IP Library Granted Patent US 8,517,861
Granted Patent B2
US 8,517,861 · App. 13/412,369 · Granted Aug 27, 2013

Golf club head having a grooved and textured face

Inventors: Charles E. Golden (Carlsbad, CA); Peter J. Gilbert (Carlsbad, CA); Robert W. Vokey (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,517,861
App. No.
13/412,369
Granted
Aug 27, 2013
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 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 and surface roughening 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 (26)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a striking face including a plurality of grooves extending into the body from the striking face and at least one region of texturing,

wherein the region of texturing is interposed between adjacent grooves and includes a plurality of ridges,

wherein the striking face defines a nominal striking face plane, the ridges are spaced by planar portions of the striking face that are coplanar with the nominal striking face plane, and the ridges extend away from the nominal striking face plane, and

wherein the plurality of ridges each include a first surface extending away from a nominal striking face plane to a second surface, the second surface extending between the first surface and the nominal striking face plane, such that the plurality of ridges have a triangular cross-sectional shape.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the length of the first surface is equal to the length of the second surface.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is oriented relative to the second surface by an acute angle.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is oriented relative to the second surface by a right angle.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is oriented relative to the second surface by an obtuse angle.

6. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a striking face including a plurality of grooves extending into the body from the striking face and at least one region of texturing,

wherein the region of texturing is interposed between adjacent grooves and includes a plurality of ridges,

wherein the striking face defines a nominal striking face plane, the ridges are spaced by planar portions of the striking face that are coplanar with the nominal striking face plane, and the ridges extend away from the nominal striking face plane, and

wherein the region of texturing includes a plurality of ridges having rectangular cross-sectional shape and the ridges have a width of 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch and wherein the ridges are spaced by 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch.

7. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the region of texturing further comprises at least one ridge having triangular cross-sectional shape.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a striking face including a plurality of grooves extending into the body from the striking face and at least one region of texturing,

wherein the region of texturing is interposed between adjacent grooves and includes at least a first ridge, a second ridge and a third ridge, wherein the length of space between the first and second ridges is different than the length of the space between the second and third ridges, and

wherein the striking face defines a nominal striking face plane, the ridges are spaced by planar portions of the striking face that are coplanar with the nominal striking face plane, and the ridges extend away from the nominal striking face plane.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of ridges each include a first surface extending away from the nominal striking face plane to a second surface, the second surface extending between the first surface and the nominal striking face plane, such that the plurality of ridges have a triangular cross-sectional shape.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the length of the first surface is equal to the length of the second surface.

11. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the first surface is oriented relative to the second surface by an acute angle.

12. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the first surface is oriented relative to the second surface by a right angle.

13. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the first surface is oriented relative to the second surface by an obtuse angle.

14. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the region of texturing includes a plurality of ridges having rectangular cross-sectional shape and the ridges have a width of 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch and wherein the ridges are spaced by 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch.

15. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the region of texturing further comprises a plurality of ridges having triangular cross-sectional shape.

Assignments (4)
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 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2012
From: GOLDEN, CHARLES E.; GILBERT, PETER J.; VOKEY, ROBERT W.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027809/0774 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 13180488 · Jul 11, 2011
Continuation 12339378 · Dec 19, 2008
Continuation In Part 12107280 · Apr 22, 2008
Continuation In Part 12007223 · Jan 8, 2008
Continuation In Part 11711096 · Feb 27, 2007
Continuation In Part 10902064 · Jul 30, 2004
Provisional Application 60528708 · Dec 12, 2003
Related Publication 20120165114A1 · Jun 28, 2012