US 9,005,048 B2 · Golf club heads with port structures, tuning elements, and related methods

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads with port structures and tuning elements are presented. In some embodiments, a golf club head comprises a strikeplate comprising a strikeface and a backface opposite the strikeface, and a sole coupled to the strikeplate. The sole comprises an outer sole surface, an inner sole surface opposite the outer sole surface, a sole front section, and a sole rear section. The golf club head comprises a port structure defined by the backface and by the sole. The port structure can be configured to receive a tuning element within a port perimeter of the port structure, and comprises a port base at the backface and delimited by the port perimeter, a port rib wall protruded from the backface and bounding an upper section of the port base along the port perimeter, and a port trench extending into the sole. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A golf club head comprising:

a strikeplate comprising:
a strikeface;
and
a backface opposite the strikeface;
a sole coupled to the strikeplate and comprising:
an outer sole surface;
an inner sole surface opposite the outer sole surface;
a sole front section;
and
a sole rear section;
and
a port structure defined by the backface and by the sole, and configured to receive a tuning element within a port perimeter of the port structure;
wherein:
the port structure comprises:
a port base at the backface and delimited by the port perimeter;
a port rib wall protruded from the backface and bounding an upper section of the port base along the port perimeter;
and
a port trench extending into the sole and comprising:
a trench front wall defined by a lower section of the port base at the backface of the strikeplate;
a trench bottom wall at the sole front section, coupled to the trench front wall and bounding the lower section of the port base along the port perimeter;
a trench rear wall, coupled to the trench bottom wall opposite the trench front wall, and subdividing the sole between the sole front section and the sole rear section;
a port trench height, between the trench bottom wall and a top end of the trench rear wall, of approximately 0.75 mm to approximately 6.0 mm;
and
a port trench top width, between the trench front wall and the top end of the trench rear wall, of approximately 5.0 mm to approximately 18 mm;
and
the trench bottom wall is closer to the outer sole surface than a top end of the trench rear wall.

23 more elements

A golf club head comprising:

a strikeplate comprising:
a strikeface;
and
a backface opposite the strikeface;
a sole coupled to the strikeplate and comprising:
an outer sole surface;
an inner sole surface opposite the outer sole surface;
a sole front section;
and
a sole rear section;
a tuning element;
and
a port structure defined by the backface and by the sole, and configured to receive the tuning element within a port perimeter of the port structure;
wherein:
the tuning element comprises:
a tuning element top end;
and
a tuning element bottom end;
the port structure comprises:
a port base at the backface and delimited by the port perimeter;
a port rib wall protruded from the backface and bounding an upper section of the port base along the port perimeter, and comprising a port rib wall rear end towards a rear of the golf club head;
and
a port trench extending into the sole and comprising:
a trench front wall defined by a lower section of the port base at the backface of the strikeplate;
a trench bottom wall at the sole front section, coupled to the trench front wall and bounding the lower section of the port base along the port perimeter;
and
a trench rear wall, coupled to the trench bottom wall opposite the trench front wall, and subdividing the sole between the sole front section and the sole rear section;
the port trench defines an insertion axis along which the tuning element can be inserted into the port trench unobstructed by the port rib wall,
the insertion axis extending from the trench bottom wall and past the port rib wall without traversing through the port rib wall or the trench rear wall;
the tuning element is insertable along the insertion axis into a pivot position where:
the tuning element bottom end reaches the trench bottom wall;
and
the tuning element top end is closer to the sole than the port rib wall rear end;
and
the trench bottom wall is closer to the outer sole surface than a top end of the trench rear wall.

32 more elements

A golf club head comprising:

a strikeplate comprising:
a strikeface;
and
a backface opposite the strikeface;
a loft plane defined by the strikeface;
a sole coupled to the strikeplate and comprising:
an outer sole surface;
an inner sole surface opposite the outer sole surface;
a sole front section;
and
a sole rear section;
a tuning element;
and
a port structure defined by the backface and by the sole, and configured to receive the tuning element within a port perimeter of the port structure;
wherein:
a port rib wall is substantially non-orthogonal to the loft plane;
the strikeface comprises a strikeface centerpoint;
the backface comprises a backface centerpoint opposite the strikeface centerpoint;
the port rib wall extends along the backface within 6 mm of the backface centerpoint;
the port structure comprises:
a port base at the backface and delimited by the port perimeter;
a port rib wall protruded from the backface and bounding an upper section of the port base along the port perimeter;
and
a port trench extending into the sole and comprising:
a trench front wall defined by a lower section of the port base at the backface of the strikeplate;
a trench bottom wall at the sole front section, coupled to the trench front wall and bounding the lower section of the port base along the port perimeter;
and
a trench rear wall, coupled to the trench bottom wall opposite the trench front wall, and subdividing the sole between the sole front section and the sole rear section;
when the golf club head is at an address position relative to a ground surface, the trench bottom wall is closer to the ground surface than any point of the sole rear section along the inner sole surface;
a trench bottom rear angle between the trench bottom wall and the trench rear wall is greater than a trench bottom front angle between the trench bottom wall and the trench front wall;
when the tuning element is seated against the port base and bounded by the port rib wall, at least a majority of the trench rear wall is decoupled from the tuning element;
and
the tuning element is pivotable along the trench bottom wall, from a pivot position to a secured position where:
a tuning element front end of the tuning element contacts the port base;
and
the tuning element top end is bounded by the port rib wall.

33 more elements

A method for providing a golf club head, the method comprising:

providing a strikeplate comprising:
a strikeface;
and
a backface opposite the strikeface;
providing a sole coupled to the strikeplate and comprising:
an outer sole surface;
an inner sole surface opposite the outer sole surface;
a sole front section;
and
a sole rear section;
providing a tuning element;
providing a port structure defined by the backface and by the sole, and configured to receive the tuning element within a port perimeter of the port structure;
and
coupling the tuning element to the port structure;
wherein:
the port structure comprises:
a port base at the backface and delimited by the port perimeter;
a port rib wall protruded from the backface and bounding an upper section of the port base along the port perimeter;
and
a port trench extending into the sole and comprising:
a trench front wall defined by a lower section of the port base at the backface of the strikeplate;
a trench bottom wall at the sole front section, coupled to the trench front wall and bounding the lower section of the port base along the port perimeter;
and
a trench rear wall, coupled to the trench bottom wall opposite the trench front wall, and subdividing the sole between the sole front section and the sole rear section;
the trench rear wall is non-parallel to the trench front wall;
and
the port rib wall is substantially non-orthogonal to a loft plane defined by the strikeface.

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Golf club heads with port structures, tuning elements, and related methods

Life of this patent

Golf club heads with port structures, tuning elements, and related methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25