US-20260124507-A1 - MULTI-MATERIAL GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH REINFORCING MEMBERS

US20260124507A1US 20260124507 A1US20260124507 A1US 20260124507A1US-20260124507-A1

Abstract

Golf club heads with full-wrap composite regions have ribs for improving structural integrity. The ribs may include linear or arcuate segments and may be arranged in patterns to address load transfer and acoustic performance. In some embodiments, the ribs are formed on the full-wrap composite and extend continuously around an inner surface. In other embodiments, the ribs are formed on the frame.

Inventors

Mark C. Bloxham
Cole D. Brubaker
Travis D. Milleman

Assignees

KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251107

Claims (20)

1 . A golf club head, comprising: a body having a center of gravity (CG), wherein a CG XY plane intersects the CG and extends perpendicular to a ground plane in a heel-to-toe direction; a frame, comprising: a forward frame forming part of the body and disposed at a front of the golf club head, the forward frame including: a strike face; and a forward frame return, extending rearwardly from the strike face, having a forward frame lap edge extending continuously around a perimeter of the golf club head; and a rear frame forming part of the body and spaced rearwardly of the forward frame at a rear of the golf club head, the rear frame comprising a rearward frame lap edge extending continuously around and defining a forward portion of the rear frame; a central insert forming part of the body and formed of a composite material, the central insert comprising: an insert crown region; an insert sole region opposite the insert crown region; an insert toe region extending between the insert crown region and the insert sole region; an insert heel region opposite the insert toe region and extending between the insert crown region and the insert sole region, wherein the insert crown region, the insert sole region, the insert toe region, and the insert heel region cooperate to define an insert interior surface having a rib attachment region located within 0.25 inches of the CG; an insert front rim, formed by front portions of the insert crown region, the insert sole region, the insert toe region, and the insert heel region, coupled to the forward frame lap edge to form a forward lap joint; and an insert rear rim, formed by rear portions of the insert crown region, the insert sole region, the insert toe region, and the insert heel region, coupled to the rearward frame lap edge to form a rear lap joint; and an insert rib coupled to the rib attachment region and projecting inwardly from the insert interior surface, wherein the insert rib extends continuously around the insert interior surface.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert rib is oriented at an insert rib angle of 5-15 degrees relative to the CG XY plane, when viewed from above.
3 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the rib attachment region is further located at least 1.5 inches behind the strike face.
4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert rib comprises an insert rib perimeter length between 3.0 and 7.0 inches.
5 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert rib comprises an insert rib cross-sectional shape selected from a group of cross-sectional shapes consisting of a rectilinear shape, an I-beam shape, and a U-shape.
6 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert rib comprises a first annular rib and a second annular rib, wherein each of the first and second annular ribs project inwardly from and continuously around the insert interior surface.
7 . The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the first annular rib intersects the second annular rib at a first intersection located on the insert crown region and a second intersection located on the insert sole region.
8 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a first crown bridge extending from a first crown region of the forward frame lap edge to a first crown region of the rearward frame lap edge along a first crown bridge axis, the first crown bridge comprising: a first crown bridge base having a first crown bridge base exterior surface and a first crown bridge base interior surface opposite the first crown bridge base exterior surface; and a first crown bridge rib projecting inwardly from the first crown bridge base interior surface.
9 . The golf club head of claim 8 , further comprising a first sole bridge extending from a first sole region of the forward frame lap edge to a first sole region of the rearward frame lap edge along a first sole bridge axis, the first sole bridge comprising: a first sole bridge base having a first sole bridge base exterior surface and a first sole bridge base interior surface opposite the first sole bridge base exterior surface; and a first sole bridge rib projecting inwardly from the first sole bridge base interior surface.
10 . The golf club head of claim 9 , further comprising a second sole bridge extending from a second sole region of the forward frame lap edge to a second sole region of the rearward frame lap edge along a second sole bridge axis, the second sole bridge comprising: a second sole bridge base having a second sole bridge base exterior surface and a second sole bridge base interior surface opposite the second sole bridge base exterior surface; and a second sole bridge rib projecting inwardly from the second sole bridge base interior surface; wherein the second sole bridge is disposed toeward of the first sole bridge.
11 . A golf club head, comprising: a body having a center of gravity (CG), wherein a CG XY plane intersects the CG and extends perpendicular to a ground plane in a heel-to-toe direction; a frame, comprising: forward frame forming part of the body and disposed at a front of the golf club head, the forward frame including: a strike face; and a forward frame return, extending rearwardly from the strike face, having a forward frame lap edge extending continuously around a perimeter of the golf club head; a rear frame forming part of the body and spaced rearwardly of the forward frame at a rear of the golf club head, the rear frame comprising a rearward frame lap edge extending continuously around and defining a forward portion of the rear frame; a first crown bridge, extending from a first crown region of the forward frame lap edge to a first crown region of the rearward frame lap edge along a first crown bridge axis, comprising: a first crown bridge base having a first crown bridge base exterior surface and a first crown bridge base interior surface opposite the first crown bridge base exterior surface; and a first crown bridge rib projecting inwardly from the first crown bridge base interior surface; a first sole bridge, extending from a first sole region of the forward frame lap edge to a first sole region of the rearward frame lap edge along a first sole bridge axis, comprising: a first sole bridge base having a first sole bridge base exterior surface and a first sole bridge base interior surface opposite the first sole bridge base exterior surface; and a first sole bridge rib projecting inwardly from the first sole bridge base interior surface; and a central insert forming part of the body and formed of a composite material, the central insert comprising: an insert crown region; an insert sole region opposite the insert crown region; an insert toe region extending between the insert crown region and the insert sole region; an insert heel region opposite the insert toe region and extending between the insert crown region and the insert sole region, wherein the insert crown region, the insert sole region, the insert toe region, and the insert heel region cooperate to define an insert interior surface; an insert front rim, formed by front portions of the insert crown region, the insert sole region, the insert toe region, and the insert heel region, coupled to the forward frame lap edge to form a forward lap joint; and an insert rear rim, formed by rear portions of the insert crown region, the insert sole region, the insert toe region, and the insert heel region, coupled to the rearward frame lap edge to form a rear lap joint.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , further comprising a second sole bridge, extending from a second sole region of the forward frame lap edge to a second sole region of the rearward frame lap edge along a second sole bridge axis, comprising: a second sole bridge base having a second sole bridge base exterior surface and a second sole bridge base interior surface opposite the second sole bridge base exterior surface; and a second sole bridge rib projecting inwardly from the second sole bridge base interior surface; wherein the second sole bridge is disposed toeward of the first sole bridge.
13 . The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein: a YZ plane intersects the CG and extends perpendicular to the ground plane in a front to rear direction; the first sole bridge axis forms a first sole bridge angle of 5 to 15 degrees relative to the YZ plane, when viewed from above; and the second sole bridge axis forms a second sole bridge angle of 5 to 15 degrees relative to the YZ plane, when viewed from above.
14 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein: a YZ plane intersects the CG and extends perpendicular to the ground plane in a front to rear direction; and the first crown bridge axis forms a first crown bridge angle of 0 and 15 degrees relative to the YZ plane, when viewed from above.
15 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the insert interior surface comprises a rib attachment region located within 0.25 inches of the CG, the golf club head further comprising: an insert rib coupled to the rib attachment region and projecting inwardly from the insert interior surface, wherein the insert rib extends continuously around the insert interior surface.
16 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the insert rib is oriented at an insert rib angle of 5 to 15 degrees relative to the CG YZ plane, when viewed from above.
17 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the rib attachment region is further located at least 1.5 inches behind the strike face.
18 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the insert rib comprises an insert rib cross-sectional shape selected from a group of cross-sectional shapes consisting of a rectilinear shape, an I-beam shape, and a U-shape.
19 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the insert rib comprises a first annular rib and a second annular rib, wherein each of the first and second annular ribs project inwardly from and continuously around the insert interior surface.
20 . The golf club head of claim 19 , wherein the first annular rib is coupled to the second annular rib at both a first intersection, located on the insert crown region, and a second intersection, located on the insert sole region.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE PRIORITIES This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/717,745 filed on Nov. 7, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/810,620 filed on May 22, 2025, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly, to wood-type golf club heads. BACKGROUND Lightweight materials can be used in golf club heads to improve performance. In wood-type club heads, for example, increasingly larger regions of the head are formed with composite material. While composite materials reduce structural mass to increase discretionary mass, it does so at the sacrifice of structural integrity, acoustic performance, and manufacturability. Some conventional driver-type club heads have ribs at localized areas to address these issues. These ribs, however, create localized stress risers where the ribs terminate, causing localized weakened zones. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a golf club head according to the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates a front side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting the strike face dimensions. FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged, partial toe-side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting the strike face dimensions. FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged, partial toe-side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting additional strike face dimensions. FIG. 6 illustrates a front side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting the club head coordinate axes. FIG. 7 illustrates a toe-side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting the club head coordinate axes. FIG. 8 illustrates a toe-side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting additional club head coordinate axes. FIG. 9 illustrates a top plan view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting the club head body dimensions. FIG. 10 illustrates a top plan view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting an imaginary central mass zone. FIG. 11 illustrates a toe-side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, highlighting an imaginary central mass zone. FIG. 12 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a composite insert comprising an annular rib according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates a plan view of the composite insert and rib of FIG. 12, with the composite insert shown in phantom lines. FIG. 14 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a composite insert comprising annular ribs according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates a plan view of the composite insert and ribs of FIG. 14, with the composite insert shown in phantom lines. FIG. 16 illustrates a detailed, cross-sectional view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 illustrates a detailed, cross-sectional view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 illustrates a bottom view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 26 illustrates a detailed, cross-sectional view of a composite insert comprising an insert rib according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 27 illustrates a rear perspective view of a golf club head according to the present invention. FIG. 28 illustrates a top plan view of the golf club head of FIG. 27. FIG. 29 illustrates a rear perspective view of a golf club head according to the present invention. FIG. 30 illustrates a detailed, heel-side, cross-sectional view of the rear frame of the golf club head of FIG. 86. FIG. 31 illustrates a rear perspective view of a rearward frame according to the present invention. FIG. 32 illustrates a front perspective view of the rearward fram