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US 2011/0034265 A1Published application
Golf club head or other ball striking device having one or more face channels
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJohn Thomas Stites, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Philip J. Hatton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and at least one channel in the ball-striking surface of the face. The region of highest COR response of the face is directionally enlarged toward the channel. Depending on the size, shape, and location of the channel, the face can be altered to provide greater COR response and increased energy transfer for impacts at specific locations on the face.
Claims45
A wood-type golf club head comprising:
- a wood-type face having ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face having a region of highest response that overlaps a geometric center of the face and a plurality of outer edges;
- a wood-type body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face to define a cavity bounded by the face and the body, wherein the body and the face enclose a volume of at least 400 cubic centimeters;
- a first elongated channel in the ball-striking surface, having a first end most proximate one of the outer edges and a second end more proximate the geometric center of the face relative to the first end, the first channel extending inwardly in a direction transverse to the outer edge most proximate to the first channel, the first channel being filled with a flexible material having a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of a material of the face;
- and
- a second elongated channel in the ball-striking surface, having a first end most proximate one of the outer edges and a second end more proximate the geometric center of the face relative to the first end, the second channel extending inwardly in a direction transverse to the outer edge most proximate to the second channel, the second channel being filled with the flexible material,
- wherein the region of highest response is directionally enlarged toward a point between the first and second channels.
3 more elements
An iron-type golf club head comprising:
- an iron-type face having a ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face having a region of highest response that overlaps a geometric center of the face and a plurality of outer edges;
- an iron-type golf club body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face;
- a first elongated channel in the ball-striking surface, having a first end most proximate one of the outer edges and a second end more proximate the geometric center of the face relative to the first end, the first channel extending inwardly in a direction transverse to the outer edge most proximate to the first channel, the first channel being filled with a flexible material having a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of a material of the face;
- and
- a second elongated channel in the ball-striking surface, having a first end most proximate one of the outer edges and a second end more proximate the geometric center of the face relative to the first end, the second channel extending inwardly in a direction transverse to the outer edge most proximate to the second channel, the second channel being filled with the flexible material,
- wherein the region of highest response is directionally enlarged toward a midpoint between the first and second channels.
3 more elements
A golf club head comprising:
- a face having a ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face having a region of highest response;
- a body connected to the face;
- a first channel in the face, extending inwardly in a direction transverse to one of a plurality of outer edges of the face;
- and
- a second channel in the face, extending inwardly in a direction transverse to one of the plurality of outer edges of the face, wherein the region of highest response is directionally enlarged toward a point located between the first and second channels.
2 more elements
A golf club head comprising:
- a face having a ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face having a region of highest response;
- a body connected to the face;
- a first channel in the face, the first channel being positioned more proximate to one of a plurality of outer edges of the face than to a geometric center of the face, the channel extending generally parallel to the outer edge of the face;
- and
- a second channel in the face, the channel being positioned more proximate to one of a plurality of outer edges of the face than to the geometric center of the face, the channel extending generally parallel to the outer edge of the face, wherein the region of highest response is directionally enlarged toward a point located between the first and second channels.
2 more elements
A face member for use in a ball striking device, comprising:
- a face having a ball-striking surface configured for striking a ball and an inner surface located rearward and opposite of the ball-striking surface;
- a wall extending rearward from an outer periphery of the face and adapted for connection to a back body member;
- a first channel in the ball-striking surface, intersecting one of a plurality of outer edges of the face and extending inwardly from the outer edge in a direction transverse to the outer edge;
- and
- a second channel in the ball-striking surface, intersecting one of a plurality of outer edges of the face and extending inwardly from the outer edge in a direction transverse to the outer edge.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.