# US 9,433,833 B2 · Golf club head with improved aerodynamic characteristics

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,433,833 B2
- Document ID: US9433833B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/277,326
- Filed: 2014-05-14
- Published: 2014-09-04
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-10
- Assignees: Callaway Golf Company
- Applicants: Callaway Golf Company
- Inventors: Steven M. Ehlers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433833B2

## CPC

- A63B 53/02: Joint structures between the head and the shaft
- A63B 53/0466: {wood-type}
- A63B 60/00: Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
- A63B 53/0412: {Volume}
- A63B 60/006: {Surfaces specially adapted for reducing air resistance}
- A63B 2225/01: Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A golf club head comprising an aerodynamic hosel is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the hosel has an upper portion and a swept transition portion which connects to the golf club head, and all points at which the swept transition portion contacts the club head are spaced rearwardly from a vertical face plane. In a further embodiment, both the upper portion and the swept transition portion comprise coaxial shaft receiving bores. In yet another embodiment, the swept transition portion of the hosel has a trailing edge that is truncated, or that has one or more surface discontinuities. In yet another embodiment, the swept transition portion has a height and a diameter, each of which is less than or equal to one inch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hosel comprising:
a shaft receiving bore; and
an airfoil portion comprising a trailing edge,
wherein the trailing edge comprises at least one surface discontinuity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hosel of claim 1, wherein the airfoil portion has a thickness and a chord, and wherein the airfoil portion has a high thickness to chord ratio.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hosel of claim 1, wherein the airfoil portion comprises a Reynolds Number that is less than or equal to 100,000.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hosel of claim 1, wherein the airfoil portion is cambered.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hosel of claim 1, wherein the airfoil portion comprises at least one slot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The hosel of claim 5, wherein the airfoil portion comprises two slots.

### Claim 7

A hosel comprising:
a shaft receiving bore; and
an aerodynamic portion,
wherein the aerodynamic portion comprises a truncated airfoil cross-section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The hosel of claim 7, wherein the aerodynamic portion comprises a plurality of surface features selected from the group consisting of trip strips, surface roughness, and vortex generators.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The hosel of claim 7, wherein the aerodynamic portion has a thickness and a chord, and wherein the aerodynamic portion has a high thickness to chord ratio.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The hosel of claim 7, wherein the aerodynamic portion comprises a Reynolds Number that is less than or equal to 100,000.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The hosel of claim 7, wherein the aerodynamic portion is cambered.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The hosel of claim 7, wherein the aerodynamic portion comprises at least one slot.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The hosel of claim 7, wherein the aerodynamic portion comprises at least one surface discontinuity.

### Claim 14

A hosel comprising:
a shaft connection portion comprising a shaft receiving bore;
an aerodynamic portion comprising a Reynolds Number that is less than or equal to 100,000; and
an endplate connected to the shaft connection portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hosel of claim 14, wherein the aerodynamic portion has a thickness and a chord, and wherein the aerodynamic portion has a high thickness to chord ratio.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The hosel of claim 14, wherein the aerodynamic portion is cambered.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The hosel of claim 14, wherein the aerodynamic portion comprises at least one slot.

### Claim 18

A hosel comprising:
a shaft connection portion comprising a shaft receiving bore;
an aerodynamic portion comprising a plurality of surface features selected from the group consisting of trip strips, surface roughness, and vortex generators; and
an endplate connected to the shaft connection portion.

### Claim 19

A hosel comprising:
a shaft connection portion comprising a shaft receiving bore;
an aerodynamic portion; and
an endplate connected to the shaft connection portion,
wherein the endplate is non-planar.