IP Library Granted Patent US 7,976,406
Granted Patent B2
US 7,976,406 · App. 12/838,790 · Granted Jul 12, 2011

Golf club head having a grooved and textured face

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,976,406
App. No.
12/838,790
Granted
Jul 12, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra. The face may be selectively textured to enhance certain shots that the golfer may perform. This may include providing a plurality of distinct sets of texturing to accommodate a plurality of different shots. The grooves may contain a plurality of portions, including a radiused or angled portion, a portion having substantially parallel walls, a portion having a v-shape, and a curved portion. The grooves may also be characterized by various dimensions, including draft angle, inclusive side wall angle, width, depth, cross-sectional area, spacing, and pitch ratio.

Claims (20)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a generally planar striking face with grooves formed therein and a toe, said face including a first region of directional texturing different than the grooves; wherein:

said region includes a plurality of substantially linear notches, each notch formed by a first, departing surface extending away from the striking face and a second, returning surface extending between the first surface and the striking face;

said first and second surfaces of adjacent notches defining a first angle therebetween;

said first surface defines a second angle relative to a vertical reference plane passing through a junction between the first and second surfaces; and

said notches are directed in an upper toe to lower heel direction.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said first angle is greater than twice said second angle and the first angle is acute.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least a third of said face includes directional texturing.

4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein at least half of said face includes directional texturing.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said notches are angled relative to said grooves by a third angle in the plane of the striking face.

6. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said third angle is from approximately 5° to 30°.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said notches are parallel to said grooves.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , farther including a second region of direction texturing, said second region including a second plurality of notches that are arranged in a pattern distinct from said first plurality of notches.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said second region includes an arced arrangement of notches.

10. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said second plurality of notches includes substantially linear notches.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of substantially linear notches are angled relative to said second plurality of substantially linear notches.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein said first and second pluralities of notches are relatively angled from approximately 5° to 15°.

13. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said body further includes a sole, and said first plurality of notches is positioned closer to said sole than said second plurality of notches is to said sole.

14. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said first and second regions overlap.

15. The golf club head of claim 8 , further including a third region of direction texturing, said third region including a third plurality of notches, each of said first, second, and third pluralities of notches being arranged in a pattern distinct from the other pluralities of notches.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (ASSIGNS 039506-0030) Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0414 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027328/0909) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039938/0876 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 5, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027328/0909 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2010
From: GILBERT, PETER J.; GOLDEN, CHARLES E.; VOKEY, ROBERT W.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 024705/0516 →