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US-12623124-B2 - Golf club heads with turbulators and methods to manufacture golf club heads with turbulators

US12623124B2US 12623124 B2US12623124 B2US 12623124B2US-12623124-B2

Abstract

A golf club head includes a crown surface having an apex at a highest point and extending between the face, the rear, the heel and the toe of the golf club head. The golf club head also includes a plurality of crown turbulators projecting from the surface of the crown and located at least partially between the leading edge and the apex, wherein the height of each turbulator decreases from the leading edge toward the rear portion.

Inventors

  • Erik M. Henrikson
  • Paul D. Wood
  • John Hart
  • Marty R. Jertson
  • Bradley D. Schweigert

Assignees

  • KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20231010

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A golf club head comprising: a face portion defining a loft plane; a rear portion opposite to the face portion; a heel portion comprising a heel end; a toe portion opposite the heel portion comprising a toe end; a sole portion defining an imaginary centerline that extends from a face center portion to the rear portion; a crown portion; a leading edge portion positioned between the face portion and the crown portion; the leading edge portion defining a leading edge plane forming a leading edge angle with the loft plane; and an apex positioned at a highest point on the crown portion; an x-axis extending through a center of the face portion; wherein the x-axis is parallel to the face portion; a plurality of crown turbulators projecting outwardly from the crown portion positioned between the leading edge portion and the apex; each crown turbulator extending between the face portion and the apex to define a turbulator length; each crown turbulator extending a distance at least partially between the heel portion and the toe portion to define a turbulator width; wherein the turbulator length is substantially greater than the turbulator width; each crown turbulator extending outward from the crown to define a turbulator height; each crown turbulator having a turbulator front portion defining a portion of the crown turbulator closest to the face portion; the turbulator front portion of the crown turbulator being at least partly located on the leading edge portion and between the leading edge plane and the rear portion; wherein each of the plurality of crown turbulators is oriented at an identical oblique angle between 20 and 70 degrees to the leading edge portion; and wherein the sole portion further comprises a first and second plurality of grooves formed as depressions on a surface of the sole portion; wherein the first plurality of grooves is located between the imaginary centerline and the heel end; and wherein the second plurality of grooves is located between the imaginary centerline and the toe end.
  2. 2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator decreases from the leading edge portion toward the rear portion.
  3. 3 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a space between each adjacent crown turbulator is substantially greater than the turbulator width of each crown turbulator that defines the space.
  4. 4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator is less than the turbulator length of each crown turbulator.
  5. 5 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is linear.
  6. 6 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is curved.
  7. 7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein each crown turbulator is fixedly attached to the crown portion of the golf club head by adhesion.
  8. 8 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of crown turbulators are composed of a plastic or composite material, and are a different material than the golf club head.
  9. 9 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the turbulator front portion of each crown turbulator is separated from an adjacent crown turbulator by a turbulator separation distance measured from each turbulator leading edge.
  10. 10 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of grooves are arranged adjacent to each other along a contour of the heel end; and wherein the first plurality of grooves each extend parallel to each other from the heel end toward the face portion.
  11. 11 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of grooves are arranged adjacent to each other along a contour of the toe end; and wherein the second plurality of grooves each extend parallel to each other from the toe end toward the face portion.
  12. 12 . A golf club head comprising: a face portion defining a loft plane; a rear portion opposite to the face portion; a heel portion comprising a heel end; a toe portion opposite the heel portion comprising a toe end; a sole portion defining an imaginary centerline that extends from a face center portion to the rear portion; a crown portion; a leading edge portion positioned between the face portion and the crown portion; the leading edge portion defining a leading edge plane forming a leading edge angle with the loft plane; and an apex positioned at a highest point on the crown portion; an x-axis extending through a center of the face portion; wherein the x-axis is parallel to the face portion; wherein the sole portion further comprises a first and second plurality of grooves formed as depressions on a surface of the sole portion; wherein the first plurality of grooves is located between the imaginary centerline and the heel end; and wherein the second plurality of grooves is located between the imaginary centerline and the toe end; wherein each groove of the first and second plurality of grooves is defined by an end wall, two side walls, and a bottom; and wherein the two side walls diminish in height from the end wall to a groove tail portion at which the bottom transitions to the surface of the sole portion; wherein the first plurality of grooves is toward of the center line and the second plurality of grooves is heelward of the center line; and wherein the groove tail portions of the first plurality of grooves is closer to the rear portion than the face portion and the groove tail portion of the second plurality of grooves is closer to the face portion than the rear portion.
  13. 13 . The golf club head of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of crown turbulators projecting outwardly from the crown portion positioned between the leading edge portion and the apex; each crown turbulator extending between the face portion and the apex to define a turbulator length; each crown turbulator extending a distance at least partially between the heel portion and the toe portion to define a turbulator width; wherein the turbulator length is substantially greater than the turbulator width; each crown turbulator extending outward from the crown portion to define a turbulator height; wherein the turbulator height of each crown turbulator decreases from the leading edge portion toward the rear portion; and wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator decreases from the leading edge portion toward the rear portion; each crown turbulator having a turbulator front portion defining a portion of the crown turbulator closest to the face portion; and wherein a space between each adjacent crown turbulator is substantially greater than the turbulator width of each crown turbulator that defines the space.
  14. 14 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the turbulator width of each crown turbulator is less than the turbulator length of each crown turbulator.
  15. 15 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is linear.
  16. 16 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the turbulator length of at least one crown turbulator of the plurality of crown turbulators is curved.
  17. 17 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein each crown turbulator is fixedly attached to the crown portion of the golf club head by adhesion.
  18. 18 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of crown turbulators is oriented at an identical oblique angle between 20 and 70 degrees to the leading edge portion; and wherein the turbulator front portion of each crown turbulator is separated from an adjacent crown turbulator by a turbulator separation distance measured from each turbulator leading edge.
  19. 19 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of crown turbulators are offset from one another.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/305,711 filed Jul. 13, 2021, which is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/916,558 filed Jun. 30, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,058,930 issued Jul. 13, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/421,283, filed on May 23, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,695,625 issued Jun. 30, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/354,697, filed on Nov. 17, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,300,349, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/710,420, filed on May 12, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,555,294, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/093,967, filed on Dec. 2, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,168,432, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/775,982, filed on Mar. 11, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/093,967 is also a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/536,753, filed on Jun. 28, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,587, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/651,392, filed on May 24, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/553,428, filed on Oct. 31, 2011, the contents of all of which are incorporated fully herein by reference. FIELD The present application generally relates to golf clubs, and more particularly, to golf club heads with turbulators and methods to manufacture golf club heads with turbulators. BACKGROUND When air flows over a golf club head, viscous forces near the surface of the club head create a velocity gradient from the surface to the free stream region. Accordingly, air flow velocity near the surface may be relatively slow and gradually increases toward the free stream velocity, which is the air flow region where air velocity is not influenced by the club head. This velocity gradient region is called a boundary layer. Flow separation occurs when the boundary layer travels on the golf club head far enough against an adverse pressure gradient that the air flow velocity in the boundary layer relative to the surface of the club head falls almost to zero. The air flow becomes detached from the surface of the club head and takes the form of eddies and vortices. Flow separation may result in increased drag, which may be caused by the pressure differential between the front and rear surfaces of the club head. The increased drag may reduce the speed of the club head, which in turn may lower the velocity of a golf ball that is struck by the club head. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a club head showing air flow streamlines on the club head. FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a club head shown front and aft regions of a crown of the club head. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a turbulator according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a club head having a turbulator according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the turbulator of FIG. 4. FIGS. 6-8 show examples of different turbulators according to the embodiment of FIG. 4. FIGS. 9, 10A, and 10B are perspective views of a club head having a turbulator according to one embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a section of the turbulator of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIGS. 12-14 show different cross-sectional diagrams of turbulators according to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10. FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of a club head having a turbulator according to one embodiment. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a section of the turbulator of FIGS. 15 and 16. FIGS. 18-20 show different cross-sectional diagrams of turbulators according to the embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16. FIGS. 21 and 22 are perspective views of a club head having a turbulator according to one embodiment. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a section of the turbulator of FIGS. 21 and 22. FIGS. 24-26 show different cross-sectional diagrams of turbulators according to the embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing a club head with turbulators according to one embodiment. FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing a club head with turbulators according to another embodiment. FIG. 29 shows a schematic view based on actual airflow visualization experiments of airflow over a club head without turbulators. FIG. 30 shows a schematic view based on actual airflow visualization experiments of airflow over the club head of FIG. 29 with turbulators. FIG. 31 is a graph showing measurements of drag force vs. orientation angle. FIG. 32 is a graph showing measurements of lift force vs. orientation angle. FIG. 33 is a graph showing measurements of ball speed. FIG. 34 is a graph showing measurements of club speed. FIGS. 35-38 are different perspective views of a club head having sole turbulators according to one embodiment. FIG. 39 is a perspective bottom view of a club head having sole turb