Golf club head having a support to limit faceplate deformation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10478683-B2
Application number	US-201816140764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2018
Priority date	Mar 25, 2016
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A golf club head includes a body having a face plate having a strike surface and an opposing interior surface, a rear end, and a sole connecting the faceplate with the rear end. The face plate, the rear end, and the sole partially define a cavity. An insert is positioned within the cavity, the insert presenting an insert surface facing the interior surface of the face plate and spaced therefrom.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A golf club head comprising:
a body including:
a face plate having a strike surface and an opposing interior surface,
wherein a distance between the strike surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate defines a thickness of the face plate;
a rear end; and
a sole connecting the face plate with the rear end,
wherein the face plate, the rear end, and the sole partially define a cavity; and
an insert positioned within the cavity, the insert comprising a front portion configured to face the opposing interior surface of the face plate, the front portion having an insert surface facing the opposing interior surface of the face plate, wherein:
a first insert surface of the front portion comprises a first arm adjacent to a heel end of the insert, a second arm adjacent to a toe end of the insert, and a cross member extending from the heel end of the insert to the toe end of the insert;
wherein the first and second arms transition into the cross member to generally define a U shape of the first surface;
wherein at least a second surface of the front portion of the insert surface is spaced apart from the opposing interior surface of the face plate defining a distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate; and
the distance between the second surface of the front portion and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.005-0.125 inch.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert surface includes a taper angle such that the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate, in a direction normal to the insert surface, increases from near a bottom surface of the insert to a top surface of the insert.

3. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the taper angle is between 0.01 degree-20.0 degree.

4. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the taper angle is between 1.0 degree-20.0 degree.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert surface is concave relative to the face plate in a direction extending from near a bottom surface of the insert to near a top surface of the insert, and in a direction extending from near a heel end of the insert to near a toe end of the insert.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.005-0.060 inch.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.060-0.125 inch.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole of the club head comprises a uniform thickness less than 0.060 inch.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the face plate varies, and a maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.15 inch.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.10 inch.

11. A golf club head comprising:
a body including: a face plate having a strike surface and an opposing interior surface,
wherein a distance between the strike surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate defines a thickness of the face plate;
a rear end; and
a sole connecting the face plate with the rear end,
wherein the face plate, the rear end, and the sole partially define a cavity; and
an insert positioned within the cavity, the insert comprising a front portion configured to face the opposing interior surface of the face plate, the front portion having an insert surface facing the opposing interior surface of the face plate, wherein:
a first insert surface of the front portion comprises a first arm adjacent to a heel end of the insert, a second arm adjacent to a toe end of the insert, and a cross member extending from the heel end of the insert to the toe end of the insert;
wherein the first and second arms transition into the cross member to generally define a U shape of the first surface;
wherein at least a second surface of the front portion of the insert surface is spaced apart from the opposing interior surface of the face plate defining a distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate;
the insert surface includes a taper angle such that the distance between the second surface of the front portion of the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate, in a direction normal to the insert surface, increases from near a bottom surface of the insert to a top surface of the insert; and
the taper angle is between 0.01 degree-20.0 degree.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the insert surface is spaced apart from the opposing interior surface of the face plate defining a distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranging from 0.005-0.125 inch.

13. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the taper angle is between 1.0 degree-20.0 degree.

14. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the taper angle is between 1.0 degree-15.0 degree.

15. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.005-0.060 inch.

16. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.060-0.125 inch.

17. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the sole of the club head comprises a uniform thickness less than 0.060 inch.

18. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the face plate varies.

19. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein a maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.15 inch.

20. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein a maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.10 inch.

Assignees

• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Stokke Ryan M
• Solheim John A
• Jertson Martin R

Classifications

• A63B60/00

  Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like · CPC title

• A63B60/52 Primary

  with slits · CPC title

• A63B53/047 Primary

  iron-type · CPC title

• A63B2053/0408

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A63B2053/0454

  Human Necessities · mapped topic