Golf club head having internal fins for resisting structural deformation and mechanical shockwave migration

Abstract

An improved golf club head has at least one fin, rib or arch extending inside the club head structure and varying in height. The fins run along the inside of the club head perimeter structure. The fins are perpendicular to the face resulting in stiffening and strengthening of the club head, thereby resisting structural deformation and mechanical shockwave migration that occurs upon impact with the golf ball. The fins traverse the length or a portion of the length of the club head along an internal perimeter. The fins are incorporated on either the crown and / or the sole, but can be added to other portions of the club head, such as the skirt or club face should additional stiffening and strengthening be desired. The fins, can vary in size and shape and location depending on the desired stiffness and on the size, shape and material of the club head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of golf clubs and specifically to an improved golf club head having one or more internal fins. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] Golf club heads that are made from a metallic material such as titanium alloy or stainless steel (metal woods) have distinct advantages over wooden club heads. Generally, wooden club heads are less durable, vary significantly in density, hardness, grain structure and require great expertise through the manufacturing process to produce similar results from club to club. Metal woods however can be replicated consistently with tolerances that in some cases surpass aerospace quality components. Improvements over the last decade in the manufacturing processes of metal woods have enabled manufacturers to design larger metal wood club heads. These larger metal woods deliver improved performance benefits over smaller metal woods in that designers ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028] The present invention provides an improved golf club head wherein each club head has at least one rib / arch / fin, or a series of ribs / arches / fins, herein referred to as “fins”, that form from a point of origination inside the club head structure and increase and decrease in height. The fins are located to run along the inside of the club head perimeter structure that is comprised of a crown, sole, skirt and face. The angle of the fins is perpendicular to the face resulting in stiffening and strengthening the club head thereby resisting structural deformation and mechanical shockwave migration that occurs upon impact with the golf ball.

[0033] The fins can be incorporated into the club head structure through typical manufacturing processes such as casting or forging to produce a one piece club head or they can be affixed in a secondary manufacturing process such as welding, brazing or gluing. The shape and location of the fins resist impact-caused deformation and shockwave migration, thereby reducing energy dissipation and resulting in more efficient transfer of energy into the golf ball.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, wooden club heads are less durable, vary significantly in density, hardness, grain structure and require great expertise through the manufacturing process to produce similar results from club to club.

When a metal wood driver comes into contact with the golf ball during the golf swing, the resultant collision, depending on the impact velocity and angle of attack of the metal wood, causes the golf ball to compress and the metal wood driver club head to deform.

Even with the use of high performance materials like titanium or carbon fiber, the weight constraints common in most driver club heads make it imperative to design driver club heads with thinner walls.

The resulting redirection of energy sends a mechanical shockwave through the club head structure causing said structure to flex and deform.

This occurrence creates a loss of energy that could otherwise be imparted from the club head to the golf ball during impact.

The resulting energy loss that occurs during the impact of the golf ball and the club head due to oscillation and flexing of the club head structure, results in a reduction of energy that would normally be transferred to the ball from the rigid golf club head structure and therefore results in reduced initial velocity of the golf ball as the golf ball rebounds away from the club head.

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