GB2603698A

GB2603698A - Golf club head with flex structure

Info

Publication number: GB2603698A
Application number: GB2205331.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: J Morales Eric; S Pope Jeremy; J Nuttall Thomas
Original assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2019-09-13
Filing date: 2020-09-14
Publication date: 2022-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-14
Also published as: JP2025037998A; GB202205331D0; GB2620032A; JP2022547613A; GB202312919D0; JP2025037997A; GB2603698B; JP7600221B2; JP7806189B2; WO2021051102A1; GB2624315B; GB2620032B; GB202319025D0; JP7806190B2; EP4028137A4; KR20220061154A; EP4028137A1; GB2624315A

Abstract

Embodiments of a wood-type club head having a flex structure to control the characteristic time (CT) are described herein. The club head comprises a flex structure integrally formed with the club face and the sole. The flex structure comprises a curved shape including a nadir and an apex. The flex structure allows the club face to bend rearward, relieve stress within the club face, and reduce the CT variability within a localized club face region.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising: a club face; a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; and a flex structure; wherein the club face and the body are secured together to define a closed interior cavity; wherein the flex structure is disposed within the closed interior cavity; wherein the flex structure is integrally formed with the club face and the sole; and wherein the flex structure comprises a curved shape with a nadir and an apex.

2. The club head of claim 1, wherein the nadir and the apex of the flex structure do not contact any portion of the club face or the sole.

3. The club head of claim 1, wherein the nadir of the flex structure is located closer to the sole than the apex of the flex structure.

4. The club head of claim 1, wherein the flex structure defines a first radius of curvature at the nadir, and a second radius of curvature at the apex; and wherein the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature are different.

5. The club head of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the club face ranges from 0.08 to 0.14 inch.

6. The club head of claim 1, wherein the crown further defines an opening configured to receive a crown insert; wherein a recessed lip extends around a perimeter of the opening; and wherein the recessed lip is recessed from an outer surface of the crown.

7. The club head of claim 6, wherein the crown insert and the recessed lip overlap to define a lap joint therebetween; and wherein the crown insert is adhered to the club head across the lap joint.

8. A golf club head comprising: a club face; a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; and a flex structure; wherein the club face and the body are secured together to define a closed interior cavity; wherein the flex structure is disposed within the closed interior cavity; wherein the flex structure is integrally formed with the club face and the sole; wherein the flex structure comprises a curved shape with a nadir and an apex; and wherein the nadir of the flex structure is located closer to the club face than the apex of the flex structure.

9. The club head of claim 8, wherein the nadir and the apex of the flex structure do not contact any portion of the club face or the sole.

10. The club head of claim 8, wherein the nadir of the flex structure is located closer to the sole than the apex of the flex structure.

11. The club head of claim 8, wherein the flex structure defines a first radius of curvature at the nadir, and a second radius of curvature at the apex; and wherein the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature are different.

12. The club head of claim 8, wherein a thickness of the club face ranges from 0.08 to 0.14 inch.

13. The club head of claim 8, wherein the crown further defines an opening configured to receive a crown insert; wherein a recessed lip extends around a perimeter of the opening; and wherein the recessed lip is recessed from an outer surface of the crown.

14. The club head of claim 13, wherein the crown insert and the recessed lip overlap to define a lap joint therebetween; and wherein the crown insert is adhered to the club head across the lap joint.

15. A golf club head comprising: a club face; a body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe; and a flex structure; wherein the club face and the body are secured together to define a closed interior cavity; wherein the club face defines a loft plane tangent to the club face at a geometric center; wherein the club head defines a ground plane tangent to the sole when the club head is at an address position; wherein the club head defines a midplane through the geometric center and perpendicular to the loft plane, wherein the midplane extends in a direction from the heel to the toe, and rearward of the club face; wherein the flex structure is integrally formed with the club face and the sole; wherein the flex structure comprises a curved shape including a nadir and an apex; and wherein the nadir of the flex structure and the apex of the flex structure are located below the midplane.

16. The club head of claim 15, wherein the nadir of the flex structure is located closer to the club face than the apex of the flex structure.

17. The club head of claim 15, wherein the nadir and the apex of the flex structure do not contact any portion of the club face or the sole.

18. The club head of claim 15, wherein a thickness of the club face ranges from 0.08 to 0.14 inch.

19. The club head of claim 15, wherein the crown further defines an opening configured to receive a crown insert; wherein a recessed lip extends around a perimeter of the opening; and wherein the recessed lip is recessed from an outer surface of the crown.

20. The club head of claim 19, wherein the crown insert and the recessed lip overlap to define a lap joint therebetween; and wherein the crown insert is adhered to the club head across the lap joint.