# US 10,478,691 B2 · Golf club head or other ball striking device having reinforced sole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,691 B2 - Document ID: US10478691B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/818,012 - Filed: 2017-11-20 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-06 - Assignees: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation - Applicants: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation - Inventors: William C. Knight - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478691B2 ## CPC - A63B 60/54: with means for damping vibrations - A63B 53/0466: {wood-type} - A63B 53/047: {iron-type} - A63B 60/00: Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like - A63B 53/0433: {with special sole configurations} - A63B 53/0437: {with special crown configurations} - A63B 53/045: {Strengthening ribs} - A63B 53/0454: {Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 29/49995: Shaping one-piece blank by removing material - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf club head comprising: a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the outer surface; a body joined to the face around peripheral edges of the face and extending rearwardly from the face, such that the body and the face combine to define an interior cavity surrounded by an interior surface of the head, the body having a crown and a sole, with the crown having an upper crown surface forming at least a portion of a top of the head; and a lower crown surface opposite the upper crown surface and the sole having a bottom sole surface configured to confront a playing surface and an upper sole surface opposite the bottom sole surface, wherein the lower crown surface, the upper sole surface, and the rear surface of the face form portions of the interior surface of the head; a first bracing member connected to the interior surface of the head on the lower crown surface, the first bracing member comprising a plurality of first trusses connected to a plurality of first connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each first truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the first connection point thereof, such that the plurality of first trusses form a first bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface; and wherein all of the plurality of first trusses are in the form of legs extending downward and outward from a first juncture; a second bracing member connected to the interior surface of the head on the upper sole portion, the second bracing member comprising a plurality of second trusses connected to a plurality of second connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each second truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the second connection point thereof, such that the plurality of second trusses form a second bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface, wherein the first bracing member and the second bracing member are separate from each other; and wherein all of the plurality of second trusses are in the form of legs extending downward and outward from a second juncture; wherein the first bracing member and the second bracing member are spaced away from the strike face; wherein the first plurality of connection points and the second plurality of connection points are discrete points. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a third bracing member, and a fourth bracing member, both of which are positioned on the lower crown surface, separate from one another and the first bracing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first, third, and fourth bracing members are symmetrically aligned with respect to the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first, third, and fourth bracing members are aligned in a row extending in a front-to-rear direction on the club head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the third bracing member comprising a plurality of third trusses connected to a plurality of third connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each third truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the third connection point thereof, such that the plurality of third trusses form a third bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the fourth bracing member comprising a plurality of fourth trusses connected to a plurality of fourth connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each fourth truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the fourth connection point thereof, such that the plurality of fourth trusses form a fourth bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The golf club head of claim 2, further comprising a fifth bracing member, and a sixth bracing member, both of which are positioned on the upper sole surface, separate from one another and the second bracing member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the second, fifth, and sixth bracing members are symmetrically aligned with respect to the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the second, fifth, and sixth bracing members are aligned in a row extending in a front-to-rear direction on the club head. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the fifth bracing member comprising a plurality of fifth trusses connected to a plurality of fifth connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each fifth truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the fifth connection point thereof, such that the plurality of fifth trusses form a fifth bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the sixth bracing member comprising a plurality of sixth trusses connected to a plurality of sixth connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each sixth truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the sixth connection point thereof, such that the plurality of sixth trusses form a sixth bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sixth trusses define a generally triangular shape with the interior surface. ### Claim 13 A golf club head comprising: a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the outer surface; a body joined to the face around peripheral edges of the face and extending rearwardly from the face, such that the body and the face combine to define an interior cavity surrounded by an interior surface of the head, the body having a crown and a sole, with the crown having an upper crown surface forming at least a portion of a top of the head and a lower crown surface opposite the upper crown surface and the sole having a bottom sole surface configured to confront a playing surface and an upper sole surface opposite the bottom sole surface; and a bracing member connected to the interior surface of the head, the bracing member comprising at least a first truss having a first end connected to the lower crown surface and spaced near the face and a second truss having a second end connected to the lower crown surface proximate the top edge, with the first truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the first end and the second truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the second end, such that the plurality of first and second trusses at least partially form a bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface; and wherein the first truss and the second truss are in the form of legs extending downward and outward from a juncture; wherein the bracing member is spaced away from the strike face; and wherein the bracing member is located at a front of the body opposite a rear of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the bracing member further comprises at least a third truss having a third end connected to at least one of the lower crown surface and the rear surface of the face, wherein the third end is spaced from the first and second ends. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first truss and the second truss have distal ends joined together to define a generally triangular shape, such that the first end, the second end, and the connected distal ends form three corners of the generally triangular shape. ### Claim 16 A golf club head comprising: a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the outer surface; a body joined to the face around peripheral edges of the face and extending rearwardly from the face, such that the body and the face combine to define an interior cavity surrounded by an interior surface of the head, the body having a crown and a sole, with the crown having an upper crown surface forming at least a portion of a top of the head and a lower crown surface opposite the upper crown surface and the sole having a bottom sole surface configured to confront a playing surface and an upper sole surface opposite the bottom sole surface, wherein the lower crown surface, the upper sole surface, and the rear surface of the face form portions of the interior surface of the head; a first bracing member connected to the interior surface of the head on the lower crown surface, the first bracing member comprising a plurality of first trusses connected to a plurality of first connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each first truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the first connection point thereof, such that the plurality of first trusses form a first bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface; and a second bracing member connected to the interior surface of the head on the upper sole portion, the second bracing member comprising a plurality of second trusses connected to a plurality of second connection points spaced from each other on the interior surface, with each second truss extending inwardly into the interior cavity from the second connection point thereof, such that the plurality of second trusses form a second bridge portion extending inwardly into the interior cavity and being spaced from the interior surface, wherein the first bracing member and the second bracing member are separate from each other; and a third bracing member; and a fourth bracing member; wherein both the third bracing member and the fourth bracing member are positioned on the lower crown surface, separate from one another and the first bracing member.