# US 2022/0273992 A1 · Force Focusing Golf Club > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0273992 A1 - Document ID: US20220273992A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/663,506 - Filed: 2022-05-16 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-14 - Inventors: Timothy W. Markison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220273992A1 ## CPC - A63B 53/0466: {wood-type} - A63B 53/0454: {Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate} - A63B 53/0408: {characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness} - A63B 53/0416: {Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert} - A63B 53/042: {the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head} - A63B 53/0425: {the face insert comprising two or more different materials} - A63B 53/0429: {the face insert comprising two or more layers of material} - A63B 53/045: {Strengthening ribs} - A63B 53/0462: {characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate} - A63B 53/047: {iron-type} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A golf club includes a shaft, a grip, and a club head. The shaft is coupled to the grip and to the club head. The club head includes a substantially rigid shell, a club face, and a contact area. The substantially rigid shell includes a conventional shape that has a toe area, a heel area, a sole area, a top area, and a back area. The club face is mechanically coupled to the substantially rigid shell to provide a face of the club head. The contact area is within the substantially rigid shell and positioned proximal to the club face. The contact area includes a plurality of force-focusing layers that functions to concentrate impact forces of the club head towards an area on the club face that makes contact with a golf ball during contact with the golf ball. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf club comprises: a shaft; a grip coupled to a first end of the shaft; and a club head coupled to a second end of the shaft, wherein the club head includes: a substantially rigid shell; a club face mechanically coupled to the substantially rigid shell to provide a face of the club head; and a contact area positioned proximal to the club face and to the substantially rigid shell, wherein the contact area includes at least one force-focusing layer that includes a plurality of force-focusing cells, wherein a force-focusing cell of the plurality of cells includes one or more angled side walls, wherein an angle of an angled side wall of the one or angled side walls is a function of concentration of force in an area of the club face at contact with a golf ball. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least one force-focusing layer further comprises: a first force-focusing layer that includes a first plurality of force-focusing cells; and a second force-focusing layer that includes a first plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The golf club of claim 2 further comprises: the second plurality of force-focusing cells including a first set of force-focusing cells and a second set of force-focusing cells, wherein a first force-focusing cell of the first set of force-focusing cells has a first weight, wherein a second force-focusing cell of the second set of force-focusing cells has a second weight, wherein the second weight is greater than the first weight, wherein the first force-focusing cell is in a middle area of the second plurality of force-focusing cells, and wherein the second force-focusing cell is in a perimeter area of the second plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The golf club of claim 2 further comprises: the first layer including a first plurality of interconnected force-focusing cells as the first plurality of force-focusing cells; and the second layer including a first plurality of interconnected force-focusing cells as the second plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The golf club of claim 2 further comprises: the first layer including a first plurality of independent force-focusing cells as the first plurality of force-focusing cells; and the second layer including a first plurality of independent force-focusing cells as the second plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The golf club of claim 2 further comprises: a first force-focusing cell of the first plurality of force-focusing cells having a first size; and a second force-focusing cell of the second plurality of force-focusing cells having a second size, wherein the second size is larger than the first size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The golf club of claim 1, wherein the club head comprises one of: a driver club head; a fairway wood club head; a hybrid club head; or an iron club head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf club of claim 1, wherein the club head comprises: a contact area backing mechanically coupled to the substantially rigid shell, wherein the contact area backing provides a substantially rigid surface for a layer of the at least one force-focusing layer. ### Claim 9 A clubhead comprises: a substantially rigid shell; a club face mechanically coupled to the substantially rigid shell to provide a face of the club head; and a contact area positioned proximal to the club face and to the substantially rigid shell, wherein the contact area includes at least one force-focusing layer that includes a plurality of force-focusing cells, wherein a force-focusing cell of the plurality of cells includes one or more angled side walls, wherein an angle of an angled side wall of the one or angled side walls is a function of concentration of force in an area of the club face at contact with a golf ball. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The clubhead of claim 9, wherein the at least one force-focusing layer further comprises: a first force-focusing layer that includes a first plurality of force-focusing cells; and a second force-focusing layer that includes a first plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The clubhead of claim 10 further comprises: the second plurality of force-focusing cells including a first set of force-focusing cells and a second set of force-focusing cells, wherein a first force-focusing cell of the first set of force-focusing cells has a first weight, wherein a second force-focusing cell of the second set of force-focusing cells has a second weight, wherein the second weight is greater than the first weight, wherein the first force-focusing cell is in a middle area of the second plurality of force-focusing cells, and wherein the second force-focusing cell is in a perimeter area of the second plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The clubhead of claim 10 further comprises: the first layer including a first plurality of interconnected force-focusing cells as the first plurality of force-focusing cells; and the second layer including a first plurality of interconnected force-focusing cells as the second plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The clubhead of claim 10 further comprises: the first layer including a first plurality of independent force-focusing cells as the first plurality of force-focusing cells; and the second layer including a first plurality of independent force-focusing cells as the second plurality of force-focusing cells. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The clubhead of claim 10 further comprises: a first force-focusing cell of the first plurality of force-focusing cells having a first size; and a second force-focusing cell of the second plurality of force-focusing cells having a second size, wherein the second size is larger than the first size. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The clubhead of claim 9 comprises one of: a driver club head; a fairway wood club head; a hybrid club head; or an iron club head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The clubhead of claim 9 further comprises: a contact area backing mechanically coupled to the substantially rigid shell, wherein the contact area backing provides a substantially rigid surface for a layer of the at least one force-focusing layer.