US 12,172,058 B2
Golf club head
Paul M. Demkowski, San Diego, CA (US); Bret H. Wahl, Escondido, CA (US); Scott Taylor, Bonita, CA (US); and Sanjay Kuttappa, Oceanside, CA (US)
Assigned to TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/436,888.
Application 18/436,888 is a continuation of application No. 17/736,766, filed on May 4, 2022.
Application 17/736,766 is a continuation of application No. 17/156,313, filed on Jan. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,351,426, issued on Jun. 7, 2022.
Application 17/156,313 is a continuation of application No. 16/800,811, filed on Feb. 25, 2020, granted, now 10,953,293, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Application 16/800,811 is a continuation of application No. 15/706,632, filed on Sep. 15, 2017, granted, now 10,625,126, issued on Apr. 21, 2020.
Application 15/706,632 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/394,549, filed on Dec. 29, 2016, granted, now 10,543,409, issued on Jan. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0181307 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63B 53/04 (2015.01); A63B 60/54 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 53/047 (2013.01) [A63B 53/0412 (2020.08); A63B 53/0433 (2020.08); A63B 53/0462 (2020.08); A63B 53/0466 (2013.01); A63B 53/0475 (2013.01); A63B 60/54 (2015.10)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
30. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
a body made of a body material, comprising a heel portion, a first part of a sole portion, a toe portion, a top portion, a hosel, a plate opening, and a back portion having a rear wall extending from the sole portion to the top portion; and
a strike plate, made of a strike plate material, welded to the body and closing the plate opening, thereby creating an internal cavity, and creating a strike face;
wherein:
the strike plate comprises a second part of a sole portion angled relative to the strike face, and a majority of a face-to-sole transition region between the strike face and the sole portion;
the iron-type golf club head further comprises a recess in the back portion;
the internal cavity extends from the second part of the sole portion to the top portion and is defined by portions of the back portion, the rear wall, the top portion, the strike face, the first part of the sole portion, and the second part of the sole portion;
the iron-type golf club head further comprises an elastomer material contacting the back portion and a back surface of the strike plate and, and the elastomer material has an elastomer material depth measured from the back surface of the strike plate in a direction perpendicular to an exterior surface of the strike plate, the elastomer material depth varies from a maximum elastomer material depth to a minimum elastomer material depth, and the maximum elastomer material depth is greater than a maximum thickness of the strike plate;
the iron-type golf club head further comprises an internal weight comprising tungsten and located at least partially in the recess, wherein no portion of the internal weight defines an exterior surface of the golf club head, the internal weight does not contact the back surface of the strike plate, and at least a portion of the internal weight is located above the second part of the sole portion;
the elastomer material extends to an elastomer elevation that is greater than a maximum elevation of the internal weight;
at least a portion of the second part of the sole portion is welded along the first part of the sole portion;
the iron-type golf club head has a club head volume of 40-80 cc;
a portion of a weld seam along a top perimeter of the strike plate is on the strike face and is below the top portion and the internal cavity extends above the top perimeter of the strike plate;
the elastomer material extends above the top perimeter of the strike plate;
the rear wall has a minimum rear wall thickness less than the maximum thickness of the strike plate;
a portion of the strike plate extends further toeward than the second part of the sole portion; and
the body has an injection port extending through the toe portion, the elastomer material is inserted through the injection port, and the injection port is closed with an external plug.