Yuan-Jen Hou
  • Patent number: 7419441
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Hoffman, Kraig A. Willett, Todd P. Beach, John F. Lorentzen, Allan C. Saliba
  • Patent number: 7416496
    Abstract: A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: J. Andrew Galloway, Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett
  • Patent number: 7410427
    Abstract: An iron golf club head includes a head main body and an FRP body. The head main body includes a face portion, a first face along the face portion, second faces, and a recess behind the head portion. The second faces continue from a rear face of the face portion to the first face. The recess is defined by the first face and the second faces. The hollow FRP body is disposed in the recess, overlaps the first face and the second faces, and closes an opening portion of the recess. At least a part of crossing corner portions between the first face and the second faces has a curved face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Imamoto, Hisashi Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20080188322
    Abstract: A golf club having a hollow golf club head which is filled with a gas under pressure. The interior surface of the golf club head is coated with a solidified layer of plastic material. The pressurized gas permits the use of thinner face plates by compensating for forces generated when the face plate strikes a golf ball. The plastic layer is preferably applied through the process of rotational molding using a thermoplastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Donald A. Anderson, Babek Khamenian, Alden J. Blowers
  • Publication number: 20080176673
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, John C. Bliss
  • Patent number: 7396298
    Abstract: A golf club head with a front wall, a rear wall and a reinforced crown includes ribs in the crown that are spaced more closely together near the front wall than near the rear wall. Preferably, the ribs radiate from a point in space located forward of the front wall. This arrangement of ribs significantly increases the fundamental structural frequency of the club head and significantly reduces the peak stress in the crown of the club head when compared with ribs extending perpendicular to the front wall and parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
  • Publication number: 20080161125
    Abstract: A golf club head with a front wall, a rear wall and a reinforced crown includes ribs in the crown that are spaced more closely together near the front wall than near the rear wall. Preferably, the ribs radiate from a point in space located forward of the front wall. This arrangement of ribs significantly increases the fundamental structural frequency of the club head and significantly reduces the peak stress in the crown of the club head when compared with ribs extending perpendicular to the front wall and parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Eric V. Cole
  • Patent number: 7390271
    Abstract: A hollow golf club head is provided. A sole portion is provided with at least one rib extended from a toe side to a heel side. The rib is curved in a manner that a toe-side end and a heel-side end of the rib are located closer to a face side than a central part of the rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: SRI Sports Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7387579
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a front opening, a striking plate member covering the front opening, and at least one vibration-absorbing element. The striking plate member includes a striking face with a striking zone, and a back face opposite to the striking face and having a receiving groove. The vibration-absorbing element is disposed in the receiving groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: O-Ta Precision Industry Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin, Shun-Fu Hu, Yen-Chi Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080139339
    Abstract: A golf club head with strength-enhanced rear body comprises a front body, a rear body and at least one supporting member. The front body comprises a face and a plurality of abutting edges. The rear body comprises a crown, a ribbon and a plurality of abutting edges, with the rear body being made of a nonmetal material having a specific gravity lower than that of the front body, and the abutting edges of the rear body being corresponding to and connecting with those of the front body. The at least one supporting member being made of a light alloy is disposed along a border between the crown and the ribbon of the rear body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Yun-Fang Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080139338
    Abstract: A golf club head 1 has a face part 2, a crown part 3, a sole part 4, a side part 5, and a hosel part 6, which are formed of titanium or a titanium alloy. The golf club head 1 is formed by integrating a head body 10 and a face plate 30 with each other by welding such as laser welding or plasma welding. A thick part 20 is provided only in the central portion in the toe-heel direction of the cross corner portion between the face part 2 and the sole part 4. The width in the toe-heel direction of the thick part 20 is 20 mm or narrower. Therefore, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention can increase a carry on average even if being used by an amateur golfer who is prone to hit a ball by varied hit points across the clubface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Matsunaga, Makoto Kubota, Masaomi Hiruta
  • Patent number: 7384348
    Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body having a front opening, a striking plate member, and a vibration-absorbing plate member. The striking plate member covers the front opening, and has a front striking face with a striking zone, and a ring projecting rearwardly from a rear side of the striking plate member and defining an indentation. The vibration-absorbing plate member is fixed in the indentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: O-Ta Precision Industry Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chon-Chen Lin, Shun-Fu Hu, Yen-Chi Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080132355
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a golf club head having at least one fin or 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 fin projecting from the at least one wall. The at least one fin can include an internal portion located within the interior cavity and an external portion located without the interior cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph Henry Hoffman, Matt D. Johnson, Joshua J. Dipert
  • Publication number: 20080125246
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Kiyofumi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7367899
    Abstract: A hitting face of a golf club head having improved strength properties. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. The multiple materials form layers of a laminate construction of a flat portion of a hitting face insert. The layers of the laminate are joined together using a diffusion bonding technique. Preferably, at least one layer of the laminate is a thin layer of a very strong material that forms the rear side of the hitting face insert so as to prevent failure of the hitting face insert on that rear side due to repeated impacts with golf balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci, Raymond L. Poynor
  • Patent number: 7367897
    Abstract: A golf club head with a variable coefficient of restitution is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a bias member that contacts and exerts a force against the interior surface of the face. The force exerted against the interior of the face lessens the face flexibility, and decreases the club head coefficient of restitution. The bias member can be adjusted from outside the club head, allowing the manufacturer to precisely adjust the club head coefficient of restitution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Raymond L. Poynor
  • Patent number: 7361099
    Abstract: 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. A dense 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 dense 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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Rice, Nicholas M. Nardacci
  • Patent number: 7361100
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Morales, John C. Bliss