US 12,145,038 B2
Golf club having a damping element for ball speed control
Charles E. Golden, Encinitas, CA (US); John Morin, The Woodlands, TX (US); Oswaldo Gonzalez, Corona, CA (US); Jonathan Hebreo, San Diego, CA (US); Marni D. Ines, San Marcos, UT (US); Gery M. Zimmerman, Fallbrook, CA (US); Jason A. Mata, Logan, UT (US); and Ryan J. A. Ritchie, San Marcos, CA (US)
Assigned to Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed by Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/565,895.
Application 17/565,895 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/543,459, filed on Dec. 6, 2021.
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.
Application 17/377,696 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/349,519, filed on Jun. 16, 2021.
Application 17/349,519 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/138,618, filed on Dec. 30, 2020.
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.
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.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/065,310, filed on Aug. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0118328 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
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)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
9. A golf club head comprising:
a striking face;
a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from said striking face;
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 prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to the striking face, extending towards a toe of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;
wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;
a support arm spaced from said rear surface of said striking face, said support arm extending from said periphery portion;
a first damping element residing between said support arm and said rear surface of said striking face;
a second damping element located between said support arm and said striking face, said second damping element in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and said support arm;
wherein said periphery portion comprises a back portion which partially encloses an internal cavity formed between said striking face and said periphery portion;
wherein said support arm is spaced from said back portion;
wherein said second damping element is spaced from said back portion;
wherein said periphery portion comprises a sole extending rearwards from a bottom of said striking face, a topline extending rearwards from a top of said striking face, said toe, and a heel opposite said toe;
wherein said second damping element includes an open slit directly adjacent to said striking face; and
wherein said second damping element contacts a first surface of said support arm facing towards said striking face, a second surface of said support arm facing away from said striking face, a third surface of said support arm facing said toe, and a fourth surface of said support arm facing said heel.