Golf club head or other ball striking device with face having modulus variance
AssigneeKarsten Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsRobert M. Boyd, Mark J. Perry, Jay R. Sayre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface, an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, and a thickness defined between the ball striking surface and the inner surface, and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has a modulus gradient across the thickness of the face, such that the modulus of the face varies at different distances from the ball striking surface. The face may also include at least one of an insert, a composite material, a multi-layered structure, and/or a portion treated by a surface treatment to contribute to the modulus gradient.
Claims9
A golf club head, comprising:
- a face member comprising:
- a face with a striking surface;
- an inner surface opposite the striking surface;
- a thickness defined between the striking surface and the inner surface;
- an outer edge extending around a periphery of the face member;
- a face member flange extending from the outer edge;
- and
- a body forming an opening and comprising a body flange that extends around a periphery of the body and into the opening;
- wherein the face member is partially received within the opening such that the face member flange abuts the body flange;
- the face member and the body cooperating to define an inner cavity such that the golf club head is a hollow structure;
- the face member comprises a thinned portion comprising a lesser thickness than a remainder of the face member;
- a recess defined on the striking surface;
- wherein the thinned portion is substantially centered on the face member;
- wherein the thinned portion is located behind the recess, and the recess is within the thinned portion;
- an insert received within the recess;
- wherein the insert comprises at least a first layer comprising a first modulus and a second layer comprising a second modulus;
- wherein the first modulus and the second modulus are different;
- wherein the thinned portion comprises a thinned portion modulus that is different than at least one of the first modulus and the second modulus;
- and
- wherein the thinned portion and the insert are integrally joined;
- wherein the insert comprises a composite material.
A golf club head, comprising:
- a face member comprising:
- a face with a striking surface;
- an inner surface opposite the striking surface;
- a thickness defined between the striking surface and the inner surface;
- an outer edge extending around a periphery of the face member;
- a face member flange extending from the outer edge;
- and
- a body forming an opening and comprising a body flange that extends around a periphery of the body and into the opening;
- wherein the face member is partially received within the opening such that the face member flange is forward of and abuts the body flange;
- the face member and the body cooperating to define an inner cavity such that the golf club head is a hollow structure;
- the face member comprises a thinned portion comprising a lesser thickness than a remainder of the face member;
- a recess defined on the striking surface;
- wherein the thinned portion is substantially centered on the face member;
- wherein the thinned portion is located behind the recess, and the recess is within the thinned portion;
- an insert received within the recess;
- wherein the insert comprises a plurality of layers, including a first layer comprising a first modulus and a second layer comprising a second modulus;
- wherein the first modulus is greater than the second modulus;
- wherein the first layer is positioned further from the striking surface than the second layer;
- wherein the thinned portion comprises a thinned portion modulus that is different than at least one of the first modulus and the second modulus;
- and
- wherein the thinned portion and the insert are integrally joined;
- wherein the insert comprises a composite material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.