IP Library Granted Patent US 11,331,548
Granted Patent B2
US 11,331,548 · App. 17/145,024 · Granted May 17, 2022

Golf club head

Inventors: Matthew Johnson (Carlsbad, CA); David Bennett (Carlsbad, CA); Joseph Hoffman (Carlsbad, CA); Joseph R. Nielson (Vista, CA); Nathan T. Sargent (Oceanside, CA); Christopher J. Harbert (Carlsbad, CA); Jared Guttmann (Oceanside, CA); Christian R. Wester (San Diego, CA); Jake Feuerstein (San Diego, CA); Mattieu Bovee (Oceanside, CA)
Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
A63B53/0466A63B53/02A63B53/06A63B53/08A63B60/04A63B60/50A63B60/52A63B53/025A63B53/026A63B53/027A63B53/045A63B53/0408A63B53/0412A63B53/0433A63B53/0437A63B2053/0495A63B2209/00A63B2209/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,331,548
App. No.
17/145,024
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a golf club head comprising at least one crown opening and at least one crown insert attached to the body and covering the at least one crown opening. The golf club head further comprises at least one sole opening and at least one sole insert attached to the body and covering the at least one sole opening. The golf club head additionally includes at least one weight member configured to clamp first and second ledges at selected locations along a sliding weight track. The golf club head also comprise a coefficient of restitution (COR) feature located on the sole of the golf club head. The at least one crown insert is formed from a composite material having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc. The at least one sole insert is formed from a composite material having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc.

Claims (110)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body, defining an interior cavity and comprising:

a sole portion, positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

a crown portion, positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

a skirt portion, positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole portion and the crown portion;

a forward region;

a rearward region;

a face portion, at the forward region of the body and comprising a strike face having a maximum height from a ground plane of at least about 50 mm when the golf club head is in a normal address position on the ground plane;

at least one weight track formed in the sole portion; and

a frame comprising a first crown opening, a second crown opening, and a spine portion defining a portion of the crown portion and separating the first crown opening from the second crown opening;

at least one weight assembly, selectively adjustably positioned within the at least one weight track; and

at least one brace bar traversing the interior cavity between and attached to the sole portion and the crown portion, wherein a mass per unit length of the brace bar is between 0.005 g/mm and 0.40 g/mm;

wherein:

the crown portion comprises a crown insert attached to the spine portion and covering the first crown opening and the second crown opening; and

the at least one brace bar is attached to the spine portion.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein:

the frame further comprises a first receptacle co-formed with the at least one weight track and a second receptacle co-formed with the spine portion; and

the at least one brace bar is received within and attached to the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 , wherein:

the golf club head further comprises a hosel coupled to body; and

the body further comprises a hosel-brace reinforcement rib within the interior cavity of the body and extending continuously between, and coupled directly to, the hosel and the first receptacle.

4. The golf club head according to claim 2 , wherein the body further comprises a spine reinforcement rib within the interior cavity of the body and extending along and coupled directly to the spine portion of the frame and the second receptacle.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one brace bar comprises a forward brace bar and a rearward brace bar; and

the forward brace bar and the rearward brace bar are spaced apart and aligned in a forward-to-rearward direction.

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

the forward brace bar is angled rearwardly relative to a vertical axis; and

the rearward brace bar is angled forwardly relative to the vertical axis.

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

the at least one weight track comprises a front weight track, extending in a heel-to-toe direction substantially parallel with the strike face of the face portion;

the at least one weight track further comprises an intermediate weight track, extending in a front-to-rear direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face of the face portion and separating a first sole opening of the body from a second sole opening of the body;

the at least one weight track further comprises a rear weight track, extending at an angle relative to the intermediate weight track;

the forward brace bar is attached to an intersection between the front weight track and the intermediate weight track at a location forward of a center-of-gravity of the golf club head; and

the rearward brace bar is attached to an intersection between the intermediate weight track and the rear weight track at a location rearward of the center-of-gravity of the golf club head.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one weight track comprises an intermediate weight track, extending in a front-to-rear direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face of the face portion and separating a first sole opening of the body from a second sole opening of the body;

the at least one weight track further comprises a rear weight track, extending at an angle relative to the intermediate weight track; and

the brace bar is attached to at least the intermediate weight track.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein:

the frame is made of a metal alloy; and

the crown insert is made of a fiber-reinforced polymer.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein:

the frame further comprises a first sole opening and a second sole opening defining the sole portion of the body; and

the sole portion comprises a first sole insert attached to the frame and covering the first sole opening and a second sole insert attached to the frame and covering the second sole opening.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10 , wherein:

the first sole insert overhangs the at least one weight track; and

the second sole insert overhangs the at least one weight track.

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

the at least one weight track comprises an intermediate weight track, extending in a front-to-rear direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face of the face portion and separating the first sole opening from the second sole opening;

the first sole insert overhangs the intermediate weight track; and

the second sole insert overhangs the intermediate weight track.

13. The golf club head according to claim 12 , wherein:

the at least one weight track comprises a front weight track, extending in a heel-to-toe direction substantially parallel with the strike face of the face portion;

the first sole insert overhangs the front weight track; and

the second sole insert overhangs the front weight track.

14. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one weight track comprises a ledge;

the at least one weight assembly consists of an inner component and an outer component; and

the at least one weight assembly is configured to clamp the ledge between the inner component and the outer component.

15. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the head further comprises a coefficient of restitution (COR) feature formed in the sole portion of the body between the face portion and the at least one weight track.

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

the at least one weight track comprises an intermediate weight track, extending in a front-to-rear direction substantially perpendicular to the strike face of the face portion and separating a first sole opening of the body from a second sole opening of the body; and

the COR feature comprises a channel between the face portion and the intermediate weight track and extending perpendicular to the intermediate weight track.

17. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one weight assembly is selectively adjustable to adjust:

a CGy coordinate of the golf club head within a range of adjustability of between 3 mm and 8 mm;

a CGx coordinate of the golf club head within a range of adjustability of between 2 mm and 8 mm; and

a CGz coordinate of the golf club head within a range of adjustability of no more than 2 mm.

18. The golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one weight assembly is a two-piece weight assembly for installing within the at least one weight track of the golf club head, the two-piece weight assembly consisting of:

an inner component comprising an anchor element and a mating element, wherein the anchor element is round; and

an outer component, comprising a head element that has a non-circular shape, wherein the mating element of the inner component is rotatably mateable with the outer component to adjust a distance between the anchor element of the inner component and the head element of the outer component.

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

the outer component further comprises a boss protruding from the head element;

the boss is positioned between the head element and the anchor element when the mating element of the inner component is rotatably mated with the outer component; and

the boss has a non-circular shape.

20. The golf club head according to claim 18 , wherein the head element of the outer component comprises a plurality of alternating recesses and tabs.

21. A golf club head, comprising:

a body, defining an interior cavity and comprising:

a sole portion, positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

a crown portion, positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

a skirt portion, positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole portion and the crown portion;

a forward region;

a rearward region;

a face portion, at the forward region of the body and comprising a strike face having a maximum height from a ground plane of at least about 50 mm when the golf club head is in a normal address position on the ground plane; and

at least one weight track formed in the sole portion;

at least one weight assembly, selectively adjustably positioned within the at least one weight track; and

at least one brace bar traversing the interior cavity between and attached to the sole portion and the crown portion, wherein a mass per unit length of the brace bar is between 0.005 g/mm and 0.40 g/mm;

wherein

the at least one weight assembly is a two-piece weight assembly for installing within the at least one weight track of the golf club head, the two-piece weight assembly consisting of:

an inner component comprising an anchor element and a mating element, wherein the anchor element is round; and

an outer component, comprising a head element that has a non-circular shape, wherein the mating element of the inner component is rotatably mateable with the outer component to adjust a distance between the anchor element of the inner component and the head element of the outer component;

the inner component further comprises a neck between the anchor element and the mating element; and

the neck has a maximum width that is less than that of the anchor element and the mating element.

22. A golf club head, comprising:

a body, defining an interior cavity and comprising:

a sole portion, positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

a crown portion, positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

a skirt portion, positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole portion and the crown portion;

a forward region;

a rearward region;

a face portion, at the forward region of the body and comprising a strike face having a maximum height from a ground plane of at least about 50 mm when the golf club head is in a normal address position on the ground plane; and

at least one weight track formed in the sole portion;

at least one weight assembly, selectively adjustably positioned within the at least one weight track; and

at least one brace bar traversing the interior cavity between and attached to the sole portion and the crown portion, wherein a mass per unit length of the brace bar is between 0.005 g/mm and 0.40 g/mm;

wherein:

the at least one weight assembly is a two-piece weight assembly for installing within the at least one weight track of the golf club head, the two-piece weight assembly consisting of:

an inner component comprising an anchor element and a mating element, wherein the anchor element is round; and

an outer component, comprising a head element that has a non-circular shape, wherein the mating element of the inner component is rotatably mateable with the outer component to adjust a distance between the anchor element of the inner component and the head element of the outer component;

the mating element comprises external threads and a tool engagement socket;

the outer component comprises an aperture extending entirely through the outer component; and

the aperture comprises internal threads threadably engageable with the external threads of the mating element.

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 Jan 11, 2021
From: JOHNSON, MATTHEW; BENNETT, DAVID; HOFFMAN, JOSEPH; NIELSON, JOSEPH R.; SARGENT, NATHAN T.; HARBERT, CHRISTOPHER J.; GUTTMANN, JARED; WESTER, CHRISTIAN R.; FEUERSTEIN, JAKE; BOVEE, MATTIEU
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 054879/0509 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 17100438 · Nov 20, 2020
Continuation 15860534 · Jan 2, 2018
Continuation In Part 15259026 · Sep 7, 2016
Continuation In Part 15255638 · Sep 2, 2016
Continuation In Part 15087002 · Mar 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62440886 · Dec 30, 2016
Provisional Application 62205601 · Aug 14, 2015
Related Publication 20210220709A1 · Jul 22, 2021
Cited By (3)
US 12,357,887 US 12,702,902 US 12,702,904