JP2022133420A - Golf club head with rib and related method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a club head having a crown with parallel ribs that uniformly reinforce the face of the club head is not an efficient structure because the club head face is not uniformly loaded but is subjected to essentially a point impact near its center, which the prior art fails to recognize.

SOLUTION: A golf club head includes: a body; and a first rib projecting from a rib surface of the body. The body includes: a heel end; a toe end; a crown; a sole; a front end having a center point; a rear end; and at least one of a skirt and a hosel.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly to golf club heads.

This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/366,710, filed Jul. 26, 2016, and U.S. Patent Application No. 15/631, filed Jun. 23, 2017. '483, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

Today's wood-type golf club heads are invariably made of metal rather than the persimmon wood that gives the club its name. Generally, these club heads consist of a hollow metal shell and have a relatively thick face to withstand ball impact, as well as to withstand impact to the ground and the club head. It has a relatively thick sole to lower the center of gravity. Other parts of the golf club head are made as thin as possible to distribute the maximum amount of material to the face and source. The crowns and skirts of current club heads are extremely thin, yet must be stiff enough in the direction of greatest stress to support the face of the club head.

Ribs are commonly employed in the crown of club heads to allow the crown to be as light as possible while providing sufficient longitudinal stiffness. Zebelean U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,754 discloses a hollow club head with a crown that includes parallel ribs extending perpendicular to the face of the club head. Parallel ribs extend internally and bridge the thin transitions of the crown. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,871 to Sano discloses a hollow club head having an independently mounted face and a crown including a plurality of parallel ribs extending perpendicular to the face. Disclose. Schmidt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,715, describes a plurality of parallel ribs that merge into the club face and extend perpendicular to the club head face, as well as merge into the rear wall of the club head and extend into the club head. Disclosed is a hollow club head having a crown including a plurality of ribs extending perpendicular to the rear wall of the club.

The prior art does not recognize that a club head with a crown having parallel ribs that uniformly stiffen the face of the club head is not an effective construction. This is because the face of the club head is not uniformly loaded, but essentially at the point of impact near the center.

1 is a front perspective view of a golf club head embodying features of the present invention; FIG.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the club head of FIG. 1 viewed from below; FIG.

2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the club head of FIG. 1 viewed from the front; FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a golf club head according to a second embodiment;

Figure 5 is a full cross-sectional view of the club head of Figure 4 viewed from the front;

FIG. 10 is a top view of a golf club head according to a third embodiment;

Figure 7 is a full cross-sectional view of the club head of Figure 6 viewed from the side;

FIG. 10 is a top view of a golf club head according to a fourth embodiment;

9 is a full cross-sectional view of the club head of FIG. 8 viewed from the side; FIG.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a golf club head according to a fifth embodiment;

Figure 11 is a full cross-sectional view of the club head of Figure 10 viewed from the front;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a golf club head according to a sixth embodiment;

Figure 13 is a full cross-sectional view of the club head of Figure 12 viewed from the front;

FIG. 4 is a partial front cross-sectional view of a golf club head according to another embodiment;

15 is a top cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 14 taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 14; FIG.

4 is a flow chart of a method for providing a golf club head according to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure;

16 is a top cross-sectional view of a golf club head similar to the golf club head of FIGS. 14-15 but according to another embodiment; FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of a golf club head according to another embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of a golf club head according to another embodiment;

4 is a flow chart of a method for providing a golf club head according to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 19 is a side view of the golf club head of Figure 18 in the address position;

1 is a front view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

23 is a top X-ray view of the golf club head of FIG. 22; FIG.

Figure 23 is a bottom top internal view of the crown of the golf club head of Figure 22;

FIG. 23 is a top-down interior view of the sole and skirt of the golf club head of FIG. 22;

24 is a side view of the ribs of the golf club head of FIG. 22, taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 23; FIG.

24 is a side view of the ribs of the golf club head of FIG. 22, taken along line XXVII-XXVII of FIG. 23; FIG.

24 is a side view of the ribs of the golf club head of FIG. 22, taken along line XXVIII-XXVIII of FIG. 23; FIG.

FIG. 23 is a top FEA view of the crown of the golf club head of FIG. 22 identifying high amplitude zones therein;

23 is a bottom FEA view of the sole of the golf club head of FIG. 22 identifying high amplitude zones therein; FIG.

4 is a flow chart of a method for providing a golf club head according to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure;

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

1 is a top X-ray view of a golf club head with ribs; FIG.

4 is a flow chart of a method for providing a golf club head according to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure;

4 is a side cross-sectional view of a golf club head according to another embodiment; FIG.

41 is a front cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another cross-sectional side view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another cross-sectional side view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another cross-sectional side view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another cross-sectional side view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another cross-sectional side view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another front perspective cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is another front perspective cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 40; FIG.

41 is a bottom modal analysis of the sole of the golf club head of FIG. 40 identifying high amplitude zones therein; FIG.

41 is a bottom modal analysis of the sole of the golf club head of FIG. 40 identifying high amplitude zones therein; FIG.

41 is a top modal analysis view of the crown of the golf club head of FIG. 40 identifying high amplitude zones therein; FIG.

41 is a bottom modal analysis of the sole of the golf club head of FIG. 40 identifying high amplitude zones therein; FIG.

48 is an acoustic analysis graph of the golf club head of FIG. 47;

For simplicity and clarity of explanation, the drawings show a general method of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques are omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. There is Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements.

The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc. in this specification and claims, if any, are used to distinguish between similar elements and not necessarily in a particular sequence. It is not intended to describe chronological order or chronological order. The terminology so used is such that the embodiments described herein can operate, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. should be understood to be interchangeable under certain circumstances. Furthermore, the terms “including” and “having” and any conjugations thereof do not necessarily limit a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus including a list of elements to those elements, but explicitly is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, as may include other elements not listed in or unique to such processes, methods, systems, articles, devices, or apparatus.

If any, the terms "left", "right", "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "upper", "lower", etc. in this specification and claims are Used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to describe permanent relative positions. The terms so used are used so that the embodiments of the invention described herein are operable, for example, in orientations other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. should be understood to be interchangeable in appropriate circumstances.

The terms “couple, couples,” “coupled,” “coupling,” etc. should be understood broadly and connect two or more elements or signals electrically, mechanically to or in some other way. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, mechanically or otherwise uncoupled, and two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, electrically or otherwise coupled. and two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (mechanically or otherwise) may be for any length of time, eg, permanent, semi-permanent, or momentary.

As defined herein, two or more elements are "integral" if they are constructed of the same material. As defined herein, two or more elements are "non-integral" if they are composed of different materials.

In a first example, a golf club head may comprise a body portion and a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body portion. The body portion can have a heel end, a toe end, a sole, an anterior surface, and a posterior surface. The plurality of ribs can comprise a first rib having a first longitudinal axis, a second rib having a second longitudinal axis, and a third rib having a third longitudinal axis. The first longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis, and the third longitudinal axis can intersect at a common point on the exterior of the body.

In a second example, a golf club head may comprise a body portion and a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body portion. The body portion can have a heel end, a toe end, a sole, an anterior surface, and a posterior surface. The plurality of ribs may be substantially straight and non-intersecting, and/or the plurality of ribs may be a first rib closest to the heel end of the body and a first rib closest to the toe end of the body. It may have two ribs. The plurality of ribs may also be substantially radial and fan out between the first rib and the second rib.

In a third example, a method includes the steps of: (a) providing a body of a golf club having a heel end, a toe end, a sole, a front surface, and a rear surface; may comprise the step of preparing ribs of The plurality of ribs has a first rib having a first longitudinal axis extending through the common point, a second rib having a second longitudinal axis extending through the common point, and a second rib having a second longitudinal axis extending through the common point. There may be a third rib having a third longitudinal axis extending therefrom. The common point is located outside the body.

In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a body portion having a heel end, a toe end, a sole, and a front surface, and a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body portion. said plurality of ribs comprising: (a) a first first rib end, a first second rib end opposite said first first rib end, and said first first rib; a first rib having an end and a first axis extending through said first second rib end; (b) a second first rib end, said second first rib; a second second rib end opposite the end and a second axis extending through the second first rib end and the second second rib end a second rib; (c) a third first rib end, a third second rib end opposite said third first rib end, and said third first rib; a third rib having an end and a third axis extending through the third second rib end. The front surface has a strike face with a strike face center point, and a loft plane tangent to the strike face center point defines a front plane of the golf club head. The first rib can be positioned between the second rib and the third rib. The first axis can have a first distance between the front plane and the first first end. The second axis can have a second distance between the front plane and the second first end. The third axis can have a third distance between the front plane and the third first end. at least one of the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance is greater than at least another one of the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance; can also grow.

In one embodiment, a golf club head may include a body portion having a heel end, a toe end, a sole, and a front surface, and a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body portion. . said plurality of ribs comprising: (a) a first first rib end, a first second rib end opposite said first first rib end, and said first first rib; a first rib having an end and a first axis extending through said first second rib end; (b) a second first rib end, said second first rib; a second second rib end opposite the end and a second axis extending through the second first rib end and the second second rib end a second rib; (c) a third first rib end, a third second rib end opposite said third first rib end, and said third first rib; and a third rib having an end and a third axis extending through the third second rib end. The first rib can be positioned between the second rib and the third rib. The first axis can have a first distance between the front plane and the first first end. The second axis can have a second distance between the front plane and the second first end. The third axis can have a third distance between the front plane and the third first end. at least one of the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance is greater than at least another one of the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance; can also grow.

In one example, a method of providing a golf club head includes providing a body portion having a heel end, a toe end, a sole, and a front surface; and a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body portion. and providing a. The step of providing the plurality of ribs includes (a) a first first rib end, a first second rib end opposite the first first rib end, and a first rib end opposite the first first rib end; and a first axis extending through said first second rib end; (b) a second first rib end; , a second second rib end opposite said second first rib end, and said second first rib end and said second second rib end. (c) a third first rib end, a third second rib opposite said third first rib end; providing a third rib having an end and a third axis extending through said third first rib end and said third second rib end. can be done. The step of providing the body portion may comprise connecting at the front surface a strike face having a strike face center point. The loft plane can be tangent to the strike face center point. The loft plane intersects the ground planar surface along the front intersection line when the golf club head is addressed on the ground planar surface, and the front plane extends orthogonally from the front intersection line to the ground planar surface. exist. The first rib can be positioned between the second rib and the third rib. The first axis can have a first distance between a front reference having one of the loft plane, the front plane and the front surface and the first first end. The second axis can have a second distance between the front reference and the second first end. The third axis can have a third distance between the front reference and the third first end. at least one of the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance is greater than at least another one of the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance; The plurality of ribs are staggered with respect to the anterior reference such that .

In one embodiment, a golf club head can include a body portion and a first rib. The body portion may include a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front end having a center point, a rear end, and at least one of a skirt or a hosel. The first rib protrudes from a rib surface of the body portion and extends from opposite first first rib ends and second first rib ends and from the rib surface of the body portion. A protruding first primary rib portion, a second primary rib portion, and a third primary rib portion may be included. The first first rib portion may be positioned between the first first rib end and the third first rib portion. The second first rib portion may be positioned between the second first rib end and the third first rib portion. The first primary rib portion may have a first primary rib dimension, the first primary rib dimension being substantially perpendicular to the rib surface and a first primary rib height substantially perpendicular to the rib surface. , a first first rib thickness substantially perpendicular to said first first rib height. The second primary rib portion may have a second primary rib dimension, the second primary rib dimension being substantially perpendicular to the rib surface and a second primary rib height substantially perpendicular to the rib surface. , a second primary rib thickness substantially perpendicular to said second primary rib height. The third first rib portion may have a third first rib dimension, the third first rib dimension being substantially perpendicular to the rib surface and a third first rib height substantially perpendicular to the rib surface. , a third first rib thickness substantially perpendicular to said third first rib height. The first first dimension and the second first dimension can be greater than the third first rib dimension.

In one embodiment, a golf club head can include a body portion and a first rib. The body portion can include a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front end, and a rear end. The first rib can protrude from a rib surface of the body portion. The first rib has a first first rib end and a second first rib end opposite each other and a first first rib portion protruding from the rib surface of the body portion. , and a second first rib portion. The first first rib end may be located at a first of one of the crown and the sole. The second first rib end may be located at a second of one of the crown and the sole. The first first rib portion is between the first first rib end and the second first rib portion and/or at the first of one of the crown and the sole. can be located along Said second primary rib portion is located between said second primary rib end and said first primary rib portion and/or at said second one of said crown and said sole. can be located along

In one implementation, the method can include providing a body portion and providing a first rib projecting from a rib surface of said body portion. The body portion can include a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front end, and a rear end. The first rib has a first first rib end and a second first rib end opposite each other and a first first rib portion protruding from the rib surface of the body portion. , a second first rib portion, and a third first rib portion. The first first rib portion may be positioned between the first first rib end and the third first rib portion. The second first rib portion may be positioned between the second first rib end and the third first rib portion. The first primary rib portion may have a first primary rib dimension, the first primary rib dimension being substantially perpendicular to the rib surface and a first primary rib height substantially perpendicular to the rib surface. , a first first rib thickness substantially perpendicular to said first first rib height. The second primary rib portion may have a second primary rib dimension, the second primary rib dimension being substantially perpendicular to the rib surface and a second primary rib height substantially perpendicular to the rib surface. , a second primary rib thickness substantially perpendicular to said second primary rib height. The third first rib portion may have a third first rib dimension, the third first rib dimension being substantially perpendicular to the rib surface and a third first rib height substantially perpendicular to the rib surface. , a third first rib thickness substantially perpendicular to said third first rib height. The first first dimension and the second first dimension can be greater than the third first rib dimension.

In one embodiment, a golf club head can include a body portion, an interior surface, and an interior cavity bounded by the interior surface. The body portion may include a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front wall with a strike face, and a rear side. The inner surface may be defined by a heel edge, a toe edge, a crown, a sole, a front wall and/or a rear side. The golf club head may further have ribs projecting from the rib surface of the body portion, and the ribs may have a first rib, a second rib and a third rib. The first rib has a first first rib end point, a second first rib end point, and a first first rib end point and a second first rib end point. a first rib axis that intersects the point. The second rib has a first second rib end point, a second second rib end point, and a first second rib end point and a second second rib end point. a second rib axis that intersects the point. The third rib has a first third rib end point, a second third rib end point, and a first third rib end point and a second third rib end point. a third rib axis that intersects the point. In a top view of a golf club head, the first rib axis, the second rib axis, and the third rib axis intersect each other and abut the rockus defined by the conical cross-sectional perimeter.

In one implementation, a method of providing a golf club head can include providing a body portion and providing ribs projecting from a rib surface of said body portion. The body portion is defined by a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front wall having a strike face, a rear side, and a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front wall and/or a rear side. and an internal cavity bordered by said internal surface. The ribs can have a first rib, a second rib and a third rib. The first rib has a first first rib end point, a second first rib end point, and a first first rib end point and a second first rib end point. a first rib axis that intersects the point. The second rib has a first second rib end point, a second second rib end point, and a first second rib end point and a second second rib end point. a second rib axis that intersects the point. The third rib has a first third rib end point, a second third rib end point, and a first third rib end point and a second third rib end point. a third rib axis that intersects the point. In a top view of a golf club head, the first rib axis, the second rib axis, and the third rib axis intersect each other and abut the rockus defined by the conical cross-sectional perimeter.

In one embodiment, a golf club head can include a body portion and a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body portion. The body portion may include a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front wall with a strike face, and a rear side. The plurality of ribs may include a first rib having a first longitudinal axis, a second rib having a second longitudinal axis, and a third rib having a third longitudinal axis. . The first longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis and the third longitudinal axis can intersect at a common point on the exterior of the body portion. The plurality of ribs may be non-convex with respect to the crown of the golf club head.

Other examples and embodiments are further disclosed herein. Such examples and embodiments may be found in the drawings, claims and/or specification.

1-3, the golf club includes a club head 12, a hosel 14 and a shaft 16. As shown in FIG. The club head 12 is constructed of a hollow body portion 18 generally made of stainless steel, titanium, or other material having a high shear shear rate and strength-to-weight ratio. Hollow body 18 includes a front wall or face 20 for impacting a golf ball. Hollow body portion 18 further includes a top wall or crown 22 , a bottom wall or sole 24 , and lateral walls or skirts 26 connecting face 20 to crown 22 and sole 24 . Club head 12 further includes heel end 30 and toe end 32 . Skirt 26 circumscribes club head 12 between heel end 30 and toe end 32 to form rear wall 28 . Golf club head 12 may be a driver-type club, fairway wood, or hybrid club golf club head.

The crown 22 comprises a thin wall structure, preferably cast, as part of the hollow body portion 18 . Crown 22 is preferably titanium with a relatively thin thickness dimension of 0.076 centimeters (cm) ± 0.013 cm. Crown 22 is reinforced by a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from lower surface 36 of crown 22 . Each rib 34 extends from near a first end remote from front wall 20 to near a second end remote from rear wall 28 . In other examples, the ribs 34 closest to the toe end 32 can have a first end contacting the front wall 20 and also extend a second end closer to the rear wall 28 and extend closer to the rear wall 28 . or even extend along the rear wall 28 . Additionally, the rib 34 closest to the heel end 30 may have a first end contacting the front wall 20 and a second end extending proximate and contacting the rear wall 28 . , or even extend along the rear wall 28 . The ribs 34 are spaced farther apart at the second end than at the first end, preferably more than 20% apart. Adjacent ribs 34 diverge from the first end to the second end by an angle of at least 5 degrees. Ribs 34 are narrow, long, generally straight, metallic, shock wave distributing elements with a height dimension of 0.051 cm ± 0.013 cm and a width dimension of 0.178 cm ± 0.013 cm. In other examples, the height dimension of ribs 34 can have a range of 0.051 cm±0.050 cm. For example, height dimensions are 0.001 cm, 0.005 cm, 0.010 cm, 0.015 cm, 0.020 cm, 0.030 cm, 0.035 cm, 0.040 cm, 0.045 cm, 0.050 cm, 0.055 cm. , 0.060 cm, 0.065 cm, 0.070 cm, 0.075 cm, 0.080 cm, 0.085 cm, 0.090 cm, 0.095 cm, or 0.100 cm. In another example, the height dimension of ribs 34 can have a height dimension of 0.051 inches ± 0.013 inches and a width dimension of 0.178 inches ± 0.078 inches. In another example, the height dimension of ribs 34 can range from 0.50 inches ± 0.025 inches and can have a width dimension of 0.035 inches ± 0.020 inches. For example, the height dimensions are 0.25 inch, 0.30 inch, 0.35 inch, 0.40 inch, 0.45 inch, 0.50 inch, 0.55 inch, 0.60 inch, 0.65 inch. It can be inches, 0.70 inches, or 0.75 inches. Additionally, the height dimension ranges are 0.051 cm ± 0.013 cm, 0.51 inches ± 0.13 inches, 0.51 inches ± 0.25 inches, and 0.178 cm ± 0.013 cm, 0.178 inches. Width dimension ranges of ±0.078 inch and 0.035 inch ±0.020 inch are applicable to the ribs of different examples and embodiments described herein. The height dimension of ribs 34 may vary as the first end extends toward the second end of ribs 34 (e.g., gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof). The height dimension of ribs 34 may vary as the first end extends toward the second end of ribs 34 (e.g., gradually increasing, linearly increasing, incrementally decreasing, linearly increasing). , and any combination thereof). Ribs 34 are generally downwardly convex when viewed in cross-section and smoothly integrate into lower surface 36 of crown 22 . It can be seen that crown 22 has no ribs extending laterally between ribs 34 .

A lower surface 36 of crown 22 includes a front portion and a rear portion. The anterior and posterior portions are defined by a midline generally parallel to the anterior wall 20 at approximately half the distance between the anterior-most point of the anterior wall 20 and the posterior-most point of the posterior wall 28. Defined. A first end of rib 34 terminates at the front portion of crown 22 and a second end of rib 34 terminates at the rear portion of crown 22 .

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, ribs 34 are arranged in a pattern such that longitudinal axes 38 of ribs 34 radiate from and intersect at point 40 located forwardly of front wall 20 . Point 40 is preferably located within the center of the one-third width (W/3) of front wall 20 and is preferably located substantially forward of the centerline of front wall 20 . Since club head 12 as used herein is a three-dimensional body, point 40 is a single point when viewed in plan in FIG. Alternatively, point 40 can be considered a vertical line made up of the intersection of vertical planes passing through the centerline of rib 34 .

Rib 34 originates at a first location adjacent intersection 42 of rear surface 44 of front wall 20 and lower surface 36 of crown 22 and extends to a second location adjacent rear wall 28 . In embodiments, at least half, and preferably all ribs 34 extend beyond the half point (L/2) of club head 12 from front wall 20 and are not intersected by any transverse ribs. In addition, each rib 34 is connected to the other ribs 34 only by a thin portion of the crown 22 and is independent of the other ribs 34 . Preferably point 40 is also not more than L/2 forward from front wall 20 . This results in a pattern with ten ribs 34 diverging at an angle of about 60 degrees, or a pattern diverging between adjacent ribs 34 at 4-8 degrees, preferably about 6 degrees.

A surprising result of this arrangement of ribs 34 is that an array of vertical ribs 0.051 cm thick and 0.178 cm wide reduces the maximum stress by 9% compared to the crown region with no reinforcement. In contrast, ribs 34 arranged in a radial fan pattern reduce the maximum stress in the crown region by approximately 36%. Without wishing to be bound by a particular theory of operation, it is believed that the face 20 deforms unevenly outward from the point of impact, and loads are transferred to the crown in a non-uniform manner that is also radially outward from the point of impact. It seems to be. Therefore, if the ribs 34 are arranged to radiate outward from near the point of impact, the crown 22 will more effectively support the face 20 during impact.

In addition to linear ribs of substantially constant width and height, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, other alternative embodiments of golf club heads with ribs are also possible. For example, the ribs may be curved, and the height and/or width of the ribs may vary.

By way of example, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a golf club head. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line labeled "5" of the embodiment of FIG. The golf club head 412 (FIG. 4) includes a hollow body portion 418 (FIG. 4) having a front wall 420, a crown 422 (FIG. 4), a sole 524 (FIG. 5), and lateral walls connecting the crown 422 and the sole 524. 526 (Fig. 5), a heel end 430 (Fig. 4), a toe end 432 (Fig. 4), and a rear side 428 (Fig. 4) opposite the front wall 420. Additionally, golf club head 412 may include ribs 440 ( FIG. 4 ) extending downwardly from the lower surface of crown 422 . In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 4, rib 440 has a first end near front wall 420 and a second end near rear side 428. Ribs 441, 442, 443, 444, 445; 446. In other examples in this embodiment, the rib 443 can have a first end in contact with the front wall 420 and a second end extending proximate to the rear side 428 or at the rear side. It can extend against the portion 428 or further along the rear side portion 428 . Additionally, ribs 446 may have a first end in contact with front wall 420 and a second end extending proximate or in contact with rear wall 428 . or may extend further along the rear wall 428 .

In some instances, one or more ribs 440 are bent. In one example, each of ribs 441, 442, 443, 444, 455, 446 is curved, as in the example of FIG. However, in other examples some of the ribs 440 may not be curved. For example, ribs 441 can be straight. As ribs 440 bend, the length of ribs 440 increases. The longer the rib length, the more ribs can absorb vibrations.

Each of ribs 440 in FIG. 4 is curved. In some instances, ribs 440 bend in different directions. For example, ribs 441, 442, 443 may bend in one direction and ribs 444, 445, 446 may bend in the opposite direction. Ribs 441 , 442 , 443 may be convexly curved with respect to toe end 432 . Accordingly, the first and second ends of ribs 441 , 442 , 443 bend away from toe end 432 toward heel end 430 . On the other hand, ribs 444 , 445 , 446 bend convexly with respect to heel end 430 . Accordingly, the first and second ends of ribs 444 , 445 , 446 bend away from heel end 430 toward toe end 432 . In one example, if at least two of the ribs 440 extend forward toward the front wall 420 in a straight or curved configuration, they would intersect. For example, the linear extension of rib 442 intersects the linear extension of rib 444 near front wall 420 , and in other embodiments will intersect in front of front wall 420 . Note that other curved arrangements of ribs 440 may exist. For example, more ribs 440 may bend in one direction than the other, or all ribs may bend in the same direction. Additionally, there may be fewer or more than six ribs 440 .

Each of ribs 440 may have a radius of curvature. The radius of curvature is the radius of the circle made by the extrapolating rib. In one example, each of ribs 440 has a different radius of curvature. In other examples, several radii may be substantially identical.

In the example golf club head 412 shown in FIG. 4, rib 441 has the largest radius of curvature. As the rib approaches heel end 430 or toe end 432 relative to rib 441, the radius of curvature of the rib decreases. For example, rib 442 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 441 and rib 443 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 442 . Further, rib 444 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 441 , rib 445 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 444 , and rib 446 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 445 . In another example, the radius of curvature of rib 440 can increase as the rib approaches heel end 430 or toe end 432 relative to rib 441 . In yet another example, the radius of curvature of rib 440 may be independent of position relative to rib 441 .

In the same or another example, the radius of curvature of the ribs can be symmetrical depending on their position relative to ribs 441 . For example, the radius of curvature of rib 442 can be approximately the same as the radius of curvature of rib 444 and the radius of curvature of rib 443 can be the same as the radius of curvature of rib 445 . In another example, the radii of curvature of ribs 440 are mutually asymmetrical.

Each of ribs 440 has a width dimension. In the example of FIG. 4, each of ribs 440 may have approximately the same width as the other ribs. In other examples, rib 440 can have a width that is not the same as all other ribs. In one example, each of ribs 440 has a tapered first end and a tapered second end. In other examples, the first end and/or the second end are not tapered.

Additionally, each of ribs 440 has a height dimension. The height dimension is measured as the distance a rib extends from crown 422 into hollow body portion 418 . In the example of FIG. 5, each of ribs 440 has a height that is approximately the same as the height of each of the other ribs. In other examples, rib 440 can have a height that is not the same as other ribs. In still other examples, the ribs 440 include variable heights (eg, gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof).

Each of ribs 440 also has a length dimension. The length dimension is measured as the (curved) distance between the first and second ends of the rib. In the example of FIG. 4, the rib toward the midpoint between toe end 432 and heel end 430 has the greatest length. Additionally, the rib length decreases as the rib approaches the toe end 432 or heel end 430 . In one example, rib 441 has the greatest length, rib 442 is longer than rib 443, rib 444 is longer than rib 445, and rib 445 is longer than rib 446. long. In other examples, all ribs 440 have substantially the same length.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the golf club head. FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line labeled "7" in the embodiment of FIG. Golf club head 612 (FIG. 6) includes a hollow body portion 618 (FIG. 6) having front wall 620 (FIG. 6), crown 622 (FIG. 6), sole 724 (FIG. 7), crown 622 and sole 624. 7, a heel end 630 (FIG. 6), a toe end 632 (FIG. 6), and a rear side 628 (FIG. 6). Additionally, golf club head 612 may also include ribs 640 ( FIG. 6 ) extending downwardly from the lower surface of crown 622 . In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 6, ribs 640 are ribs 641 , 642 , 643 , 644 , 645 , 646 having first ends near toe end 632 and second ends near heel end 630 . Prepare.

In some instances, one or more ribs 640 are bent. In one example, each of ribs 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646 bends, as in the example of FIG. However, in other examples some of the ribs 640 may not be curved. For example, ribs 641 can be straight.

Each of ribs 640 in FIG. 6 is curved. In one example, all of ribs 640 are curved in the same direction. For example, ribs 641 , 642 , 643 , 644 , 645 , 646 bend convexly with respect to front wall 620 . Accordingly, the first and second ends of ribs 640 bend away from front wall 620 . Note that other curved arrangements of ribs 640 exist. For example, some of the ribs 640 may curve convexly with respect to the front wall 602 if the size of the golf club head decreases sharply at the rear side 628 with respect to the front wall 620 . In other embodiments, some of ribs 640 may have a first end near front wall 620 and a second end near rear side 628 . Additionally, there may be less or more than six ribs 440 .

Each of ribs 640 can have a radius of curvature. In some instances, each of ribs 640 has a different radius of curvature. In other examples, some of the radii of curvature can be substantially the same.

In the example golf club head 612 shown in FIG. 6, rib 641 has the largest radius of curvature. As the rib approaches trailing edge 628, the radius of curvature of the rib decreases. For example, rib 642 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 641, rib 643 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 642, rib 644 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 643, rib 645 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 644, Rib 646 has a smaller radius of curvature than rib 645 . In other examples, the radius of curvature of ribs 640 closer to trailing edge 628 can be increased. In yet another example, the radius of curvature of rib 640 is independent of the position of the rib relative to trailing edge 628 .

Each of ribs 640 has a width dimension. In the example of FIG. 6, each of ribs 640 has approximately the same width as the other ribs. In other examples, ribs 640 can have widths that are not the same as other ribs. In some instances, each of ribs 640 has a tapered first end and a tapered second end. In other examples, the first end and/or the second end are not tapered. Additionally, each of ribs 640 has a height dimension. The height dimension is measured as the distance a rib extends from crown 622 into hollow body portion 618 . In the example of FIG. 7, each of ribs 640 is approximately the same height as each of the other ribs. In other examples, rib 640 can have a height that is not the same as other ribs.

Each of ribs 640 also has a length dimension. The length dimension is measured as the (curved) distance between the first and second ends of the rib. In the example of FIG. 6, the ribs closer to front wall 620 generally have a greater length than the ribs closer to rear side 628 . In one example, rib 642 is longer than rib 643, rib 643 is longer than rib 644, rib 644 is longer than rib 645, and rib 645 is longer than rib 646. . However, the length of rib 642 is longer than rib 641 . In other examples, all of ribs 640 have substantially the same length.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the golf club head. FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line labeled "9" in the embodiment of FIG. The golf club head 812 (FIG. 8) includes a hollow body portion 818 (FIG. 8) having a front wall 820 (FIG. 8), a crown 822 (FIG. 8), a sole 924 (FIG. 9), a crown 422 and a sole 524. 8, a heel end 830 (FIG. 8), a toe end 832 (FIG. 8), and a rear side 828 opposite the front wall 820 (FIG. 8). Additionally, golf club head 812 may also include ribs 840 ( FIG. 8 ) extending downwardly from the lower surface of crown 822 . In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 8, rib 840 may have a first end near toe end 832 and a second end near heel end 830 .

In some instances, one or more ribs 840 are bent. In one example, ribs 841, 842, 843, 844, 845 are bent, as in the example of FIG. However, in other examples some of the ribs 840 may not be curved. For example, ribs 841 can be straight.

Each of ribs 840 in FIG. 8 is curved. In some instances, all of ribs 840 bend in the same direction. For example, ribs 841 , 842 , 843 , 844 , 845 bend concavely with respect to front wall 820 . Accordingly, the first and second ends of ribs 840 bend toward front wall 820 . Note that other curved arrangements of ribs 840 are possible. For example, some of ribs 840 may have a first end near front wall 820 and a second end near rear side 828 . Additionally, there may be fewer or more than six ribs 840 .

Each of ribs 840 has a radius of curvature. In some instances, each of ribs 840 has a different radius of curvature. In other examples, some radii of curvature are substantially the same.

In the example golf club head 812 shown in FIG. 8, rib 841 has the smallest radius of curvature. The radius of curvature of the rib increases as the rib approaches trailing edge 828 . For example, rib 842 has a greater radius of curvature than rib 841, rib 843 has a greater radius of curvature than rib 842, rib 844 has a greater radius of curvature than rib 843, and rib 845 has a greater radius of curvature than rib 844. . In another example, the radius of curvature of rib 840 is independent of the position of the rib relative to trailing edge 828 .

In some or other examples, the radius of curvature of the ribs may cause the ribs to be concentric. Extrapolating such that each of the ribs 840 is a complete circle, the resulting circles are concentric. In other examples, the radii of curvature of ribs 840 are not concentric.

Each of ribs 840 has a width dimension. In the example of FIG. 8, each of ribs 840 has approximately the same width as the other ribs. In other examples, ribs 840 can have widths that are not the same as other ribs. In some instances, each of ribs 840 has a tapered first end and a tapered second end. In other examples, the first end and/or the second end are not tapered.

Additionally, each of ribs 840 has a height dimension. The height dimension is measured as the distance a rib extends (curves) from the crown into hollow body portion 818 . In the example of FIG. 9, each of ribs 840 has a height that is approximately the same as the height of the other ribs. In other examples, rib 840 has a height that is not the same as the other ribs. In other examples, ribs 840 can have a constant or varying height along crown 822 (e.g., gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof).

Each of ribs 840 also has a length dimension. The length dimension is measured as the distance between the first and second ends of the rib. In the example of FIG. 8, the ribs closer to the rear side 828 are longer than the ribs closer to the front wall 820 . In one example, rib 845 has the greatest length. The length of rib 844 is longer than rib 843 , the length of rib 843 is longer than rib 842 , and the length of rib 842 is longer than rib 841 . In other examples, all of ribs 840 have substantially the same length.

In addition to curved ribs, golf club heads may include ribs that have varying widths. For example, FIG. 10 shows another example of a golf club head. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line labeled "11" in the embodiment of FIG. Golf club head 1012 (FIG. 10) includes hollow body portion 1018 (FIG. 10) having front wall 1020 (FIG. 10), crown 1022 (FIG. 10), sole 1124 (FIG. 11), crown 1022 and sole 1124. 11, a heel end 1030 (FIG. 10), a toe end 1032 (FIG. 10), and a rear side 1028 (FIG. 10) opposite the front wall 1020. Additionally, golf club head 1012 may also include ribs 1040 (FIG. 10) extending downwardly from the lower surface of crown 1022 . In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 10, rib 1040 comprises ribs 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045 having a first end near front wall 1020 and a second end near rear end 1028. . In other examples of this embodiment, the rib 1043 can contact the front wall 1020 and extend the second end adjacent to or in contact with the rear end 1028 . or may extend further beyond the trailing edge 1028 . Further, the ribs 1045 can have a first end contacting the front wall 1020 and a second end extending adjacent to or in contact with the rear wall 1028 . or may extend further along the rear wall 1028 .

In some instances, one or more ribs 1040 are straight. As an example, as in the example of FIG. 10, each of ribs 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045 is straight. However, in other examples some of the ribs 1040 may not be straight. For example, one or more ribs 1040 can bend. In some instances, ribs 1040 are arranged such that each of the axes of ribs 1040 converge at a common point. In other examples, each of the axes of ribs 1040 do not converge at a common point.

Each of the ribs has a width dimension. In the example of FIG. 10, each of ribs 1040 has a tapered width. For example, the width of each of ribs 1040 decreases from the midpoint toward the first and second ends. As shown in FIG. 10, the width at the midpoint of each of ribs 1040 may be approximately equal to the width at the midpoint of each of the other ribs. In other examples, rib 1040 can have a width at its midpoint that is different than the width at each midpoint of the other ribs.

The width of rib 1040 can taper at any rate. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the width has a smooth, non-constant taper, which gives ribs 1040 an elongated elliptical shape. In other examples, the width can be linear or constant tapering, such that the ribs 1040 have a diamond-like configuration.

Additionally, each of ribs 1040 has a height dimension. The height dimension is measured as the distance a rib extends from crown 1022 into hollow body portion 1018 . In the example of FIG. 11, each of ribs 1040 has a tapered height. For example, the height of each rib 1040 decreases from the midpoint toward the first and second ends. In other examples, the height of ribs 1040 may be constant from the first end to the second end. Further, in other examples of this embodiment, the height of ribs 1040 may vary from the first end to the second end (eg, increasing from the midpoint to the first and second ends). , linearly increasing, gradually increasing, linearly decreasing, gradually decreasing, or any combination thereof). As shown in FIG. 11, each of the ribs 1040 can have a height approximately equal to the height at the midpoint of each of the other ribs. In other examples, rib 1040 can have a height that is different than the height at the midpoint of each of the other ribs.

The height of ribs 1040 can taper at any rate. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the height is a smooth, non-constant taper, which gives ribs 1040 a smooth profile. In other examples, the height may taper more abruptly, linearly or evenly, resulting in ribs 1040 having a more pointed height at the midpoint of ribs 1040 .

Each of ribs 1040 also has a length dimension. The length dimension is measured as the distance between the first and second ends of the rib. In the example of FIG. 10, ribs closer to the midpoint between toe end 1032 and heel end 1030 are longer than ribs nearer toe end 1032 or heel end 1030 . In one example, rib 1041 has the greatest length. Rib 1042 is longer than rib 1043 and rib 1044 is longer than rib 1045 . In other examples, all of ribs 1040 have substantially the same length.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a golf club head. FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to line labeled "13" of the embodiment of FIG. Golf club head 1212 (FIG. 12) includes hollow body portion 1218 (FIG. 12) having front wall 1220 (FIG. 12), crown 1222 (FIG. 12), sole 1324 (FIG. 13), crown 1222 and sole 1324. a lateral wall 1326 (Fig. 13) connecting the . Additionally, golf club head 1212 may also include ribs 1240 (FIG. 12) extending downwardly from the lower surface of crown 1222 . In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 12, rib 1240 comprises ribs 1241 , 1242 , 1243 , 1244 , 1245 having a first end near front wall 1240 and a second end near rear end 1228 . In other examples in this embodiment, the rib 1243 can have a first end in contact with the front wall 1220 and a second end extending proximate to or close to the rear wall 1228 . or may extend further along the rear wall 1228 to approach the front wall 1220 . Additionally, the rib 1240 can have a first end in contact with the front wall 1220 and a second end extending proximate to or in contact with the rear wall 1228 . or may extend further along the rear wall 1228 .

In some instances, one or more ribs are straight. In one example, ribs 1241, 1242, 1243, 1244, 1245 are straight, as in the example of FIG. However, in other examples some of the ribs 1240 may not be straight. For example, one or more ribs 1240 can bend. In some instances, ribs 1240 are arranged such that each of the axes of ribs 1240 converge at a common point. In some cases, the common point is forward of the front wall. In other examples, each of the axes of ribs 1240 do not converge at a common point.

Each of ribs 1240 has a width dimension. In the example of FIG. 12, each of ribs 1240 has a substantially constant width. In some instances, the width of rib 1240 tapers at the first and second ends. In other examples, the width of rib 1240 does not taper at the first and second ends. In the example of Figure 12, the width of each of the ribs 1040 can vary. For example, the width of a particular rib increases as the rib approaches the midpoint between toe end 1232 and heel end 1230 . As shown in FIG. 12, rib 1241 has the widest width, rib 1242 is wider than rib 1243 and rib 1244 is wider than rib 1245 . In some instances, the golf club head 1212 has ribs 1240 that are symmetrical in width. For example, the width of rib 1243 is approximately equal to the width of rib 1245 and the width of rib 1242 is approximately equal to the width of rib 1244 . In another example, the width of ribs 1240 in golf club head 1212 is asymmetrical. In other examples, the width of rib 1240 can vary, for example, increasing as the rib approaches toe end 1232 or heel end 1230 . In yet another example, the width of rib 1240 is independent of the position of the rib relative to toe end 1232 and/or heel end 1230 . Ribs 1240 can be positioned such that ribs with greater widths can be located in greater areas of vibration.

Additionally, each of ribs 1240 has a height dimension. The height dimension is measured as the distance a rib extends from crown 1222 into the hollow body. In the example of FIG. 13, each of ribs 1240 has a substantially constant height. In some instances, the height of rib 1240 increases as the rib approaches the midpoint between toe end 1232 and heel end 1230 . In some instances, the height of rib 1240 increases as the rib approaches toe end 1232 and heel end 1230 . In further examples, the height of the ribs 1240 can vary independently of the position of the ribs relative to the toe end 1232 and/or the heel end 1230 (e.g., gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof). Further, as shown in FIG. 13, each of ribs 1240 can have a height that is different than the height of at least one of the other ribs. As shown in FIG. 13, rib 1241 may have the greatest height, with rib 1242 having a height greater than rib 1243 and rib 1244 having a height greater than rib 1245 . In some instances, the golf club head 1212 has ribs 1240 that are symmetrical in height. For example, the height of rib 1243 is approximately equal to the height of rib 1245 and the height of rib 1242 is approximately equal to the height of rib 1244 . In another example, in golf club head 1212, ribs 1240 are asymmetrical in height. Ribs 1240 can be positioned such that ribs with greater height can be located in greater vibration regions.

Each of ribs 1240 also has a length dimension. The length dimension is measured as the distance between the first and second ends of the rib. In the example of FIG. 12, ribs closer to the midpoint between toe end 1232 and heel end 1230 are longer than ribs nearer toe end 1232 or heel end 1230 . In one example, rib 1241 has the greatest length. Rib 1242 has a longer length than rib 1243 and rib 1244 has a longer length than rib 1245 . In other examples, all of ribs 1240 have substantially the same length.

In other examples, the ribs can have widths and/or heights that taper and vary from rib to rib. For example, the ribs can have tapered widths shown by ribs 1040 in FIG. 10 and can have varying widths shown by ribs 1240 in FIG. Additionally, the ribs can have a tapering height as shown by rib 1040 in FIG. 11 and can have a varying height as shown by rib 1240 in FIG.

In another embodiment, a method of providing a golf club head is provided. A method of providing a golf club head includes: a heel end, a toe end, a crown having upper and lower surfaces, a sole, a front wall, a rear side, and a lower surface of the crown extending from a first end to a second end. providing a body portion having ribs extending downwardly from the body. Further, the ribs may comprise a first rib and at least one curved second rib. In one example, the heel edge can be heel edge 430 (FIG. 4), heel edge 630 (FIG. 6), or heel edge 830 (FIG. 8). The toe end can be toe end 432 (FIG. 4), toe end 632 (FIG. 6), or toe end 832 (FIG. 8). The crown can be crown 422 (FIG. 4), crown 622 (FIG. 6), crown 822 (FIG. 8). The sole may be sole 524 (Fig. 5), sole 724 (Fig. 7), sole 924 (Fig. 9). The front wall can be front wall 420 (FIG. 4), front wall 620 (FIG. 6), front wall 820 (FIG. 8). The posterior can be posterior 428 (FIG. 4), posterior 628 (FIG. 6), and posterior 828 (FIG. 8). The ribs may be ribs 440 (FIG. 4), ribs 640 (FIG. 6), and ribs 840 (FIG. 8).

In one example, the ribs may be provided integrally with the body portion. In other examples, the ribs may be provided initially separate from the body portion. The ribs can then be attached to the body by brazing techniques, soldering techniques, or adhesives.

In another embodiment, a method of providing a golf club head is provided. A method of providing a golf club head includes: a heel end, a toe end, a crown having upper and lower surfaces, a sole, a front wall, a rear side, and a first wall extending downwardly from the lower surface of the crown and near the front wall. The step can include providing a body portion having substantially straight ribs extending from one end to a second end near the rear side portion. Further, in some instances the rib can have a width that tapers from its midpoint to the ends. In the same or another example, at least two ribs have different widths. In one example, the heel edge can be heel edge 1030 (FIG. 10), heel edge 1230 (FIG. 12). The toe end can be toe end 1032 (FIG. 10), toe end 1232 (FIG. 12). The crown can be crown 1022 (FIG. 10), crown 1222 (FIG. 12). The sole can be sole 1124 (FIG. 11), sole 1324 (FIG. 13). The front wall can be front wall 1020 (FIG. 10), front wall 1220 (FIG. 12). The rear side can be the rear side 1028 (FIG. 10), the rear side 1228 (FIG. 12). The ribs may be ribs 1040 (FIG. 10), ribs 1240 (FIG. 12).

In one example, the ribs may be provided integrally with the body portion. In other examples, the ribs may be provided initially separate from the body portion. The ribs can then be attached to the body by brazing techniques, soldering techniques, or adhesives.

With continued reference to the drawings, FIG. 14 shows a front, partial cross-sectional view of club head 140 . FIG. 15 shows a top cross-sectional view of golf club head 140 corresponding to line XV-XV of FIG. Golf club head 140 is similar to other golf club heads disclosed herein (such as golf club head 12 (FIGS. 1-4)), but includes ribs 1420 located on rib surface 1415. It is different in that it has Here, rib surface 1415 is defined by the extension of ribs 1420 and the space between them. In this embodiment, ribs 1420 are of a single material with rib surface 1415, but are examples where ribs 1420 are not integral with rib surface 1415 but secured via one or more mechanical or chemical fasteners. may be

Players or golf club head users often evaluate the quality of their hits based on the sound they make when impacting a golf goal with the golf club head. Maintaining a consistent sound at impact can be advantageous for a player or user to maintain comfort zones and/or to maintain anticipation of such sound/quality relationships. With this in mind, ribs 1420 achieve the desired impact sound through stress and/or vibration when golf club head 140 impacts a golf ball, such as golf ball 1570 (FIG. 15). It may be configured as Such characteristics may be useful for golf clubs even if other changes or improvements to the golf club head configuration based on better performance studies may result in changes in the desired sound characteristics. • May be of value in head design to maintain and/or restore desired sound characteristics. Further, as previously described with respect to other golf club heads disclosed herein, ribs 1420 may reinforce some properties of the golf club head where rib surface 1415 is located to reduce stress or stress. Dissipate or pass impact forces more.

Golf club head 140 includes heel end 1411, toe end 1412, sole 1413, crown 1414, front surface 1416 (including strike face 1430 and target strike zone 1431), rear surface 1517 (Fig. 15) and skirt. It comprises a body portion 1410 having a portion 1418 . Body portion 1410 also includes a rib surface 1415 from which ribs 1420 protrude. In this embodiment, rib 1420 includes rib 1421 with rib longitudinal axis 1521 (FIG. 15), rib 1422 with rib longitudinal axis 1522 (FIG. 15), and rib 1423 with rib longitudinal axis 1523 (FIG. 15). , rib longitudinal axes 1521-1523 intersect at a common point 1550 (FIG. 15) on the exterior of body portion 1410. As shown in FIG. Rib 1421 is located closest to heel end 1411 , rib 1422 is located closest to toe end 1412 of body portion 1410 , and rib 1423 is located between ribs 1411 and 1412 . In the present example, ribs 1420 are arranged on rib surface 1415 in a substantially radial pattern, forming a sector shape between ribs 1421 and 1422 . In this example, common point 1550 is located forward of front surface 1416 . However, there may be instances where common point 1550 is located somewhere outside body portion 1410 . In one example, there may be different examples having ribs similar to rib 1420 but configured to intersect at a common point located behind rear surface 1517 .

Rib 1420 includes rib 1424 having longitudinal axis 1524 and rib 1425 having longitudinal axis 1525 . In the present example, longitudinal axes 1524 and 1525 also intersect at common point 1550 with longitudinal axes 1521-1523. However, there are instances where the longitudinal axes of ribs 1420 need not all intersect at common point 1550 . In one example, there are instances where longitudinal axes 1524 and 1525 may intersect outside body portion 1410 elsewhere than at common point 1550 . Other examples may have a different number of ribs. In one example, there are no ribs 1423-25, such that rib 1420 comprises only two ribs. In other examples, the ribs of the sole 24 (Fig. 3) but with more than five ribs, such as the ten rib embodiment similar to that described in Figs. 1-3. There may be Such embodiments may have ribs that do not intersect all of the other ribs.

In the present example of FIG. 15, rib surface 1415 is located on the inner sole 1413 of body portion 1410 so that rib 1420 is also located on the inner side of the body portion, with rib surface 1415 opposite sole 1413 . cannot be seen. However, in other examples, ribs 1420 may be external to body portion 1410 . That is, the rib surface may be located on the outer surface of crown 1414 or on the outer surface of sole 1413 . In this or other embodiments, ribs 1420 are non-convex with respect to crown 1414 and thus may be concave or substantially flat with respect to crown 1414 . Rib surface 1415 extends beyond sole 1413 into a portion of skirt portion 1418 of body portion 1410 . However, there are instances where ribs 1420 need not extend into skirt portion 1418 . There are also examples where ribs 1420 extending into skirt 1418 may be useful in reinforcing one or more portions of skirt 1418 and/or adjusting the impact sound of golf club head 140 .

As seen in FIG. 15, each of ribs 1420 is spaced from front surface 1416 and rear surface 1517 . Such features can be useful, for example, in that they do not interfere with bending or deformation of the transition region between front surface 1416 and the remainder of body portion 1410 upon impact with a golf ball. Also, in this example, each of ribs 1420 is spaced a different distance from front surface 1416 along their longitudinal rib axis. In one example, the distance that rib 1423 is separated from front surface 1416 along rib longitudinal axis 1523 is the distance that rib 1421 and/or rib 1422 is separated from front surface 1416 along rib longitudinal axis 1521 and/or 1522, respectively. longer than you are. In this example, rib 1421 is about 1.732 cm from front surface 1416, rib 1422 is about 1.638 cm from front surface 1416, rib 1423 is about 1.742 cm from front surface 1416, and Rib 1424 is spaced approximately 1.737 cm from front surface 1416 and rib 1425 is spaced approximately 1.709 cm from front surface 1416 . Such different spaces affect or adjust the stiffness of the transition region between strike face 1430 and sole 1413, thereby affecting one or more attributes of the golf club head (characteristic time, coefficient of restitution, impact sound and/or feel, etc.). In other embodiments, ribs 1420 may be the same distance apart from front surface 1416 .

In this embodiment, rib 1421 has a length of about 4.1 cm, rib 1422 has a length of about 7.3 cm, and rib 1423 has a length of about 8.6 cm. , rib 1424 having a length of about 6.5 cm and rib 1425 having a length of about 8.8 cm. In other embodiments, rib 1422 can have a length greater than about 7.3 cm. Rib 1422 extends beyond skirt portion 1481 to near strike face 1430 . The length of rib 1420 can pass through and/or extend over depressions or other features of rib surface 1415, such as depression 1580, which includes depressions 1581-1583. Thus, as seen in the example of FIG. 15, the recesses 1580 may partially cover one or more portions of the one or more ribs 1420. FIG. In one example, portions of the tops of ribs 1422 and 1425 are seen protruding over recess 1581 and portions of the tops of ribs 1421 , 1424 , 1423 are seen protruding over recess 1582 . In another example, portions of ribs 1422-1425 are seen to protrude over recesses 1583. FIG. All of the recesses 1581-1583 project from the rib surface 1415 into the interior of the golf club head 140 of the embodiment of FIGS. The recess 1583 can correspond to a logo or other design located or embossed on the rib surface 1415 . However, there may be instances where one or more ribs 1420 do not protrude over one or more recesses 1580 . In one example, ribs 1420 may protrude over depressions 1583 and one or more ribs 1420 may terminate at the contact surfaces of one or more depressions 1581-1582. In the same or other embodiments, one or more depressions 1580 may completely cover at least a portion of one or more ribs 1420.

Ribs 1420 may be configured with a maximum width of about 4.5 millimeters (mm) to about 5 mm, and/or a maximum thickness of about 0.5 to about 1.0 mm. More specifically, in the example of FIGS. 14-15, ribs 1420 may have a maximum width of about 4.8 mm and a maximum thickness of ribs 1420 of about 0.76 mm.

The rib 1420 can be configured to have a height, and the height of the rib 1420 can be constant or varying (eg, gradually increasing) from a first end of the rib 1420 to a second end of the rib 1420. increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof).

In this embodiment, rib 1420 does not intersect any ribs. Additionally, the thickness and width of ribs 1420 merge into rib surface 1415 near front surface 1416 . Such characteristics allow ribs 1420 to better receive or pass stresses and/or vibrations along their length, and to provide the desired strength of body portion 1410 without blocking or derailing such passage by intersecting ribs. dissipate towards or through a part of Integrating ribs 1420 into rib surface 1415 can reduce stress concentrations more than having ribs 1420 abruptly protrude near front surface 1416 . However, in other embodiments, there may be instances where one or more ribs may or may not intersect all of the ribs 1420 and/or instances where one or more ribs 1420 are not integral with the rib surface 1415. There may be

15, adjacent ones of ribs 1420 diverge toward rear surface 1517 and converge toward front surface 1416 in this embodiment. Body portion 1410 also includes front portion 1561 and rear portion 1562 separated by median line 1563 . Here, median line 1563 is generally parallel to anterior surface 1416 at a location substantially half the distance between the most anterior point of anterior surface 1416 and the most posterior point of posterior surface 1517 . In this embodiment, the front end of each rib 1422-1425 is on the front portion 1561 and the rear end of each rib 1422-1425 is on the rear portion 1562. FIG. There may be instances where all of the ribs 1420 have a front end at the front portion 1561 and a rear end at the rear portion 1562 . Also, in this example, ribs 1420 are positioned such that their collective center of gravity is between the center of gravity of golf club head 140 and rear surface 1517 . In the same or other examples, the center of gravity of each of ribs 1420 may be located between the center of gravity of golf club head 140 and rear surface 1517 . As a result, ribs 1420 may advantageously move the center of gravity of golf club head 140 rearward from its original position for more favorable impact and hitting characteristics.

The embodiment of FIGS. 14-15 also shows target strike zone 1431 on front surface 1416 . Target strike zone 1431 is configured as the desired point of impact for a golf ball under most circumstances. In this embodiment, longitudinal axis 1523 of rib 1423 is substantially perpendicular to strike face 1430 and coincides with target strike zone 1431 . Target strike axis 1533 extends substantially perpendicular to strike face 1430 from the center of target strike zone 1431 . Here, in this embodiment, common point 1550 is located on target strike axis 1533 and rib longitudinal axes 1521 - 1525 of ribs 1421 - 1425 intersect on target strike axis 1533 . Rib longitudinal axis 1523 may be collinear with target strike axis 1533 .

As seen in FIG. 15, common point 1550 is a distance 1571 away from target strike zone 1431 . Distance 1571 includes approximately the radius of golf ball 1570 . Distance 1571 may be approximately 21.3 mm and/or may conform to the radius of a golf ball that complies with the United States Golf Association (USGA) rules. Currently, the United States Golf Association requires golf balls to conform to a diameter of no less than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm). In other examples, the common point may be a different distance away from the target strike zone 1431, such as the diameter of a golf ball.

In this example, golf club head 140 may include sole weight 1590 located on at least a portion of sole 1413 . Because sole weight 1590 is located at the lowest point of sole 1413 and effectively lowers the center of gravity of golf club head 140 , sole weight 1590 fills such lowest point of sole 1413 . may be molded into Although in this embodiment sole weight 1590 comprises the same material as sole 1413, in the same or other examples, sole weight 1590 may comprise a different material or component than sole 1413, and/or sole weight 1590 is secured to sole 1413 via mechanical or chemical fasteners such as adhesives, one or more screws, welding, and/or brazing, etc. good too. As shown in FIG. 15, sole weight 1590 may at least partially cover one or more of ribs 1420, such as ribs 1423-1424. In the same or other examples, the thickness of sole weight 1590 includes one or more portions of covered ribs, such as the portion of ribs 1423-1424 included in the thickness of sole weight 1590. can absorb the thickness of

Skipping forward, FIG. 17 shows a top cross-sectional view of golf club head 170 . In this embodiment, club head 170 is similar to golf club head 140 (FIGS. 14-15) and includes ribs 1721-1725 similar to ribs 1421-1425 (FIGS. 14-15). Ribs 1721 - 1725 are located on rib surface 1715 . Rib surface 1715 lacks the features of weights 1590 and recesses 1581-1583 that cover portions of one or more of ribs 1721-1725. However, examples may be where one or more depressions, such as depressions 1581 - 1583 , and/or one or more weights, such as weight 1590 , are located on rib surface 1715 .

Turning back to the figures, FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of a method 1600 for providing a golf club head. Golf club head 12 (FIGS. 1-3), golf club head 412 (FIGS. 4-5), golf club head 1012 (FIGS. 10-11), golf club head 1212 (FIGS. 12-13). ), golf club head 140 (FIGS. 14-15), and/or variations thereof, are examples of golf club heads similar to one or more of the golf club heads previously described. may

A block 1610 of the method 1600 comprises providing a golf club head body having a heel end, a toe end, a sole, a front surface and a rear surface. In one example, with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 14-15, the body portion may resemble body portion 1410, the toe end may resemble toe end 1412, and the heel end may resemble heel end 1411. Alternatively, the sole may resemble sole 1413 , the anterior surface may resemble anterior surface 1416 , and the posterior surface may resemble posterior surface 1517 . Corresponding relevance is envisioned for other golf club heads or variations thereof taught herein.

A block 1620 of method 1600 comprises providing a plurality of ribs projecting from a rib surface of the body. In one example, with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 14-15, the rib surface may be similar to rib surface 1415 and the plurality of ribs and rib features (eg, height, width, length and thickness) may be the plurality of ribs 1420. and may resemble features thereof. For example, the plurality of ribs may comprise portions of ribs 1421-1425. Corresponding relevance is envisioned for the ribs of other golf club heads or variations thereof taught herein. At least a portion of the plurality of ribs may intersect at a common point on the exterior of the body portion, such as shown for common point 1550 located forward of front surface 1416 in FIG. However, there may be instances where the common point need not be located forward of the front surface of the body portion. Additionally, multiple ribs may comprise the same material as the rib surface, or multiple ribs may be secured via mechanical or chemical fasteners.

Providing a plurality of ribs at block 1620 may comprise providing a rib surface and a plurality of ribs on the interior of the body and/or providing a plurality of ribs on the sole of the body. may be provided. In other examples, the plurality of ribs may be external to the body and/or the plurality of ribs may be provided anywhere, such as the crown of the body and/or the skirt of the body. good.

Different blocks of method 1600 may be added as a single block or executed concurrently with other blocks, and/or the order of such blocks may be changed. For example, blocks 1610-1620 may be performed simultaneously by forming multiple ribs integral with the rib surface. Here, the rib surface comprises one or more portions of one or more portions of the body of the club head. It may be an example that method 1600 comprises additional or different blocks. In one example, method 1600 may include a block that provides weights similar to sole weights 1590 (FIG. 15). Here, such weights may cover one or more portions of one or more ribs of block 1620 . Other variations may be implemented in method 1600 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Moving forward, FIG. 18 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of golf club head 180 . Jumping forward in the figures, FIG. 21 illustrates a side view of the golf club head 180 in the address position. Golf club head 180 includes a number of ribs and is in many respects similar to other golf club heads presented herein, such as golf club head 12 (FIGS. 1-4). ), golf club head 140 (FIGS. 14-15), and golf club head 170 (FIG. 17), and so on. Golf club head 180 includes ribs 1820 in a staggered pattern, ribs 1820 including ribs 1821 - 1825 projecting from rib surface 1815 . Rib surface 1815 can be similar to rib surface 1415 (FIGS. 14-15), but is defined by the extension of ribs 1820 and the spaces therebetween. In this example, the ribs 1820 form a single piece of material with the rib surface 1815, but other embodiments can exist, and in other embodiments, the ribs 1820 and the rib surface 1815 form a single piece of material. It need not be integral and can be secured thereto via one or more mechanical, chemical or other fasteners. Although ribs 1820 are shown in FIG. 18 as straight ribs, there may be embodiments with corresponding curved ribs that may still exhibit the staggered pattern characteristics described herein. be. In such embodiments, the curved ribs can be curved similar to the ribs of Figures 4, 6, and/or 9, among other configurations.

Golf club head 180 includes body portion 1810, which includes heel end 1811, toe end 1812, sole 1813, crown 1814, front surface 1416 (as seen in FIG. 14, strike face 1430 and target strike zone 1431 ), and a rear surface 1817 . Golf club head 180 also includes a loft plane 2170 ( FIG. 21 ) that is tangent to the strike face center point of strike face 1430 . In some examples, the strike face center point may be located at the center of the target strike zone 1431 (FIG. 14) and/or may be determined by golf governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA). May be defined according to definition. For example, the strike face center point is defined in USGA's Procedure for Measuring the Flexibility of a Golf Clubhead, Chapter 6.1 (USGA-TPX3004, Rev. 1.0.0, May 1, 2008) (http:/ /www.usga.org/equipment/testing/protocols/Procedure-For-Measuring-The-Flexibility-Of-A-Golf-Club-Head/).

When the golf club head 180 is at the address position and the vertical component of the shaft axis 2195 is orthogonal to the ground flat surface 2190 as seen in FIG. 2170 intersects the ground flat surface 2190 along a front intersection line 1891 and the golf club head 180 is configured such that the front plane 1890 extends orthogonally to the ground flat surface 2190 . obtain. In some examples, the relative distance of rib 1820 may be measured with respect to front plane 1890 or loft plane 2170 .

In the present example, rib surfaces 1815 are positioned on sole 1813 and skirt portion 1818 and are internal to body portion 1810 such that ribs 1820 are also internal to body portion 1810 . Ribs 1821-1823, in this example, are positioned at least partially on sole 1813 and, together with ribs 1824 and 1825, extend into skirt portion 1818 to form one or more sections of skirt portion 1818. are reinforced. In the same or other examples, such extension of at least some of ribs 1820 into skirt portion 1818 can adjust impact sound of golf club head 180 to a desired level or frequency. It is possible. There can also be other examples, in which the rib surface 1815 can be located elsewhere in the body portion 1810, such as the crown 1814, and/or the rib surface 1815 can be Surface 1815 may be located only on sole 1813 or only on skirt portion 1818 . Also, rib surface 1815 can be located on the exterior of body portion 1810 and, in some implementations, can be seen from the exterior of body portion 1810, instead ribs 1820 are located on body portion 1810. It is designed to protrude toward the outside of the

Ribs 1820 of golf club head 180 are similar to other ribs presented herein, such as ribs 34 of golf club head 12 (FIGS. 1-3), ribs of golf club head 412. 440 (FIGS. 4-5), ribs 640 of golf club head 612 (FIGS. 6-7), ribs 840 of golf club head 812 (FIGS. 8-9), golf club head 1012 Rib 1040 (FIG. 10), rib 1240 of golf club head 1212 (FIGS. 12-13), rib 1420 of golf club head 140 (FIGS. 14-15), and/or golf club head 170 (FIG. 17), etc., whether such ribs are positioned on the crown, sole, skirt, or other portion of their respective golf club head. regardless of In this example, ribs 1821-1825 are aligned in a staggered pattern with front surface 1416, front plane 1890, and/or loft plane 2170 (FIG. 21).

Rib 1820 includes five ribs (ie, ribs 1821-1825) in this implementation. Rib 1821 includes rib end 18211 and rib end 18212 opposite rib end 18211, and rib axis 1851 extends through rib ends 18211-18212. Rib 1822 includes rib end 18221 and rib end 18222 opposite rib end 18221, and rib axis 1852 extends through rib ends 18221-18222. Rib 1823 includes rib end 18231 and rib end 18232 opposite rib end 18231, and rib axis 1853 extends through rib ends 18231-18232. Rib 1824 includes rib end 18241 and rib end 18242 opposite rib end 18241, and rib axis 1854 extends through rib ends 18241-18242. Rib 1825 includes rib end 18251 and rib end 18252 opposite rib end 18251, with rib axis 1855 extending through rib ends 18251-18252. However, other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments ribs 1820 may include more or less than five ribs. For example, in one such embodiment, ribs 1820 can include a subset of ribs 1821-1825, such as only ribs 1821-1823, or such as only ribs 1821, 1824, and 1825. be. As another example, in another embodiment, rib 1820 can include additional ribs proximate two or more of ribs 1821-1825, or ribs 1821-1825. can be interspersed between two or more of

In this embodiment, rib 1821 is positioned between rib 1822 and rib 1823, rib 1822 is positioned between rib 1821 and rib 1824, and rib 1823 is positioned between rib 1821 and rib 1825. is positioned between Ribs 1820 are positioned such that ribs 1822 are positioned between ribs 1821 and toe end 1812 of body portion 1810 and ribs 1823 are positioned between ribs 1821 and heel end 1811 of body portion 1810 . are aligned with As can be seen in FIG. 18, ribs 1821-1823 are not intersected by any other ribs or intersected by each other, although other embodiments are possible and In other embodiments, at least some of ribs 1820 may be intersected by other ribs.

18, rib axis 1851 is substantially orthogonal to front plane 1890 and substantially aligned with target strike zone 1431 (FIG. 14). 1821 are aligned. However, other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments the rib axis 1851 need not be substantially orthogonal to the front plane 1890 and/or the rib axis 1851 substantially aligned with target strike zone 1431, depending on the desired configuration and/or based on the areas of body portion 1810 of golf club head 180 that require reinforcement by ribs 1820. No need.

Also, the ribs 1820 can include different lengths relative to each other in this example. For example, in this example, rib 1821 includes a rib length of approximately 64 mm from rib end 18211 to rib end 18212, and rib 1822 includes a rib length of approximately 70 mm from rib end 18221 to rib end 18222. rib 1823 includes a rib length of approximately 51 mm from rib end 18231 to rib end 18232; rib 1824 includes a rib length of approximately 38 mm from rib end 18241 to rib end 18242; includes a rib length of approximately 32 mm from rib end 18251 to rib end 18252 . In other embodiments, the rib length of rib 1824 can be greater than 38 mm and rib end 18241 is adjacent to or in contact with strike face 1430 . and the rib ends 18242 extend into close proximity to the posterior surface 1817, extend into contact with the posterior surface 1817, or extend further along the posterior surface 1817. It can be extended. Additionally, the rib length or rib 1825 can be greater than 32 mm and the rib end 18251 can be adjacent to or in contact with the front surface 1416. It is possible that the rib ends 18252 extend close to the rear wall 1817, extend in contact with the rear wall 1817, or extend farther along the rear wall 1817. It is designed to In this example, the rib length of rib 1822 is greater than the rib length of rib 1823 and is greater than the rib length of rib 1821 . However, other embodiments can exist, in which the rib length of rib 1821 can be greater than the rib length of ribs 1822-1823, and/or Alternatively, the rib lengths of ribs 1822-1823 can be substantially equal to each other.

In some examples, rib lengths for straight ribs, such as rib 1820, can individually range between approximately 20 mm and approximately 130 mm. In other examples having curved ribs, such as those having ribs with curvatures similar to those of the ribs of FIG. It can range between approximately 205 mm. Additionally, each of the ribs 1820 includes a rib width of approximately 3 mm, although other embodiments may exist, in which individual rib widths are up to approximately 10 mm. , the rib widths may be non-uniform along their rib lengths, and/or the rib widths may be unique with respect to other ribs. It is possible that there is Moreover, although each of the ribs 1820 includes a rib height of approximately 3 mm, other embodiments may exist, in which individual rib heights are up to approximately 10 mm. , the rib heights may be uniform or non-uniform along their rib lengths, and/or the rib heights may vary relative to other ribs It can be unique or non-unique. For example, the height of ribs 1820 varies gradually and/or linearly and in any combination thereof by increasing and/or decreasing from the first end to the second end. It is possible.

Rib axis 1851 can include distance 18511 between front plane 1890 and rib end 18211 . Similarly, rib axis 1852 of rib 1822 includes distance 18521 between front plane 1890 and rib end 18221 , while rib axis 1853 of rib 1823 includes distance 18521 between front plane 1890 and rib end 18231 . Contains the distance 18531. In addition, rib axis 1854 of rib 1824 includes distance 18541 between front plane 1890 and rib end 18241 , while rib axis 1855 of rib 1825 includes distance 18541 between front plane 1890 and rib end 18251 . contains the distance 18551 of In this example, distance 18511 can be of approximately 32 mm, distance 18521 can be of approximately 20 mm, and distance 18531 can be of approximately 20 mm. Yes, distance 18541 may be of approximately 34 mm and distance 18551 may be of approximately 36 mm. Other examples may also exist, in which the distances 18511, 18521, 18531, 18541, and/or 18551 may vary within 15% of the numbers listed above. It is possible. Distances 18511, 18521, 18531, 18541, and 18551 represent distances between rib 1820 and front plane 1890, but between rib 1820 and one or both of front surface 1416 or loft plane 2170 (FIG. 21). can be similar to such distances 18511, 18521, 18531, 18541, and/or 18551 in the same or other examples.

As can be seen in FIG. 18, the distance 18511 of rib 1821 is greater than the distance 18521 of rib 1822, and is greater than the distance 18531 of rib 1823, so that rib 1821 extends from rib 1822 to It is separated further from the front plane 1890 than either of 1823, thus creating a staggered pattern between them. In this embodiment, the distance 18531 of the rib 1823 is approximately equal to the distance 18521 of the rib 1822, although other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments the distances 18521 and 18531 are substantially equal to each other. can be different.

Additionally, in this embodiment, the distance 18541 of rib 1824 is different from the distance 18521 of rib 1822 and is different from the distance 18511 of rib 1821 . For example, distance 18541 may be greater than distance 18521 in this example, and may be greater than distance 18511, although other examples may exist. and in other examples distance 18541 is greater than only one of distance 18521 or distance 18511 . Additionally, other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments distance 18541 may differ from only one of distance 18521 or distance 18511 .

Similarly, in this embodiment, distance 18551 of rib 1825 is different than distance 18531 of rib 1823, and is different than distance 18511 of rib 1821, e.g., distance 18551 is, in this example, distance 18531 and greater than distance 18511, but there may be other examples, in other examples distance 18551 is either distance 18531 or one of distances 18511 It's bigger than just one. Additionally, other embodiments may exist, and in other embodiments, distance 18551 may differ from only one of distance 18531 or distance 18511 . Distances 18541 and 18551 can be similar or equal to each other in this or other embodiments.

The ribs 1820 are also aligned in this embodiment to intersect at a common point 1850 on the exterior of the body portion 1810 with respect to the top view of FIG. In some examples, such alignment may be similar to that of rib 34 to common point 40 (FIG. 1) and/or that of rib 1420 to common point 1550 (FIG. 15). . Each of ribs 1820 intersects at common point 1850 in this example, but other implementations may exist, in which ribs 1822-1823 intersect at common point 1850. They do not intersect or ribs 1824 - 1825 do not intersect at common point 1850 . Common point 1850 is positioned forward of front surface 1416 at a distance of approximately a golf ball radius, as described above with respect to common point 1550 (FIG. 15). However, other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments the common point 1850 may be located at other distances from the front surface 1416 and/or the common point 1850 may be , may be positioned on the front surface 1416 .

In this example, ribs 1820 are aligned in a staggered pattern about common point 1850, and the distance between common point 1850 and rib 1820 varies with the rib. For example, rib axis 1851 of rib 1821 includes a distance 18512 extending from common point 1850 to rib end 18211, and rib axis 1852 of rib 1822 includes a distance extending from common point 1850 to rib end 18221. 18522, rib axis 1853 of rib 1823 includes a distance 18532 extending from common point 1850 to rib end 18231, and rib axis 1854 of rib 1824 extends from common point 1850 to rib end 18241. Rib axis 1855 of rib 1825 includes distance 18542 extending from common point 1850 to rib end 18251 . The extended distance 18512 of rib 1821 is greater than the extended distance 18522 of rib 1822 and greater than the extended distance 18532 of rib 1823, thus creating a staggered pattern. In this embodiment, extended distance 18512 can be of approximately 44 mm, extended distance 18522 can be of approximately 33 mm, and extended distance 18532 can be of approximately It can be of approximately 33 mm, the extended distance 18542 can be of approximately 51 mm, and the extended distance 18552 can be of approximately 50 mm. Other examples may exist and in other examples the distances 18512, 18522, 18532, 18542, and/or 18552 may vary within 15% of the numbers listed above. be.

FIG. 19 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of golf club head 190 . Golf club head 190 includes ribs 1920 similar to golf club head 180 ( FIG. 18 ), but staggered in a different pattern than ribs 1820 of golf club head 180 . For example, rib 1920 includes ribs 1921, 1822, 1823, 1924, and 1925, where ribs 1921, 1924, and 1925 are similar to ribs 1821, 1824, and 1825, respectively, of rib 1820 (FIG. 18). , but show different rib lengths for ribs 1821, 1824, and 1825, and respective distances from the front plane 1890. FIG. Notably, rib 1921 extends to front wall 1835 in this example such that distance 19511 between front plane 1890 and rib end 19211 of rib 1921 is at its intersection with rib 1921 . It is possible that the thickness of the Therefore, the distance 19511 of rib 1921 is smaller than the distance 18521 of rib 1822 and is smaller than the distance 18531 of rib 1823 . In other embodiments, rib 1921 does not extend to front wall 1835, but still can extend closer to front wall 1835, and distance 19511 is still the distance of rib 1822. 18521 and/or less than the rib 1823 distance 18531 .

In this implementation, rib 1921 can include a rib length of approximately 88 mm from rib end 19211 to rib end 18212, and rib 1822 can be approximately 70 mm from rib end 18221 to rib end 18222. Rib 1823 can include a rib length of approximately 51 mm from rib end 18231 to rib end 18232, and rib 1924 can include a rib length of approximately 51 mm from rib end 19241 to rib end. Ribs 1925 can include a rib length of approximately 53 mm to portion 18242 and ribs 1925 can include a rib length of approximately 58 mm from rib end 19251 to rib end 18252 . There may also be other examples, and in other examples, the rib length of ribs 1920 can vary within 15% of the numbers listed above. In some examples, ribs 1924 can include rib lengths greater than 53 mm, with rib ends 19241 proximate or in contact with strike face 1430 . and the rib ends 18242 can be close to the posterior surface 1817, in contact with the posterior surface 1817, or can extend further along the posterior surface 1817. be. Additionally, ribs 1925 can include a rib length greater than 58 mm, and rib ends 19251 can be adjacent to or in contact with strike face 1430 . It is possible, the rib ends 18252 can be close to the posterior surface 1817 , contact the posterior surface 1817 , or extend further along the posterior surface 1817 . Additionally, each of the ribs 1920 substantially includes a rib width of approximately 3 mm, although other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments such rib widths may be It may vary within 15% of the rib widths listed and/or the rib widths may be non-uniform or unique. Further, each of ribs 1920 includes a predetermined height, which can be constant or variable, and can be unique or non-unique. The ribs can vary by increments and/or by increasing and/or decreasing linearly by any combination thereof.

In this example, ribs 1924 and 1925 of rib 1920 are closer to front plane 1890 than corresponding ribs 1824 and 1825 of rib 1820 (FIG. 18). For this difference, distance 19541 extends from front plane 1890 to rib end 19241 of rib 1924 , distance 19541 being less than distance 18521 of rib 1822 . Similarly, distance 19551 extends from front plane 1890 to rib end 19251 of rib 1925 , distance 19551 being less than distance 18531 of rib 1823 . In this example, distances 19541 and 19551 are substantially different from each other, but can be approximately equal to each other in other embodiments. The differences between distances 19511, 18521, 18531, 19541, and 19551 described above create a staggered pattern for rib 1920, which is closer to the front of golf club head 190 than ribs 1822 and 1823. 18, and thus such a staggered pattern is different from that described above with respect to rib 1820 in FIG. 18, where rib 1822 and 1823 are closer to the front of the golf club head than ribs 1821, 1824, and 1825.

Consistent with the above, in this example, distance 19511 can be of up to approximately 9 mm, distance 18521 can be of approximately 20 mm, and distance 18531 can be of approximately 20 mm. , distance 19541 may be of approximately 18 mm, and distance 19551 may be of approximately 10 mm. Other examples may also exist, in which the distances 19511, 18521, 18531, 19541, and/or 19551 may vary within 15% of the numbers listed above. It is possible. Distances 19511, 18521, 18531, 19541, and 19551 represent the distances between rib 1920 and front plane 1890, but between rib 1920 and one or both of front surface 1416 or loft plane 2170 (FIG. 21). can be similar to such distances 19511, 18521, 18531, 19541, and/or 19551 in the same or other examples.

In the present example of FIG. 19, ribs 1920 are also aligned in a staggered pattern about common point 1850, with the distance between common point 1850 and rib 1920 varying with the rib. . For example, rib axis 1851 of rib 1921 includes an extended distance 19512 from common point 1850 to rib end 19211, and rib axis 1852 of rib 1822 includes an extended distance from common point 1850 to rib end 18221. 18522, rib axis 1853 of rib 1823 includes a distance 18532 extending from common point 1850 to rib end 18231, and rib axis 1854 of rib 1924 extends from common point 1850 to rib end 19241. Rib axis 1855 of rib 1925 includes distance 19542 extending from common point 1850 to rib end 19251 . Extended distances 18522 and 18532 can be greater than extended distances 19512 , 19542 and 19552 , thus creating a staggered pattern with respect to common point 1850 . In this embodiment, the extended distance 19512 can be of approximately 22 mm, the extended distance 18522 can be of approximately 33 mm, and the extended distance 18532 can be: The extended distance 19542 can be of approximately 36 mm, and the extended distance 19552 can be of approximately 24 mm. Other examples may also exist, in which the distances 19512, 18522, 18532, 19542, and/or 19552 may vary within 15% of the numbers listed above. It is possible.

As can be seen in FIGS. 18-19, golf club heads 180 and 190 have one or more indentation features 1880, wherein one or more indentation features 1880 are , may be similar to the indentation 1580 as described above with respect to the golf club head 140 (FIGS. 14-15). Indentation features 1880 include indentations 1881-1885 distributed throughout different sections of sole 1813 and skirt portion 1818, at least some of indentation features 1881-1885 representing a logo or other logo. Designs can be defined to decorate and/or strengthen or stiffen one or more sections of the portion of body portion 1810 in which they are positioned. In the present example, the indentations 1880 project into the interior of the golf club head 180 and have an embossed or corrugated appearance from the exterior of the golf club head 180 and are Some of them intersect ribs 1820 along their respective rib lengths. Accordingly, a portion of some ribs 1820 may be at least partially engulfed by indentation features 1880 . For example, rib 1821 intersects and is partially swallowed by indentation features 1881 , 1882 and 1885 at sole 1813 and skirt portion 1818 . Similarly, indentation feature 1885 is intersected by ribs 1822 , 1823 and 1825 . Additionally, indentation features 1883 are intersected by ribs 1823 . However, not all indentation features 1880 need to be intersected by ribs 1820 . For example, indentation features 1884 in sole 1813 and skirt portion 1818 do not contact any of ribs 1820 and ribs 1824 do not intersect any of indentation features 1880 .

As noted above, the embossed or corrugated configuration of indentation features 1880 can be configured to strengthen or reinforce desired sections of body portion 1810 to compensate for thinner portions thereof. to prevent material loss or deformation due to stress during impact with a golf ball or the ground, and/or adjust the sound of golf club 180 upon impact with a golf ball. In the present example of FIGS. 18-19, sole 1813 and/or skirt portion 1818 may include a thickness of approximately 0.7 mm. There may be several other examples, and in other examples the thickness of sole 1813 and/or skirt portion 1818 can vary within 15% of the numbers listed above. and/or such thickness can be uneven across sole 1813 and/or skirt portion 1818 .

In some implementations, it may be undesirable to place indentation features on the body portion 1810 for aesthetic, design, and/or performance reasons, for example. There may be several sections of Such sections may therefore be suitable for reinforcement via ribs 1820 rather than via indentation features 1880 . As an example, rib surface 1815 includes clear section 1819 at skirt portion 1818, clear section 1819 being cleared from any indentation features 1880 for design considerations. Nevertheless, by positioning ribs 1824 to protrude therefrom, clear section 1819 can still be reinforced in terms of strength or sound without having to rely on indentation features 1820 . FIG. 19 also includes an indentation feature 1880, similar to the description above for golf club head 180 of FIG. • relates to the ribs 1920 of the head 190;

FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart of a method 2000 for providing a golf club head. In some examples, the golf club head is a previously described golf club head, such as golf club head 12 (FIGS. 1-3), golf club head 412 (FIG. 4). 5), golf club head 1012 (FIGS. 10-11), golf club head 1212 (FIGS. 12-13), golf club head 140 (FIGS. 14-15), golf club • may be similar to one or more of head 180 (Fig. 18), golf club head 190 (Fig. 19), and/or variations thereof, and the like;

Block 2010 of method 2000 includes providing a body portion having a heel end, a toe end, a sole, a front surface, and a rear surface. In some examples, the body portion can be similar to body portion 1810 of golf club head 180 (FIG. 18) or 190 (FIG. 19). The heel end, toe end, sole, and front surface can be similar to heel end 1811, toe end 1812, sole 1813, and front surface 1416 (FIGS. 18-19), respectively.

Block 2020 of method 2000 includes providing a plurality of ribs protruding in a staggered pattern from a rib surface of the body. In some examples, the plurality of ribs can be similar to rib 1820 (FIG. 18), rib 1920 (FIG. 19), or variations thereof. The plurality of ribs can include first, second, and third ribs, wherein the first, second, and third ribs are ribs 1821, 1822, and/or 1823 or may be similar to ribs 1921, 1822, and/or 1823 of FIG. In some embodiments, the plurality of ribs can also include fourth and fifth ribs, where the fourth and fifth ribs are ribs 1824 and/or 1825 of FIG. 18, or It can be similar to ribs 1924 and/or 1925 of FIG. Some embodiments may include more or fewer ribs depending on the requirements of the golf club head in question. In some examples, the staggered pattern for ribs of method 2000 is one of the staggered pattern options described above with respect to ribs 1820 (FIG. 18) and/or ribs 1920 (FIG. 19). or may be similar to the plurality.

The method 2000 can also optionally include block 2030 for providing one or more indentation features in the rib surfaces from which the plurality of ribs protrude. In some examples, the indentation feature can be similar to indentation feature 1880 (FIGS. 18-19), or variations thereof. Some of such indentation features may be intersected by one or more of the ribs of block 2020 . In the same or other examples, the rib surface can include a clear section, the clear section having no indentation features, but nonetheless the rib surface of the plurality of ribs. It can be reinforced by one or more. In some examples, the clear section can be similar to clear section 1819, which has been reinforced as described above with respect to Figures 18-19.

Other examples may exist, in which different blocks of method 2000 may be combined into a single block or performed simultaneously, and/or The sequence of such blocks can be varied. For example, blocks 2010 and 2020 can be performed simultaneously, such as by integrally forming a plurality of ribs with a rib surface, where the rib surface is one of the body portions of the club head. or including one or more portions of multiple parts. Also, other examples may exist, and in other examples, method 2000 may include additional or different blocks. As an example, method 2000 can include another block for providing weights similar to sole weights 1590 (FIG. 15), such weights being among the indentation features of block 2030. and/or can engulf one or more portions of one or more of the plurality of ribs of block 2020 . Other variations may be implemented with respect to method 2000 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Moving forward, FIG. 22 illustrates a front view of a golf club head 22000, which includes a body portion 21200 and ribs 22200 connected thereto. FIG. 23 illustrates a top X-ray view of golf club head 22000. FIG. In this example, body portion 21200 includes heel end 22160, toe end 22150, crown 22110, sole 22120, skirt 22130, front end 22140, rear end 23150, and hosel 22190, but with more or fewer sections. Other examples may exist. The golf club head 22000 and ribs 22200 can be similar to other golf club heads and ribs described herein, wherein the ribs 22200 are one or more of the body portion 21200. can be arranged or structured with respect to vibration amplitude zones of A golf club shaft 22191 may be coupled to the hosel 22190 .

In this embodiment, ribs 22200 include ribs 22210, 22220, and 22230, rib 22220 extending along crown 22110, rib 22230 extending along sole 22120, and rib 22210 extends continuously from crown 22110 to sole 22120 of golf club head 22000, and in this example also extends along skirt 22130 between crown 22110 and sole 22120. .

However, other examples of situations where more or less ribs are arranged or structured with respect to more or less vibration amplitude zones are possible.

Exemplary details of ribs 22200 can be seen throughout the figures. FIG. 23 shows an X-ray schematic view of ribs 22200 in crown 22110 and sole 22120. FIG. FIG. 24 shows an internal view looking up from the bottom of crown 22110 showing rib 22220 and the crown portion of rib 22210 . FIG. 25 shows a top-down internal view of sole 22120 and skirt 22130 showing rib 22230 and crown and skirt portions of rib 22210 . FIG. 26 illustrates a side view of rib 22210 for a cross-sectional view of golf club head 22000 along line XXVI-XXVI in FIG. FIG. 27 illustrates a side view of rib 22220 for a cross-sectional view of golf club head 22000 along line XXVII-XXVII in FIG. FIG. 28 illustrates a side view of rib 22230 for a cross-sectional view of golf club head 22000 along line XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. As can be seen in FIGS. 24-28, ribs 22200 protrude from rib surface 24200 of body portion 22100, which in this embodiment includes crown 22110, sole 22120, and/or skirt 22130. including the part of

Rib 22200 may be configured to vary its at least one dimension with respect to one or more high vibration amplitude zones of body portion 22100 . In some implementations, the location of one or more high amplitude zones is determined by PTC, Inc., for example. A finite element analysis (FEA) map of a model of the body portion 22100 of the golf club head 22000 generated via one or more FEA analysis tools such as Creo Elements (Needham, MA, USA). can be determined via For example, FIG. 29 illustrates a top FEA view of crown 22110 and identifies high amplitude zones 29101 , 29102 and 29107 as part of high amplitude zone 29100 . FIG. 30 illustrates a bottom FEA view of sole 22120 and identifies high amplitude zones 30103, 30104, 30105, and 30106 as part of high amplitude zone 29100. FIG.

A high amplitude zone 29100 can include locations in the body portion 22100 that can exhibit higher vibration amplitudes than other sections of the body portion 22100 following a golf shot impact. For example, the high amplitude zone 29100 has an amplitude of approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 4 mm following impact of the golf club head 22000 and golf ball 1570 at an impact velocity of approximately 25 m/s (meters per second) to approximately 70 m/s. It can correspond to a location on the body portion 22100 that indicates the vibration amplitude. In the same or other examples, high amplitude zones 29100 may be defined in terms of vibration amplitudes resulting from vibrations at one or more frequencies from approximately 1000 Hz (Hertz) to approximately 5000 Hz.

Circumstances where high amplitude zones may generate undesirable audible frequencies at impact and/or the structural integrity of the golf club head 22000 is reduced, for example, body material at those locations Circumstances may exist where thickness may be compromised in such high amplitude zones. Accordingly, ribs 22200 may be positioned to provide structural reinforcement to body portion 22100 in such circumstances while still attenuating such audible frequencies. For example, ribs 22210 extend along high amplitude zones 30105 and 30106 (FIG. 30) in sole 22120 and/or skirt 11130 and along high amplitude zones 29101 and 29107 (FIG. 29) in crown 22110. are arranged to Ribs 22220 are arranged to extend along high amplitude zones 29102 (FIG. 29) at crown 22110 . Ribs 22230 are arranged in sole 22120 and/or skirt 22130 to extend along high amplitude zones 30103 and 30104 (FIG. 30).

The ribs 22200 can add structural support or strength to the body portion 22100, but the additional mass in the high amplitude zones 29101 can exacerbate the vibration or vibration amplitude at that location. . Thus, in the present example, ribs 22200 extend along respective portions of body portion 22100, but at least those ribs 22200 extend along one or more of high amplitude zones 29100. The dimensions are changed such that the height or rib thickness is reduced. Additionally, the rib height can also increase along respective portions of the body portion 22100 . Moreover, the rib height can increase and/or decrease gradually and/or linearly and in any combination thereof. In some examples, rib height can be measured from rib surface 24200 and is substantially orthogonal to rib surface 24200 . For example, rib 22210 includes heights 26015 and 26012 (FIG. 26), which in some embodiments can be up to approximately 6 mm, where of rib height 26015 or 26012 can constitute the maximum rib height of ribs 22210 . In the same or other examples, rib thickness can be measured substantially orthogonal to rib height. For example, rib 22210 includes a maximum rib thickness 25215 (Fig. 25), which in some embodiments can be up to approximately 4mm.

In this example, as seen in FIGS. 25-26, rib 22210 includes rib ends 22211 and 22212 that are opposite each other. Rib 22210 also includes rib portions 25211, 25212, and 25213, wherein rib portion 25211 is positioned between rib end 22211 and rib portion 25213, and rib portion 25212 is positioned between rib end 22212 and rib portion 25213. portion 25213.

Rib portions 25211 , 25212 , and 25213 include corresponding rib dimensions, wherein the rib dimension of each of rib portions 25211 and 25212 is greater than the corresponding rib dimension of rib 25213 . For example, as seen in FIG. 26, rib portion 25211 includes rib height 26011, rib portion 25212 includes rib height 26012, rib portion 25213 includes rib height 26013, and rib height 26011 and 26012 are greater than the rib height 26013. However, in other examples, rib heights 26011, 26012, and 26013 can have any variation in height, e.g., rib height 26013 is greater than rib heights 26011 and 26012. ing. Similarly, as seen in FIG. 25, rib portion 25211 includes rib thickness 25011, rib portion 25212 includes rib thickness 25012, rib portion 25213 includes rib thickness 25013, and rib thickness 25011 and 25012 are greater than rib thickness 25013 .

In this embodiment, rib heights 26011, 26012, and 26013 and rib thicknesses 25011, 25012, and 25013 are positioned within rib central section 26050, which is the rib thickness of rib 22210. Centered about center point 26299 , rib central section 26050 constitutes 95% of the rib length of rib 22210 as measured from rib end 22211 to rib end 22212 . Therefore, the outer rib dimension of rib central section 26050 is not considered with respect to determining the maximum or minimum rib height or thickness of rib 22210 .

In this embodiment, ribs 22210 are positioned such that rib portions 25213 (FIGS. 25-26) are positioned in high amplitude zones 30105 (FIGS. 25, 26, 30). Therefore, when compared to rib heights 26011 and 26012 (FIG. 26) and rib widths 25011 and 25012 (FIG. 25) located outside of high amplitude zone 29100, rib height 26013 and rib width 25013 are has been reduced. However, in other examples, rib height 26013 may be increased when compared to rib heights 26011 and 26012. High amplitude zones can include, for example, maximum amplitude zones with the highest golf impact vibration amplitudes outside of high amplitude zones 29100 . In one example, at least one of rib heights 26011 or 26012 can be approximately 1.1 times to approximately 12 times greater than rib height 26013 (FIG. 26). As another example, at least one of rib thicknesses 25011 or 25012 can be approximately 1.1 to approximately 8 times greater than rib thickness 25013 (FIG. 25). In this embodiment, rib height 26013 (FIG. 26) can be from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 4 mm, and can include the minimum rib height of ribs 22210. In the same or other embodiments, rib thickness 25013 (FIG. 25) can be from approximately 0.5 mm to approximately 3 mm and can include the minimum rib thickness of ribs 22210. be.

In this embodiment, rib 22210 also includes rib portion 25214 positioned between rib end 22212 and rib portion 25212, the dimensions of rib portion 25214 being rib height 26014 (FIG. 26) and rib Includes thickness 25014 (FIG. 25). Rib portion 25214 is positioned in high amplitude zone 30106 and thus rib height 26014 and rib thickness 25014 are reduced when compared to rib heights and thicknesses positioned outside of high amplitude zone 29100. It is For example, rib thickness 25012 of rib portion 25212 is greater than rib thickness 25014 of rib portion 25214 (FIG. 25). Similarly, rib height 26012 of rib portion 25212 is greater than rib thickness 26014 of rib portion 25214 (FIG. 26). However, in other examples, rib height 26014 may be increased when compared to rib heights positioned outside of high amplitude zone 29100 .

Rib 22210 also includes rib portion 25215 positioned between rib end 22212 and rib portion 25214, the dimensions of rib portion 25215 being rib height 26015 (FIG. 26) and rib thickness 25015 (FIG. 26). 25). Rib portion 2521 is positioned outside of high amplitude zone 29100, so rib thickness 25015 of rib portion 25215 is greater than rib thickness 25014 of rib portion 25214 (FIG. 25). Similarly, rib height 26015 of rib portion 25215 is greater than rib height 26014 of rib portion 25214 (FIG. 26). However, in other examples, rib height 26015 of rib portion 25215 can be less than rib height 26014 of rib portion 25214 .

A similar pattern results for the portion of rib 22210 that is located on crown 22110 . For example, as seen in FIG. 24, rib 22210 also includes rib portions 24216, 24217, 24218, and 24219, rib portion 24216 being positioned in high amplitude zone 29107, and rib portion 24218 being a high amplitude zone. Positioned in amplitude zone 29101 , rib portions 24217 and 24219 are positioned outside high amplitude zone 29100 . Accordingly, the rib thickness of rib portions 24217 or 24219 can be greater than the rib thickness of rib portions 24216 or 24218 . In the same or other examples, the rib height of rib portions 24217 or 24219 can be greater or less than the rib height of rib portions 24216 or 24218.

The dimensions of ribs 22230 and 22220 may be arranged according to the description above for rib 22210 based on the location of high amplitude portion 29100 . For example, as seen in FIGS. 24 and 27, rib 22220 includes rib portions 22221, 22222, and 22223, rib portion 22223 being positioned in high amplitude zone 29102, and rib portions 22221 and 22222: It is positioned outside the high amplitude zone 29100. Accordingly, the rib thickness of rib portions 22221 and 22222 can be greater than the rib thickness of rib portion 22223 . In the same or other examples, the rib height of rib portion 22221 or 22222 can be greater or less than the rib height of rib portion 22223 .

As another example, as seen, for example, in FIGS. 25 and 28, rib 22230 includes rib portions 22231, 22232, 22233, 22234, and 22235, with rib portion 22233 positioned in high amplitude zone 30104. , wherein rib portion 22234 is positioned in high amplitude zone 30103 and rib portions 22231 , 22232 and 22235 are positioned outside high amplitude zone 29100 . Accordingly, the rib thickness of rib portions 22231 , 22232 , or 22235 can be greater than the rib thickness of rib portions 22233 or 22234 . In the same or other examples, the rib height of rib portions 22231, 22232, or 22235 can be greater or less than the rib height of rib portions 22233 or 22234.

As seen in FIG. 23, rib 22210 includes rib axis 22213, rib 22220 includes rib axis 22223, rib 22230 includes rib axis 22233, and rib axes 22213, 22223, and 22233 are mutually and can be aligned to intersect a locus 23500 forward of the front end 22140 of the body portion 22100 , which in this example is defined by a conic section perimeter 23510 . In the same or other examples, rib axes 22213, 22223, and/or 22233 can be tangent to conical cross-section perimeter 23510. In this example, conical section perimeter 23510 constitutes the size of the circumference of golf ball 1570, although other conical section perimeters such as those described below with respect to conical section perimeters in FIGS. It is also possible to configure the shape or location.

FIG. 31 depicts a flowchart of a method 31000 for providing a golf club head according to the present disclosure. In some examples, the golf club head of method 31000 is one of the golf club heads presented herein, such as golf club head 22000 (FIGS. 22-30). One or more may be similar.

The method 31000 includes a block 31100 for providing a body portion of a golf club head, the body portion including at least a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front end, a rear end, and a skirt or hosel. including one. In some examples, the body portion of the golf club head can be similar to body portion 22100 of golf club head 22000, wherein body portion 22100 includes heel end 22160, toe end 22150, crown end 22160, and crown end 22150. 22110, sole 22120, front end 22140, rear end 23150, skirt 22130, and/or hosel 22190 (Figs. 22-30).

The method 31000 also includes a block 31200 for providing ribs of the one or more ribs projecting from the rib surface of the body portion and including first, second, and third rib portions. . In some examples, the ribs can be similar to one or more of ribs 22210, 22220, or 22230 (FIGS. 22-28). In the same or other examples, the rib surface can be similar to rib surface 24200 and can also be one or more portions of the body portion of the golf club head, e.g., a portion of the crown, the sole. and/or a portion of the skirt thereof.

Block 31200, in some examples, can include sub-block 31210, which includes a first rib dimension for the first rib portion and a second rib dimension for the second rib portion. providing a third rib portion between the first rib portion and the second rib portion such that the rib dimension of the third rib portion is greater than the third rib dimension of the third rib portion. In some implementations, the first rib dimension corresponds to the rib height of the first rib, eg, similar to the rib heights described above with respect to ribs 22210, 22220, and/or 22230. is possible. In the same or other implementations, the rib dimensions may also or alternatively be similar to the rib thicknesses described above with respect to ribs 22210, 22220, and/or 22230, for example, the first rib It is possible to correspond to the rib thickness of

In some examples, the first, second and third rib portions can be similar to corresponding portions of ribs 22210, 22220, or 22230. For example, if the ribs are similar to rib 22210, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 25213, while the first and second rib portions are similar to rib portions 25211 and 25212. (FIGS. 25-26). As another example, again, if the ribs are similar to rib 22210, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 25214, while the first and second ribs The portions can be similar to rib portions 25212 and 25215 (FIGS. 25-26). As another example, again, if the ribs are similar to rib 22210, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 24216, while the first and second ribs The portions can be similar to rib portions 25215 and 24217 (Figs. 24, 26). As yet another example, again, if the ribs are similar to rib 22210, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 24218, while the first and second The rib portions can be similar to rib portions 24217 and 24219 (Figs. 24, 26).

In a different example, where the ribs are similar to rib 22220, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 22223, while the first and second rib portions are similar to rib portion 22221. and 22222 (FIGS. 24, 27). In another different example, where the ribs are similar to rib 22230, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 22233, while the first and second rib portions are similar to rib 22230. It can be similar to parts 22231 and 22232 (Figs. 25, 28). In yet another different example, again, where the ribs are similar to rib 22230, the third rib portion can be similar to rib portion 22234, while the first and second can be similar to rib portions 22232 and 22235 (FIGS. 25, 28).

Block 31200 can also, in some embodiments, include sub-block 32220, which measures the third rib dimension of the third rib portion in the maximum amplitude zone of the body portion. including providing In some examples, the maximum amplitude zone can be similar to one or more of the high amplitude zones 29100 as described above with respect to FIGS. It may be matched with a reduced size respective rib portion similar to one or more of 25213, 25214, 24216, 24218, 22223, 22233, or 22234 (FIGS. 24-28).

In some examples, one or more of the different blocks or sub-blocks of method 32000 can be combined into a single block or sub-block or can be performed concurrently; and/or the sequence of such blocks or sub-blocks may be varied. For example, when one or more ribs are integral with the body portion, such as by forming a single piece with one or more portions of the body portion of the golf club head, for example, block 31100 and 31200 can be performed simultaneously. In the same or other examples, some of the blocks of method 32000 may be subdivided into several sub-blocks. For example, block 31100 can be divided into sub-blocks for providing the crown, sole and/or skirt, and another sub-block for providing the front end of the body portion and/or its strike face. can be subdivided. Also, other examples may exist, and in other examples, method 32000 may include additional or different blocks. By way of example, further blocks can include connecting the shaft to the hosel of the body. As another example, additional blocks or sub-blocks may include generating an FEA map of the body of the golf club head and/or determining the location of the zone of maximum amplitude from the FEA map. is. In such an example, the FEA map may be similar to the FEA map or diagrams of golf club head 22000 as shown in FIGS. 29-30. Additionally, there may be other examples, in which the method 32000 may include only some of the steps described above. For example, sub-block 32220 may be optional in some implementations. Other variations may be implemented with respect to method 32000 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 32 illustrates a top X-ray view of a golf club head 32000 with ribs 32200 that are similar to other golf club heads and ribs described herein. is possible. The golf club head 32000 includes a body portion 22100 having a crown 22110, a sole 22120, a heel end 22160, a toe end 22150 and a front end 22140 as described above with respect to FIGS. , rear end 23150, skirt 22130, and/or hosel 22190, and golf club head 32000 includes ribs 32200 connected to body portion 22100 and rib surfaces 32400 thereof. protruding from As seen in FIG. 32, the hosel 22190 can have a golf club shaft 22191 inserted therein. In the present example, the rib surface 32400 constitutes the inner surface of the body portion 22100, although other similar embodiments may exist and other similar embodiments in which the rib surface 32400 forms the interior surface of the body portion 22100. It is possible to configure the outer surface of the 22100.

In this embodiment, ribs 32200 include ribs 32210 and 32220 . Rib 32210 includes opposite rib end points 32211 and 32212 and a rib axis 32213 that intersects rib end points 32211 and 32212 . Similarly, rib 32220 includes opposite rib end points 32221 and 32222 and a rib axis 32223 that intersects rib end points 32221 and 32222 . In this embodiment, rib 32200 also includes ribs 32230 and 32240, rib 32230 includes a rib axis 32213 that intersects its rib end points 32231 and 32232, and rib 32240 includes its rib end points 32241 and 32232. Includes rib axis 32243 that intersects 32242 . Other embodiments may include fewer or greater numbers of ribs.

The top view of FIG. 32 shows golf club head 32000 with body portion 22100 in the address position above ground plane 32710 and shaft plane 32720 (which includes shaft axis 32721 of shaft 22190) is at It is orthogonal to the ground plane 32710 . As can be seen in FIG. 32, rib axes 32213, 32223, 32233, and 32243 intersect each other and intersect locus 32500, which is defined by conical cross-sectional perimeter 32510. there is In some examples, the conical section perimeter 32510 can extend in a direction orthogonal to the ground plane 32710 when the body portion 22100 is in the address position, and the locus 32500 is bounded by the conical section perimeter 32510. can include an area or volume defined by . In this embodiment, the conical cross-sectional perimeter 32510 includes a circular perimeter as seen from the top view of FIG. It can include semi-elliptical perimeters, parabolic perimeters, hyperbolic perimeters, and the like. For example, skipping ahead in the figures, FIG. FIG. 4 illustrates a top x-ray view of head 38000. FIG.

Returning to FIG. 32 , in this implementation, rib axes 32213 , 32223 , 32233 , and 32243 intersect locus 32500 at conical cross-section perimeter 32150 . Additionally, rib axes 32213 , 32223 , 32233 , and 32243 intersect each other outside locus 32500 and forward of front end 22140 of body portion 22100 . There may also be other embodiments in which the rib axes 32213, 32223, 32233, and 32243 intersect the locus 32500 within the conical section perimeter 32150.

Rib 32200 can be similar in some respects to other ribs described herein with respect to other embodiments. For example, even though rib axes 32213, 32223, 32233, and 32243 intersect each other forward of front end 22140 of body portion 22100, none of ribs 32200 are intersected by any other rib. Although ribs 32200 include a substantially constant rib height and rib thickness, there may be other embodiments having variable rib heights and/or rib thicknesses, and variable rib heights. The thickness can vary gradually and/or linearly. In such embodiments, the reduced rib height or rib thickness is described above with respect to the rib height and/or rib thickness of the ribs of golf club head 22000 (FIGS. 22-31). As such, it is possible to accommodate high amplitude zones in the body of the golf club head. In other examples, the increased rib height is greater than the body portion of the golf club head, as described above with respect to the rib height and/or rib thickness of the ribs of golf club head 22000. It is possible to accommodate high amplitude zones.

The ribs 32200 are aligned to the locus 32500 and conical cross-section perimeter 32510 to better direct or dissipate impact stresses relative to the target stress directions in which they may occur. . In this embodiment, the rib axes 32213, 32223, 32233, and 32243 are tangent to the conical section perimeter 32510, where (a) the rib axis 32223 is tangent to the conical section perimeter 32510 at the tangent point 32511 and the tangent point 32511 is positioned toward the heel side end of the conical section perimeter 32510, and (b) the rib axis 32213 is tangent to the conical section perimeter 32510 at the point of contact 32512, the point of contact 32512 being the toe side of the conical section perimeter 32510; (c) the rib axis 32233 is tangent to the conical section perimeter 32510 at the tangent point 32513, the tangent point 32513 between the tangent point 32511 and the rearward end 32515 of the conical section perimeter 32510; (d) the rib axis 32243 is tangent to the conical section perimeter 32510 at the tangent point 32514, which is positioned between the tangent point 32512 and the rearward end 32515 of the conical section perimeter 32510;

In some embodiments, the size of the conical cross-section perimeter 32510 may be configured with respect to the target stress direction or area from which such impact stresses may occur forward of the front end 22140 . For example, in order to better align the rib 32200 and the conical section perimeter 32510 with respect to such target stress direction, such a maximum diameter of the conical section perimeter 32510 (that is, the maximum distance between any two points thereof ) can be made relatively small. By way of example, such maximum diameter of the conical cross-section perimeter 32510 can be from approximately 3 mm to approximately 10 mm. Such matching of the ribs 32200 to such a small diameter of the conical cross-section perimeter 32510 can be beneficial, for example, in the case of an experienced individual, who may find the desired area of the front end 22140 , and/or may wish to align leading edge 22140 and/or ribs 32200 to specific zones or points of golf ball 1570. There is

In other embodiments, the maximum diameter of the perimeter of the conical cross-section can be larger and, for example, a golf ball diameter of approximately 1.68 inches (42.67 mm). can be included. For example, FIG. 33 illustrates a top x-ray view of a golf club head 33000 with ribs 33200, which can be similar to golf club head 32000 and ribs 32200 (FIG. 32). so that ribs 33210, 33220, 33330, and 33340 (FIG. 33) can be similar to ribs 32210, 32220, 32330, and 32340 (FIG. 32), respectively, and It is possible that rib axes 33213, 33223, 33233, and 33243 are similar to rib axes 32213, 32223, 32223, 32233, and 243 (Fig. 32), respectively. Rib 33200 is aligned similarly to rib 32200 , but aligned with respect to locus 33500 as defined by conical cross-sectional perimeter 33510 , which includes the circumference size of golf ball 1570 . Such matching of the ribs 33200 to a larger diameter, such as the diameter of the conical cross-section perimeter 33510, may be beneficial for higher handicap individuals, who may prefer the front end 22140 may tend to hit the golf ball more inconsistently over a wider area.

Returning to the example of FIG. 32, ribs 32230 and 32240 constitute the outermost ribs of rib 32200, which are located closest to toe end 22150 and heel end 22160, respectively, of body portion 22100. . Ribs 32210 and 322120 constitute the inner ribs of rib 32200 , which is positioned between outermost ribs 32230 and 32240 . As seen in this example, the rib axes 32213 and 32223 of the inner ribs 32210 and 32220 intersect each other forward of the conical section perimeter 32510, while the rib axes 32233 and 32243 of the outermost ribs 32230 and 32240 are , intersect each other behind the conical section perimeter 32510 . Such an arrangement leads to relatively smaller angles between rib axes 32213 and 32233 of toeside ribs 32230 and 32210 and between rib axes 32223 and 32243 of heelside ribs 32220 and 32240. . Thus, the toeside ribs 32230 and 32210 can be focused on the narrower area 32141 of the front end 22140 while the heelside ribs 32240 and 32220 are focused on the narrower area 32142 of the front end 22140. obtain. In some implementations, such alignment may therefore be beneficial with respect to more experienced individuals, who may be interested in specific areas of leading edge 22140, e.g., toe edge 22150. They may wish to focus their golf swing with respect to the narrower area 32141 toward and/or the narrower area 32142 toward the heel end 22160 .

However, other embodiments with different rib arrangements are possible. For example, FIG. 34 illustrates a top x-ray view of a golf club head 34000 with ribs 34200, which can be similar to golf club head 32000 and ribs 32200 (FIG. 32). and ribs 34230 and 34240 constitute the outermost ribs of rib 34200 and ribs 34210 and 34220 constitute the inner ribs of rib 34200 . As seen in this example, rib axes 34213 and 34223 of inner ribs 34210 and 34220 intersect each other aft of conical section perimeter 32510, while rib axes 34233 and 34243 of outermost ribs 34230 and 34240 are , intersect each other forward of the conical section perimeter 32510 . Such an arrangement results in a relatively larger angle between rib axes 34213 and 34233 of toeside ribs 34230 and 34210 and between rib axes 34223 and 34243 of heelside ribs 34220 and 34240. Connect. Thus, the toeside ribs 34230 and 34210 are focused on the wider area 34141 of the leading edge 22140 while the heelside ribs 32240 and 32220 are focused on the wider area 32142 of the leading edge 22140 . In some implementations, such alignment may therefore be beneficial with respect to higher handicap individuals, who may find their golf swing relative to a particular area of front edge 22140 may be less consistent with respect to Thus, the wider area 34141 (FIG. 34) can be larger than the narrower area 32141 (FIG. 20) and the wider area 34142 (FIG. 34) can be larger than the narrower area 32142 (FIG. 32).

As explained above, the conical cross-sectional perimeter for the golf club head can be aligned with the target stress direction such that the impact stress is directed or attenuated from the target stress direction. desired. For example, locus 32500 and rib 32200 are generally aligned with respect to the target stress direction across the center of strike face 22141 and with respect to strike face center point 32145 of strike face 22141 in FIG. Thus, when the golf club head 32000 is in the address position as described above, the conical section perimeter 32510 is centered on the central plane 32730 and the central plane 32730 is aligned with the ground plane 32710. It is orthogonal and contains the strike face center point 32145 .

FIG. 35 illustrates another example showing a top X-ray view of a golf club head 35200 with ribs 35200 aligned with respect to the toe location with respect to the locus 32500. As shown in FIG. Ribs 35200 can be similar to ribs 32200 (FIG. 32) and ribs 35210, 35220, 35330, and 35340 (FIG. 35) are respectively ribs 32210, 32220, 32330, and 32340 (FIG. 32). , but the ribs 35200 are aligned with the toe location of the locus 32500 . In this example, strike face 22141 includes strike face toe edge 35147 and strike face toe edge point 35146 between strike face center point 32145 and strike face toe edge 35147 . Toe end plane 35730 includes strike face toe end point 35146 and toe end plane 35730 is parallel to center plane 32730 . Rib 35200 is aligned with conical segment perimeter 32510 , which is centered on toe end plane 35730 to accommodate target stress directions across the toe portion of strike face 22141 . In the same or other examples, strike face toe edge point 35146 may be located midway between strike face center point 32145 and strike face toe edge 35147 .

As another example, FIG. 36 illustrates a top x-ray view of a golf club head 36200 with ribs 36200 aligned with respect to the heel direction location with respect to the locus 32500. As shown in FIG. Ribs 36200 can be similar to ribs 32200 (FIG. 32) and ribs 36210, 36220, 36330, and 36340 (FIG. 36) are respectively ribs 32210, 32220, 32330, and 32340 (FIG. 32). , but the ribs 36200 are aligned with the location of the locus 32500 in the heel direction. In this example, strike face 22141 includes strike face heel edge 36147 and strike face heel edge point 36146 between strike face center point 32145 and strike face heel edge 36147 . Heel end plane 36730 includes strike face heel end point 36146 and heel end plane 36730 is parallel to center plane 32730 . Rib 36200 is aligned with conical segment perimeter 32510 , which is centered on heel end plane 36730 to accommodate target stress directions across the heel portion of strike face 22141 . In the same or other examples, strike face heel edge point 36146 may be positioned midway between strike face center point 32145 and strike face heel edge 36147 .

FIG. 37 illustrates a top X-ray view of a golf club head 37000 having ribs 37200, 37300 and ribs 37200, 37300 aligned with the locus 33500 and conical section perimeter 33510. Conical section perimeter 33510 includes the golf ball perimeter of golf ball 1570 in this example. In this example, the conical section perimeter 33510 is aligned with the strike face center point 32145 as described above in FIG. However, other examples may exist, in which the conical cross-section perimeter 33510 can be aligned with the toe end point 35146 as described above with respect to FIG. Alternatively, it may be aligned with the heel end point 36146 as described above with respect to FIG.

The ribs of golf club head 37000 may be positioned on different portions of body portion 22100 . For example, in this embodiment ribs 37300 and 37400 are positioned at crown 22110 while rib 37200 is positioned at sole 22120 . Such locations may vary in other embodiments. For example, rib 37200 can be positioned at crown 22110 in some implementations, while at least one of ribs 37300 or 37400 is located at sole 22120 in the same or other implementations. can be positioned.

Ribs 37300 include rib 37310 with rib axis 37313 , rib 37320 with rib axis 37323 , and rib 37330 with rib axis 37333 , where rib axes 37313 , 37323 , and 37333 extend at conical cross-sectional perimeter 33510 . cross each other. In this example, the ribs 37300 are positioned on the heel side of the golf club head 37000, cross each other in the toe-direction segment of the conical section perimeter 33510, and abut the perimeter section 37513 of the conical section 33510. It is possible. However, other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments the ribs 37300 may be formed around the conical cross-section at other locations, such as at its heel, anterior, or posterior sections. 33510 can be intersected.

Ribs 37400 include rib 37410 with rib axis 37413, rib 37420 with rib axis 37423, and rib 37430 with rib axis 37433; They cross each other at 33510. In this example, the ribs 37400 are positioned on the toe side of the golf club head 37000, intersect each other in heel-facing segments of the conical section perimeter 33510, and abut the perimeter section 37154 of the conical section 33510. is possible. However, other embodiments may exist and in other embodiments the ribs 37400 may be formed around the conical cross-section at other locations, such as at its toe, forward or rear section. 33510 can be intersected.

Rib 37200 includes ribs 37210 and 37220 . Rib 37210 includes rib segments 37211 and 37212 and rib axis 37213 that are connected together. Rib axis 37213 includes rib axis portion 372131 along rib segment 37211 and rib axis portion 372132 along rib segment 37212 . In this embodiment, the rib axis portion 372131 intersects the cone cross-section perimeter 33510 at the perimeter section 37511 while the rib axis portion 372132 intersects the cone cross-section perimeter 33510 at the perimeter section 37512 . Also in this example, rib axis portions 372131 and 372132 can abut peripheral sections 37511 and 37512 of conical cross-section perimeter 23510, respectively.

Rib 37220 of rib 37200 includes rib segments 37221 and 37222 and rib axis 37223 that are connected together. Rib axis 37223 includes rib axis portion 372231 along rib segment 37221 and rib axis portion 372232 along rib segment 37212 . In this embodiment, the rib axis portion 372231 intersects the rib axis portion 372131 at or near the perimeter section 37511 of the conical cross-section perimeter 23510 while the rib axis portion 372232 intersects rib axis portion 372132 at peripheral section 37512 of .

FIG. 39 depicts a flowchart of a method 39000 for providing a golf club head according to the present disclosure. In some examples, the golf club head of method 39000 is described herein, such as golf club head 22000 (FIGS. 22-30) or the golf club heads of FIGS. It may be similar to one or more of the golf club heads shown.

Method 39000 includes block 39100 for providing a body portion including a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front wall including a strike face, and a back side. In some examples, the body portion can be similar to body portion 22100 as described with respect to Figures 22-38.

Method 39000 also includes block 39200 for providing ribs protruding from the rib surface of the body. In some examples, the ribs are ribs of the exemplary embodiments described herein, such as ribs 22200 (FIGS. 22-26), ribs 32200 (FIG. 32), ribs 33200 (FIG. 33). , rib 34200 (FIG. 34), rib 35200 (FIG. 35), rib 34600 (FIG. 36), rib 37200 (FIG. 37), and/or rib 38200 (FIG. 38), etc. It is possible. The ribs can protrude from one or more of the body portions of the golf club head, e.g., internally or externally, such as from its crown, sole, and/or skirt. It is possible to protrude.

Block 39200 of method 39000 may include sub-block 39210 for aligning the ribs so that the rib axes intersect each other and such that the rib axes intersect the locus defined by the conical cross-section perimeter. It is possible. In some examples, the ribs may be aligned to the perimeter of the locus and conical cross-section as described above with respect to Figures 22 and/or Figures 32-38.

In some examples, one or more of the different blocks or sub-blocks of method 39000 can be combined into a single block or sub-block or can be performed simultaneously; and/or the sequence of such blocks or sub-blocks may be varied. For example, by forming a single piece with one or more portions of the body portion of the golf club head, such as when, for example, one or more ribs are integral with the body portion, the block 39100 and 39200 can be performed simultaneously. In the same or other examples, some of the blocks of method 39000 may be subdivided into several sub-blocks. For example, block 39100 can be split into sub-blocks to provide the crown, sole and/or skirt, and another sub-block to provide the front end of the body portion and/or its strike face. can be subdivided. Also, other examples may exist, and in other examples, method 39000 may include additional or different blocks. By way of example, further blocks can include connecting the shaft to the hosel of the body. Other variations may be implemented with respect to method 32000 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Side Ribs Illustrated in FIGS. 40-52 is another embodiment of a golf club head in which club head 40000 includes side ribs that connect with the golf ball. It is possible to improve the sound of the golf club head 40000 during impact. Club head 40000 includes hollow body portion 40018 , front end 40020 , crown 40022 , sole 40024 , heel end 40030 , toe end 40032 and rear end 40028 . Club head 40000 may further include a plurality of ribs 40040 similar to those of club heads 12 , 140 , 178 , 180 , 190 , 412 , 612 , 812 , 1012 , and 1212 . Additionally, club head 40000 may include a sole weight 40590 similar to sole weight 1590 of golf club head 140 . Additionally, the club head 40000 may include a plurality of side ribs 40050 extending laterally from the front end 40020 toward the rear end 40028 and having a plurality of side ribs 40050 . side ribs 40050 may be one side rib, two side ribs, three side ribs, four side ribs, five side ribs, six side ribs, seven side ribs, or It is possible to include eight side ribs.

The side ribs 40050 may be on the heel end 40030 as shown in FIG. 40 or above the toe end 40032 as shown in FIG. 40020 may be positioned in contact therewith. More specifically, side ribs 40050 range from 0 inch to 0.35 inch, 0 inch to 0.30 inch, 0 inch to 0.25 inch, 0 inch It can be positioned in the range of inches to 0.20 inches, 0.05 inches to 0.30 inches, 0.10 inches to 0.30 inches, or 0.15 inches to 0.25 inches. . In some embodiments, the side ribs 40050 can extend into a portion of the strike face. The side ribs 40050 may further be positioned within a vertical distance of 0.5 inches from the apex of the crown 40022 and within a vertical distance of 0.5 inches from the bottommost point of the sole 40024 . The positioning of the side ribs 40050 can improve the sound of the golf club head 40000.

In some examples, the side ribs 40050 can be positioned on both the toe end 40032 and the heel end 40030, and each side rib 40050 positioned on the toe end 40032 can be positioned on the heel end 40032. It is asymmetrical with the side ribs 40050 positioned over the ends 40030 . When the side ribs 40050 above the toe end 40032 and the side ribs 40050 above the heel end 40030 are not equidistant from the strike face center point 40060 of the front end 40020, the The upper side ribs 40050 are asymmetrical with respect to each other. In some examples, the side ribs 40050 on the heel end 40030 may be positioned closer or farther from the strike face center point 40060 than the side ribs 40050 on the toe end 40032. In another example, the side ribs 40050 above the toe end 40032 can be in contact with the front end 40020 while the side ribs 40050 above the heel end 40030 extend further from the front end 40020. can be positioned. In another example, the side ribs 40050 on the heel end 40030 can be closer to the front end 40020 while the side ribs 40050 on the toe end 40032 are further from the front end 40020. can be positioned.

In some examples, the strike face center point 40060 is located at the target strike zone (similar to the target strike zone 1431, as illustrated in FIG. 14 and described above). It can be located in the center of the zone and/or defined according to the definitions of golf governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA). For example, strike face center point 40060 is defined in USGA's Procedure for Measuring the Flexibility of a Golf Clubhead, Chapter 6.1 (USGA-TPX3004, Rev. 1.0.0, May 1, 2008) (http: //www.usga.org/equipment/testing/protocols/Procedure-For-Measuring-The-Flexibility-Of-A-Golf-Club-Head/).

The amount of side ribs 40050 on the toe end 40032 compared to the heel end 40030 can be equal or vary. In some examples, there may be three side ribs 40050 on the toe end 40032 and one side rib 40050 on the heel end 40030 . In another example, there may be two side ribs on the toe end 40032 and three side ribs on the heel end 40030 . Further, in the example, a plurality of side ribs 40050 positioned on one end (either the toe end 40032 or the heel end 40030) are ready to be staggered from one another and some side ribs 40050 • The ribs 40050 can be positioned closer to the front end 40020 or further from the front end 40020 . In some embodiments with multiple side ribs 40050 positioned over the toe end 40032 and/or heel end 40030, each successive side rib 40050 is evenly spaced apart from each other. may be positioned and/or may be unevenly spaced apart from each other. In some embodiments with multiple side ribs 40050 positioned over the toe end 40032 and/or heel end 40030, each successive side rib 40050 may be 0.1 inch from each other. 0.75 inch, 0.1 inch to 0.25 inch, 0.025 inch to 0.050 inch, 0.50 inch to 0.75 inch, 0.20 inch to 0.60 inch, Alternatively, it can be positioned from 0.40 inch to 0.50 inch. The number of side ribs 40050 and the spacing between each side rib 40050 can improve the sound of the golf club head 40000. In all embodiments, the plurality of side ribs 40050 positioned over the toe end 40032 can be asymmetrical with the plurality of side ribs 40050 positioned over the heel end 40030. , the side ribs 40050 on the toe end 40032 and the side ribs 40050 on the heel end 40030 are not positioned the same distance away from the strike face center point 40060 of the front end 40020 .

Side ribs 40050 may include a predetermined height, width (or thickness), and length. In some examples, the height of side ribs 40050 can remain constant and extend from leading edge 40020 to trailing edge 40028 . In other embodiments, the height of the side ribs 40050 can vary, extending from the leading edge 40020 toward the trailing edge 40028 (eg, gradually increasing, linearly increasing , gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof). Further, in some examples, the height of each of the side ribs 40050 can be equal to the height of each of the other side ribs 40050. In other examples, each of the side ribs 40050 can have a different height than the other side ribs 40050. Side rib 40050 height is 0.051 cm ± 0.013 (0.038-0.064 cm), 0.051 cm ± 0.050 cm (0.001-0.101 cm), 0.51 inch ± 0.013 cm (0.001-0.101 cm). It can have a range of 13 inches (0.38-0.64 inches), and 0.50 inches±0.25 inches (0.25-0.75 inches).

In some examples, the width of the side ribs 40050 can remain constant or vary as the side ribs 40050 extend from the leading end 40020 toward the trailing end 40028. (eg, gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof). In some examples, the width of each of the side ribs 40050 can be equal to the other side ribs 40050. In other examples, side ribs 40050 can have different widths than other side ribs 40050 . In some examples, each of the side ribs 40050 can taper at a first end 40052 near the leading end 40020 and taper at a second end 40054 near the trailing end 40028. It can be tapered. In other examples, tapering of first end 40052 and/or second end 40054 is absent. The lengths of the side ribs 40050 can remain constant or vary from each other. In some examples, the side ribs 40050 closer to the crown 40022 can have a greater length than the side ribs 40050 closer to the sole 40024. In other examples, the side ribs 40050 on the toe end 40032 can have a greater length than the side ribs 40050 on the heel end 40030. In another example, all of the side ribs 40050 have equal lengths. Side rib 40050 widths are 0.178 cm ± 0.013 cm (0.165 to 191 cm), 0.178 inch ± 0.078 inch (0.100 to 0.256 inch), and 0.035 inch ± 0 It can have a range of 0.020 inches (0.015 to 0.055 inches).

As illustrated in FIGS. 42 and 45, side ribs 40050 can extend from leading edge 40020 to trailing edge 40028 in a curvilinear manner (eg, concave, convex, non-linear, etc.). is. In some examples, all side ribs 40050 can all curve in the same direction. For example, the side ribs 40050 can have a concave curve, with the first end 40052 and second end 40054 of the side ribs 40050 curving toward the crown 40022 . In other examples, the side ribs 40050 can be curved in an alternating arrangement from each other. For example, some side ribs 40050 may have concave curves, while other side ribs 40050 may have convex curves.

As illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45, the side ribs 40050 can be angled. The angle is determined from a virtual reference line created by first end 40052 and second end 40054 with respect to the ground when club head 40000 is in a rest position on the ground. For example, the side ribs 40050 can be angled at 0 degrees (ie, horizontally) or angled at 90 degrees (ie, vertically). Side ribs 40050 may be oriented at an angle between 0 and 180 degrees. In some examples, the side ribs 4050 are angled between 20 and 160 degrees, between 40 and 140 degrees, between 60 and 120 degrees, between 80 and 100 degrees. can be oriented at an angle, an angle between 10 and 80 degrees, or an angle between 100 and 170 degrees. Further, each side rib 40050 can be oriented at similar angles or can vary from each other.

Another example of a club head 40000 is shown in FIGS. Club head 40000 includes ribs 40040 , side ribs 40050 and sole weights 40590 . The ribs 40040 and side ribs 40050 of the club head 40000 can include similar properties and features as the ribs and side ribs of previous examples and embodiments as described above. Further, sole weight 40650 may include similar properties and features as sole weight 1590 of golf club head 140 as described above.

In the illustrative example, rib 40040 is positioned over sole 40024 of club head 40000 and includes first end 40042 and second end 40044 . A first end 40042 is positioned proximate to the front end 40020 and a second end 40044 extends outward in a radial fashion toward the rear wall 40028 . In other examples, the first end 40042 can be in contact with the front end 40020 and the second end 40044 can extend proximate to or contact the rear end 40028 . or may extend further along the trailing edge 40028 . Additionally, the rib 40040 centered within the club head 40000 can extend along the trailing edge 40028 and can contact the sole weight 40590 to provide a sole weight. - It is possible to extend to weight 40590; In other examples, any of the ribs 40040 can extend along the trailing edge 40028 and can contact the sole weight 40590 and extend through the sole weight 40590. It is possible to

In the illustrative example, rib 40040 includes a predetermined width and height. The width of rib 40040 can range from 0.178 cm ± 0.013 cm, 0.178 inch ± 0.078 inch, and 0.035 inch ± 0.020. Additionally, the width of the ribs 40040 extending from the first end 40042 to the second end 40044 can remain constant or vary. For example, the width at the first end 40042 can be 0.150 inches, the width in the middle of the rib 40040 can be 0.100 inches, and the width at the second end 40044 can be 0.150 inches. can be 0.195 inches.

In illustrative examples, ribs 40040 have heights of 0.051 cm ± 0.013, 0.051 cm ± 0.050 cm, 0.51 inches ± 0.13 inches, and 0.50 inches ± 0.25 inches. It is possible to have a range. The height of the ribs 40040 extending from the first end 40042 to the second end 40052 can remain constant or vary. For example, the height at the first end 40042 can be 0.50 inches, extends along the middle of the rib 40040 and increases to 0.75 inches, and at the second end 40044 Reduces to 0.60 inches.

In the illustrative example, side ribs 40050 are positioned above toe end 40032 of club head 40000 proximate front end 40020 . In other examples, the side ribs 40050 may be on the heel edge 40030 or on both the toe edge 40032 and the heel edge 40030, proximate the front edge 40020, in contact with the front edge 40020, or on the front edge 40020. It can be positioned far away from 40020. The side ribs 40050 include a first end 40052 and a second end 40054 such that the width remains constant but the height decreases from the first end 40052 towards the second end 40054. extended. In other examples, the height and width of ribs 40050 can remain constant or vary as they extend from first end 40052 to second end 40054 . Additionally, the side ribs are straight and oriented at an angle to the club head 40000 in the rest position. In other examples, the side ribs 40050 can be curved, straight, or a combination of both, and can have any angular orientation. In this illustrative example, the ribs allow club head 40000 to sound more pleasing during impact.

Connecting Ribs In other embodiments, the golf club head 40000 may further include connecting ribs 40080 that intersect ribs 40040 with successive neighboring ribs 40040 to improve sound. It is possible. In other embodiments, connecting rib 40080 can intersect any rib as described above. 5, ribs 641-646 in FIG. 6, ribs 841-845 in FIG. 8, ribs 1043-1045 in FIG. 10, ribs 1243-1245 in FIG. ribs 1721-1725, ribs 1851-1855 of FIG. 19, ribs 22213, 22223, and 22233 of FIG. 23, ribs 32312, 32322, 32332, 32342, and 32352 of FIG. 33240, ribs 34210, 34220, 34230, and 34240 in FIG. 34; ribs 35410, 35420, 35430, and 35440 in FIG. 35; ribs 36210, 36220, 36230, and 36240 in FIG. , 37320, 37330, 37410, 37420, and 37430, and rib 38200 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 48, connecting rib 40080 includes a first end and a second end. Connecting ribs 40080 extend between adjacent ribs 40040 contiguous from rib 40040 , and a first end of connecting rib 40080 is adjacent to rib 40040 or integrally formed with rib 40040 . and the second ends of connecting ribs 40080 can be adjacent to continuous neighboring ribs 40040 or integrally formed with continuous neighboring ribs 40040 .

Golf club head 40000 may include any number of connecting ribs 40080 . For example, golf club head 40000 has 1 connecting rib 40080, 2 connecting ribs 40080, 3 connecting ribs 40080, 4 connecting ribs 40080, 5 connecting ribs 40080, 6 connecting ribs 40080, 7 connecting ribs 40080, or eight connecting ribs 40080 can be included. In embodiments where the golf club head 40000 may include any number of connecting ribs 40080, each connecting rib 40080 may be positioned between the same two ribs 40040. For example, golf club head 40000 may include first and second connecting ribs 40080 and first, second, and third ribs 40040, wherein first connecting rib 40080 can extend between the first rib 40040 and the second rib 40040 and the second connecting rib 40080 can extend between the second rib 40040 and the third rib 40040. can exist. In other embodiments, the golf club head 40000 may include any number of connecting ribs 40080, and each connecting rib 40080 may be positioned between different ribs 40040. For example, golf club head 40000 may include first and second connecting ribs 40080 and first, second, and third ribs 40040, wherein the first and second A connecting rib 40080 can extend between the first rib 40040 and the second rib 40040 .

In some embodiments, the connecting rib 40080 can extend from the first end toward the second end in a curvilinear fashion. In other embodiments, the connecting ribs 40080 can extend from the first end toward the second end in a linear straight manner. In other embodiments, the connecting ribs 40080 can extend in a combination of linear and curvilinear fashions. In some embodiments having any number of connecting ribs 40080, each connecting rib may extend in a curvilinear fashion or may extend in a linear fashion. , or may extend in a combination of some curvilinear and some linear. In some embodiments having any number of connecting ribs 40080 between the same two ribs 40040, the connecting ribs 40080 can be parallel to each other, e.g. , parallel to the second connecting rib 40080 , both connecting ribs 40080 being positioned between the first rib 40040 and the second adjacent rib 40040 .

In some embodiments, a connecting rib 40080 may be oriented between two adjacent ribs 40040 such that one end is positioned closer toward the front end 40020 than the other end. For example, the connecting rib 40080 may be oriented such that the first end is positioned closer to the front end 40020 and the second end is positioned closer to the rear end 40028 . In other embodiments, the connecting rib 40080 is oriented such that the second end is positioned closer to the front end 40020 and the first end is positioned closer to the rear end 40028. obtain. In other embodiments, the connecting rib 40080 may be oriented such that both the first end and the second end are positioned an equal distance from the front end 40020 .

Connecting ribs 40080 can include a predetermined height and width (or thickness). In some examples, the height of the connecting rib 40080 can remain constant, extending from the first end of the connecting rib 40080 toward the second end of the connecting rib 40080. . In other embodiments, the height of the connecting ribs 40080 can vary, extending from the first end toward the second end (eg, gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof). Further, in some examples, the height of each of the connecting ribs 40080 can be equal to the height of each other. In other examples, each of the connecting ribs 40080 can have different heights. In some embodiments, the height of connecting ribs 40080 can range between at least half the height of ribs 40040 and a height that matches the height of ribs 40040 . The height of connecting rib 40080 is 0.051 cm ± 0.013 (0.038-0.064 cm), 0.051 cm ± 0.050 cm (0.001-0.101 cm), 0.51 inch ± 0.13 inches (0.38-0.64 inches), and ranges of 0.50 inches±0.25 inches (0.25-0.75 inches).

In some examples, the width of connecting rib 40080 remains constant or It can vary (eg, gradually increasing, linearly increasing, gradually decreasing, linearly decreasing, and any combination thereof). In some examples, the width of each of the connecting ribs 40080 can be equal to each other. In other examples, the connecting ribs 40080 can have different widths. In some examples, each of the connecting ribs 40080 can have a taper at a first end near a first rib 40040 and a second end near a neighboring second rib 40040 . It is possible to have tapering at the ends. In other examples, there may be no tapering of the first end and/or the second end. The width (or thickness) of connecting rib 40080 is 0.178 cm ± 0.013 cm (0.165-0.191 cm), 0.178 inch ± 0.078 inch (0.100-0.256 inch), and It can have a range of 0.035 inch ± 0.020 inch (0.015 to 0.055 inch).

A connecting rib 40040 may be positioned between a rib 40040 and a contiguous neighboring rib 40040, as described above. More specifically, connecting ribs are adjacent to ribs 40040 in high amplitude zones 40090 on golf club head 40000, similar to the high amplitude zones described above in FIGS. can be positioned between the ribs 40040 of the These high amplitude zones 40090 may result on the crown 40022, sole 40024, and/or skirt of the golf club head 40000, as illustrated in FIGS. In some embodiments, the high amplitude zone 40090 is one-third near heel end 40030, near toe end 40032, between heel end 40030 and toe end 40032, or combinations thereof. It can be on the third, second third, and/or third third crown 40022 (from leading edge 40020 to trailing edge 40028). In other embodiments, the high amplitude zone 40090 is one-third of the way near the heel end 40030, near the toe end 40032, between the heel end 40030 and the toe end 40032, or a combination thereof. , second-thirds, and/or third-thirds of the sole 40024 (from the front end 40020 to the rear end 40028). Connecting ribs 40080 may be positioned over any of the high amplitude zones 40090 described above.

In some embodiments, golf club head 40000 can include one high amplitude zone 40090 . In other embodiments, the golf club head 40000 includes any number of high amplitude zones 40090 (eg, 1 high amplitude zone 40090, 2 high amplitude zones 40090, 3 high amplitude zones 40090, 4 high amplitude zones 40090). zones 40090, 5 high amplitude zones 40090, 6 high amplitude zones 40090, 7 high amplitude zones 40090, or 8 high amplitude zones 40090). In one example, as illustrated in FIG. 49, a golf club head 40000 includes a first high amplitude zone 40091, a second high amplitude zone 40092, and a third high amplitude zone 40092 positioned over sole 40024. can include a high amplitude zone 40093 of .

The high amplitude zone 40090 can be determined through modal analysis, which tests the response of the golf club head at different frequencies and the golf club head experiencing that particular frequency at different amplitude values. Create a color map (known as "modes") of the golf club head showing different regions of . 49-52, the high amplitude zone 40090 can illustrate different severity of vibration by different dotted or blank patterns of circular areas within the high amplitude zone 40090, and the vibration is , increasing when going from the outer circular region of the high amplitude zone 40090 to the inner circular region. In some embodiments, the inner circular area of the high amplitude zone 40090 can depict a more densely dotted inner circular area, which represents the highest intensity of vibration at that particular frequency. ing. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 49, the inner circular area of the second high amplitude zone 40092 has a denser dot pattern compared to other circular areas having a more sparse dotted pattern. , the inner circular region of the second high amplitude zone 40092 experiences the highest vibrations. As illustrated in FIGS. 49-52, the golf club head 40000 has three separate frequencies: 4000 Hz (FIG. 49), 4400 Hz (FIGS. 50 and 51), and 8000 Hz (FIG. 52). , that different locations on the golf club head 40000 may contain high amplitude zones 40090 that can affect the sound.

Modal analysis can be observed in relation to acoustic analysis (as illustrated in the graph (Fig. 53)). Acoustic analysis was performed by recording the sound of a golf club head during impact with a golf ball in the center of the strike face (at 100 mph speed and perpendicular to the face), then Sound is transformed into the frequency domain. Acoustic analysis measures the pressure difference (vibration amplitude) (measured in lbs/in ² (psi)) produced by a vibrating structure, which is the difference produced by the golf club head during impact. During an array of frequencies (measured in hertz (Hz)) experienced by the golf club head. Acoustic analysis graphs can help determine which modes produced by modal analysis are most effective in improving sound. As illustrated in FIG. 53 (correlated with FIGS. 49-52), the most effective mode to focus on is the mode at a frequency of 4000 Hz (FIG. 49), and the graph shows a different frequency (4400 Hz frequency produces a pressure of approximately 0.07e-3 psi, and a frequency of 800 Hz produces a pressure of approximately 0.06e-3 psi) compared to other peak amplitudes at 4000 Hz (approximately 0.06e-3 psi). 33e-3 psi) shows a relatively high amplitude. Referring to FIG. 49, connecting ribs 40040 can be located in the second high amplitude zone 40092 and between the heel end 40030 and the toe end 40032 (from the front end 40020 to the rear end 40028) of the sole. It can be positioned above the second third of 40024, lowering the amplitude at 4000Hz relative to other frequencies, thereby improving the sound.

For other golf club heads, a graph can be produced by acoustic analysis showing any number of frequencies with different values of high and low amplitudes relative to each other. If all relevant peak amplitudes are within a 1:0.5 ratio of each other, ignoring frequencies with amplitudes approximately 90% to 100% lower than the highest amplitude generated, and/ Alternatively, connecting ribs 40080 may be associated with modal analysis to improve sound, with respect to amplitudes above corresponding acoustic analysis graphs, above golf club head 40040 if the following equations are satisfied: can be positioned at a particular location in the

は、音響解析の中の最も低い振幅の平均値であり（発生させられる最も高い振幅よりもおおよそ９０％から１００％低い周波数を除外する）、Ｙは、音響解析の中の最も高い振幅値であり、Ｚは、Ｙに関連付けられる場所において、接続リブ４００８０がゴルフ・クラブ・ヘッド４００００の上に位置決めされているときに発生させられる、１未満の値であり、Ｙ’は、接続リブ４００８０が追加された後のＹの新しいおよび相対的により低い振幅値である。 here,

is the lowest amplitude mean value in the acoustic analysis (excluding frequencies roughly 90% to 100% lower than the highest amplitude generated) and Y is the highest amplitude value in the acoustic analysis. , where Z is a value less than 1 generated when connecting rib 40080 is positioned over golf club head 40000 at the location associated with Y, and Y′ is where connecting rib 40080 is located. New and relatively lower amplitude value of Y after being added.

An acoustic analysis graph can contain multiple relatively high amplitudes compared to relatively lower amplitudes (excluding frequencies roughly 90% to 100% lower than the highest amplitude generated) In embodiments, the sound may be improved if the following equations are satisfied.

where each variable in Equation 2 shares the same symbols as Equation 1 above, but 1 represents the first highest amplitude value in the acoustic analysis. , 2 represents the second highest amplitude value in the acoustic analysis, and n represents any number of the highest amplitude values in the acoustic analysis.

または

の範囲の中に入るように最も高い振幅値を低減させることが可能であり、それは、周波数「調和」を生成させることが可能であり、１つまたは複数の周波数がインパクトの間に他の周波数を圧倒することを防止する。 Having one or more frequencies above the ideal range can create a less-than-ideal sound, where certain frequencies are brought together to produce a frequency "harmony." dominates other frequencies instead of working on Connecting ribs 40080 positioned within specific high amplitude zones are

or

It is possible to reduce the highest amplitude value to fall within the range of , which can produce frequency "harmony", where one or more of the frequencies fall into the range of other frequencies during impact. prevent overwhelming.

The connecting ribs 40080 of the described golf club head 40000 may be further incorporated into the golf club heads 12, 140, 178, 180, 190, 412, 612, 812, 1012, and 1212. Additionally, in any combination of side ribs 40050 and/or radially extending ribs 40040, connecting ribs 40080 can be positioned over these high amplitude zones 40090 to provide a golf club It is possible to improve the sound of the head 40000.

Although the ribbed golf club head and related methods have been described herein with respect to particular embodiments, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. . For example, the ribs 22200 may be substantially straight as shown in FIGS. 22-28, but may not be straight or otherwise straight on the body of their respective golf club head. There may be embodiments with ribs similar to rib 22200 that follow curved, zigzag, or S-shaped paths along their respective lengths along the rib surfaces of the sections. be. As another example, rib 22200 or other ribs like it can be external rather than internal. As yet another example, FIGS. 22-28 show reduced size portions of ribs 22200, such as rib portions 25213, 24218, 22233, and 22223, as projecting continuously above rib surface 24200. etc., there may be other embodiments, and in other embodiments at least a portion of such reduced dimension portions may merge with the rib surface 24200. Yes, to constitute a zero rib height or rib thickness. In some embodiments, the ribs of the golf club head are aligned to intersect or abut other locus and perimeter shapes different than those illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 32-38. can be For example, such other locus and perimeter shapes can be semi-circular, semi-elliptical, hyperbolic, and/or parabolic.

Additional examples of such variations are provided in the preceding discussion. Other permutations of different embodiments having one or more of the features of the various figures are contemplated as well. Accordingly, the disclosure herein is intended to be illustrative of the scope of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. It is intended that the scope of this application shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims.

The ribbed golf club head and related methods discussed herein can be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion of specific these embodiments necessarily It does not represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment, and may disclose alternative embodiments.

The Rules of Golf may change from time to time (e.g., new Rules may be applied or old Rules superseded by golf standards bodies and/or governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA), British Golf Association (R&A), etc.). (which may be eliminated or modified), the golf equipment relating to the apparatus, methods and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein may or may not comply with the Rules of Golf at any time. Additionally, golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein may be advertisements, offers for sale, and/or sales that may or may not be compatible with golf equipment. The devices, methods and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein are not limited in this respect.

Although at least some of the above examples have been depicted or described with respect to fairway wood type golf clubs or driver type golf clubs, the apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture disclosed herein are applicable to iron type golf clubs, wedge type golf clubs, , and/or other types of golf club heads, such as putter-type golf clubs. Alternatively, the devices, methods and articles of manufacture disclosed herein are applicable to other sports equipment such as hockey sticks, tennis rackets, fishing rods, skis, and the like.

Replacement of one or more of the claimed elements constitutes reconstruction, not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may give rise to or make any benefit, advantage, or solution more apparent are , solution, or element should not be construed as an important, necessary, or essential feature or element of any or all such claims, unless explicitly recited in such claim.

Further, the embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are subject to the limitations that the embodiments and/or limitations are (1) not expressly claimed in a claim, and (2) unambiguous in a claim under the doctrine of equivalents. Not available to the public under the doctrine of public ownership as potential equivalents of elements and/or restrictions.

Claims (20)

A golf club head,
a main body;
a first rib protruding from the rib surface of the main body,
The main body is
a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a front end with a center point, and a rear end;
at least one of a skirt or a hosel;
The first rib is
a first first rib end and a second first rib end opposite each other;
a first first rib portion, a second first rib portion, and a third first rib portion protruding from the rib surface of the body;
said first first rib portion being positioned between said first first rib end and said third first rib portion;
said second first rib portion being positioned between said second first rib end and said third first rib portion;
said first primary rib portion including a first primary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
said second primary rib portion includes a second primary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
said third primary rib portion includes a third primary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
The first rib thickness and the second first rib thickness are greater than the third first rib thickness,
Further, the golf club head is
a first side rib positioned over the heel end and extending from the front end to the rear end;
a second side rib positioned over the toe end and extending from the front end to the rear end;
The first side rib is asymmetrical with the second side rib such that the first side rib and the second side rib are aligned with the strike face center point of the forward end. A golf club head that is not equidistant from. said first primary rib portion further comprising a first primary rib height substantially orthogonal to said rib surface;
said second primary rib portion further comprising a second primary rib height substantially orthogonal to said rib surface;
said third primary rib portion further comprising a third primary rib height substantially orthogonal to said rib surface;
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first first rib height and second first rib height are greater than said third first rib height. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the maximum first rib height of the first rib, measured perpendicular to the rib surface, is up to approximately 6 mm. At least one of the first first rib thickness or the second first rib thickness is approximately 1.1 to approximately 8 times greater than the third first rib thickness. 10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein: 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first rib protrudes from the rib surface along at least one of the crown or the sole of the body portion. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first rib protrudes from said rib surface and extends continuously from said crown of said body portion to said sole. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first side rib is positioned closer to said front end than said second side rib. said first side rib and second side rib including a height in the range of 0.038 cm to 0.064 cm;
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first side rib and the second side rib include widths in the range of 0.165 cm to 0.191 cm. The widths of the first side ribs and the second side ribs increase as the first side ribs and the second side ribs extend from the front end toward the rear end. 9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein: The first side rib and the second side rib are angled with respect to the ground when the golf club head is in the rest position, and the angle is between 40 degrees and 140 degrees. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, which is in the range of . A golf club head,
a main body;
a first rib protruding from the rib surface of the main body,
The main body is
a heel edge, a toe edge, a crown, a sole, a leading edge and a trailing edge;
at least one of a skirt or a hosel;
The first rib is
a first first rib end and a second first rib end opposite each other;
a first first rib portion, a second first rib portion, and a third first rib portion protruding from the rib surface of the body;
said first first rib portion being positioned between said first first rib end and said third first rib portion;
said second first rib portion being positioned between said second first rib end and said third first rib portion;
said first primary rib portion including a first primary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
said second primary rib portion includes a second primary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
said third primary rib portion includes a third primary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
The first rib thickness and the second first rib thickness are greater than the third first rib thickness,
Further, the golf club head is
including a second rib protruding from the rib surface of the body;
The second rib is
a first second rib end and a second second rib end opposite each other;
a first second rib portion, a second second rib portion, and a third second rib portion projecting from the rib surface of the body;
said first second rib portion being positioned between said first second rib end and said third first rib portion;
the second second rib portion is positioned between the second second rib end and the third second rib portion;
said first second rib portion includes a first second rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
said second secondary rib portion includes a second secondary rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
said third second rib portion includes a third second rib thickness substantially parallel to said rib surface;
The first second rib thickness and the second second rib thickness are greater than the third second rib thickness,
Further, the golf club head is
a first connecting rib extending between said first rib and said second rib, said first connecting rib including a first end and a second end; The first end of the connecting rib is formed integrally with the first rib, and the second end of the first connecting rib is formed integrally with the second rib. A golf club head. The main body is
a first side rib positioned over the heel end and extending from the front end to the rear end;
a second side rib positioned over the toe end and extending from the front end to the rear end;
The first side rib is asymmetrical with the second side rib such that the first side rib and the second side rib extend from the front end strike face center point. 12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the golf club head is not equidistant. said rib surface includes a first high amplitude zone at a first one of said crown, said sole, or said skirt;
the third first rib portion is positioned in the first high amplitude zone;
12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said first first rib portion and said second first rib portion are positioned outside said first high amplitude zone. The first high amplitude zone is defined in the first one of the crown, the sole, or the skirt on a golf shot between a golf ball and a strike face at the front end of the body. 14. The golf club head of claim 13, including a location of maximum vibration amplitude of the body portion at impact. Claim 14, wherein the first rib and the second rib comprise a predetermined height, the height of the first rib and the second rib being in the range of 0.038 cm to 0.064 cm. A golf club head as described in . 12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said first connecting rib includes a predetermined thickness, said thickness ranging from 0.165 cm to 0.191 cm. Claim 15, wherein said first connecting rib comprises a predetermined height, said height of said first connecting rib matching said height of said first and second ribs. A golf club head as described in . said first connecting rib having a variable thickness extending from said first end of said first connecting rib towards said second end of said first connecting rib; 12. The golf club head of claim 11. The body portion further includes a second connecting rib positioned between the first rib and the second rib, the second connecting rib extending parallel to the first connecting rib. 12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein: 14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein a portion of said first connecting rib is positioned over said first high amplitude zone.

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