IP Library Granted Patent US 8,142,309
Granted Patent B2
US 8,142,309 · App. 13/076,603 · Granted Mar 27, 2012

Golf club head having a grooved face

Assignee: Acushnet Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,142,309
App. No.
13/076,603
Granted
Mar 27, 2012
Kind
B2
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 (26)

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a hosel, a striking face with 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 that is between about 48 degrees and about 60 degrees, 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 grooves are angled relative to the leading edge by about 2 degrees to about 30 degrees,

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%, and

wherein the striking face includes a second set of grooves, wherein the grooves of the second set of grooves are generally parallel to the leading edge, and the second set of grooves at least partially overlaps the grooves that are angled relative to the leading edge.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the grooves are angled relative to the leading edge by about 5 degrees to about 8 degrees.

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

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the loft angle is greater than about 54 degrees.

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

6. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the grooves are angled relative to the leading edge by about 2 degrees to about 8 degrees.

7. 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 30%.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a hosel, a striking face with 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 that is between about 48 degrees and about 60 degrees, 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 grooves are angled relative to the leading edge by about 2 degrees to about 30 degrees,

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, and

wherein the striking face includes a second set of grooves, wherein the grooves of the second set of grooves are generally parallel to the leading edge, and the second set of grooves at least partially overlaps the grooves that are angled relative to the leading edge.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the second leading edge height is in a range from about 0.225 inch to about 0.275 inch.

10. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the grooves are angled relative to the leading edge by about 5 degrees to about 8 degrees.

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

12. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the loft angle is greater than about 54 degrees.

13. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein the loft angle is about 56 degrees.

14. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the grooves are angled relative to the leading edge by about 2 degrees to about 8 degrees.

15. The golf club head of claim 8 , 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%.

16. The golf club head of claim 15 , 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 (6)
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 (027345/0877) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0087 →
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 Dec 8, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027345/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2011
From: JOHNSON, GREGORY D.; VOKEY, ROBERT W.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026052/0918 →
Continuity (7)
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 20110177877A1 · Jul 21, 2011