IP Library Granted Patent US 8,449,406
Granted Patent B1
US 8,449,406 · App. 12/592,857 · Granted May 28, 2013

Golf club head

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,449,406
App. No.
12/592,857
Granted
May 28, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A golf club head is provided having a club body and a contact plate secured to the club body. The contact plate defines at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves. A plurality of soft portions is provided that are coupled to a rear surface of the contact plate. The plurality of soft portions also corresponds to the plurality of striking surface grooves.

Claims (27)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club body; and

a contact plate secured to the club body, the contact plate defining at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves, and a plurality of soft portions coupled to a rear surface of the contact plate, the plurality of soft portions corresponding to the plurality of striking surface grooves;

wherein the plurality of soft portions are located in at least one cavity, the at least one cavity defined by a varying thickness of a back portion.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of soft portions are located directly behind the plurality of striking surface grooves.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of soft portions are substantially offset from the striking surface grooves.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least one soft insert in a back portion includes the plurality of soft portions.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of soft portions are configured to provide at least one soft portion that corresponds to each striking surface groove of the plurality of striking surface grooves.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the back portion defines at least one cavity portion located between the back portion and the contact plate, the at least one cavity portion having a first volume.

7. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the contact plate includes at least one rear surface groove having a groove volume.

8. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the first volume of the at least one cavity portion includes the groove volume of the at least one rear surface groove.

9. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the at least one cavity portion is filled with a gel.

10. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein the at least one cavity portion is a channel that extends to at least one fill aperture.

11. A golf club head, comprising:

a striking plate comprising a plurality of grooves defined on a striking surface; and

a head body comprising a forward surface at which the striking plate is secured to the head body, wherein the forward surface defines at least one support protrusion that in combination with the striking plate defines a channel located between a rear surface of the striking plate and the forward surface;

wherein the at least one support protrusion is a plurality of support protrusions that include horizontal portions that extend substantially parallel to the respective plurality of grooves, and the horizontal portions include a horizontal portion centerline that is vertically offset from a respective groove centerline by a distance of between about 0.05 mm and 1.5 mm.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the channel is substantially unfilled.

13. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the channel is substantially filled with a gel or polymer.

14. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the channel is substantially filled with a solid that is less stiff than the head body.

15. A golf club head, comprising:

a club body; and

a contact plate secured to the club body, the contact plate defining at least a portion of a striking surface having a plurality of striking surface grooves, and a plurality of soft portions coupled to a rear surface of the contact plate, the plurality of soft portions corresponding to the plurality of striking surface grooves;

wherein a back portion defines at least one cavity portion located between the back portion and the contact plate, the at least one cavity portion having a first volume, wherein the at least one cavity portion is a channel that extends to at least one fill aperture.

16. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the contact plate includes at least one rear surface groove having a groove volume.

17. The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein the first volume of the at least one cavity portion includes the groove volume of the at least one rear surface groove.

18. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the at least one cavity portion is filled with a gel.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: KOOKMIN BANK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058983/0516 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: KOOKMIN BANK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058978/0211 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058963/0671 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058962/0415 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KOOKMIN BANK, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 057300/0058 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KOOKMIN BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057293/0207 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057085/0314 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: KPS CAPITAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057085/0262 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: ADIDAS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057453/0167 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2017
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044206/0712 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2017
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: ADIDAS NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044206/0765 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2017
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KPS CAPITAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044207/0745 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2010
From: FRAME, NICHOLAS; SCHARTIGER, CHRIS; WALKER, MICHAEL
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 023827/0341 →