Patent ID: 8096373

Claim:
A rotary drill bit for subterranean drilling, comprising: a bit body having a longitudinal axis and comprising, at a longitudinally leading end thereof, a plurality of blades extending over a face and carrying a plurality of cutting elements, at least some blades of the plurality of blades extending to a plurality of gage pads, and, at a longitudinally trailing end thereof, at least one juncture edge defined by at least one intersection between at least one transition surface extending radially inwardly along the longitudinal axis toward a shank and at least one gage pad of the plurality of gage pads; and a plurality of protective structures comprising a thermally stable polycrystalline diamond material positioned on the at least one transition surface, at least one of the protective structures being located at the at least one juncture edge and comprising: a first portion positioned on the at least one transition surface; and at least another portion positioned on at the at least one gage pad.