US 11,944,879 B2
Golf club head with L-shaped faceplate and dynamic lofting features
Alex G. Woodward, Phoenix, AZ (US); Ryan M. Stokke, Anthem, AZ (US); Xiaojian Chen, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Suraj Megharaja, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/583,103.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/282,577, filed on Nov. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/263,936, filed on Nov. 11, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/140,741, filed on Jan. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0233924 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. A63B 53/04 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 53/0475 (2013.01) [A63B 53/0408 (2020.08); A63B 53/0416 (2020.08); A63B 53/0433 (2020.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An iron-type golf club head comprising:
a faceplate and a rear body forming a club head body and enclosing a hollow interior cavity;
a top rail, a sole, a heel end, and a toe end, wherein:
the club head body forms a front end, a rear end, a top rail periphery, a toe periphery, a heel periphery, and a sole periphery;
the faceplate is disposed at the front end;
the faceplate comprises a strike face, a back surface opposite the strike face, a leading edge proximate the sole, a sole return extending rearward from the back surface and forming at least a portion of the sole, and a faceplate perimeter, wherein:
the faceplate perimeter comprises a top perimeter edge, a heel-side perimeter edge, a toe-side perimeter edge and a sole perimeter edge;
the rear body forms at least a portion of the top rail, at least a portion of the sole, at least a portion of the toe end;
the rear body comprises a rear wall extending from the sole to the top rail at the rear end, a sole ledge, and a hosel structure located on the heel end;
the sole ledge projects from the rear body toward the faceplate and forms a portion of the sole;
the top perimeter edge of the faceplate is located on the top rail periphery of the club head body, the toe-side perimeter edge of the faceplate is located on the toe periphery of the club head body, and the sole perimeter edge of the faceplate contacts the sole ledge;
the faceplate is welded to the rear body along the faceplate perimeter;
the rear body further comprises a weight pad proximate the sole and the rear wall, wherein:
the weight pad overhangs the sole return, and the weight pad does not contact the sole return;
wherein the sole perimeter edge comprises a heel-side sole perimeter edge, a toe-side sole perimeter edge, and a rear sole perimeter edge;
wherein the heel-side sole perimeter edge and the toe-side sole perimeter edge each extend rearwardly from the leading edge at an angle;
wherein the rear sole perimeter edge extends between the heel-side sole perimeter edge and the toe-side sole perimeter edge;
a heel-side taper angle measured as the exterior angle between the heel-side sole perimeter edge and the leading edge and a toe-side taper angle measured as the exterior angle between the toe-side sole perimeter edge and the leading edge;
wherein the heel-side taper angle and the toe-side taper angle are each between 100 and 160 degrees;
wherein the sole return defines a sole return width measured in a heel-to-toe direction;
wherein the sole return width decreases rearward from the strike face;
wherein the rear body further comprises a heel mass and a toe mass;
wherein the heel mass located in a low heel area of the interior cavity and is integrally formed with the heel end, the sole, and the rear wall; and
wherein the toe mass is located in a low toe area of the interior cavity and is integrally formed with the toe end, the sole, and the rear wall.