Golf club head with undercut and insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12544632-B2
Application number	US-202318460364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2023
Priority date	Oct 30, 2020
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

The invention described herein is an iron-type golf club head having a back cavity and a multi-section back cavity insert that preserves more flexibility of the strike face and energy return to the golf ball.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An iron-type golf club head comprising:
an iron-type golf club head body and an insert; the iron-type golf club head body comprising: a front portion and a back portion, a top portion comprising a top rail, and a bottom portion comprising a sole; a strikeface comprising a strikeface front surface located at the front portion and a strikeface rear surface located opposite the strikeface front surface towards the back portion, the strikeface further comprises a geometric center, a strikeface perimeter; and a thickness measured from the strikeface front surface to the strikeface rear surface; wherein a rear perimeter extension extends rearwardly from the strikeface perimeter; wherein the strikeface rear surface and the rear perimeter extension cooperate to define a back cavity; an insert comprising: an adhesive layer, an elastomeric layer, and a cap; wherein the insert is configured to be received within the back cavity and adhesively attached to the strikeface rear surface; wherein the adhesive layer consists of a single, unbroken piece; wherein the elastomeric layer comprises a first plurality of portions, and the cap comprises a second plurality of portions; wherein the first plurality of portions are aligned with the second plurality of portions; wherein one elastomeric layer portion and one cap portion form an insert section such that each of the first plurality of portions is paired with a different cap portion, and such that each of the second plurality of portions is paired with an individual elastomeric layer portion such that the insert comprises a plurality of insert sections; wherein the plurality of insert sections are separated one from another by gaps such that none of the plurality of insert sections are directly connected one to another; wherein the plurality of insert sections are not identical in shape; wherein the gaps are defined by uncovered areas of the adhesive layer.

2 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 wherein the insert further comprises a maximum insert length measured in a toe portion to heel portion direction and a maximum insert height measured in a bottom portion to top portion direction;
wherein the maximum insert length is in a range of 2.80 inches to 3.00 inches; and
wherein the maximum insert height is in a range of 1.20 inches to 1.30 inches.

3 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insert sections is affixed to the adhesive layer.

4 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the gaps further comprise a gap width that comprises a minimum gap width in a rest state and a maximum gap width in an expanded state.

5 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the minimum gap width is in a range of inch to 0.040 inch.

6 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 5 , wherein when the iron-type golf club head strikes a golf ball, the strikeface is rearwardly flexibly displaced; and
wherein when the strikeface is rearwardly flexibly displaced, the adhesively attached insert is also flexibly displaced by the strikeface rear surface, increasing the gap width; wherein the maximum gap width is up to 0.010 inch greater than the minimum gap width.

7 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insert sections comprises four insert sections.

8 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the four insert sections of the plurality of insert sections further comprise one toe side section, a top section, a bottom section, and one heel side section.

9 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the top section and the bottom section are each adjacent to both the toe side section and the heel side section.

10 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a foam-based, very-high-bond (VHB) tape.

11 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of portions of the elastomeric layer comprises a Shore D hardness ranging from 70 to 100.

12 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the the second plurality of portions of cap are metallic.

13 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric layer comprises a flexible polymeric or rubber material.

14 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the top section is adjacent to the top portion and the bottom section adjacent to the bottom portion.

15 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein each of the top section, bottom section, toe side section, and heel side section further comprise at least one curvilinear edge, wherein an adjacent section edge has a complimentary curve.

16 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the top section, bottom section, toe side section, and heel side section converge to a center gap adjacent to the geometric center.

17 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the maximum gap width is in a range of 0.015 inch to 0.050 inch.

Assignees

• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Greer Evan
• Morales Eric J
• Alexander Murphy R
• Stokke Ryan M
• Spackman Clayson C
• Chen Xiaojian

Classifications

• A63B53/0445

  Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface · CPC title

• A63B53/047

  iron-type · CPC title

• A63B53/0408 Primary

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

• A63B2209/00

  Characteristics of used materials · CPC title

• A63B53/0425 Primary

  the face insert comprising two or more different materials · CPC title