Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/10286267
Timestamp: 2019-10-19 10:59:27
Document Index: 450747015

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62', 'Application No. 62']

US Patent for Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads Patent (Patent # 10,286,267 issued May 14, 2019) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Embedded In HeadUS Patent for Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads Patent (Patent # 10,286,267)
Apr 4, 2017 - PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a face portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a sole portion, and a back portion with at least one weight portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. The golf club head may include face markings on the face portion that include a first set of markings extending between the toe portion and the heel portion and a second set of markings extending between the top portion and the sole portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/709,195, filed May 11, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/992,555, filed May 13, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/010,836, filed Jun. 11, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/011,859, filed Jun. 13, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/021,415, filed Jul. 7, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/032,770, filed Aug. 4, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041,538, filed Aug. 25, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/058,858, filed Oct. 2, 2014, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/137,494, filed Mar. 24, 2015. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/709,195 is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/589,277, filed Jan. 5, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,421,437, which is a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/513,073, filed Oct. 13, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,961,336, which is a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/498,603, filed Sep. 26, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,199,143, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041,538, filed Aug. 25, 2014. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/709,195 is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/511,482, filed Dec. 11, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. D748,749, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/501,006, filed Aug. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. D722,352. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/709,195 is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/512,313, filed Dec. 18, 2014, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/506,825, filed Oct. 21, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. D723,120. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/709,195 is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/514,256, filed Jan. 9, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. D748,214, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/501,006, filed Aug. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. D722,352. U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/709,195 is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/515,013, filed Jan. 20, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. D756,471, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/501,006, filed Aug. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. D722,352. The disclosures of the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Some golf clubs (e.g., wedge-type golf clubs) may have a milling surface finish on the strike face to provide added roughness (e.g., milling marks). These milling marks may be configured in various face patterns relative to the grooves on the strike face (e.g., semicircular, downward-oriented marks).
FIG. 5 depicts a left side view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 depicts a right side view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.
FIG. 19 depicts a top perspective view a golf club head according to an embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein.
FIG. 20 depicts a top view of the example golf club head of FIG. 19.
FIG. 21 depicts an enlarged view of an impact area of the example golf club head of FIG. 19.
FIG. 22 depicts an enlarged view of grooves and markings of the example golf club head of FIG. 19.
FIG. 23 depicts a cross-sectional view of the grooves and markings of the example golf club head of FIG. 19 along line 23-23.
FIG. 24 depicts a rear view of the example golf club head of FIG. 19.
FIG. 25 depicts one manner in which the example golf club heads described herein may be manufactured.
To provide optimal perimeter weighting for the golf club head 100, the first set of weight portions 120 (e.g., weight portions 121, 122, 123, and 124) may be configured to counter-balance the weight of the hosel 155. The second set of weight portions 130 (e.g., weight portions 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be configured to place the center of gravity of the golf club head 100 at an optimal location. Turning to FIGS. 7-9, for example, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may be located away from the back surface 166 of the face portion 162 (e.g., not directly coupled to each other). That is, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, and the back surface 166 may be partially or entirely separated by an interior cavity 700 of the body portion 110. As shown in FIG. 14, for example, each exterior weight port of the first and second sets of exterior weight ports 1420 and 1430 may include an opening (e.g., generally shown as 720 and 730 in FIG. 9) and a port wall (e.g., generally shown as 725 and 735 in FIG. 9). The port walls 725 and 735 may be integral portions of the back wall portion 1410 (e.g., a section of the back wall portion 1410). Each of the openings 720 and 730 may be configured to receive a weight portion such as weight portions 121 and 135, respectively. The opening 720 may be located at one end of the weight port 1421, and the port wall 725 may be located or proximate to at an opposite end of the weight port 1421. In a similar manner, the opening 730 may be located at one end of the weight port 1435, and the port wall 735 may be located at or proximate to an opposite end of the weight port 1435. The port walls 725 and 735 may be separated from the face portion 162 (e.g., separated by the interior cavity 700). As a result, the center of gravity (CG) of the golf club head 100 may be relatively farther back away from the face portion 162 and relatively lower towards a ground plane (e.g., one shown as 1010 in FIG. 10) with the second set of weight portions 130 being away from the back surface 166 than if the second set of weight portions 130 were directly coupled to the back surface 166. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
In one example, the golf club head 100 may have a mass in the range of about 220 grams to about 330 grams based on the type of golf club (e.g., a 4-iron versus a lob wedge). The body portion 110 may have a mass in the range of about 200 grams to about 310 grams with the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, having a mass of about 20 grams (e.g., a total mass from exterior weight portions). Each of the weight portions of the first set 120 may have a mass of about one gram (1.0 g) whereas each of the weight portions of the second set 130 may have a mass of about 2.4 grams. The sum of the mass of the first set of weight portions 120 may be about 3 grams whereas the sum of the mass of the first set of weight portions 130 may be about 16.8 grams. The total mass of the second set of weight portions 130 may weigh more than five times as much as the total mass of the first set of weight portions 120 (e.g., a total mass of the second set of weight portions 130 of about 16.8 grams versus a total mass of the first set of weight portions 120 of about 3 grams). The golf club head 100 may have a total mass of 19.8 grams from the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively (e.g., sum of 3 grams from the first set of weight portions 120 and 16.8 grams from the second set of weight portions 130). Accordingly, the first set of weight portions 120 may account for about 15% of the total mass from exterior weight portions of the golf club head 100 whereas the second set of weight portions 130 may account for about 85% of the total mass from exterior weight portions of the golf club head 100. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
By coupling the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, to the body portion 110 (e.g., securing the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130 in the weight ports on the back portion 170), the location of the center of gravity (CG) and the moment of inertia (MOI) of the golf club head 100 may be optimized. In particular, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may lower the location of the CG towards the sole portion 190 and further back away from the face portion 162. Further, the MOI may be higher as measured about a vertical axis extending through the CG (e.g., perpendicular to the ground plane 1010). The MOI may also be higher as measured about a horizontal axis extending through the CG (e.g., extending towards the toe and heel portions 150 and 160, respectively, of the golf club head 100). As a result, the golf club head 100 may provide a relatively higher launch angle and a relatively lower spin rate than a golf club head without the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Although the figures may depict the weight portions as separate and individual parts, each set of the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may be a single piece of weight portion. In one example, all of the weight portions of the first set 120 (e.g., shown as 121, 122, 123, and 124) may be combined into a single piece of weight portion (e.g., a first weight portion). In a similar manner, all of the weight portions of the second set 130 (e.g., 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be combined into a single piece of weight portion as well (e.g., a second weight portion). In this example, the golf club head 100 may have only two weight portions. While the figures may depict a particular number of weight portions, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may include more or less number of weight portions. In one example, the first set of weight portions 120 may include two separate weight portions instead of four separate weight portions as shown in the figures. In another example, the second set of weight portions 130 may include five separate weight portions instead of seven separate weight portions a shown in the figures. Alternatively as mentioned above, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may not include any separate weight portions (e.g., the body portion 110 may be manufactured to include the mass of the separate weight portions as integral part(s) of the body portion 110). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
In one example, the interior cavity 700 may be unfilled (i.e., empty space). The body portion 110 with the interior cavity 700 may weigh about 100 grams less than the body portion 110 without the interior cavity 700. Alternatively, the interior cavity 700 may be partially or entirely filled with an elastic polymer or elastomer material (e.g., a viscoelastic urethane polymer material such as Sorbothane® material manufactured by Sorbothane, Inc., Kent, Ohio), a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU), and/or other suitable types of materials to absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noise. For example, at least 50% of the interior cavity 700 may be filled with a TPE material to absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noise when the golf club head 100 strikes a golf ball via the face portion 162. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
As illustrated in FIG. 16, for example, the face portion 162 may include a reinforcement section, generally shown as 1605, below one or more grooves 168. In one example, the face portion 162 may include a reinforcement section 1605 below each groove. Alternatively, face portion 162 may include the reinforcement section 1605 below some grooves (e.g., every other groove) or below only one groove. The face portion 162 may include a first thickness 1610, a second thickness 1620, a third thickness 1630, and a chamfer portion 1640. The groove 168 may have a groove depth 1625. The reinforcement section 168 may define the second thickness 1620. The first and second thicknesses 1610 and 1620, respectively, may be substantially equal to each other (e.g., T1=T2). In one example, the first and second thicknesses 1610 and 1620, respectively, may be about 0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters) (e.g., T1=T2=0.030 inch). The groove depth 1625 may be about 0.015 inch (0.381 millimeters), and the third thickness 1630 may be about 0.050 inch (1.27 millimeters). The groove 168 may also have a groove width. The width of the reinforcement section 1605 may be greater than, less than or equal to the groove width. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
The process 1700 may provide a body portion 110 having the face portion 162, the interior cavity 700, and the back portion 170 with two or more exterior weight ports, generally shown as 1420 and 1430 (block 1720). The body portion 110 may be made of a second material, which is different than the first material. The body portion 110 may be manufacture using an investment casting process, a billet forging process, a stamping process, a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining process, a die casting process, any combination thereof, or other suitable manufacturing processes. In one example, the body portion 110 may be made of 17-4 PH stainless steel using a casting process. In another example, the body portion 110 may be made of other suitable type of stainless steel (e.g., Nitronic® 50 stainless steel manufactured by AK Steel Corporation, West Chester, Ohio) using a forging process. By using Nitronic® 50 stainless steel to manufacture the body portion 110, the golf club head 100 may be relatively stronger and/or more resistant to corrosion than golf club heads made from other types of steel. Each weight port of the body portion 110 may include an opening and a port wall. For example, the weight port 1421 may include the opening 720 and the port wall 725 with the opening 720 and the port wall 725 being on opposite ends of each other. The interior cavity 700 may separate the port wall 725 of the weight port 1421 and the back surface 166 of the face portion 162. In a similar manner, the weight port 1435 may include the opening 730 and the port wall 735 with the opening 730 and the port wall 735 being on opposite ends of each other. The interior cavity 700 may separate the port wall 735 of the weight port 1435 and the back surface 166 of the face portion 162.
The process 1700 may partially or entirely fill the interior cavity 700 with an elastic polymer material (e.g., Sorbothane® material) (block 1740). In one example, at least 50% of the interior cavity 700 may be filled with the elastic polymer material. As mentioned above, the elastic polymer material may absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noise in response to the golf club head 100 striking a golf ball. In addition or alternatively, the interior cavity 700 may be filled with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material and/or a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material. As illustrated in FIG. 18, for example, the golf club head 100 may include one or more weight ports 1874 with a first opening 1830 and a second opening 1835. The second opening 1835 may be used to access the interior cavity 700. In one example, the process 1700 (FIG. 17) may fill the interior cavity 700 with an elastic polymer material by injecting the elastic polymer material into the interior cavity 700 from the first opening 1830 via the second opening 1835. For example, the process 1700 may injection mold a TPE material in flowing-state (i.e., non-foam) into the interior cavity 700 from the first opening 1830 via the second opening 1835. The first and second openings 1830 and 1835, respectively, may be same or different in size and/or shape. While the above example may describe and depict a particular weight port with a second opening, any other weight ports of the golf club head 100 may include a second opening (e.g., the weight port 720). The TPE material may solidify to provide structural integrity for the face portion 162. As a result, the face portion 162 may be as thin as described above. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
In the example of FIGS. 19-24, a golf club head 1900 may include a body portion 1910. For example, the body portion 1910 may be partially or entirely made of a steel-based material (e.g., 17-4 PH stainless steel, Nitronic® 50 stainless steel, or other types of stainless steel), a titanium-based material, an aluminum-based material (e.g., a high-strength aluminum alloy or a composite aluminum alloy coated with a high-strength alloy), any combination thereof, and/or other suitable types of materials. Alternatively, the body portion 1910 may be partially or entirely made of non-metal material (e.g., composite, plastic, etc.). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
The body portion 1910 may include a toe portion 1920, a heel portion 1930, a front portion 1940, a back portion 1950, a top portion 1960, and a sole portion 1970. The toe portion 1920 and the heel portion 1930 may be on opposite ends of the body portion 1910. The heel portion 1930 may include a hosel portion 1935 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) with a grip (not shown) on one end and the golf club head 1900 on the opposite end of the shaft to form a golf club.
In one example, the body portion 1910 may be a hollow body including an interior cavity extending between the front portion 1940 and the back portion 1950. Further, the interior cavity may extend between the top portion 1960 and the sole portion 1970. The interior cavity may be partially or entirely filled as described herein. The interior cavity may be partially or entirely filled with an elastomer polymer or elastomer material (e.g., a viscoelastic urethane polymer material such as Sorbothane® material manufactured by Sorbothane, Inc., Kent, Ohio), a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU), and/or other suitable types of materials to absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noise. For example, at least 50% of the interior cavity may be filled with a TPE material to absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/or dampen noise when the golf club head 1900 strikes a golf ball. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
The front portion 1940 may include a face portion 1945 (e.g., a strike face) to engage a golf ball (not shown). In particular, the face portion 1945 may include an impact area 2100 and one or more grooves 2110 (e.g., generally shown as 2112, 2114, 2116, and 2118). The impact area 2100 may be used to strike a golf ball. The grooves 2110 may extend lengthwise between the toe portion 1920 and the heel portion 1930. The grooves 2110 may be associated with a groove width (Wgroove) and a groove depth (Dgroove). While the figures may depict a particular number of grooves, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may include more or less grooves. The face portion 1945 may be an integral portion of the body portion 1910. Alternatively, the face portion 1945 may be a separate piece or an insert coupled to the body portion 1910 via various manufacturing methods and/or processes (e.g., a bonding process, a welding process, a brazing process, a mechanical locking method, any combination thereof, or other suitable types of manufacturing methods and/or processes). The face portion 1945 may be associated with a loft plane that defines the loft angle of the golf club head 1900. The loft angle may vary based on the type of golf club (e.g., a long iron, a middle iron, a short iron, a wedge, etc.). In one example, the loft angle may be between five degrees and seventy-five degrees. In another example, the loft angle may be between twenty degrees and sixty degrees. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Further, the face portion 1945 may include a plurality of markings 2120. In particular, the plurality of markings 2120 may include a first set of markings 2210 (e.g., a plurality of first markings generally shown as 2212, 2214, 2216 and 2218) and a second set of markings 2220 (e.g., a plurality of second markings generally shown as 2222, 2224, 2226 and 2228). The first set of markings 2210 may extend lengthwise between the toe portion 1920 and the heel portion 1930 (e.g., along a dotted line). According to the example shown in FIG. 21, the markings of the first set of markings 2210 may be substantially parallel to each other. According to one example, the first set of markings 2210 may be oriented relative to the grooves 2110 at any angle such as at an angle in the range of about 0° to about 45°. According to the example shown in FIG. 21, the first set of markings 2210 may be substantially parallel to the grooves 2110.
In contrast, according to the example shown in FIG. 22, which shows an enlarged view of a portion 2200 of the impact area 2100, the second set of markings 2220 may extend lengthwise between the top portion 1960 and the sole portion 1970 (e.g., along a dashed line). The markings of the second set of markings 2220 may generally extend in a direction from the top portion 1960 to the sole portion 1970. Accordingly, the markings of the second set of markings 2220 may be extend in a direction that is transverse to the markings of the first set of markings 2210. According to one example, at least one marking of the first set of markings 2210 and at least one marking of the second set of markings 2220 may intersect at an angle of between about 45° to 90°. According to the example shown in FIG. 22, the markings of the second set of markings 2220 may be substantially parallel to each other. However, the second set of markings 2220 may be substantially perpendicular to the first set of markings 2210 and the grooves 2110. Each marking of the second set of markings 2220 may intersect at least one marking of the first set of markings 2210 and at least one of the grooves 2110. As illustrated in FIG. 22, for example, each of the second markings 2222, 2224, 2226, and 2228 may intersect one or more first markings including 2212, 2214, 2216 and 2218 and one or more grooves including 2112, 2114, 2116 and 2118. As a result, the first and second sets of markings 2210 and 2220, respectively, may form a grid-like pattern or a checker-like pattern on the impact area 2100. According to one example, the markings may include certain shapes that are regularly or irregularly arranged in an array extending from the toe portion 1920 to the heel portion 1930 and from the top portion 1960 to the sole portion 1970. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional portion 2300 of the impact area 2100, each marking may be a rectangular recess such that a plurality of rectangular recesses are arranged in an array on the face portion 1945. According to one example, the recesses defining the first markings may be arranged in a direction from the toe portion 1920 to the heel portion 1930, and the recesses defining the second markings may be arranged in a direction from the top portion 1960 to the sole portion 1970. According to one example, the recesses defining the first markings and the second markings may be arranged diagonally on the face portion 1945. According to one example, the recesses defining the first markings and the second markings may be arranged in any configuration on the face portion 1945. While the figures may depict the plurality of markings 2120 forming a pattern on the impact area 2100, the plurality of markings may extend to cover the entire surface of the face portion 1845. Further, the plurality of markings 2120 may extend diagonally or in other directions on the face portion 1945. For example, a first set of markings may extend from the top portion of the toe portion 1920 to the bottom portion of the heel portion 1930, while a second set of markings may extend from the top portion of the heel portion 1930 to the bottom portion of the toe portion 1920. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
The plurality of markings 2120 may be associated with a marking width (Wmarking) and a marking depth (Dmarking). The groove width (Wgroove) may be greater than the marking width (Wmarking) (i.e., Wgroove>Wmarking), and the groove depth (Dgroove) may be greater than the marking depth (Dmarking) (i.e., Dgroove>Dmarking). In one example, the marking width may be about 0.020 inches, and the marking depth may be about 0.001 inches. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.
The golf club head 1900 may be manufactured via various manufacturing methods and/or processes (e.g., a casting process, a forging process, a milling process, a cutting process, a grinding process, a welding process, a combination thereof, etc.). The golf club head 1900 may be an iron-type golf club head (e.g., a 1-iron, a 2-iron, a 3-iron, a 4-iron, a 5-iron, a 6-iron, a 7-iron, an 8-iron, a 9-iron, etc.) or a wedge-type golf club head (e.g., a pitching wedge, a lob wedge, a sand wedge, an n-degree wedge such as 44 degrees (°), 48°, 52°, 56°, 60°, etc.). Although FIGS. 19-24 may depict a particular type of club head, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of club heads (e.g., a driver-type club head, a fairway wood-type club head, a hybrid-type club head, a putter-type club head, etc.). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
FIG. 25 depicts one manner in which the example golf club head described herein may be manufactured. In the example of FIG. 25, the process 2500 may begin with providing a providing the body portion 1910 (FIG. 19) (block 2510). The body portion 1910 may include a toe portion 1920, a heel portion 1930, a top portion 1960, a sole portion 1970, and a face portion 1945 to engage a golf ball.
The process 2500 may form at least one groove 2110 in an impact area 2100 of the face portion 1945 (block 2520). The groove(s) 2110 may be associated with a groove width (Wgroove) and a groove depth (Dgroove). The groove(s) 2110 may extend lengthwise between the toe portion 1920 and the heel portion 1930.
The process 2500 may form a plurality of markings 2120 in the impact area 2100 of the face portion 1945 (block 2530). The plurality of markings 2120 may include a first set of markings 2210 and a second set of markings 2220. In particular, the first set of markings 2210 may extend lengthwise between the toe portion 1920 and the heel portion 1930. The first set of markings 2210 may be substantially parallel to the groove(s) 2110. In contrast, the second set of markings 2220 may extend lengthwise between the top portion 1960 and the sole portion 1970. The second set of markings 2220 may be substantially perpendicular to the groove(s) 2110 and the first set of markings 2210. Accordingly, each marking of the second set of markings 2220 may intersect with at least one groove 2110 and one marking of the first set of markings 2210. Further, the plurality of markings 2120 may be associated with a marking width (Wmarking) and a marking depth (Dmarking). The groove width (Wgroove) may be greater than the marking width (Wmarking) (i.e., Wgroove>Wmarking), and the groove depth (Dgroove) may be greater than the marking depth (Dmarking) (i.e., Dgroove>Dmarking).
The plurality of markings may affect frictional characteristics of the face portion 1945, which may affect ball spin and flight characteristics. For example, a plurality of markings may increase the friction of the face portion 1945 to increase the spin on a golf ball when the golf ball engages the face portion 1945 during impact. In another example, the plurality of markings may have certain configurations so as to affect the spin direction of a golf ball when the golf ball engages the face portion 1945 during impact. In yet another example, the plurality of markings may have certain configurations so as to reduce the spin of a golf ball when engaging the face portion 1945. Accordingly, the plurality of markings may be configured to provide a certain spin and flight characteristics for a golf ball. Further, the plurality of markings may be configured for an individual based on the stroke characteristics of the individual to improve the performance of the individual when using the golf club.
The example process 2500 is merely provided and described in conjunction with other figures as an example of one way to manufacture the golf club head 1900. While a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIG. 25, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in FIG. 25 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. In one example, blocks 2510 and 2520 may be performed simultaneously or concurrently. Although FIG. 25 depicts a particular number of blocks, the process may not perform one or more blocks. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion with a plurality of ports each including one of a plurality of weight portions having a mass, and a face portion to engage a golf ball;
a plurality of grooves formed on the face portion and extending lengthwise between the toe portion and the heel portion, the plurality of grooves being substantially parallel to each other with each of the plurality of grooves having a groove width and a groove depth; and
a plurality of substantially rectangularly recessed markings formed on the face portion, each of the plurality of markings having a marking width and a marking depth, the plurality of markings including at least one first set of markings extending in a line lengthwise between the toe portion and the heel portion and at least one second set of markings extending lengthwise between the top portion and the sole portion along a line perpendicular to the at least one first set of markings and the plurality of grooves,
wherein the at least one first set of markings and the at least one second set of markings form a substantially grid-like pattern on the face portion,
wherein the groove depth is greater than the marking depth, and
wherein more than 50 percent of the mass of the plurality of weight portions is located on the back portion below a horizontal midplane of the body portion, and at least one of the plurality of ports including at least one of the weight portions of the plurality of weight portions is located on the back portion above the horizontal midplane and closer to the toe portion than to the heel portion.
2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the groove width is greater than the marking width.
3. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of markings extends to cover substantially the entire face portion.
4. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first set of markings comprises at least two first markings formed between two adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves.
5. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the marking width comprises a width of about 0.020 inch or the marking depth comprises a depth of about 0.001 inch.
6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion is a hollow body portion at least partially filled with an elastic polymer material.
7. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one first set of markings extend in a line substantially parallel to the plurality of grooves.
8. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of markings do not intersect with any of the plurality of grooves or any other of the plurality of markings.
9. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of markings comprises one or more markings formed by at least one of a milling process or a laser etching process.
a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion with a plurality of ports each including one of a plurality of weight portions below a horizontal midplane of the body portion and at least one port including at least one weight portion on the back portion above the horizontal midplane of the body portion, and a face portion having an impact area to engage a golf ball;
at least one groove associated with a groove width and a groove depth and formed in the impact area, the at least one groove extending lengthwise between the toe portion and the heel portion; and
a plurality of substantially rectangularly recessed markings formed on the impact area, each of the plurality of markings having a marking width and a marking depth, the plurality of markings including at least one first set of markings extending along a line generally in the same direction as the at least one groove and at least one second set of markings extending lengthwise in a direction along a line generally transverse to the at least one groove and the at least one first set of markings,
wherein more than 50 percent of a combined mass of the plurality of weight portions on the back portion is located below the horizontal midplane and the at least one weight portion on the back portion above the horizontal midplane is located closer to the toe portion than to the heel portion.
11. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the groove width is greater than the marking width.
12. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the plurality of markings extends to cover substantially the entire face portion.
13. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one first set of markings comprises at least two markings formed between two adjacent grooves of the at least one groove.
14. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the marking width comprises a width of about 0.020 inch or the marking depth comprises a depth of about 0.001 inch.
15. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the body portion is a hollow body portion at least partially filled with an elastic polymer material.
a body portion having a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion with a plurality of ports each including one of a plurality of weight portions located below a horizontal midplane of the body portion and at least one port including at least one weight portion located on the back portion above the horizontal midplane of the body portion, and a face portion to engage a golf ball;
at least one groove associated with a groove width and a groove depth, the at least one groove formed in an impact area of the face portion and extending lengthwise between the toe portion and the heel portion; and
a plurality of substantially rectangularly recessed markings associated with a marking width and a marking depth and formed in the impact area of the face portion, the plurality of markings having at least one first set of markings and at least one second set of markings, the at least one first set of markings extending lengthwise between the toe portion and the heel portion and along a line that is substantially parallel to the at least one groove, the at least one second set of markings extending lengthwise between the top portion and the sole portion along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the at least one groove and the at least one first set of markings,
wherein more than 50 percent of a combined mass of the plurality of weight portions on the back portion below the horizontal midplane and the at least one weight portion on the back portion above the horizontal midplane is located on the back portion closer to the toe portion than to the heel portion.
17. A golf club head as defined in claim 16, wherein the at least one first set of markings comprises two markings formed between two adjacent grooves of the at least one groove.
18. A golf club head as defined in claim 16, wherein the marking width comprises a width of about 0.020 inch.
19. A golf club head as defined in claim 16, wherein the marking depth comprises a depth of about 0.001 inch.
20. A golf club head as defined in claim 16, wherein the body portion comprises a non-hollow body portion.
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Patent number: 10286267
Patent Publication Number: 20170203166
Inventor: Michael R. Nicolette (Scottsdale, AZ)
Application Number: 15/478,542