IP Library Granted Patent US 8,777,778
Granted Patent B2
US 8,777,778 · App. 13/342,847 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads

Inventors: John A. Solheim (Phoenix, AZ); Eric J. Morales (Laveen, AZ); Erik M. Henrikson (Mesa, AZ); Eric V. Cole (Phoenix, AZ); Paul D. Wood (Phoenix, AZ); Brad D. Schweigert (Anthem, AZ); Marty R. Jertson (Phoenix, AZ)
Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,777,778
App. No.
13/342,847
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads with apertures and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims (33)

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face, a heel, a toe, and a top edge;

a back defined opposite the face;

a crown extending between the top edge of the face to the back and between the heel to the toe, the crown comprising:

a first region having a center portion being concave relative to the face;

a second region between the first region and the back; and

a plurality of apertures in the second region, a largest dimension of at least one aperture being less than or equal 0.3 inch.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein all of the apertures have generally the same largest dimension.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the apertures have different largest dimensions.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures defines at least one repeating pattern of apertures.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a recess defined in the second region, wherein the plurality of apertures is defined within the recess.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover configured to engage the crown to cover the plurality of apertures.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the number of the plurality of apertures is in a range of between 60 to 1500 apertures.

8. A golf club head comprising:

a face, a heel, a toe, and a top edge;

a back defined opposite the face;

a crown extending between the top edge of the face to the back and between the heel to the toe, the crown comprising:

a plurality of apertures, a largest dimension of at least one aperture being less than or equal 0.3 inch; and

at least one reinforcing rib extending between the face and the back, wherein a smallest width of the reinforcing rib is greater than the greatest dimension.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein all of the apertures have generally the same largest dimension.

10. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein at least two of the apertures have different largest dimensions.

11. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of apertures defines at least one repeating pattern of apertures.

12. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the crown further comprises a recess, wherein the plurality of apertures is defined within the recess.

13. The golf club head of claim 8 , further comprising a protective cover configured to engage the crown to cover the plurality of apertures.

14. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the number of the plurality of apertures is in a range of between 60 to 1500 apertures.

15. A method for manufacturing a club head for a golf club comprising:

forming a club head comprising a face, a heel, a toe, a top edge, a back defined opposite the face, and a crown extending between the top edge of the face to the back and between the heel to the toe;

forming a plurality of apertures in the crown, a largest dimension of at least one aperture being less than or equal 0.3 inch, the crown defining a first region having a center portion being concave relative to the face, and a second region between the first region and the back, wherein the apertures are formed in the second region.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming a recess in the second region prior to forming the plurality of apertures in the second region.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein forming the plurality of apertures includes stamping the crown to form the plurality of apertures.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming at least one reinforcing rib in the second region.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming at least one reinforcing rib in the second region, the reinforcing rib defined by portions of the second region being without apertures.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching a cover on the second region.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2012
From: SOLHEIM, JOHN A.; MORALES, ERIC J.; HENRIKSON, ERIK M.; COLE, ERIC V.; WOOD, PAUL D.; SCHWEIGERT, BRAD D.; JERTSON, MARTY R.
To: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027758/0925 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61429692 · Jan 4, 2011
Related Publication 20120178550A1 · Jul 12, 2012