US 12,478,846 B2
Golf club having a damping element for ball speed control
Marni D. Ines, San Marcos, CA (US); Oswaldo Gonzalez, Corona, CA (US); John Morin, The Woodlands, TX (US); Jason A. Mata, Logan, UT (US); Jonathan Hebreo, San Diego, CA (US); Michael E. Franz, San Diego, CA (US); and Charles E. Golden, Encinitas, CA (US)
Assigned to Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed by Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/532,222.
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.
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.
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 17/085,474 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/592,170, filed on Oct. 3, 2019, granted, now 10,821,344, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
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 16/833,054 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 16/592,170 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 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 16/401,926 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 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.
Prior Publication US 2022/0080275 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. A63B 60/54 (2015.01); A63B 53/04 (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)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. 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 heel 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;
wherein said support arm is affixed to said periphery portion at two distinct locations;
a damping element residing between said support arm and said rear surface of said striking face;
wherein said damping element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said support arm;
wherein said support arm comprises a cradle abutting said damping element, a first portion extending upwards from said periphery portion towards said cradle, and a second portion extending downwards from said periphery portion towards said cradle;
wherein said cradle of said support arm has a cradle thickness along said z-axis and a cradle thickness along said x-axis;
wherein said first portion of said support arm has a first portion thickness along said z-axis and a first portion thickness along said x-axis, wherein said first portion thickness along said z-axis is greater than said first portion thickness along said x-axis;
wherein said second portion of said support arm has a second portion thickness along said x-axis and a second portion thickness along said z-axis, wherein said second portion thickness along said x-axis is greater than said second portion thickness along said z-axis;
wherein said cradle thickness along said x-axis is greater than said first portion thickness along said x-axis;
a back cover adhered to said periphery portion of said golf club head creating an internal cavity, wherein said support arm and said damping element reside within said cavity.