US 12,472,407 B2
Golf club heads with slits and flexure inserts
Travis D. Milleman, Cave Creek, AZ (US); Eric J. Morales, Laveen, AZ (US); and Joshua A. Degerness, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Assigned to Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,829.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/371,613, filed on Aug. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/266,722, filed on Jan. 12, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0233908 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. A63B 53/04 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 53/0433 (2020.08) [A63B 53/0408 (2020.08); A63B 53/0437 (2020.08); A63B 53/0466 (2013.01); A63B 2209/00 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A golf club head comprising:
a strike face comprising a striking surface for impacting a golf ball;
a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel, a toe, and a rear end;
wherein the strike face and body are configured to be secured together to enclose a hollow interior cavity;
the sole defines a slit proximate the strike face, wherein the slit provides an opening communicating between the hollow interior cavity and an exterior of the club head;
the slit comprising a forward edge located adjacent the strike face and a rearward edge opposite the forward edge;
wherein the forward edge and the rearward edge define boundaries of the slit;
the slit is configured to receive a flexure insert;
the flexure insert comprises a spring component and a cap;
the spring component comprises a first material and the cap comprises a second material;
the spring component comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and a U-shaped top wall;
wherein the U-shaped top wall extends in a curved manner into the interior cavity and connects the front wall and the rear wall;
wherein the slit further comprises a front recessed portion formed into a front surface of the slit and a rear recessed portion into a rear surface of the slit;
the front wall comprises a front protrusion extending forwardly from the front wall:
the rear wall comprises a rear protrusion extending rearwardly from the rear wall:
wherein the front protrusion is configured to be received within the front recessed portion; and
wherein the rear protrusion is configured to be received within the rear recessed portion.