Granted Patent B2

US 8,821,312 · App. 13/397,122 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Abstract

Claims (72)

1. A hollow golf club having a stress reducing feature with aperture comprising:

(A) a shaft ( 200 ) having a proximal end ( 210 ) and a distal end ( 220 );

(B) a grip ( 300 ) attached to the shaft proximal end ( 210 ); and

(C) a golf club head ( 400 ) having

(i) a face ( 500 ) positioned at a front portion ( 402 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) where the golf club head ( 400 ) impacts a golf ball, wherein the face ( 500 ) has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 30 degrees, and wherein the face ( 400 ) includes an engineered impact point (EIP), a top edge height (TEH), and a lower edge height (LEH);

(ii) a sole ( 700 ) positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head ( 400 );

(iii) a crown ( 600 ) positioned at a top portion of the golf club head ( 400 );

(iv) a skirt ( 800 ) positioned around a portion of a periphery of the golf club head ( 400 ) between the sole ( 700 ) and the crown ( 600 ), wherein the face ( 500 ), sole ( 700 ), crown ( 600 ), and skirt ( 800 ) define an outer shell that further defines a head volume that is less than 300 cubic centimeters, and wherein the golf club head ( 400 ) has a rear portion ( 404 ) opposite the face ( 500 );

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side ( 406 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) and receives the shaft distal end ( 220 ) for attachment to the golf club head ( 400 ), and wherein a toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) is located opposite of the heel side ( 406 );

(vi) a club head ( 400 ) mass of less than 270 grams;

(vii) a center of gravity (CG) located:

(a) vertically toward the crown ( 600 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face ( 500 ) and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion ( 404 ) in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(viii) the engineered impact point (EIP) located:

(a) vertically toward the crown ( 600 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) from the origin point a distance Yeip;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) a distance Xeip that is generally parallel to the face ( 500 ) and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zeip from the origin toward the face ( 500 ) in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(ix) a stress reducing feature ( 1000 ) including a sole located SRF ( 1300 ), wherein:

(a) the sole located SRF ( 1300 ) has a SSRF length ( 1310 ) between a SSRF toe-most point ( 1312 ) and a SSRF heel-most point ( 1316 ), a SSRF leading edge ( 1320 ) having a SSRF leading edge offset ( 1322 ), a SSRF width ( 1340 ), and a SSRF depth ( 1350 );

(b) the sole located SRF ( 1300 ) has a SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) recessed from the sole ( 700 ) and extending through the outer shell, wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) is located at a SSRF aperture depth ( 1450 ) measured vertically from the lower edge height (LEH) toward the center of gravity (CG), wherein at least a portion of the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has the SSRF aperture depth ( 1450 ) greater than zero, and the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a SSRF aperture length ( 1410 ) between a SSRF aperture toe-most point ( 1412 ) and a SSRF aperture heel-most point ( 1416 ) that is at least fifty percent of the Xcg distance, and a SSRF aperture width ( 1440 ) separating a SSRF aperture leading edge ( 1420 ) from a SSRF aperture trailing edge ( 1430 ).

2. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a maximum SSRF aperture depth ( 1450 ) that is at least ten percent of the Ycg distance.

3. The golf club of claim 2 , wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a maximum SSRF aperture depth ( 1450 ) that is at least fifteen percent of the Ycg distance.

4. The golf club of claim 2 , wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a maximum SSRF aperture width ( 1440 ) that is at least twenty-five percent of the maximum SSRF aperture depth ( 1450 ).

5. The golf club of claim 4 , wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a maximum SSRF aperture width ( 1440 ) that is less than maximum SSRF aperture depth ( 1450 ).

6. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the golf club head ( 400 ) includes a blade length (BL) measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes:

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP);

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl); wherein

(c) the SSRF aperture length ( 1410 ) is at least as great as the heel blade length section (Abl).

7. The golf club of claim 6 , wherein the blade length (BL) is at least 3.0 inches and the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 0.8 inches.

8. The golf club of claim 7 , wherein the SSRF aperture length ( 1410 ) is at least fifty percent of the blade length (BL).

9. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a maximum SSRF aperture width ( 1440 ) that is at least fifty percent of a minimum face thickness ( 530 ).

10. The golf club of claim 9 , wherein the SSRF aperture ( 1400 ) has a maximum SSRF aperture width ( 1440 ) that is less than the maximum face thickness ( 530 ).

11. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the SSRF aperture leading edge ( 1420 ) has a SSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1422 ) and the minimum SSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1422 ) is at least ten percent of the difference between the maximum top edge height (TEH) and the minimum lower edge height (LEH).

12. The golf club of claim 11 , wherein the minimum SSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1422 ) at least twenty percent of the difference between the maximum top edge height (TEH) and the minimum lower edge height (LEH).

13. The golf club of claim 11 , wherein the maximum SSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1422 ) less than seventy-five percent of the difference between the maximum top edge height (TEH) and the minimum lower edge height (LEH).

14. A hollow golf club having a stress reducing feature with aperture comprising:

(A) a shaft ( 200 ) having a proximal end ( 210 ) and a distal end ( 220 );

(B) a grip ( 300 ) attached to the shaft proximal end ( 210 ); and

(C) a golf club head ( 400 ) having

(i) a face ( 500 ) positioned at a front portion ( 402 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) where the golf club head ( 400 ) impacts a golf ball, wherein the face ( 500 ) has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 30 degrees, and wherein the face ( 400 ) includes an engineered impact point (EIP), a top edge height (TEH), and a lower edge height (LEH);

(ii) a sole ( 700 ) positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head ( 400 );

(iii) a crown ( 600 ) positioned at a top portion of the golf club head ( 400 );

(iv) a skirt ( 800 ) positioned around a portion of a periphery of the golf club head ( 400 ) between the sole ( 700 ) and the crown ( 600 ), wherein the face ( 500 ), sole ( 700 ), crown ( 600 ), and skirt ( 800 ) define an outer shell that further defines a head volume that is less than 300 cubic centimeters, and wherein the golf club head ( 400 ) has a rear portion ( 404 ) opposite the face ( 500 );

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side ( 406 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) and receives the shaft distal end ( 220 ) for attachment to the golf club head ( 400 ), and wherein a toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) is located opposite of the heel side ( 406 );

(vi) a club head ( 400 ) mass of less than 270 grams;

(vii) a center of gravity (CG) located:

(a) vertically toward the crown ( 600 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face ( 500 ) and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion ( 404 ) in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(viii) the engineered impact point (EIP) located:

(a) vertically toward the crown ( 600 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) from the origin point a distance Yeip;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) a distance Xeip that is generally parallel to the face ( 500 ) and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zeip from the origin toward the face ( 500 ) in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(ix) a stress reducing feature ( 1000 ) including a crown located SRF ( 1100 ), wherein:

(a) the crown located SRF ( 1100 ) has a CSRF length ( 1110 ) between a CSRF toe-most point ( 1112 ) and a CSRF heel-most point ( 1116 ), a CSRF leading edge ( 1120 ) having a CSRF leading edge offset ( 1122 ), a CSRF width ( 1140 ), and a CSRF depth ( 1150 );

(b) the crown located SRF ( 1100 ) has a CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) recessed from the crown ( 600 ) and extending through the outer shell, wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) is located at a CSRF aperture depth ( 1250 ) measured vertically from the top edge height (TEH) toward the center of gravity (CG), wherein at least a portion of the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has the CSRF aperture depth ( 1250 ) greater than zero, and the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a CSRF aperture length ( 1210 ) between a CSRF aperture toe-most point ( 1212 ) and a CSRF aperture heel-most point ( 1216 ) that is at least fifty percent of the Xcg distance, and a CSRF aperture width ( 1240 ) separating a CSRF aperture leading edge ( 1220 ) from a CSRF aperture trailing edge ( 1230 ).

15. The golf club of claim 14 wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a maximum CSRF aperture depth ( 1250 ) that is at least ten percent of the Ycg distance.

16. The golf club of claim 15 , wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a maximum CSRF aperture depth ( 1250 ) that is at least fifteen percent of the Ycg distance.

17. The golf club of claim 15 , wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a maximum CSRF aperture width ( 1240 ) that is at least twenty-five percent of the maximum CSRF aperture depth ( 1250 ).

18. The golf club of claim 17 , wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a maximum CSRF aperture width ( 1240 ) that is less than maximum CSRF aperture depth ( 1250 ).

19. The golf club of claim 14 , wherein the golf club head ( 400 ) includes a blade length (BL) measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side ( 408 ) of the golf club head ( 400 ) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes:

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP);

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl); wherein

(c) the CSRF aperture length ( 1210 ) is at least as great as the heel blade length section (Abl).

20. The golf club of claim 19 , wherein the blade length (BL) is at least 3.0 inches and the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 0.8 inches.

21. The golf club of claim 20 , wherein the CSRF aperture length ( 1210 ) is at least fifty percent of the blade length (BL).

22. The golf club of claim 14 , wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a maximum CSRF aperture width ( 1240 ) that is at least fifty percent of a minimum face thickness ( 530 ).

23. The golf club of claim 22 , wherein the CSRF aperture ( 1200 ) has a maximum CSRF aperture width ( 1240 ) that is less than the maximum face thickness ( 530 ).

24. The golf club of claim 14 , wherein the CSRF aperture leading edge ( 1220 ) has a CSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1222 ) and the minimum CSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1222 ) is at least ten percent of the difference between the maximum top edge height (TEH) and the minimum lower edge height (LEH).

25. The golf club of claim 24 , wherein the minimum CSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1222 ) at least twenty percent of the difference between the maximum top edge height (TEH) and the minimum lower edge height (LEH).

26. The golf club of claim 24 , wherein the maximum CSRF aperture leading edge offset ( 1222 ) less than seventy-five percent of the difference between the maximum top edge height (TEH) and the minimum lower edge height (LEH).

Assignments (15)