IP Library Granted Patent US 8,342,981
Granted Patent B2
US 8,342,981 · App. 13/430,596 · Granted Jan 1, 2013

Golf club head having a grooved face

Assignee: Acushnet Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,342,981
App. No.
13/430,596
Filed
Mar 26, 2012
Granted
Jan 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3711
USPC
473/328
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 and angled relative to a leading edge of the golf club head. The sole of the golf club head is contoured so that the effective bounce and leading edge height are controlled when the golf club head is rotated to an opened orientation.

Claims (20)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a hosel, a striking face with a first set of grooves formed therein and a second set of grooves formed therein, and a sole that intersects the striking face at a leading edge,

wherein the striking face and the hosel define a loft angle, and the club head has a first leading edge height relative to a planar ground surface when the golf club is in a square orientation,

wherein the first set of grooves and the second set of grooves are angled relative to each other and at least partially overlap, and

wherein the sole has a contour configured such that when the golf club head is in an opened orientation in which the club head is rotated about a hosel axis by about 15 degrees the club head has a second leading edge height that is different than the first leading edge height by less than about 40%.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the face includes a portion having texturing that is angled relative to the leading edge.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the loft angle is greater than about 48 degrees.

4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the loft angle is about 56 degrees.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole has a contour configured such that when the golf club head is in an opened orientation in which the club head is rotated about a hosel axis by about 15 degrees the club head has a second leading edge height that is different than the first leading edge height by less than 30%.

6. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a hosel, a striking face with a first set of grooves formed therein and a second set of grooves formed therein, and a sole that intersects the striking face at a leading edge,

wherein the striking face and the hosel define a loft angle, and the club head has a first leading edge height relative to a planar ground surface when the golf club is in a square orientation,

wherein the first set of grooves and the second set of grooves are angled relative to each other and at least partially overlap, and

wherein the sole has a contour configured such that when the golf club head is in an opened orientation in which the club head is rotated about a hosel axis by about 15 degrees the club head has a second leading edge height that is in a range from about 0.20 inch to about 0.30 inch.

7. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the second leading edge height is in a range from about 0.225 inch to about 0.275 inch.

8. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the face includes a portion having texturing that is angled relative to the leading edge.

9. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the loft angle is greater than about 48 degrees.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the loft angle is about 56 degrees.

11. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the sole has a contour configured such that when the golf club head is in an opened orientation in which the club head is rotated about a hosel axis by about 15 degrees the club head has a second leading edge height that is different than the first leading edge height by less than about 40%.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the sole has a contour configured such that when the golf club head is in an opened orientation in which the club head is rotated about a hosel axis by about 15 degrees the club head has a second leading edge height that is different than the first leading edge height by less than about 30%.

Assignments (7)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (031935/0395) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0427 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 7, 2014
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 031935/0395 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2012
From: JOHNSON, GREGORY D.; VOKEY, ROBERT W.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027952/0043 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2012
From: JOHNSON, GREGORY D.; VOKEY, ROBERT W.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027952/0180 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 13076603 · Mar 31, 2011
Continuation 12493834 · Jun 29, 2009
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 20120184391A1 · Jul 19, 2012