IP Library Granted Patent US 11,701,555
Granted Patent B2
US 11,701,555 · App. 17/547,519 · Granted Jul 18, 2023

Golf club

Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney (Vista, CA); Andrew Kickertz (San Diego, CA); Todd P. Beach (Encinitas, CA); Craig Richard Slyfield (San Diego, CA); Christopher John Harbert (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
A63B53/0441A63B53/0412A63B53/0437A63B53/0445A63B53/0466
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,701,555
App. No.
17/547,519
Granted
Jul 18, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed to golf club having a crown, a sole, a face, and a primary alignment feature hard tooled into the golf club head. In some embodiments the golf club has a primary alignment feature comprising a line delineating a transition between at least a portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with a shade or color of the face. The primary alignment feature is hard tooled into the golf club head with the face of the golf club body.

Claims (60)

1. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel portion and a toe portion and having an x, y and z axes which are orthogonal to each other having their origin at USGA center face,

wherein the golf club body has a volume between about 350 cm 3 and about 500 cm 3 ,

wherein at least one of the sole or the crown is at least in part a non-metal material,

wherein the golf club head has a primary alignment feature comprising a line delineating a transition between at least a portion of the crown having an area of contrasting shade or color with a shade or color of the face,

wherein the primary alignment feature is hard tooled into the golf club head with the face of the golf club body,

wherein the face is bonded to the golf club body and the golf club body is painted prior to bonding the face to the golf club body, and

wherein the primary alignment feature has:

a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle (SAPFA) of from about −2 to about 10 degrees; and

a Radius of Curvature (circle fit) of from about 300 to about 1000 mm;

wherein the face is at least in part a composite material;

wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity;

wherein the golf club head has a z-axis moment of inertia (I zz ) between 400 kg·mm 2 and 600 kg·mm 2 ; and

wherein the golf club head has an x-axis moment of inertia (I xx ) of between 280 kg·mm 2 and 420 kg·mm 2 .

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the primary alignment feature is hard tooled into the golf club head at the transition from the face to the crown.

3. The golf club head of claim 2 , further comprising a layer covering at least a portion of the crown of the golf club head and the layer comprises an electronic display.

4. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein a location of the primary alignment feature is defined at least in part by a size of the face.

5. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle (SAPFA) and the Radius of Curvature (circle fit) is defined at least in part by a shape of the face.

6. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the golf club head has a center-face y-axis location (CFY) of less than about 18 mm.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the crown of the golf club head comprises a flexible electronic display.

8. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the flexible electronic display comprises an e-ink display.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the face of the golf club body comprises a composite face insert and the golf club body comprises a recessed face opening configured to receive the composite face insert,

wherein a portion of an internal hosel surface intrudes into the recessed face opening,

wherein the composite face insert comprises a corresponding geometry to receive the internal hosel surface, and

wherein the corresponding geometry of the composite face insert comprises a notch proximate to a heel portion of the composite face.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the crown of the golf club head comprises a flexible electronic display.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the flexible electronic display comprises an e-ink display.

12. The golf club head of claim 9 , further comprising a layer covering at least a portion of the crown of the golf club head and the layer comprises an electronic display.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel portion and a toe portion and having an x, y and z axes which are orthogonal to each other having their origin at USGA center face,

wherein the golf club body has a volume between about 370 cm 3 and about 500 cm 3 ,

wherein at least one of the sole or the crown is at least in part a composite material,

wherein the golf club head has a primary alignment feature comprising a line delineating a transition between at least a portion of the golf club body having an area of contrasting shade or color with a shade or color of the face,

wherein the primary alignment feature is tooled into the golf club head with the face of the golf club body,

wherein the face of the golf club body comprises a composite face insert and the golf club body comprises a recessed face opening configured to receive the composite face insert,

wherein a portion of an internal hosel surface intrudes into the recessed face opening,

wherein the composite face insert comprises a corresponding geometry to receive the internal hosel surface, and

wherein the corresponding geometry of the composite face insert comprises a thinned portion proximate to a heel portion of the composite face;

wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity;

wherein the golf club head has a z-axis moment of inertia (I zz ) between 400 kg·mm 2 and 600 kg·mm 2 ; and

wherein the golf club head has an x-axis moment of inertia (I xx ) of between 280 kg·mm 2 and 420 kg·mm 2 .

14. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel portion and a toe portion and having an x, y and z axes which are orthogonal to each other having their origin at USGA center face,

wherein the golf club body has a volume between about 370 cm 3 and about 500 cm 3 ,

wherein the golf club body has a body height defined from a bottom most portion of the golf club body to a top most portion of the crown of no less than 48 mm,

wherein the golf club body has a body length defined from a leading edge of the golf club body to a rearward most portion of the golf club head of no less than 98 mm,

wherein the face and the crown are at least in part a composite material,

wherein the golf club head has a primary alignment feature comprising a line delineating a transition between at least a portion of the crown and at least a portion of the face,

wherein the golf club head has an adjustable shaft connection sleeve,

wherein the golf club head has a center-face y-axis location (CFY) of no more than 18 mm,

wherein the golf club head has face progression of no more than 20 mm, and

wherein the golf club head has a loft no more than 16 degrees

wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity;

wherein the golf club head has a z-axis moment of inertia (I z ) between 400 kg·mm 2 and 600 kg·mm 2 ; and

wherein the golf club head has an x-axis moment of inertia (I xx ) of between 280 kg·mm 2 and 420 kg·mm 2 .

15. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the line delineating the transition between at least the portion of the crown and at least the portion of the face is on the face.

16. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein a portion of a hosel of the golf club head extends into a notch of the face.

17. The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the crown of the golf club head comprises a flexible electronic display.

18. The golf club head of claim 17 , wherein the flexible electronic display comprises an e-ink display.

19. The golf club head of claim 17 , further comprising a layer covering at least a portion of the crown of the golf club head and the layer comprises an electronic display.

Assignments (7)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2023
From: HARBERT, CHRISTOPHER JOHN
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 063762/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 25, 2023
From: GREANEY, MARK VINCENT; KICKERTZ, ANDREW; BEACH, TODD P.; SLYFIELD, CRAIG RICHARD
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 063762/0348 →
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 Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058963/0671 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2021
From: GREANEY, MARK VINCENT; KICKERTZ, ANDREW; BEACH, TODD P.; SLYFIELD, CRAIG RICHARD
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058358/0006 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17006561 · Aug 28, 2020
Provisional Application 62894523 · Aug 30, 2019
Related Publication 20220176211A1 · Jun 9, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 12,496,498 US 12,649,090 US 12,708,832