IP Library Granted Patent US 12,005,322
Granted Patent B2
US 12,005,322 · App. 17/695,194 · Granted Jun 11, 2024

Golf club

Inventors: Mark Vincent Greaney (Vista, CA); Andrew Kickertz (San Diego, CA); Todd P. Beach (Encinitas, CA); Craig Richard Slyfield (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
A63B53/0466A63B71/0619A63B53/0437A63B53/0441A63B60/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,005,322
App. No.
17/695,194
Granted
Jun 11, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf club head is provided with an electronic display that is visible to a user of the golf club head when the golf club head is in the address position, such as for displaying one or more images to the user. The electronic display may include a memory, a microprocessor, and a battery, and may be configured to communicate with a user operable electronic device via a wired or a wireless communication protocol. For example, the electronic display may be configured to receive one or more images from the user operable electronic device, to store the one or more images in the memory, and to display the one or more images to the user.

Claims (75)

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 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; and

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

wherein the alignment feature has:

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

b. a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Heelward (SAPFA 25H ) of from about −5 to about 2 degrees; and

c. a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Toeward (SAPFA 25T ) of from 0 to about 9 degrees; and

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

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:

a. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle (SAPFA) is from 0 to about 6 degrees; and

b. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Heelward (SAPFA 25H ) is from about −3 to 0 degrees; and

c. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Toeward (SAPFA 25T ) is from about 1 to about 4.5 degrees; and

d. the Radius of Curvature (circle fit) is from about 400 to about 900 mm.

3. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein:

a. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle (SAPFA) is from about 0.5 to about 4 degrees; and

b. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Heelward (SAPFA 25H ) is from about −2 to about −1 degrees; and

c. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Toeward (SAPFA 25T ) is from about 2 to about 4 degrees; and

d. the Radius of Curvature (circle fit) is from about 500 to about 775 mm.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the alignment feature has a contrasting color difference (ΔE*ab) greater than 60, wherein the contrasting color difference (ΔE*ab) is between the first portion of the crown and the face.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , further including an electronic display on at least a portion of the crown.

6. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the electronic display is a color display.

7. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the electronic display is user adjustable.

8. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the electronic display comprises a secondary alignment feature, and the golf club body has a volume of 420-500 cc.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the secondary alignment feature is user adjustable.

10. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the electronic display is configured to wirelessly communicate with a user operable electronic device.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the electronic display is configured to receive and display one or more images from the user operable electronic device.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the one or more images when displayed on the electronic display comprise a secondary alignment feature.

13. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein a orientation of the secondary alignment feature is user adjustable and changes a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle Secondary Alignment Feature (SAPFA SAF ).

14. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the secondary alignment feature has at least one elongate side extending primarily in a direction of the x axis and having a side length that is at least one inch.

15. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein an imaginary perpendicular reference line extends orthogonal from a midpoint of the elongate side, and the imaginary perpendicular reference line intersects the x axis at a location heelward of the center face.

16. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the electronic display is configured to display one or more images that comprise the secondary alignment feature.

17. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the portion of the crown containing the electronic display is curved.

18. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the electronic display comprises an organic light-emitting diode screen.

19. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the electronic display comprises an e-ink display.

20. The golf club head of claim 13 , further including at least one control feature disposed on the golf club head allowing a user to manipulate the electronic display.

21. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle Secondary Alignment Feature (SAPFA SAF ) is about −2 to about 6 degrees.

22. The golf club head of claim 21 , wherein the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle Secondary Alignment Feature (SAPFA SAF ) is about 0 to about 5 degrees, and the golf club body has an effective face position height of 2-10 mm.

23. The golf club head of claim 21 , wherein the electronic display is flexible.

24. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club body having a volume of 420-500 cc, a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel 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;

an electronic display on at least a curved portion of the crown, wherein the electronic display is configured to display one or more images;

wherein the golf club head has a primary alignment feature delineating a transition between at least a first 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 has:

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

b. a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Heelward (SAPFA 25H ) of from about −5 to about 2 degrees; and

c. a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Toeward (SAPFA 25T ) of from 0 to about 9 degrees; and

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

25. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein:

a. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle (SAPFA) is from 0 to about 6 degrees; and

b. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Heelward (SAPFA 25H ) is from about −3 to 0 degrees; and

c. the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Toeward (SAPFA 25T ) is from about 1 to about 4.5 degrees; and

d. the Radius of Curvature (circle fit) is from about 400 to about 900 mm.

26. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the electronic display comprises a secondary alignment feature.

27. The golf club head of claim 26 , wherein the secondary alignment feature is user adjustable.

28. The golf club head of claim 27 , wherein a orientation of the secondary alignment feature is user adjustable and changes a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle Secondary Alignment Feature (SAPFA SAF ).

29. The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein the Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle Secondary Alignment Feature (SAPFA SAF ) is about −2 to about 6 degrees.

30. The golf club head of claim 27 , wherein the secondary alignment feature has at least one elongate side extending primarily in a direction of the x axis and having a side length that is at least one inch.

31. The golf club head of claim 30 , wherein an imaginary perpendicular reference line extends orthogonal from a midpoint of the elongate side, and the imaginary perpendicular reference line intersects the x axis at a location heelward of the center face.

32. The golf club head of claim 26 , wherein the one or more images form the secondary alignment feature.

33. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the electronic display comprises an organic light-emitting diode screen.

34. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the electronic display comprises an e-ink display.

35. The golf club head of claim 24 , further including at least one control feature disposed on the golf club head allowing a user to manipulate the electronic display.

36. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the electronic display is configured to wirelessly communicate with a user operable electronic device.

37. The golf club head of claim 36 , wherein the electronic display is configured to receive and display one or more images from the user operable electronic device.

38. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the electronic display is a color display.

39. The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the alignment feature has a contrasting color difference (ΔE*ab) greater than 60, wherein the contrasting color difference (ΔE*ab) is between the first portion of the crown and the face.

40. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club body having a volume of 420-500 cc, a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the golf club body including a heel 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;

a user adjustable color electronic display on at least a curved portion of the crown;

wherein the golf club head has a primary alignment feature delineating a transition between at least a first 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 has:

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

b. a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Heelward (SAPFA 25H ) of from about −5 to about 2 degrees; and

c. a Sight Adjusted Perceived Face Angle 25 mm Toeward (SAPFA 25T ) of from 0 to about 9 degrees; and

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

Assignments (3)
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 Mar 15, 2022
From: GREANEY, MARK VINCENT; KICKERTZ, ANDREW; BEACH, TODD P.; SLYFIELD, CRAIG RICHARD
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 059270/0094 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16352537 · Mar 13, 2019
Continuation 16046106 · Jul 26, 2018
Continuation 15197551 · Jun 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62185882 · Jun 29, 2015
Related Publication 20220212069A1 · Jul 7, 2022
Cited By (2)
US 12,496,498 US 12,649,090