US 12,102,892 B2
Club heads having reinforced club head faces and related methods
Evan R. Greer, Phoenix, AZ (US); Jacob T. Clarke, Apex, AZ (US); Ryan M. Stokke, Anthem, AZ (US); Cory S. Bacon, Cave Creek, AZ (US); and Eric J. Morales, Laveen, AZ (US)
Assigned to Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/449,595.
Application 17/449,595 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/001,517, filed on Aug. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,406,883.
Application 17/001,517 is a continuation of application No. 16/407,465, filed on May 9, 2019, granted, now 10,751,587, issued on Aug. 25, 2020.
Application 16/407,465 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/282,020, filed on Feb. 21, 2019, granted, now 10,918,919, issued on Feb. 16, 2021.
Application 16/282,020 is a continuation of application No. 15/644,653, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,258,843, issued on Apr. 16, 2019.
Application 15/644,653 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/628,639, filed on Jun. 20, 2017, granted, now 10,888,743, issued on Jan. 12, 2021.
Application 15/644,653 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/170,593, filed on Jun. 1, 2016, granted, now 10,905,926, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Application 15/628,639 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/920,480, filed on Oct. 22, 2015, granted, now 10,688,350, issued on Jun. 23, 2020.
Application 15/628,639 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/920,484, filed on Oct. 22, 2015, abandoned.
Application 15/170,593 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/710,236, filed on May 12, 2015, granted, now 10,905,925, issued on Feb. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,941, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/821,965, filed on Mar. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/669,230, filed on May 9, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/521,998, filed on Jun. 19, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/359,450, filed on Jul. 7, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/280,035, filed on Jan. 18, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/266,074, filed on Dec. 11, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/206,152, filed on Aug. 17, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/169,089, filed on Jun. 1, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/146,783, filed on Apr. 13, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/131,739, filed on Mar. 11, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/105,464, filed on Jan. 20, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/105,460, filed on Jan. 20, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/101,926, filed on Jan. 9, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/068,232, filed on Oct. 24, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/023,819, filed on Jul. 11, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/994,029, filed on May 15, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0016500 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. A63B 53/04 (2015.01); A63B 53/06 (2015.01); A63B 60/02 (2015.01); A63B 60/52 (2015.01); A63B 60/54 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 53/0475 (2013.01) [A63B 53/047 (2013.01); A63B 53/06 (2013.01); A63B 60/02 (2015.10); A63B 60/54 (2015.10); A63B 53/0408 (2020.08); A63B 53/0416 (2020.08); A63B 53/0445 (2020.08); A63B 53/0454 (2020.08); A63B 53/0458 (2020.08); A63B 2053/0491 (2013.01); A63B 60/52 (2015.10); Y10T 29/49828 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A golf club head comprising:
a front end, a rear end, a top end, a bottom end, a toe end, and a heel end;
a face element comprising a face surface located at the front end and a rear surface located at the rear end;
the face element comprises a face center, a face perimeter, and a variable thickness profile measured between the face surface and the rear surface;
the variable thickness profile includes a perimeter region comprising a perimeter thickness that is constant, a transition region comprising a varying transition thickness, and a center region encompassing the face center, the center region comprising a center thickness that is constant;
wherein the perimeter thickness comprising a minimum thickness of the face element;
wherein the center thickness comprises a maximum thickness of the face element;
the top end having a top rail extending in an arcuate fashion toward the bottom end to form a top rail wall;
the bottom end having a sole and a rear portion integrally formed with the sole, wherein the rear portion extends upward toward the top end;
the toe end is divided into a first toe end portion, a second toe end portion, and a third toe end portion;
the first toe end portion is adjacent to and integral with the top end;
the third toe end portion is adjacent to and integral with the bottom end;
the second toe end portion is positioned between the first toe end portion and third toe end portion;
wherein the toe end comprising a toe ledge extending between the top rail and the rear portion, the toe ledge is integral with the top rail wall and the rear portion; and
wherein the heel end comprises a heel ledge extending in a curved manner toward the top rail, the sole, and the toe end, the heel ledge is integral with the top rail wall and the rear portion;
an undercut comprising a first cavity, a second cavity, a third cavity, a fourth cavity, and a fifth cavity;
the first cavity is formed between the rear surface and the top rail wall;
the second cavity is formed between the rear surface and the rear portion;
the third cavity is formed between the rear surface and the toe ledge at the first toe end portion;
the fourth cavity is formed between the rear surface and the toe ledge at the third toe end portion;
the fifth cavity is formed between the rear surface and the heel ledge at the heel end; and
one or more reinforcement ribs integrally formed with the rear surface of the face element, the one or more reinforcement ribs extending radially in a direction extending from the face center to the face perimeter.