U.S. patent application number 12/220667 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-28 for golf club velocity enhancement.
Invention is credited to Daniel J. Doran.
Application Number | 20100022325 12/220667 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41569135 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100022325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Doran; Daniel J. |
January 28, 2010 |
Golf club velocity enhancement
Abstract
A golf club includes a club head that has one or more air
passages extending from its front face to its rear face, so that
when the club is swung in a ball-striking action air in the path of
the club head is transferred from a pressurized zone on the head
front face through the air passages into a low pressure wake area
behind the club head. The air transfer action minimizes resistance
to club movement, so as to contribute to a faster club head speed
and a longer ball travel.
Inventors: |
Doran; Daniel J.; (Appleton,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN E. McRAE
28059 KENDALLWOOD
FARMINGTON HILLS
MI
48334
US
|
Family ID: |
41569135 |
Appl. No.: |
12/220667 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/52 20151001;
A63B 2225/01 20130101; A63B 60/006 20200801; A63B 53/0416 20200801;
A63B 60/50 20151001; A63B 53/0466 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/327 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. In a golf club that comprises a three dimensional club head
having a ball-striker front face, a curvilinear rear face, and side
surfaces that taper in a direction from the front face to the rear
face: the improvement comprising an air passage means extending
from the ball-striker front face to the rear face, so that during a
ball-striking event some of the air proximate to the front face
flows through said air passage means into a wake area behind the
rear face.
2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said air passage means
comprises at least one sleeve positioned in said club head to
reinforce the club head against structural failure.
3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the club head front face has
an upper edge and a lower edge; said air passage means comprising a
first passage system receiving air from a front face area proximate
to said upper edge, and a second passage system receiving air from
a front face area proximate to said lower edge.
4. The improvement of claim 3, wherein each said passage system
comprises a slot-shaped air passage.
5. The improvement of claim 3, wherein each said passage system
comprises plural corner-free passages spaced along the club head
front face.
6. The improvement of claim 5, wherein each said corner-free
passage is defined by a sleeve formed separately from the club head
to reinforce the club head against structural failure.
7. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said ball-striker front face
has an imaginary center that constitutes the optimal ball-strike
point; said air passage means comprising plural air passages spaced
substantial distances from said optimal ball-strike point, whereby
the air passages do not come into contact with a golf ball during a
normal ball-striking event.
8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein each said air passage is
spaced from said optimal ball-strike point by a distance that is
approximately equal to the radius of a conventional golf ball.
9. The improvement of claim 8, wherein each said air passage is
defined by a sleeve formed separately from the club head to
reinforce the club head against structural failure.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This Invention relates to golf clubs and particularly to an
improved golf club head that will enable the golfer to swing the
golf club so that the club head has a greater velocity (as compared
with the velocity of a generally similar conventional golf club).
The present invention relates to club head velocity
enhancement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] FIGS. 1 and 2 of the attached drawings show a golf club
having a club head of generally conventional construction (or
shape). During a golf ball-striking event the club head is swung in
an arc from a starting position in which the club head is above and
slightly behind the golfer's head. The club head travels in an arc
angularly downwardly and then in front of the golfer's upright body
so as to come into forcible contact with a stationary golf ball
located at or slightly above ground level.
[0003] The club head continues the arcuate movement to an elevated
point away from the golfer's body, while the golf ball is propelled
forwardly from the ball-striker face of the club head. The golf
ball travel distance is generally proportional to the club head
velocity at the moment when the club head makes contact with the
ball; i.e. a higher club head velocity at the ball contact moment
will generally produce a desirably longer ball travel.
[0004] One obstacle to a higher club head velocity is the air
resistance or turbulence associated with arcuate travel of the club
head from the starting (elevated) position to the ball contact
position (at or near ground level). FIG. 1 of the attached drawings
shows generally how the club head disturbs the air as it travels in
a right-to-left direction. The airstream flow lines (with arrows)
are relative to the club head, which is moving in an absolute
sense, so that air in area 20 on the front face of the club is
pressurized to force the air outwardly and then around the club
head side surfaces. At some point (or plane) the air separates from
the club head to form a low pressure wake area 24 behind the
trailing surface 16 of the club head. In FIG. 1 of the drawings the
air separation point (or plane) is designated by numeral 11.
[0005] The low pressure wake area exerts a suction effect on the
club head, to reduce the club head velocity. At the same time the
pressurized area 20 proximate to the front face 14 of the club head
also has a retarding (or reducing) effect on the club head
velocity. To sum up, the suction effect of suction wake area 24 and
the pressurizing effect in area 20 are additive to provide a total
air resistance contributing to an undesired loss of club head
speed. The present invention concerns an air passage system
designed to reduce the total air resistance that contributes to an
undesired loss of club head speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention involves a golf club head having one or more
air passages extending from the front face of the club head to the
trailing face of the club head, so that during a ball-striking
event some of the air in front of the club head is transferred
through the passage(s) to the wake area behind the club head. This
transfer of air partially reduces the air pressure in front of the
club head while at the same time raising the air pressure in the
low pressure wake area behind the club head. The net effect of this
air transfer is to reduce the air resistance to club head movement,
thereby promoting a faster club head speed and greater golf ball
travel distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional golf club head,
showing the relative air flow pattern around the club head during a
golf ball-striking event, i.e. while the golfer is swinging the
golf club to drive the golf ball down the fairway.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of the FIG. 1 golf club head, taken
in a direction looking toward the club head front face 14.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a golf club head embodying the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front view of the FIG. 3 golf club head.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the FIG. 3 golf club head,
taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3. A conventional golf ball is shown in
phantom, in front of the club head.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view taken in the same direction as
FIG. 3, but showing another form that the invention can take.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front view of the FIG. 6 construction.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Before describing the golf club of the present invention, it
is believed that a better understanding of the invention can be
realized by first describing the conventional prior art golf club,
as shown, e.g., in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conventional golf club
comprises a club head 10 attached to a conventional shaft 12. The
club head has a ball-striker front face 14, a convex curvilinear
rear face 16, and side surfaces 17 extending rearwardly from the
peripheral edges of front face 14 to merge smoothly with
curvilinear rear face 16. As shown in FIG. 1, side surfaces 17
taper in a direction from the front face to the rear face, so as to
promote (as much as possible) a smooth air flow relative to the
club head. The flow is "relative" since the club head is moving in
a right-to-left direction, while the air is essentially stagnant
except for air that is momentarily displaced by passage of the club
head. Numeral 22 generally designates the relative air stream
components, particularly the displaced air stream elements.
[0016] Air in zone 20 proximate to the club head front face 14 is
pressurized by the advancing club so as to offer some resistance to
continued club head motion. Air in the path of the club head is
displaced outwardly by pressurized air in zone 20 to points beyond
the peripheral edges of front face 14, as indicated by numeral 22A.
The displaced air than collapses back toward the club head side
surfaces 17 to flow, as much as possible, along those surfaces.
Numeral 22B designates the collapsing air.
[0017] At some point the air separates from side surfaces 17 to
form a low pressure wake area 24 proximate to curvilinear rear face
16. Numeral 11 designates generally the imaginary separation plane,
i.e. the point(s) where the boundary air layer on surfaces 17 can
no longer control or hold the main air stream on the club surface.
In actuality, the rear surface 16 of the club head is moving so
fast in a right-to-left direction that the air cannot collapse
toward the club head centerline 19 rapidly enough to keep pace with
club head movement. Rear face 16 tends to produce a vacuum in wake
area 24, thereby generating turbulence that prevents the collapsing
air from attaching to surface 16.
[0018] It will be seen that resistance to club head motion in a
right-to-left direction is provided by the pressurized air
condition in zone 20 plus the low pressure suction condition in
turbulent wake area 24. The result is an undesired loss of club
head speed.
[0019] FIGS. 3 through 5 shows a club head of the present invention
designed to reduce air resistance to club head movement. The club
head is similar to the conventional club head depicted in FIG. 1
except that an air passage means is provided in the club head to
transfer air from pressurized zone 20 to wake area 24. The effect
is to reduce the pressure in zone 20 and simultaneously increase
the air volume in wake area 24 (thereby reducing the suction effect
on club rear face 16).
[0020] The air passage means comprises a first slot-shaped air
passage 30 having an entrance opening proximate to upper edge 32 of
the club front face 14 and a second slot-shaped air passage 30
having an entrance opening proximate to lower edge 34 of the club
front face 14. Front face 14 can be defined by a metal place 28
having a relatively hard ball-striker surface (face). Each air
passage 30 extends from front face 14 entirely through the club
head body to form an exit opening 33 in curvilinear rear face 16.
Motion of the club head in a right-to-left direction provides the
motive force for transferring air from pressurized zone 20 through
air passages 30 into depressurized wake area 24. The net effect is
to reduce the air resistance to club head motion, thereby
facilitating an increased (enhanced) velocity for a greater ball
travel distance.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows, in phantom, a golf ball 36 in the path of the
club head just prior to being stuck. Passages 30 are spaced apart
by a distance that approximates the golf ball diameter. Face 14 of
the club head has an optimal ball-strike point 18 (FIG. 4) that is
designated by the golf club designer as the ball strike point that
will produce the greatest ball travel distance for a given input
force. Strike point 18 is located half way between the two air
passages 30, such that when the ball is struck in the intended
fashion the ball does not come into contact with either passage
entrance opening. Each entrance opening is spaced from strike point
18 by a substantial distance that is approximately equal to the
golf ball radius, such that the ball can contact face 14 above or
below optimal strike point 18 without engaging either passage
30.
[0022] Each exit opening 33 is located in an area of curvilinear
rear face 16 that communicates with wake area 24, so that air
exiting each passage immediately raises the pressure in wake area
24, thereby reducing wake area turbulence and minimizing the
suction effect on rear face 16.
[0023] FIGS. 6 through 8 show another form that the invention can
take. In this case the air passage means comprises a series of
separate circular cross-section air passages 30A and 30B, each
spaced a substantial distance from optimal strike point 18.
Passages 30A have entrance openings located near the upper edge of
front face 14. Passages 30B have entrance openings located near the
bottom edge of front face 14. As shown, each passage has a circular
cross section. However other cross sectional shapes could be used,
e.g. oval. Preferably the cross section should be "corner free" in
order to avoid flow losses associated with such corners. Each
passage 30A or 30B extends from face 14 through the club body to
rear face 16, so that during a ball-striking motion air in the path
of the club head is transferred from the pressurized zone 20 to the
depressurized wake area 24. The net effect is to reduce air
resistance and increase club head velocity (as more particularly
described in connection with FIGS. 3 through 5).
[0024] As best shown in FIG. 8, each air passage is defined by a
sleeve 39 formed separately from the club head body. Each sleeve is
formed of a high strength material (e.g. titanium) so as to
reinforce the club head against structural failure, e.g.
splintering or deformation.
[0025] While specific forms of the invention are shown in the
drawings, it will be appreciated that some variations and alternate
designs can be used while still practicing the invention.
* * * * *