IP Library Granted Patent US 11,452,923
Granted Patent B2
US 11,452,923 · App. 17/105,168 · Granted Sep 27, 2022

Golf club heads

Inventors: Christopher John Harbert (Carlsbad, CA); Nathan T. Sargent (Oceanside, CA); Justin David Kleinert (San Clemente, CA); Todd P. Beach (Encinitas, CA); Brian Bazzel (Carlsbad, CA); Robert Nunez (Vista, CA); James Edward Michael Cornish (Carlsbad, CA); Nick Robbie (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
A63B53/06A63B53/0466A63B53/08A63B53/0437A63B2053/0491A63B2102/32A63B2209/00A63B2220/803A63B2220/833A63B2225/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,452,923
App. No.
17/105,168
Granted
Sep 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some disclosed golf club heads include body having at least one raised sole portion and a cantilevered ledge extending down around a perimeter of the club head below the level of the raised sole portion. Some disclosed golf club heads include one or more sole openings in the body and a sole insert that is mounted inside the body over the sole openings. The sole can include weight tracks as well, and a rear weight track can extend between a toe side sole opening and a heel side sole opening. A crown insert can also be included that is mounted over an upper opening in the body.

Claims (91)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion;

a body, at least partially defining the front portion, the rear portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, the crown portion, and the sole portion, wherein the body comprises:

a central sole section, partially defining the sole portion and extends from the front portion to the rear portion, wherein the central sole section is configured to retain a weight;

a heel-side opening, at least partially located in the heel portion; and

a toe-side opening, at least partially located in the toe portion;

wherein the central sole section separates the heel-side opening from the toe-side opening;

a heel-side insert, attached to the body over the heel-side opening such that the heel-side insert covers the heel-side opening;

a toe-side insert, separate from the heel-side insert and attached to the body over the toe-side opening such that the toe-side insert covers the toe-side opening; and

a first weight attached to the central sole section in a first location;

wherein the first weight is a smart feature coupled to the body, the smart feature comprising a battery and at least one additional electrical device;

wherein the smart feature has a smart feature mass of from 1 gram to 50 grams, and a ratio of the smart feature mass to a club head mass is from 1% to 25%;

wherein the smart feature has a smart feature volume of from 0.5 cc to 25 cc, and a ratio of the smart feature volume to a club head volume is from 0.1% to 10%; and

wherein the smart feature has a sleep mode.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 , further comprising a second weight, attached to the central sole section in a second location, wherein the first weight and the second weight are interchangeable.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 , wherein interchanging the first weight and the second weight results in a change of the center-of-gravity along a y-axis of the golf club head, parallel with a front-to-rear direction, of at least 3 mm.

4. The golf club head according to claim 3 , wherein the body further comprises a hosel; and

the golf club head further comprises an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the hosel.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4 , wherein:

the first location is proximate the front portion and the second location is proximate the rear portion;

when in the first location, at least a portion of the first weight is forward of the heel-side opening; and

when in the second location, at least a portion of the second weight is rearward of the heel-side opening.

6. The golf club head according to claim 4 , wherein:

the first location is proximate the front portion and the second location is proximate the rear portion;

when in the first location, the first weight is proximate a forward portion of the heel-side opening; and

when in the second location, the second weight is proximate a rearward portion of the heel-side opening.

7. The golf club head according to claim 4 , wherein the central sole section of the body comprises a front-to-rear internal rib, extending in a front-to-rear direction from proximate the forward location to proximate the rearward location.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7 , wherein:

the central sole section further comprises a first weight-retaining feature and a second weight-retaining feature;

the first weight-retaining feature retains the first weight in the forward location;

the second weight-retaining feature retains the second weight in the rearward location; and

the front-to-rear internal rib is co-formed with the first weight-retaining feature and the second weight-retaining feature.

9. The golf club head according to claim 8 , wherein the central sole section of the body further comprises a rear internal rib, extending at an angle relative to the front-to-rear internal rib and co-formed with the second weight-retaining feature.

10. The golf club head according to claim 7 , wherein the central sole section of the body further comprises a toe-to-heel internal rib, extending in a toe-to-heel direction and co-formed with and intersecting the front-to-rear internal rib.

11. The golf club head according to claim 4 , wherein:

the first weight has a non-round cross-sectional shape; and

the second weight has a non-round cross-sectional shape.

12. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the smart feature is removable from the body and replaceable.

13. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein the smart feature is swappable with a dummy weight.

14. A golf club head, comprising:

a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion;

a body, at least partially defining the front portion, the rear portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, the crown portion, and the sole portion, wherein the body comprises:

a central sole section, partially defining the sole portion and extends from the front portion to the rear portion, wherein the central sole section is configured to retain a weight in both a forward location on the sole portion, forward of a center-of-gravity of the golf club head, or a rearward location on the sole portion, rearward of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head;

a heel-side opening, at least partially located in the heel portion; and

a toe-side opening, at least partially located in the toe portion;

wherein the central sole section separates the heel-side opening from the toe-side opening;

a fiber-reinforced polymeric material, covering the heel-side opening and the toe-side opening;

a first weight, retained by the central sole section in the forward location; and

a second weight, retained by the central sole section in the rearward location;

wherein:

the central sole section of the body comprises a front-to-rear internal rib, extending in a front-to-rear direction from proximate the forward location to proximate the rearward location;

the central sole section further comprises a first weight-retaining feature and a second weight-retaining feature;

the first weight-retaining feature retains the first weight in the forward location;

the second weight-retaining feature retains the second weight in the rearward location;

the front-to-rear internal rib is co-formed with the first weight-retaining feature and the second weight-retaining feature;

the central sole section of the body further comprises a rear internal rib, extending at an angle relative to the front-to-rear internal rib and co-formed with the second weight-retaining feature; and

the central sole section of the body further comprises a toe-to-heel internal rib, extending in a toe-to-heel direction and co-formed with and intersecting the front-to-rear internal rib.

15. The golf club head according to claim 14 , wherein:

the body further comprises a crown opening, at least partially located in the crown portion; and

the fiber-reinforced polymeric material also covers the crown opening.

16. The golf club head according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a heel-side insert, attached to the body over the heel-side opening such that the heel-side insert covers the heel-side opening;

a toe-side insert, separate from the heel-side insert and attached to the body over the toe-side opening such that the toe-side insert covers the toe-side opening; and

the heel-side insert and the toe-side insert are made of the fiber-reinforced polymeric material.

17. The golf club head according to claim 16 , wherein the fiber-reinforced polymeric material that covers the crown opening, the fiber-reinforced polymeric material of the heel-side insert, and the fiber-reinforced polymeric material of the toe-side insert are the same.

18. The golf club head according to claim 14 , wherein:

the first weight and the second weight are interchangeable;

when in the forward location, at least a portion of the first weight is forward of the heel-side opening;

when in the rearward location, at least a portion of the second weight is rearward of the heel-side opening;

the first weight has a non-round cross-sectional shape; and

the second weight has a non-round cross-sectional shape.

19. A golf club head, comprising:

a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion;

a body, at least partially defining the front portion, the rear portion, the toe portion, the heel portion, the crown portion, and the sole portion, wherein the body comprises:

a central sole section, partially defining the sole portion and extends from the front portion to the rear portion, wherein the central sole section is configured to retain a weight;

a heel-side opening, at least partially located in the heel portion; and

a toe-side opening, at least partially located in the toe portion;

wherein the central sole section separates the heel-side opening from the toe-side opening;

a heel-side insert, attached to the body over the heel-side opening such that the heel-side insert covers the heel-side opening;

a toe-side insert, separate from the heel-side insert and attached to the body over the toe-side opening such that the toe-side insert covers the toe-side opening;

a first weight attached to the central sole section in a first location; and

a second weight, attached to the central sole section in a second location, wherein the first weight and the second weight are interchangeable;

wherein interchanging the first weight and the second weight results in a change of the center-of-gravity along a y-axis of the golf club head, parallel with a front-to-rear direction, of at least 3 mm;

wherein the body further comprises a hosel and the golf club head further comprises an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the hosel;

wherein the central sole section of the body comprises a front-to-rear internal rib, extending in a front-to-rear direction from proximate the forward location to proximate the rearward location;

wherein:

the central sole section further comprises a first weight-retaining feature and a second weight-retaining feature;

the first weight-retaining feature retains the first weight in the forward location;

the second weight-retaining feature retains the second weight in the rearward location; and

the front-to-rear internal rib is co-formed with the first weight-retaining feature and the second weight-retaining feature; and

wherein the central sole section of the body further comprises a rear internal rib, extending at an angle relative to the front-to-rear internal rib and co-formed with the second weight-retaining feature.

Assignments (9)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 16, 2025
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069986/0349 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 14, 2025
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069895/0523 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2020
From: HARBERT, CHRISTOPHER JOHN; SARGENT, NATHAN T.; KLEINERT, JUSTIN DAVID; BEACH, TODD B.; BAZZEL, BRIAN; NUNEZ, ROBERT; CORNISH, JAMES EDWARD MICHAEL; ROBBIE, NICK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054473/0369 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16283527 · Feb 22, 2019
Continuation 15996854 · Jun 4, 2018
Provisional Application 62628094 · Feb 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62515401 · Jun 5, 2017
Related Publication 20210138323A1 · May 13, 2021