Golf club heads with turbulators and methods to manufacture golf club heads with turbulators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11779818-B2
Application number	US-202117305711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2021
Priority date	Oct 31, 2011
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

A golf club head includes a crown surface having an apex at a highest point and extending between the face, the rear, the heel and the toe of the golf club head. The golf club head also includes a plurality of crown turbulators projecting from the surface of the crown and located at least partially between the leading edge and the apex, wherein the height of each turbulator decreases from the leading edge toward the rear portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A golf club head comprising:
a face portion defining a loft plane;
a rear portion opposite to the face portion;
a heel portion;
a toe portion opposite the heel portion;
a sole portion;
a crown portion;
a leading edge portion positioned between the face portion and the crown portion;
the leading edge portion defining a leading edge plane forming a leading edge angle with the loft plane; and
an apex positioned at a highest point on the crown portion;
an x-axis extending through a center of the face portion;
wherein the x-axis is parallel to the face portion;
a plurality of crown turbulators projecting outwardly from the crown portion positioned between the leading edge portion and the apex;
each crown turbulator extending between the face portion and the apex to define a turbulator length;
each crown turbulator extending a distance at least partially between the heel portion and the toe portion to define a turbulator width;
wherein the turbulator length is substantially greater than the turbulator width;
each crown turbulator extending outward from the crown to define a turbulator height;
each crown turbulator having a turbulator front portion defining a portion of the crown turbulator closest to the face portion;
the turbulator front portion of the crown turbulator being at least partly located on the leading edge portion and between the leading edge plane and the rear portion;
wherein each of the plurality of crown turbulators is oriented at an identical oblique angle between 20 and 70 degrees to the leading edge portion.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator decreases from the leading edge portion toward the rear portion.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a space between each adjacent crown turbulator is substantially greater than the turbulator width of each crown turbulator that defines the space.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator is less than the turbulator length of each crown turbulator.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is linear.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is curved.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein each crown turbulator is fixedly attached to the crown portion of the golf club head by adhesion.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of crown turbulators are composed of a plastic or composite material, and are a different material than the golf club head.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator front portion of each crown turbulator is separated from an adjacent crown turbulator by a turbulator separation distance measured from each turbulator leading edge.

10. A golf club head comprising:
a face portion defining a loft plane;
a rear portion opposite to the face portion;
a heel portion;
a toe portion opposite the heel portion;
a sole portion;
a crown portion;
a leading edge portion positioned between the face portion and the crown portion;
the leading edge portion defining a leading edge plane forming a leading edge angle with the loft plane; and
an apex positioned at a highest point on the crown portion;
an x-axis extending through a center of the face portion;
wherein the x-axis is parallel to the face portion;
a plurality of crown turbulators projecting outwardly from the crown portion positioned between the leading edge portion and the apex;
each crown turbulator extending between the face portion and the apex to define a turbulator length;
each crown turbulator extending a distance at least partially between the heel portion and the toe portion to define a turbulator width;
wherein the turbulator length is substantially greater than the turbulator width;
each crown turbulator extending outward from the crown portion to define a turbulator height;
wherein the turbulator height of each crown turbulator decreases from the leading edge portion toward the rear portion; and wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator decreases from the leading edge portion toward the rear portion;
each crown turbulator having a turbulator front portion defining a portion of the crown turbulator closest to the face portion;
wherein each of the plurality of crown turbulators is oriented at an identical oblique angle between 20 and 70 degrees to the leading edge portion;
wherein the turbulator front portion of each crown turbulator is separated from an adjacent crown turbulator by a turbulator separation distance measured from each turbulator leading edge.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein a space between each adjacent crown turbulator is substantially greater than the turbulator width of each crown turbulator that defines the space.

12. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator is less than the turbulator length of each crown turbulator.

13. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is linear.

14. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is curved.

15. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein each crown turbulator is fixedly attached to the crown portion of the golf club head by adhesion.

16. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of crown turbulators are composed of a plastic or composite material, and are a different material than the golf club head.

17. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of crown turbulators are offset from one another.

Assignees

• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Henrikson Erik M
• Wood Paul D
• Hart John
• Jertson Marty R
• Schweigert Bradley D

Classifications

• A63B53/0466 Primary

  wood-type · CPC title

• A63B53/04

  Heads · CPC title

• A63B60/52

  with slits · CPC title

• A63B53/047

  iron-type · CPC title

• A63B53/0408

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