US 12,226,679 B2
Golf club having a damping element for ball speed control
Grant M. Martens, San Diego, CA (US); and Doug M. Takehara, Oceanside, CA (US)
Assigned to Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed by Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/076,729.
Application 18/076,729 is a continuation of application No. 17/958,233, filed on Sep. 30, 2022.
Application 17/958,233 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/543,459, filed on Dec. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,938,387.
Application 17/543,459 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/532,222, filed on Nov. 22, 2021.
Application 17/532,222 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/377,696, filed on Jul. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,826,620.
Application 17/377,696 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/349,519, filed on Jun. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,786,789.
Application 17/349,519 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/138,618, filed on Dec. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,794,080.
Application 17/138,618 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/127,061, filed on Dec. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,433,284, issued on Sep. 6, 2022.
Application 17/127,061 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/085,474, filed on Oct. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,202,946, issued on Dec. 21, 2021.
Application 17/085,474 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/833,054, filed on Mar. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,020,639, issued on Jun. 1, 2021.
Application 16/833,054 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/286,412, filed on Feb. 26, 2019, granted, now 10,625,127, issued on Apr. 21, 2020.
Application 16/286,412 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/225,577, filed on Dec. 19, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/225,577 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/158,578, filed on Oct. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,293,226, issued on May 21, 2019.
Application 16/158,578 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/027,077, filed on Jul. 3, 2018, abandoned.
Application 16/027,077 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/220,122, filed on Jul. 26, 2016, granted, now 10,086,244, issued on Oct. 2, 2018.
Application 17/085,474 is a continuation of application No. 16/592,170, filed on Oct. 3, 2019, granted, now 10,821,344, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Application 16/592,170 is a continuation of application No. 16/214,405, filed on Dec. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,471,319, issued on Nov. 12, 2019.
Application 17/085,474 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/401,926, filed on May 2, 2019, granted, now 10,821,338, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Application 16/401,926 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/848,697, filed on Dec. 20, 2017, abandoned.
Application 15/848,697 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/359,206, filed on Nov. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,150,019, issued on Dec. 11, 2018.
Application 15/359,206 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/220,107, filed on Jul. 26, 2016, granted, now 9,993,704, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Application 17/543,459 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/337,151, filed on Jun. 2, 2021, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/065,310, filed on Aug. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0097561 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63B 53/04 (2015.01); A63B 60/54 (2015.01); A63B 102/32 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 60/54 (2015.10) [A63B 53/047 (2013.01); A63B 53/0416 (2020.08); A63B 2102/32 (2015.10); A63B 2209/00 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A golf club head comprising:
a striking face;
a back portion behind said striking face extending from a topline to a sole;
a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;
a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards said heel side of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;
a plurality of scorelines on said striking face;
a damping element comprising a front surface and a rear surface, said rear surface of said damping element opposite said front surface of said damping element;
wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;
wherein said front surface of said damping element contacts said rear surface of said striking face;
wherein said striking face comprises a first portion having a constant thickness;
wherein said front surface of said damping element contacts said first portion of said striking face;
wherein said rear surface of said damping element contacts said back portion of said golf club head; and
wherein said front surface of said damping element has a hemispherical shape.