# US 2014/0155188 A1 · Club head with club head alignment aid and related method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155188 A1 - Document ID: US20140155188A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/176,972 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-11 - Assignees: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation - Applicants: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation - Inventors: Kevin W. Flaherty; John H. Loudenslager; Nicholas S. Radeleff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155188A1 ## CPC - A63B 53/0466: {wood-type} - A63B 69/3632: {Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning (A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00)} - A63B 53/0408: {characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness} - A63B 53/0441: {with visual indicators for aligning the golf club} - A63B 53/047: {iron-type} - A63B 53/0487: {for putters (A63B53/065 takes precedence)} - Y10T 29/49: Method of mechanical manufacture - 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 Some embodiments include a club head with a club head alignment aid. Other embodiments for related club heads and methods are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wood-type club head comprising: a front end comprising a front face; a toe end; a heel end opposite the toe end; a rear end opposite the front end; a crown surface comprising a front crown end and a rear crown end; and an alignment aid at the crown surface; wherein: the front crown end is closer to the front end than to the rear end; the rear crown end is closer to the rear end than to the front end; the alignment aid comprises four alignment aid stripes; the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe; the first toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than to the heel end; the first heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than to the toe end; the second toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than the first toe alignment aid stripe; the second heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than the first heel alignment aid stripe; the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first toe alignment aid stripe width; the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe width; the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe width; and the second heel alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first heel alignment aid stripe width. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the four alignment aid stripes each comprise at least one of: (a) a varying width or (b) a substantially constant width; and the alignment aid is located approximately equidistant between the toe end and the heel end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the wood-type club head comprises a driver club head; and the four alignment aid stripes comprise racing stripes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the four alignment aid stripes extend between the front crown end and the rear crown end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the first heel alignment aid stripe width; and the second toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the second heel alignment aid stripe width. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe, the first heel alignment aid stripe, the second toe alignment aid stripe, and the second heel alignment aid stripe are approximately parallel with each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first color; and the crown surface comprises a second color different from the first color. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; the toe offset region width has a constant width; the heel offset region width has a constant width; and the center offset region width has a constant width. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and the toe offset region width is approximately equal to the heel offset region width. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and the toe offset region width and the heel offset region width are each narrower than the center offset region width. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first color; the crown surface comprises a second color different from the first color; and the toe offset region, the heel offset region, and the center offset region comprise the second color. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and wherein one of: the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, and the center offset region width are approximately equal to each other; or at least one of the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, or the center offset region width is less than at least one other of the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, or the center offset region width. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wood-type club head of claim 1 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; and the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, and the center offset region width are each narrower than each of the first toe alignment aid stripe width and the first heel alignment aid stripe width. ### Claim 14 A wood-type club head comprising: a front end comprising a front face; a toe end; a heel end opposite the toe end; a rear end opposite the front face; a crown surface comprising a front crown end and a rear crown end; and an alignment aid at the crown surface and extending between the front crown end and the rear crown end; wherein: the front crown end is closer to the front end than to the rear end; the rear crown end is closer to the rear end than to the front end; the alignment aid comprises four alignment aid stripes; each of the four alignment aid stripes are non-collinear with each other; the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe; the first toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than to the heel end; the first heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than to the toe end; the second toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than the first toe alignment aid stripe; the second heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than the first heel alignment aid stripe; the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe length; the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe length; the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe length; the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe length; and the first toe alignment aid stripe length, the second toe alignment aid stripe length, the first heel alignment aid stripe length, and the second heel alignment aid stripe length are each greater than or equal to approximately 8.0 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 12 centimeters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe length is approximately equal to the first heel alignment aid stripe length; and the second toe alignment aid stripe length is approximately equal to the second heel alignment aid stripe length. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein: the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first color; and the crown surface comprises a second color different from the first color. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein: the alignment aid is orthogonal with the front face. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The wood-type club head of claim 14 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first toe alignment aid stripe width; the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe width; the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe width; and the second heel alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first heel alignment aid stripe width. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The wood-type club head of claim 18 wherein: the first toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the first heel alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe width is approximately equal to the second heel alignment aid stripe width; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the second toe alignment aid stripe by a toe offset region; the first heel alignment aid stripe is offset from the second heel alignment aid stripe by a heel offset region; the first toe alignment aid stripe is offset from the first heel alignment aid stripe by a center offset region; the toe offset region comprises a toe offset region width; the heel offset region comprises a heel offset region width; the center offset region comprises a center offset region width; the toe offset region width is approximately equal to the heel offset region width; the toe offset region width and the heel offset region width are each narrower than the center offset region width; and the toe offset region width, the heel offset region width, and the center offset region width are each narrower than each of the first toe alignment aid stripe width and the first heel alignment aid stripe width. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: providing a wood-type club head comprising: a front end comprising a front face; a toe end; a heel end opposite the toe end; a rear end opposite the front end; and a crown surface comprising a front crown end and a rear crown end, the front crown end closer to the front end than to the rear end, and the rear crown end closer to the rear end than to the front end; and providing an alignment aid at the crown surface extending between the front crown end and the rear crown end, the alignment aid comprising four alignment aid stripes, wherein: the four alignment aid stripes comprise a first toe alignment aid stripe, a first heel alignment aid stripe, a second toe alignment aid stripe, and a second heel alignment aid stripe; the first toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than to the heel end; the first heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than to the toe end; the second toe alignment aid stripe is closer to the toe end than the first toe alignment aid stripe; the second heel alignment aid stripe is closer to the heel end than the first heel alignment aid stripe; the first toe alignment aid stripe comprises a first toe alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe comprises a second toe alignment aid stripe width; the second toe alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first toe alignment aid stripe width; the first heel alignment aid stripe comprises a first heel alignment aid stripe width; the second heel alignment aid stripe comprises a second heel alignment aid stripe width; and the second heel alignment aid stripe width is narrower than the first heel alignment aid stripe width.