Golf club heads with ribs and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11266887-B2
Application number	US-202017108967-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2020
Priority date	May 2, 2013
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

Provided herein are embodiments of golf club heads comprising a crown and a ribbed region. The ribbed region of the golf club head can be positioned on a portion of the crown and can further include a ribbed wall, wherein the ribbed wall comprises a ribbed wall interior surface, a ribbed wall exterior surface, and one or more external ribs. The one or more external ribs can protrude from the ribbed region to increase the strength of the crown and beneficially reduce crown thickness. Other embodiments and related methods are disclosed herein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A golf club head comprising:
a front end;
a back end opposite the front end;
a heel portion;
a toe portion opposite the heel portion;
a sole;
a crown opposite the sole having a length;
a faceplate having a top; and
a ribbed region positioned on a portion of the crown; wherein the ribbed region comprises:
a ribbed wall comprising:
a ribbed wall interior surface facing an interior of the golf club head;
a ribbed wall exterior surface facing an exterior of the golf club head opposite the ribbed wall interior surface; and
a thickness measured from the ribbed wall interior surface to the ribbed wall exterior surface that is less than 0.031 inch;
one or more external ribs protruding from the ribbed wall exterior surface, wherein the one or more external ribs extend from the back end toward the front end of the golf club head in the ribbed region;
the one or more external ribs comprise a first external rib having:
a first, first external rib endpoint; and
a second, first external rib endpoint; and

the one or more external ribs further comprise a second external rib having:
a first, second external rib endpoint; and
a second, second external rib endpoint;
a second external rib axis intersecting the first, second external rib endpoint and the second, second external rib endpoint;
wherein:
the one or more ribs comprises an external rib height, wherein the external rib height decreases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head;
the length of the crown extends from the front end to the back end direction;
the crown of the golf club head includes a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion, each comprising a length that is ⅓ the length of the crown;
wherein the crown has a thickness in each of the front portion, the middle portion, and the rear portion;
wherein:
the front portion of the crown is proximal to the faceplate;
the rear portion of the crown is proximal to the back end;
the middle portion of the crown is between the rear portion and the front portion; and
the front portion thickness is less than 0.035 inch.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
the thickness of the front portion of the crown is greater than the thickness of the middle portion and rear portion of the crown.

3. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein:
an entire middle portion has a thickness less than or equal to 0.020 inch.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more external ribs is positioned in a rear 50% of a length of the golf club head from the front end to the back end.

5. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein:
an entire rear portion has a thickness less than or equal to 0.020 inch.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
a front distance measured from the top of the faceplate to the ribbed region is between 0.5 inch and 3.00 inch, the front distance configured to control resonant forces during impact.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
a heel side rear distance measured from a heel club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the heel club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the heel portion; wherein the heel side rear distance varies along the heel portion such that the one or more external ribs extending from the back toward the front is curved.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
a toe side rear distance measured from a toe club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the toe club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the toe portion; wherein the toe side rear distance varies along the toe portion such that the one or more external ribs extending from the back toward the front is curved.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more external ribs comprises:
a longitudinal edge extending in a direction from the back end to the front end of the golf club head;
a lateral edge extending in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion of the golf club head;
wherein:
an obtuse angle is defined between the longitudinal edges and the lateral edge of the one or more external ribs.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the one or more external ribs comprise an external rib width, where the external rib width increases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head.

11. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
the thickness of the front portion varies from the heel end to the toe end.

12. A golf club head comprising:
a front end;
a back end opposite the front end;
a heel portion;
a toe portion opposite the heel portion;
a sole;
a crown opposite the sole having a length;
a faceplate having a top; and
a ribbed region positioned on a portion of the crown, the ribbed region comprising:
a ribbed wall comprising:
a ribbed wall interior surface facing an interior of the golf club head;
a ribbed wall exterior surface facing an exterior of the golf club head opposite the ribbed wall interior surface:
a thickness measured from the ribbed wall interior surface to the ribbed wall exterior surface that is less than 0.031 inch; and
a front distance measured from the top of the faceplate to the ribbed region;
wherein the front distance varies from the heel portion to the toe portion;
one or more external ribs protruding from the ribbed wall exterior surface, wherein the one or more external ribs extend from the back end toward the front end of the golf club head in the ribbed region;
the one or more external ribs comprise a first external rib having:
a first, first external rib endpoint;
a second, first external rib endpoint; and

the one or more external ribs further comprise a second external rib having:
a first, second external rib endpoint;
a second, second external rib endpoint; and

the one or more external ribs comprises an external rib height, wherein the external rib height decreases from the back end to the front end of the golf club head;
wherein:
the length of the crown extends from the front end to the back end direction;
the crown of the golf club head further includes a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion; wherein each of the front portion, middle portion, and rear portion comprise:
a length that is ⅓ the length of the crown; and
a thickness;

wherein:
the front portion of the crown is proximal to the faceplate;
the rear portion of the crown is proximal to the back;
the middle portion of the crown is between the rear portion and the front portion; and
the thickness of the front portion is greater than the thickness of the middle portion and the thickness of the rear portion.

13. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein:
the first external rib and the second external rib are positioned in a rear 50% of a length of the golf club head from the front end to the back end.

14. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein:
the thickness of the front portion is less than 0.035 inch.

15. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein:
a heel side rear distance measured from a heel club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the heel club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the heel portion; wherein the heel side rear distance varies along the heel portion, such that the one or more external rib extending from the back toward the front is curved.

16. The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein:
a toe side rear distance measured from a toe club head edge to the ribbed region, wherein the toe club head edge is defined along a perimeter of the toe portion; wherein the toe side rear distance varies along the toe portion, such t

Assignees

• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Stokke Ryan M
• Jertson Martin R
• Higdon David A
• Chen Xiaojian

Classifications

• A63B53/0408

  characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness · CPC title

• A63B53/0437

  with special crown configurations · CPC title

• A63B53/0466 Primary

  wood-type · CPC title

• A63B53/045

  Strengthening ribs · CPC title

• A63B53/0433

  with special sole configurations · CPC title