Golf club with adjustable club face

Abstract

Structural designs and design concepts are provided for golf clubs and golf club heads that have a club face composed of an array of pins arranged so the ends of the pins cooperate to define the ball-striking surface of the club face. The ends of the pins can form a ball-striking surface that is planar or concave; the pins can be flush with the club face, or can project therefrom. Some embodiments provide an adjustment mechanism mechanically attached to the pins and actuated to modify forces imparted on the pins and change their responsiveness to a ball strike. The example embodiments of the Figures include optimized drivers and irons, but in various embodiments the invention is suitable for producing an optimized version of any conventional type of golf club, including without limitation drivers, woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to golf clubs, and more particularly to golf clubs with an adjustable ball-striking surface or “club face.”BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, golf clubs are designed for appearance, pendular properties, and performance with respect to the type of club and the physical characteristics and playing style of the player. Golf clubs are made of particular materials to particular specifications to achieve particular design goals; standards-setting organizations for managing competitive golf also set rules that constrain design specifications. Over time, golf clubs have evolved from simple striking implements to highly-engineered devices exhibiting construction from performance materials, complex contours of the club head, and precise customization matching club design to paying customer. Various existing designs further enable real-time customization during play, such as by providing removable weights in the club head or rotation mechanisms to adjust various angles of the club head or club face relative to the ball, player, shaft, or terrain.SUMMARY

[0003] The present invention includes novel concepts and assemblies for golf club heads featuring adjustable structures that form or project from the club face and contact the ball when the golf club is swung. It is an object of the invention to incorporate or provide a unique and adjustable club face. A further object is to provide a fully tunable club face by way of torsion, weight, and in-play adjustment. Another object is to provide embodiments of the invention that may or may not satisfy the equipment rules and conformity standards of professional golf associations that may currently exist with such organizations as the USGA.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference designators are used to designate like elements, and in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an example embodiment of a golf club head with a striking surface comprising a pin arrangement, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0006] FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

[0008] FIG. 4A is a side view of a set of alternate embodiments of a club face pin, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 4B is a front view of a set of alternate embodiments of a club face pin, in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of another example embodiment of a golf club head with a striking surface comprising an adjustable pin arrangement, in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements.

[0013] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,”“in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0014] The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are recited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0015] This disclosure presents structural designs and design concepts for golf clubs and golf club heads that have a club face composed of an array of pins arranged so the ends of the pins cooperate to define the ball-striking surface of the club face. The ends of the pins can form a ball-striking surface that is planar or concave; the pins can be flush with the club face, or can project therefrom. Some embodiments provide an adjustment mechanism mechanically attached to the pins and actuated to modify forces imparted on the pins and change their responsiveness to a ball strike. The example embodiments of the Figures include optimized drivers and irons, but in various embodiments the invention is suitable for producing an optimized version of any conventional type of golf club, including without limitation drivers, woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters.

[0016] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an example embodiment of the inventive apparatus, generally designated as 100, which is a design for a golf club having an array of pins that form the ball-striking surface. Generally, the design 100 for the golf club may include a club head 102 and a shaft 104 attached to or integral with club head 102. The club head 102 includes a club face 106 that conventionally defines the ball-striking surface of the golf club. The face 106 may be planar, concave, or convex surface, and may comprise grooves or other surface structures. In some embodiments, the face 106 may be constructed according to rules and regulations of the USGA or another standards-setting organization for the game of golf.

[0017] The club head 102 further comprises an array 108 of rigid metal rods or pins 180 extending through the club face 106 and arranged so that the exposed ends 182 of the pins 180 form the ball-striking surface. In some embodiments, the ends 182 of the pins may be flush with the club face 106. In other embodiments, including the illustrated design 100, one or more of the pins 180 may project beyond the surface of the club face 106. In still other embodiments, one or more of the pins 180 may be recessed below the surface of the club face 106. The pins 180 may be configured to provide a planar, concave, or convex ball-striking surface that is itself flush, recessed, or protruding relative to the club face 106. In some embodiments, the ends 182 of the pins 180 may be planar and either parallel to or askew of the club face 106. In other embodiments, one or more of the pins 180 may have non-planar ends 182, instead having a rounded, beveled, flanged or barbed, or other shaped end 182; various non-limiting examples of pin ends are illustrated in FIG. 4A. The pins 180 further may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, including hexagonal as illustrated, or triangular, round, etc.; non-limiting examples of pin shapes are illustrated in FIG. 4B. The pins 180 may have uniform length, or may be different lengths as illustrated. In some embodiments, the pins 180 may be attached to or integral with a support member 170, such as a mounting plate disposed within the club head 102.

[0018] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another example embodiment of a design 500 for the present golf club. A club head 502 and shaft 504 are provided as described above, including a club face 506 and an array 508 of pins 580 supported by the body of the club head 502 and extending through the club face 506 so the ends 582 of the pins 580 form the ball-striking surface. The design 500 provides for “tuning” of the ball-striking surface by manually modifying the forces applied to the pins 580. The club head 502 may include a tuning port 510 and a tuning mechanism 512 that is in mechanical communication with one or more of the pins 580. In some embodiments, the pins 580 may directly contact the tuning mechanism 512. In other embodiments, one or more substantially rigid wires 520 may create the connection between the tuning mechanism 512 and the array 508 of pins 580. As illustrated, one example embodiment includes a support member 570 as described above, that further provides an interface between the array 508 and the wires 520. There may be one wire 520 for each pin 580, or each wire 520 may be mechanically connected to a plurality of adjacent pins via the support member 570.

[0019] In some embodiments, a player may use a tuning key 514 to rotate or otherwise manipulate the tuning mechanism 512. In some embodiments, actuating the tuning mechanism 512 pushes, pulls, or twists the wires 520 relative to one or more axis points, to change the magnitude of various forces imparted on the pins 580, thereby, for example, reducing the resistance of pins 580 to a ball strike, or increasing / decreasing torsion applied to the pins 580. It will be understood that other forms of tuning, including mechanisms that change the angle of the club face or that connect to other rigid structures in the club head 502, may be used.

[0020] While various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:a body;a club face; andan array of pins supported by the body and extending through the club face, each of the pins in the array of pins having an end that cooperates with the ends of the other pins to define a ball-striking surface.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the corresponding end of each of the pins in the array of pins is flush with the club face.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein one or more pins of the array of pins project beyond an outer surface of the club face.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein one or more pins of the array of pins 180 are recessed within an outer surface of the club face.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the array of pins is adjustable to configure the ball-striking surface into each of a planar, a concave, and a convex configuration.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the array of pins is adjustable to position the ball-striking surface in each of a flush, a recessed, and a protruding position relative to the club face.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the corresponding end of each of the pins in the array of pins is planar, providing a planar ball-striking surface that is parallel with the club face.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the corresponding end of each of the pins in the array of pins is planar, providing a planar ball-striking surface that is askew of the club face.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the corresponding end of one or more pins of the array of pins is non-planar.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the corresponding end of one or more pins of the array of pins has a rounded, beveled, flanged, or barbed shape.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the pins have a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a support member disposed within the body, the array of pins being attached to or integral with the support member distal of the ball-striking surface.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a tuning mechanism in mechanical communication with one or more adjustable pins of the array of pins.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the one or more adjustable pins directly contact the tuning mechanism during actuation of the tuning mechanism.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising one or more wires connecting the tuning mechanism to the one or more adjustable pins.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the one or more wires includes a corresponding wire connecting to each of the one or more adjustable pins.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, further comprising a support member disposed between the array of pins and the one or more wires, each of the one or more wires mechanically connecting to one or more of the adjustable pins through the support member.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein a first wire of the one or more wires adjusts a plurality of the adjustable pins that are adjacent to each other.

19. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein actuating the tuning mechanism pushes, pulls, or twists the wires relative to one or more axis points, to change the magnitude of various forces imparted on the array of pins.

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