U.S. patent application number 13/724164 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-02 for golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIKE, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is NIKE, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jeremy N Snyder.
Application Number | 20130109495 13/724164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44072645 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130109495 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snyder; Jeremy N |
May 2, 2013 |
GOLF CLUB ASSEMBLY AND GOLF CLUB WITH AERODYNAMIC FEATURES
Abstract
A golf club head has a body member that includes a ball striking
face, a crown region, a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, a
rear region and a hosel region. The body member has a
drag-reduction feature that may include first and second elongated
fins. The fins extend in a generally front-to-rear orientation. The
fins are spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends than at
their rearward-most ends. Alternatively, the drag-reduction feature
may include first and second elongated indentations. The
indentations extend in a generally front-to-rear orientation. The
indentations are spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends
than at their rearward-most ends. The drag-reduction features may
be located on one or both of the crown region or the sole region. A
golf club including the golf club head is also provided.
Inventors: |
Snyder; Jeremy N; (Benbrook,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NIKE, Inc.; |
Beaverton |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
NIKE, INC.
Beaverton
OR
|
Family ID: |
44072645 |
Appl. No.: |
13/724164 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12754772 |
Apr 6, 2010 |
8360900 |
|
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13724164 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/327 ;
473/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/01 20130101;
A63B 53/0437 20200801; A63B 53/04 20130101; A63B 53/0466 20130101;
A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 53/0408 20200801; A63B 53/0433
20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/327 ;
473/324 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: a body member having a ball
striking face, a crown region, a toe region, a heel region, a sole
region, a rear region and a hosel region; the body member having a
drag-reduction feature that includes a first elongated indentation
and a second elongated indentation, the first and second
indentations extending in a generally ball striking face-to-rear
region orientation, each indentation having a lowermost contour
extending between a forward-most end and a rearward-most end, the
lowermost contours of the first and second indentations being
spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends than at their
rearward-most ends.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the drag-reduction
feature is located on the crown region.
3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein drag-reduction feature is
located on the sole region.
4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the lowermost contours of
the first and second indentations converge at their most rearward
ends.
5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first indentation is
angled from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 45 degrees
from a front-to-rear centerline of the club head; and wherein the
second indentation is angled from approximately negative 10 degrees
to approximately negative 45 degrees from the front-to-rear
centerline of the club head.
6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the forward-most ends of
the indentations are located within 10 mm of the ball-striking
face.
7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the rearward-most ends of
the indentations are located within 10 mm of the rear region.
8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second
indentations are formed with a depth and a length, and the depth of
the first indentation is approximately constant over a majority of
its length.
9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second
indentations are formed with a cross-sectional area and a length,
and the cross-sectional area of the first indentation is
approximately constant over a majority of its length.
10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first indentation
has convex side surfaces and wherein the convex side surfaces merge
smoothly with the surface from which the first indentation
extends.
11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the
first indentation is greater than approximately 5 degrees and less
than approximately 45 degrees from a front-to-rear centerline of
the club head.
12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second
indentations are formed with a depth and a length, and the depth of
the first indentation decreases as the indentation extends toward
the rear of the club head.
13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second
indentations are formed with a cross-sectional area and a length,
and the cross-sectional area of the first indentation decreases as
the indentation extends toward the rear of the club head.
14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second
indentations are oriented asymmetrically with respect to the
front-to-rear centerline of the club head.
15. A golf club comprising: a shaft; and the golf club head
according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is secured to a
first end of the shaft.
Description
RELATED CASES
[0001] This application is a divisional application of, and claims
priority to, pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/754,772,
filed on Apr. 6, 2010, by Jeremy Snyder, and titled "Golf Club
Assembly and Golf Club with Aerodynamic Features," which is
entirely incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Aspects of this invention relate generally to golf clubs and
golf club heads, and, in particular, to golf clubs and golf club
heads with aerodynamic features.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The distance a golf ball travels when struck by a golf club
is determined in large part by club head speed at the point of
impact with the golf ball. Club head speed in turn can be affected
by the wind resistance or drag provided by the club head during the
entirety of the swing, especially given the large club head size of
a driver. The club head of a driver or a fairway wood in particular
produces significant aerodynamic drag during its swing path. The
drag produced by the club head leads to reduced club head speed
and, therefore, reduced distance of travel of the golf ball after
it has been struck.
[0004] Air flows in a direction opposite to the golf club head's
trajectory over those surfaces of the golf club head that are
roughly parallel to the direction of airflow. An important factor
affecting drag is the behavior of the air flow's boundary layer.
The "boundary layer" is a thin layer of air that lies very close to
the surfaces of the golf club head during its motion. As the
airflow moves over the surfaces, it encounters an increasing
pressure. This increase in pressure is called an "adverse pressure
gradient" because it causes the airflow to slow down and lose
momentum. As the pressure continues to increase, the airflow
continues to slow down until it reaches a speed of zero, at which
point it separates from the surface. The air stream will hug the
club head's surfaces until the loss of momentum in the airflow's
boundary layer causes it to separate from the surface. The
separation of the air streams from the surfaces results in a low
pressure separation region behind the club head (i.e., at the
trailing edge as defined relative to the direction of air flowing
over the club head). This low pressure separation region creates
pressure drag. The larger the separation region, the larger the
pressure drag.
[0005] One way to reduce or minimize the size of the low pressure
separation region is by providing a streamlined form that allows
laminar flow to be maintained for as long as possible, thereby
delaying or eliminating the separation of the laminar air stream
from the club surface.
[0006] Reducing the drag of the club head at the point of impact
(and, if possible, also prior to the moment of impact) would result
in improved club head speed and increased distance of travel of the
golf ball. When analyzing the swing of professional golfers, it has
been noted that, although the heel/hosel area of the club head
leads the swing during a significant portion of the downswing, the
ball striking face leads the swing at (or immediately before) the
point of impact with the golf ball. The phrase "leading the swing"
is meant to describe that portion of the club head that faces the
direction of swing trajectory. For purposes of discussion, the golf
club and golf club head are considered to be at a 0.degree.
orientation when the ball striking face is leading the swing, i.e.
at the point of impact. During the final portion of the downswing,
the club head is traveling at its maximum speed, which may reach
approximately 65 miles per hour (mph) to over 100 mph, and in the
case of some professional golfers, to as high as 140 mph. It may be
desirable to provide a golf club head with reduced drag when the
speed of the club head is greatest.
[0007] Club heads that have been designed to reduce the drag of the
head at the point of impact, or from the point of view of the club
face leading the swing, may actually increase the drag during other
phases of the swing cycle, such as when the heel/hosel region of
the club head is leading the downswing. Thus, additionally, it may
be desirable to provide a golf club head with reduced drag when the
speed of the club head is greatest, while not having an increased
drag during other portions of the golf swing.
[0008] It would be desirable to provide a golf club head that
reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in
prior known devices. Particular advantages will be apparent to
those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or
experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following
disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain
embodiments.
SUMMARY
[0009] This application discloses a golf club head with improved
aerodynamic performance. In accordance with certain aspects, a golf
club head may include a body member having a ball striking face, a
crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, a rear edge, and a hosel region
located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel,
the crown and/or the sole. A drag reducing structure on the body
member may be configured to reduce drag for the club head during at
least the portion of a golf downswing when the velocity of the golf
club head is nearing and/or at its maximum velocity. Generally, as
the golf club head approaches maximum velocity, i.e., as it
approaches impact with the golf ball, the ball striking face of the
club head leads the swing.
[0010] In accordance with certain aspects, a golf club head may
include a body member having a ball striking face, a crown region,
a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, a rear region, and a
hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face,
the heel region, the crown region and/or the sole region. The body
member has a drag-reduction feature that may include a first
elongated fin and a second elongated fin, the first and second fins
extending in a generally ball striking face-to-rear region
orientation, each fin having a forward-most end and a rearward-most
end, the first and second fins being spaced farther apart at their
forward-most ends than at their rearward-most ends.
[0011] In accordance with certain other aspects, a golf club head
may include a body member having a ball striking face, a crown
region, a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, a rear region,
and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking
face, the heel region, the crown region and/or the sole region. The
body member has a drag-reduction feature that may include a first
elongated indentation and a second elongated indentation, the first
and second indentations extending in a generally ball striking
face-to-rear region orientation, each indentation having a
forward-most end and a rearward-most end, the first and second
indentations being spaced farther apart at their forward-most ends
than at their rearward-most ends.
[0012] According to additional aspects, the drag-reduction feature
may be located on the crown region. Alternatively, the
drag-reduction feature may be located on the sole region. Even
further, drag-reduction features may be included on both the crown
region and the sole region.
[0013] According to other aspects, the first and second fins and/or
the first and second indentations may converge at their most
rearward ends. Further, the first fin and/or the first indentation
may be angled from approximately 10 degrees to approximately 45
degrees from a front-to-rear centerline of the club head. The
second fin and/or the second indentation may be angled from
approximately negative 10 degrees to approximately negative 45
degrees from the front-to-rear centerline of the club head.
[0014] According to even other aspects, the forward-most ends of
the fins and/or the indentations may be located within 10 mm of the
ball-striking face. Additionally or alternatively, the
rearward-most ends of the fins and/or the indentations may be
located within 10 mm of the rear region.
[0015] According to further aspects, a golf club may include the
golf club head as described herein that is secured to a first end
of a golf club shaft at the club head's hosel region.
[0016] These and additional features and advantages disclosed here
will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure
of certain embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a golf club, generally
showing the ball striking face, the crown region and the toe region
of the club head, with at least one drag-reducing structure
included on a surface of the club head according to an illustrative
aspect.
[0018] FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the club head of
FIG. 1A.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the club head of FIG.
1A.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the club head of FIG. 1A,
generally showing the rear, heel and sole regions of the club
head.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a typical golfer's
downswing.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a graph of the rotations around the X-, Y- and
Z-axes of the golf club as a function of club head position during
the typical golfer's downswing as schematically illustrated in FIG.
4.
[0023] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6F illustrate certain features
of alternative drag-reduction structures according to other
illustrative aspects.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a club head, generally
showing the ball striking face, the crown region and the toe region
of the club head, with at least one drag-reducing structure
included on a surface of the club head according to a further
illustrative aspect.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a club head, generally
showing the sole region, the heel region and the rear portion of
the club head, with at least one drag-reducing structure included
on a surface of the club head according to another illustrative
aspect.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a club head, generally
showing the sole region, the heel region and the rear portion of
the club head, with at least one drag-reducing structure included
on a surface of the club head according to even another
illustrative aspect.
[0027] The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to
scale, should be understood to provide a representation of
particular embodiments of the invention, and are merely conceptual
in nature and illustrative of the principles involved. Some
features of the golf club head depicted in the drawings may have
been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate
explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used
in the drawings for similar or identical components and features
shown in various alternative embodiments. Golf club heads as
disclosed herein would have configurations and components
determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in
which they are used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] An illustrative embodiment of a golf club 10 is shown in
FIGS. 1A through 3. As best shown in FIG. 1A, golf club 10 includes
a shaft 12 and a golf club head 14 attached to the shaft 12. Golf
club head 14 may be any driver, wood, or the like. The shaft 12 of
the golf club 10 may be made of various materials, such as steel,
aluminum, titanium, graphite, or composite materials, as well as
alloys and/or combinations thereof, including materials that are
conventionally known and used in the art. Additionally, the shaft
12 may be attached to the club head 14 in any desired manner,
including in conventional manners known and used in the art (e.g.,
via adhesives or cements at a hosel element, via fusing techniques
(e.g., welding, brazing, soldering, etc.), via threads or other
mechanical connectors (including releasable and adjustable
connections), via friction fits, via retaining element structures,
etc.). A grip or other handle element 12a is positioned on the
shaft 12 to provide a golfer with a slip resistant surface with
which to grasp golf club shaft 12. The grip element 12a may be
attached to the shaft 12 in any desired manner, including in
conventional manners known and used in the art (e.g., via adhesives
or cements, via threads or other mechanical connectors (including
releasable connections), via fusing techniques, via friction fits,
via retaining element structures, etc.).
[0029] In the example structure of FIG. 1A, the club head 14
includes a body member 15 to which the shaft 12 is attached at a
hosel 16 in known fashion. The body member 15 further includes a
plurality of portions, regions, or surfaces. Referring also to
FIGS. 2 and 3, this example body member 15 includes a ball striking
face 17, a crown region 18, a toe region 20, a rear region 22, a
heel region 24, a hosel region 26 and a sole region 28.
[0030] Some of the drag-reducing structures disclosed below provide
various means to maintain laminar flow over one or more surfaces of
the club head 14 when the ball striking face 17 is generally
leading the swing, i.e., when air generally flows over the club
head 14 from the ball striking face 17 toward the rear 22.
[0031] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a typical golfer's
downswing. As shown in FIG. 4, at the point of impact (I) with a
golf ball, the ball striking face 17 may be substantially
perpendicular to the direction of travel of club head 14 and the
flight of the golf ball. During the user's backswing, the user's
rotation of his hips, torso, shoulders, arms and/or hands causes
the golf club 10 to twist such that yaw (defined herein as rotation
around the longitudinal axis of the golf club's shaft 12) is
introduced, thereby pivoting the ball striking face 17 out of
alignment from its orientation at impact. With the orientation of
the ball striking face 17 at the point of impact considered to be
0.degree., during the backswing, the ball striking face 17 twists
outwardly away from the user (i.e., clockwise when viewed from
above for a right handed golfer) to a maximum yaw angle of, for
example, approximately 130.degree.. Thus, at the beginning of a
golfer's downswing, the heel region 24 is essentially leading the
swing. At the moment of impact with the golf ball, the ball
striking face 17 is essentially leading the swing.
[0032] Referring now to both FIGS. 4 and 5, during the downswing,
the orientation of the golf club and club head 14 changes from the
130.degree. of yaw at the beginning of the downswing to the
0.degree. of yaw at the point of impact. Typically, the change in
yaw angle over the course of the downswing is not constant. During
the first portion of the downswing, when the club head 14 moves
from above the golfer's waist near the shoulders to the
approximately 90.degree. position shown in FIG. 4, the change in
yaw angle is typically on the order of 20.degree. to 40.degree..
Thus, when the club head 14 is approximately waist high, the yaw is
approximately 90.degree., and during the last 90.degree. portion of
the downswing (from waist height to the point of impact), the yaw
of the golf club generally travels through an angle of about
90.degree. to the yaw of 0.degree. at the point of impact. However,
again, the change in yaw angle during this portion of the downswing
is not constant, and, in fact, the golf club head 14 typically
closes from approximately at least a 20.degree. yaw to the
0.degree. yaw at the point of impact only over the last 10.degree.
degrees of the downswing. In fact, over the course of this latter
portion of the downswing, an average change in yaw of 45.degree. to
60.degree. may be typical.
[0033] The speed of the golf club head also changes during the
downswing, from 0 mph at the beginning of the downswing to 65 to
100 mph (or even more, for top-ranked golfers) at the point of
impact. At low speed, i.e., during the initial portion of the
downswing, drag due to air resistance may not be very significant.
However, during the portion of the downswing when club head 14 is
even with the golfer's waist and then swinging through to the point
of impact, the club head 14 is travelling at a considerable rate of
speed (for example, from 60 mph to 140 mph for professional
golfers). During this portion of the downswing, drag due to air
resistance causes the golf club head 14 to impact the golf ball at
a slower speed than would be possible without air resistance. The
maximum speed of the golf club head occurs, ideally, at the moment
of impact with the golf ball.
[0034] Referring back to FIG. 1B, the ball striking face region 17
may be essentially flat or it may have a slight curvature or bow
(also known as "bulge" and "roll"). The point of desired contact of
the ball striking face 17 with the golf ball may be considered to
be "the sweet spot" 17a. For purposes of this disclosure, a line
L.sub.T drawn tangent to the surface of the striking face 17 at the
sweet spot 17a defines a direction parallel to the ball striking
face 17. The family of lines drawn tangent to the surface of the
striking face 17 at the sweet spot 17a defines a striking face
plane 17b. Line L.sub.p defines a direction perpendicular to the
striking face plane 17b. Further, the ball striking face 17 may
generally be provided with a loft angle .alpha., such that at the
moment of impact (or at the address position) the ball striking
plane 17b is not perpendicular to the ground. Generally, the loft
angle .alpha. is meant to affect the initial upward trajectory of
the golf ball at the moment of impact. Rotating the line L.sub.p
drawn perpendicular to the striking face plane 17b through the
negative of the loft angle .alpha. defines the desired
club-head-trajectory T.sub.0 at the moment of impact. Generally,
this moment-of-impact club-head-trajectory direction T.sub.0 is
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the club shaft 12. Even
further, the line L.sub.T, when drawn parallel to the ground, is
generally coincident with a direction perpendicular P.sub.0 to the
moment-of-impact club-head-trajectory direction T.sub.0. The term
"rearwardly" as used herein generally refers to a direction
opposite to the moment-of-impact club-head trajectory direction
T.sub.0.
[0035] The crown region 18, which is located on the upper side of
the club head 14, extends from the ball striking face 17 back
toward the rear region 22 of the golf club head 14. Further the
crown region 18 extends across the width of the club head 14, from
the heel region 24 to the toe region 20. When the club head 14 is
viewed from below, in a direction that is generally perpendicular
to both the T.sub.0 and the P.sub.0 directions, the crown region 18
cannot be seen.
[0036] Referring also to FIG. 2, the sole region 28, which is
located on the lower or ground side of the club head 14 opposite to
the crown region 18, extends from the ball striking face 17 back
toward the rear region 22. As with the crown region 18, the sole
region 28 extends across the width of the club head 14, from the
heel region 24 to the toe region 20. Referring back to FIG. 1B,
when the club head 14 is viewed from above, in a direction that is
generally perpendicular to both the T.sub.0 and the P.sub.0
directions, the sole region 28 cannot be seen.
[0037] Referring now also to FIG. 3, the rear region 22 is
positioned opposite the ball striking face 17, is located between
the crown region 18 and the sole region 28, and extends from the
heel region 24 to the toe region 20. When the club head 14 is
viewed from the front, in a direction that is generally parallel to
the T.sub.0 direction, the rear region 22 cannot be seen.
[0038] The heel region 24 extends from the ball striking face 17 to
the rear region 22. Referring back to FIG. 1B, when the club head
14 is viewed from the toe side, in a direction that is generally
parallel to the P.sub.0 direction, the heel region 24 cannot be
seen.
[0039] The toe region 20 extends from the ball striking face 17 to
the rear region 22 on the side of the club head 14 opposite to the
heel 24. When the club head 14 is viewed from the heel side, in a
direction that is generally parallel to the P.sub.0 direction, the
toe region 20 cannot be seen.
[0040] The hosel 16 is located within the hosel region 26.
Referring to FIGS. 1B and 3, the hosel region 26 is located at the
intersection of the ball striking face 17, the heel region 24, the
crown region 18 and the sole region 28 and may encompass those
portions of the heel region 24, the crown region 18 and the sole
region 28 that lie adjacent to the hosel 16. Generally, the hosel
region 26 includes surfaces that provide a transition from the
hosel 16 to the ball striking face 17, the heel region 24, the
crown region 18 and/or the sole region 28.
[0041] According to certain aspects, as shown in FIGS. 1A and B,
the crown region 18 may have a drag-reduction feature 30. The
drag-reduction feature 30 may include one or more fins 32.
Drag-reduction feature 30 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is configured to
channel air flowing over the crown region 18 of the club head 14
generally from the ball striking face 17 toward the rear region 22.
Specifically, the drag-reduction feature 30 is configured to
channel air flowing between the fins 32 from a wider region in the
forward portion of the club head 14 to a narrower region in the
rearward portion of the club head 14. As the air within the
drag-reduction feature 30 is channeled, it is expected that its
speed and energy content will increase. At the same time, it is
expected that the air flowing between the fins will be oriented or
aligned such that uniform flow occurs substantially in a single
direction. Uniform air flow, which may be described as laminar
flow, generally reduces aerodynamic drag forces (in contrast to
turbulent air flow).
[0042] The fins 32 may include a first fin 32a and a second fin
32b. Each fin 32 includes a uppermost edge 31, which is defined as
the line or ridge along the top of the elongated fin 32 where the
sides of the fins 32 come together. The uppermost edge 31 may be
used to define the orientation of the fin 32. In FIGS. 1A and 1B,
the fin 32a and its uppermost edge 31a are shown as extending in a
generally linear fashion, at an angle .beta..sub.1 relative to the
T.sub.0 centerline of the club head 14, from a forward portion of
the club head 14 toward a rearward portion of the club head 14.
Similarly, the fin 32b and its uppermost edge 31b are shown as
extending in a generally linear fashion, at an angle .beta..sub.2
relative to the T.sub.0 centerline of the club head 14, from the
forward portion of the club head 14 toward a rearward portion of
the club head 14. The fins 32 need not extend linearly from the
forward portion toward the rearward portion. Thus, in certain
aspects, one or more of the fins 32 may be formed in a piecewise
linear fashion. In other aspects, one or more of the fins 32, or
portions thereof, may be curved.
[0043] Angles .beta..sub.1 and .beta..sub.2 may be equal, but of
opposite signs. Alternatively, angles .beta..sub.1 and .beta..sub.2
need not be equal. According to some aspects, the orientation of
the fins 32 (as may be determined from the uppermost edges 31 of
the fins 32) may be up to approximately 45 degrees from the
centerline T.sub.0. Thus, in certain aspects, one or both of the
angles .beta..sub.1 and .beta..sub.2 may range from approximately 1
degree to approximately 45 degrees. In other aspects, the angles
.beta..sub.1 and .beta..sub.2 may range from approximately 5
degrees to approximately 25 degrees or from approximately 5 degrees
to approximately 15 degrees. It may be preferred to have the angles
.beta..sub.1 and .beta..sub.2 range from approximately 5 degrees to
approximately 10 degrees. Alternatively, it may be preferable to
have one or both of the uppermost edges 31 of the fins 32 only very
slightly angled, i.e. oriented up to a maximum of only
approximately 5 degrees from the centerline T.sub.0.
[0044] In the particular structure illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B,
the fins 32 extend from a forward-most end 34 adjacent the ball
striking face 17 to a rearward-most end 36 adjacent the rear region
22. As shown in the figures, the uppermost edge 31a of the fin 32a
is spaced apart from the uppermost edge 31b of the fin 32b at the
forward portion of the club head 14 approximately equidistant from
the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14. By way of non-limiting
examples, the forward-most ends 34a, 34b of the uppermost edges
31a, 31b of the fins 32 may be spaced apart from one another by
approximately 20 mm to approximately 70 mm, by approximately 30 mm
to approximately 60 mm, or by approximately 25 mm to approximately
50 mm. According to certain embodiments, the forward-most ends 34a,
34b of the uppermost edges 31a, 31b of the fins 32a, 32b need not
be positioned equidistant from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club
head 14.
[0045] Also as shown in the figures, the uppermost edges 31 of the
fins 32 converge toward each other as they extend toward the
rearward portion of the club head 14. According to certain
embodiments and as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the
rearward-most ends 36a, 36b of the uppermost edges 31a, 31b of the
fins 32a, 32b may be abutted or joined to one another. According to
other embodiments, the rearward-most ends 36a, 36b may be spaced
apart from one another. By way of non-limiting examples, the
rearward-most ends 36a, 36b of the uppermost edges 31a, 31b of the
fins 32 may be spaced apart from one another by approximately 2 mm
to approximately 25 mm, by approximately 5 mm to approximately 15
mm, or by approximately 5 mm to approximately 10 mm. According to
certain embodiments, the rearward-most ends 36a, 36b of the
uppermost edges 31a, 31b of the fins 32a, 32b may be positioned
equidistant from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14.
According to even other embodiments, the rearward-most ends 36a,
36b of the uppermost edges 31a, 31b of the fins 32a, 32b may be
positioned unequal distances from the centerline T.sub.0, and in
some example structures, the rearward-most ends 36a, 36b may both
be positioned to the same side of the centerline T.sub.0 of the
club head 14.
[0046] According to certain embodiments and as shown in FIG. 1B,
one or more of the fins 32 may extend above the surface of the
crown region 18 by a maximum height H.sub.f. Typically, the fins 32
may have a maximum height of up to approximately 10 mm. For certain
structures, it may be advantageous for the fins 32 to have a
maximum height of less than approximately 7 mm, or less than
approximately 5 mm, or even less than approximately 3 mm. It may be
preferable for the fins 32 to have a maximum height of between
approximately 2 mm to approximately 7 mm or, for certain
embodiments, to have a maximum height of between approximately 2 mm
to approximately 5 mm. By way of non-limiting example, the maximum
height of fin 32a may be the same as the maximum height of fin 32b.
Further, the height of the fins 32 may be greatest in the forward
portion of the club head 14 and may be least in the rearward
portion of the club head 14. Optionally, the height of one or more
of the fins 32 may be greatest between the forward-most ends 34 and
the rearward-most ends 36. In certain embodiments, the height of
the fins 32 may decrease (e.g., linearly decrease) as the fins 32
extend from their forward-most ends 34 to their rearward-most ends
36. Optionally, the height of the fins 32 may be reduced to zero
(or substantially zero) in the rear region 22 or at the
rearward-most ends 36 of the fins 32.
[0047] The cross-section of the fins 32 may be of any suitable
shape, although a preferred shape may include a relatively wide
base that gradually tapers upward to a slightly rounded uppermost
edge 31, as best shown in FIG. 1B. The width W.sub.F of the base of
the fins 32 may range from approximately 2 mm up to approximately
10 mm, from approximately 2 mm up to approximately 7 mm, or even
from approximately 3 mm to approximately 5 mm. In certain aspects,
the cross-sectional shape of the fins 32 may best be described as
being substantially triangular in shape. The sides surfaces of the
fins 32 may be straight, concavely curved, convexly curved and/or a
combination thereof. Providing the fins 32 with concavely curved
side surfaces would allow the fins 32 to more smoothly merge into
the surface of the crown region 18. Of course, the cross-sectional
shape of the fins 32 need not be constant along the length of the
fins 32. By way of non-limiting example, the width W.sub.F of the
base of the fins 32 may be constant along the length of the fins
32, while the height H.sub.F of the fins 32 may be at a maximum at,
or near, the forward-most ends 34 of the fins 32 and thereafter
gradually decreasing to zero at the rearward-most ends 36 of the
fins 32. As another example, as shown in FIG. 1B, both the height
and the width of the fins 32 may decrease as the fins 32 extend
toward the rear region 22 of the club head 14.
[0048] The forward-most end 34 of the fin 32 may include a surface
that is oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking face
17, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1B. Alternatively, the
forward-most end surface may be canted or sloped away from the ball
striking face 17. Such a sloped surface may provide a smoother,
more aerodynamic, transition than a vertically-oriented front
surface. As another option, the forward-most end 34 of the fin 32
may include a prow-like feature, i.e., the cross section of the fin
32 may taper down to a relatively thin leading edge. Even further,
the forward-most end 34 of the fin 32 may be both tapered to a
relatively thin leading edge and sloped away from the ball striking
face. Additionally, the forward-most end 34 of the fin 32 need not
extend all the way to the ball striking face 17. By way of
non-limiting examples, the forward-most end 34 of the fin 32 may be
positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up to approximately 5 mm, or
even up to approximately 10 mm away from the ball striking face 17.
Further, for purposes of this measurement, where the ball striking
face 17 and the crown region 18 transition from one to the other
the ball striking face 17 includes the surface that is more
vertical than horizontal and the crown region 18 includes the
surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when the club 10 is
in the address position.
[0049] As discussed above, the rearward-most end 36 of the fin 32
may smoothly and tangentially merge into the surface of the crown
region 18. In other words, the height of the fin 32 may gradually
decrease to zero at the rearward-most end 36. Alternatively, the
rearward-most end 36 of the fin 32 may project above the surface,
such that a more abrupt end of the fin 32 is provided. In such
case, according to certain embodiments, the thickness of the
rearward-most end 36 may taper down to a relatively thin trailing
edge. Additionally, the rearward-most end 36 of the fin 32 need not
extend all the way to the rear region 22 of the club head 14. By
way of non-limiting examples, the rearward-most end 36 of the fin
32 may be positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up to approximately
5 mm, up to approximately 10 mm, or even up to approximately 20 mm
away from the rear region 22. For purposes of this measurement,
where the rear region 22 and the crown region 18 transition from
one to the other the rear region 22 includes the surface that is
more vertical than horizontal and the crown region 18 includes the
surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when the club 10 is
in the address position.
[0050] Non-limiting examples of alternative embodiments of
drag-reduction feature 30, having certain characteristics, as
discussed above, are shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E and 6F. FIG.
6A illustrates the fins 32 each having a substantially rectangular
cross-section and canted at an angle away from the centerline of
the club head 14. The fins 32 of FIG. 6A extend from the ball
striking face 17 to just beyond the front-to-rear midpoint of the
club head 14. FIG. 6B illustrates the fins 32 having an irregularly
shaped cross section with generally concave side surfaces. The fins
32 of FIG. 6B extend from the ball striking face 17 to the rear
region 22 with linearly decreasing height and width. The angle each
fin 32 makes with the centerline of the club head 14 is less than 5
degrees in this embodiment. FIG. 6C illustrates the fins 32 having
a front surface that is angled away from the ball striking face 17.
FIG. 6D illustrates the fins 32 having a prow-like feature at their
forward-most ends 34. The fin 32a in FIG. 6D is curved, while the
fin 32b is linear. Further, the fins 32 in FIG. 6D do not merge
smoothly into the surface of the crown region at their
rearward-most ends 36. FIG. 6E illustrates the drag-reduction
feature 30 oriented at an angle from the centerline T.sub.0. Even
further, FIG. 6E illustrates that the fins 32 each have a
substantially rectangular cross-section and are canted at an angle
toward each other. Additionally, the rearward-most ends 36 of the
fins 32 are both located to the toe side of the centerline T.sub.0
of the club head 14. FIG. 6F illustrates that the forward-most end
34 of the fins 32 need not necessarily be positioned on or adjacent
to the ball-striking face 17. In this example embodiment, the
forward-most end 34b of fin 32b is positioned in the hosel region
26 of the club head 14, while the forward-most end 34a of fin 32a
is positioned adjacent the ball-striking face 17. FIG. 6F also
illustrates that the rearward-most ends 36a, 36b of the fins 32a,
32b are positioned at the rear region 22 and further that the
rearward-most ends 36 do not merge smoothly into the surface of the
crown region 18, but extend above the surface. Additionally, FIG.
6F also illustrates that the uppermost edge 31 of the fins 32 is
bi-linear, and that the height of each of the fins 32 is relatively
constant over the rearward portions of the fins 32.
[0051] According to other aspects, as shown in FIG. 7, the crown
region 18 may have an alternative drag-reduction feature 40. The
drag-reduction feature 40 may include one or more elongated
indentations 42 generally oriented from the front toward the rear
of the club head 14. The drag-reduction feature 40 is also
configured to channel air flowing over the crown region 18 of the
club head 14 generally from the ball striking face 17 toward the
rear region 22. It is expected that the indentations, themselves,
may channel air flowing over the club head to follow the elongated
axis of the indentations. Further, this channeled air flow may act
as a virtual fin, such that air flowing over the club head between
the indentations 42 may be channeled by the air flowing down the
longitudinal length of the indentations.
[0052] The indentations 42 may include a first indentation 42a and
a second indentation 42b. Each indentation 42 may include a
lowermost contour 41, which is defined as the deepest part of the
indentation 42 along the elongated length of the indentation. The
indentation 42a and its lowermost contour 41a are shown as
extending in a generally linear fashion, at an angle .gamma..sub.1
relative to the T.sub.0 centerline of the club head 14, from a
forward portion of the club head 14 toward a rearward portion of
the club head 14. Similarly, the indentation 42b and its lowermost
contour 41b are shown as extending in a generally linear fashion,
at an angle .gamma..sub.2 relative to the T.sub.0 centerline of the
club head 14, from the forward portion of the club head 14 toward a
rearward portion of the club head 14. The indentations 42 or their
lowermost contours 41 need not extend linearly from the forward
portion toward the rearward portion. Thus, in certain aspects, one
or more of the indentations 42 may be formed in a piecewise linear
fashion. In other aspects, one or more of the indentations 42, or
portions thereof, may be curved.
[0053] Angles .gamma..sub.1 and .gamma..sub.2 may be equal, but of
opposite signs. Alternatively, angles .gamma..sub.1 and
.gamma..sub.2 need not be equal. According to some aspects, the
indentations 42 and their lowermost contours 41 may be oriented up
to 45 degrees from the centerline T.sub.0. Thus, in certain
aspects, one or both of the angles .gamma..sub.1 and .gamma..sub.2
may range from approximately 1 degree to approximately 45 degrees.
In other aspects, the angles .gamma..sub.1 and .gamma..sub.2 may
range from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 25 degrees or
from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. It may be
preferred to have the relatively shallow angles .gamma..sub.1 and
.gamma..sub.2 that range from approximately 5 degrees to
approximately 10 degrees. Alternatively, it may be preferable to
have one or both of the indentations 42 only very slightly angled,
i.e. oriented up to a maximum of only approximately 5 degrees from
the centerline T.sub.0.
[0054] In the particular structure illustrated in FIG. 7, the
lowermost contours 41 of the indentations 42 extend from a
forward-most end 34 at the ball striking face 17 to a rearward-most
end 36 a certain distance from the rear region 22. As shown in the
figures, the lowermost contour 41a of the indentation 42a is spaced
apart from the lowermost contour 41b of the indentation 42b at the
forward portion of the club head 14 approximately equidistant from
the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14. By way of non-limiting
examples, the forward-most ends 44a, 44b of the lowermost contours
41a, 41b of the indentations 42 may be spaced apart from one
another by approximately 20 mm to approximately 70 mm, by
approximately 30 mm to approximately 60 mm, or by approximately 25
mm to approximately 50 mm. According to certain embodiments, the
forward-most ends 44a, 44b of the lowermost contours 41a, 41b of
the indentations 42a, 42b need not be positioned equidistant from
the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14.
[0055] Also as shown in FIG. 7, the lowermost contours 41 of the
indentations 42 converge toward each other as they extend toward
the rearward portion of the club head 14. According to certain
embodiments, the rearward-most ends 46a, 46b of the lowermost
contours 41a, 41b of the indentations 42a, 42b may be abutted or
joined to one another. According to other embodiments, and as shown
in FIG. 7, the rearward-most ends 46a, 46b may be spaced apart from
one another. By way of non-limiting examples, the rearward-most
ends 46a, 46b of the lowermost contours 41a, 41b of the
indentations 42 may be spaced apart from one another by up to
approximately 25 mm, by approximately mm to approximately 15 mm, or
by approximately 5 mm to approximately 10 mm. According to certain
embodiments, the rearward-most ends 46a, 46b of the lowermost
contours 41a, 41b of the indentations 42a, 42b may be positioned
equidistant from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14.
According to even other embodiments, the rearward-most ends 46a,
46b of the lowermost contours 41a, 41b of the indentations 42a, 42b
may be positioned different distances from the centerline T.sub.0,
and in some example structures, the rearward-most ends 46a, 46b may
both be positioned to the same side of the centerline T.sub.0.
[0056] According to certain embodiments, the indentations 42 may
extend below the surface of the crown region 18 by a depth D.sub.I.
Typically, the indentations 42 may have a maximum depth of up to
approximately 10 mm. For certain structures, it may be advantageous
for the indentations 42 to have a maximum depth of less than
approximately 7 mm, or less than approximately 5 mm, or even less
than approximately 3 mm. It may be preferable for the indentations
42 to have a maximum depth of between approximately 2 mm to
approximately 7 mm or, for certain embodiments, to have a maximum
depth of between approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm. The
depth of indentation 42a may be the same as the depth of
indentation 42b. Further, the depth of the indentations 42 may be
greatest in the forward portion of the club head 14 and may be
least in the rearward portion of the club head 14. In certain
embodiments, the depth of the indentations 42 may decrease (e.g.,
linearly decrease) as the indentations 42 extend from the forward
region to the rearward region of the club head 14. Optionally, the
depth of the indentations 42 may be reduced to zero in the rear
region 22 or at the rearward-most end 46 of the indentations
42.
[0057] The cross-section of the indentations 42 may be of any
suitable shape, although a preferred shape may include a relatively
wide opening that tapers downward to a slightly rounded edge, as
best shown in FIG. 7. The width W.sub.I of the opening of the
indentations 42 may range from approximately 2 mm up to
approximately 10 mm, from approximately 2 mm up to approximately 7
mm, or even from approximately 3 mm to approximately 5 mm. In
certain aspects, the cross-sectional shape of the indentations 42
may best be described as being substantially triangular in shape.
The side surfaces of the indentations 42 may be straight and/or
curved. Providing the indentations 42 with convexly curved side
surfaces would allow the indentations 42 to more smoothly merge
into the surface of the crown region 18. Of course, the
cross-sectional shape of the indentations 42 need not be constant
along the length of the indentations 42. By way of non-limiting
example, the width W.sub.I of the opening of the indentations 42
may be constant along the length of the indentations 42, while the
depth D.sub.I of the indentations 42 may be at a maximum at, or
near, the forward-most ends 44 of the indentations 42 and
thereafter gradually decreasing to zero at the rearward-most ends
46 of the indentations 42.
[0058] The forward-most ends 44 of the indentations 42 may be open,
i.e., they may extend all the way to the ball striking face 17, for
example, as shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively, the forward-most ends
44 of the indentations may be closed and may include a surface that
is oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking face 17.
Optionally, the forward-most end surface may be canted or sloped
away from the ball striking face 17. Such a sloped surface may
provide a smoother, more aerodynamic, transition from the crown
region 18 to the indentations 42. As another option, the
forward-most end 44 of one or more of the indentations 42 may be
tapered, i.e., the cross section of the indentation 42 may taper
down to a relatively thin line. Even further, the forward-most end
44 of the indentation 42 may be both tapered to a relatively thin
line and sloped away from the ball striking face 17. By way of
non-limiting examples, the forward-most end 44 of one or more of
the indentations 42 may be positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up
to approximately 5 mm, or even up to approximately 10 mm away from
the ball striking face 17. For purposes of this measurement, where
the ball striking face 17 and the crown region 18 transition from
one to the other, the ball striking face 17 includes the surface
that is more vertical than horizontal and the crown region 18
includes the surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when
the club 10 is in the address position.
[0059] As discussed above, the rearward-most end 46 of the
indentation 42 may smoothly and tangentially merge into the surface
of the crown region 18. In other words, the depth of the
indentation 42 may gradually decrease to zero at the rearward-most
end 46. Alternatively, the rearward-most end 46 of the indentation
42 may extend below the surface, such that a more abrupt end of the
indentation 42 is provided. In such case, according to certain
embodiments, the rearward-most end 46 may taper up to a relatively
thin trailing edge. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the
rearward-most end 46 of the indentation 42 need not extend all the
way to the rear region 22 of the club head 14. By way of
non-limiting examples, the rearward-most end 46 of the indentation
42 may be positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up to approximately
5 mm, up to approximately 10 mm, or even up to approximately 20 mm
away from the rear region 22. For purposes of this measurement,
where the rear region 22 and the crown region 18 transition from
one to the other, the rear region 22 includes the surface that is
more vertical than horizontal and the crown region 18 includes the
surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when the club 10 is
in the address position.
[0060] Indented drag-reduction features on the crown portion also
may take on other orientations, shapes and/or characteristics,
e.g., akin to the variations in the raised fin constructions shown
in FIGS. 6A through 6F.
[0061] According to other aspects, as shown in FIG. 8, the sole
region 28 may have a drag-reduction feature 50. The drag-reduction
feature 50 may include one or more fins 52. Drag-reduction feature
50 is configured to channel air flowing over the sole region 28 of
the club head 14 generally from the ball striking face 17 toward
the rear region 22. Specifically, the drag-reduction feature 50 is
configured to channel air flowing between the fins 52 from a wider
region in the forward portion of the club head 14 to a narrower
region in the rearward portion of the club head 14. It is expected
that this channeling action may increase the velocity of the air
flowing over the sole region 28 within the drag-reduction feature
50 while at the same time aligning the air flow and maintaining a
uniform, laminar flow.
[0062] The fins 52 may include a first fin 52a and a second fin
52b. Each fin 52a, 52b may include a ridge or uppermost edge 51a,
51b that extends down the length of the fin. The fin 52a and its
uppermost edge 51a are shown in FIG. 8 as extending in a generally
linear fashion at an angle .delta..sub.1 relative to the T.sub.0
centerline of the club head 14, from a forward portion of the club
head 14 toward a rearward portion of the club head 14. Similarly,
the fin 52b and its uppermost edge 51b are shown as extending in a
generally linear fashion at an angle .delta..sub.2 relative to the
T.sub.0 centerline of the club head 14, from the forward portion of
the club head 14 toward a rearward portion of the club head 14. The
fins 52 may be slightly curved as they extend from the forward
portion toward the rearward portion of the club head 14. In certain
aspects, one or more of the fins 52 may be formed in linear or a
piecewise linear fashion.
[0063] In FIG. 8, angles .delta..sub.1 and .delta..sub.2 are
unequal, with the magnitude of angle .delta..sub.1 being greater
than that of angle .delta..sub.2. Alternatively, the magnitude of
the angles .delta..sub.1 and .delta..sub.2 may be equal. According
to some aspects, the fins 52 may be oriented up to approximately 45
degrees from the centerline T.sub.0. Thus, in certain aspects, one
or both of the angles .delta..sub.1 and .delta..sub.2 may range up
to approximately 45 degrees. In other aspects, the angles
.delta..sub.1 and .delta..sub.2 may range from approximately 5
degrees to approximately 25 degrees or from approximately 5 degrees
to approximately 15 degrees. It may be preferred to have the angles
.delta..sub.1 and .delta..sub.2 range from approximately 5 degrees
to approximately 10 degrees. Alternatively, it may be preferable,
especially for fins 52 which are located on the surface of the sole
region 28, to have one or more of the fins 52 only very slightly
angled, i.e. oriented up to a maximum of only approximately 5
degrees from the centerline T.sub.0.
[0064] In the particular structure illustrated in FIG. 8, the fins
52 extend from a forward-most end 54 generally adjacent the ball
striking face 17 to a rearward-most end 56 generally adjacent the
rear region 22. As shown in FIG. 8, the uppermost edge 51a of the
fin 52a is spaced apart from the uppermost edge 51b of the fin 52b
at the forward portion of the club head 14 unequal distances from
the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14--the forward-most end
54b of the uppermost edge 51b of the fin 52b is closer to the
centerline T.sub.0 than the forward-most end 54a of the uppermost
edge 51a of the fin 52a. By way of non-limiting examples, the
forward-most ends 54a, 54b of the fins 32 may be spaced apart from
one another by approximately 20 mm to approximately 70 mm, by
approximately 30 mm to approximately 60 mm, or by approximately 25
mm to approximately 50 mm. According to certain embodiments, the
forward-most ends 54a, 54b of the uppermost edges 51a, 51b of the
fins 52a, 52b may be positioned equidistant from the centerline
T.sub.0 of the club head 14.
[0065] Also as shown in FIG. 8, the fins 52 converge toward each
other as they extend toward the rearward portion of the club head
14. According to certain embodiments, the rearward-most ends 56a,
56b of the uppermost edges 51a, 51b of the fins 52a, 52b may be
abutted or joined to one another. According to other embodiments,
and as shown in FIG. 8, the rearward-most ends 56a, 56b may be
spaced apart from one another. By way of non-limiting examples, the
rearward-most ends 56a, 56b of the uppermost edges 51a, 51b of the
fins 52 may be spaced apart from one another by approximately 2 mm
to approximately 25 mm, by approximately 5 mm to approximately 15
mm, or by approximately 5 mm to approximately 10 mm. According to
certain embodiments, the rearward-most ends 56a, 56b of the
uppermost edges 51a, 52a of the fins 52a, 52b may be positioned
equidistant from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14.
According to even other embodiments, the rearward-most ends 56a,
56b of the uppermost edges 51a, 51b of the fins 52 may be
positioned unequal distances from the centerline T.sub.0, and in
some example structures, the rearward-most ends 56a, 56b may both
be positioned to the same side of the centerline T.sub.0.
[0066] According to other embodiments, the fins 52 may extend
beyond the surface of the sole region 28 by a height. Typically,
the fins 52 may have a maximum height of up to approximately 5 mm.
For certain structures, it may be advantageous for the fins 52 to
have a maximum height of less than approximately 3 mm, or less than
approximately 1 mm, or even less than approximately 1 mm. It may be
preferable for the fins 52 to have a maximum height of between
approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm or, for certain
embodiments, to have a maximum height of between approximately 2 mm
to approximately 3 mm. The height of fin 52a may be the same as the
height of fin 52b. Further, the height of the fins 52 may be
greatest in the forward portion of the club head 14 and may be
least in the rearward portion of the club head 14. In certain
embodiments, the height of the fins 52 may decrease (e.g., linearly
decrease) as the fins 52 extend from the forward region to the
rearward region of the club head 14. Optionally, the height of the
fins 52 may be reduced to zero in the rear region 22 or at the
rearward-most end 56 of the fins 52.
[0067] As with the fins 32 on the crown region 18, the
cross-section of the fins 52 may be of any suitable shape, although
a preferred shape may include a relatively wide base that tapers
away from the surface of the sole region 28 to a slightly rounded
edge, as best shown in FIG. 8. The width of the base of the fins 52
may range from approximately 2 mm up to approximately 10 mm, from
approximately 2 mm up to approximately 7 mm, or even from
approximately 3 mm to approximately 5 mm. In certain aspects, the
cross-sectional shape of the fins 52 may best be described as being
substantially triangular in shape. The side surfaces of the
triangle may be straight or curved. Providing the fins 52 with
concavely curved side surfaces would allow the fins 52 to more
smoothly merge into the surface of the sole region 28. Of course,
the cross-sectional shape of the fins 52 need not be constant along
the length of the fins 52. By way of non-limiting example, the
width of the base of the fins 52 may be constant along the length
of the fins 52, while the height of the fins 52 may be at a maximum
at, or near, the forward-most ends 54 of the fins 52 and thereafter
gradually decreasing to zero at the rearward-most ends 56 of the
fins 52.
[0068] Although the forward-most end 54 of the fin 52 may include a
surface that is oriented substantially parallel to the ball
striking face 17, a preferred embodiment may include a forward-most
end surface that is canted or sloped away from the ball striking
face 17 as shown in FIG. 8. Such a sloped surface may provide a
smoother, more aerodynamic, transition from the surface of the sole
region 28. As another option, the forward-most end 54 of the fin 52
may include a prow-like feature, i.e., the cross section of the fin
52 may taper down to a relatively thin leading edge. Even further,
the forward-most end 54 of the fin 52 may be both tapered to a
relatively thin leading edge and sloped away from the ball striking
face. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 8, the forward-most end 54 of
the fin 52 need not extend all the way to the ball striking face
17. By way of non-limiting examples, the forward-most end 54 of the
fin 52 may be positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up to
approximately 5 mm, or even up to approximately 10 mm away from the
ball striking face 17. For purposes of this measurement, where the
ball striking face 17 and the sole region 28 transition from one to
the other, the ball striking face 17 includes the surface that is
more vertical than horizontal and the sole region 28 includes the
surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when the club 10 is
in the address position.
[0069] The rearward-most end 56 of the fin 52 may smoothly and
tangentially merge into the surface of the sole region 28 as is
shown in FIG. 8. In other words, the height of the fin 52 may
gradually decrease to zero at the rearward-most end 56.
Alternatively, the rearward-most end 56 of the fin 52 may project
above the surface of the sole region 28, such that a more abrupt
end of the fin 52 is provided. In such case, according to certain
embodiments, the rearward-most end 56 may taper down to a
relatively thin trailing edge. Additionally, as is also shown in
FIG. 8, the rearward-most end 56 of the fin 52 need not extend all
the way to the rear region 22 of the club head 14. By way of
non-limiting examples, the rearward-most end 56 of the fin 52 may
be positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up to approximately 5 mm,
up to approximately 10 mm, or even up to approximately 20 mm away
from the rear region 22. For purposes of this measurement, where
the rear region 22 and the sole region 28 transition from one to
the other, the rear region 22 includes the surface that is more
vertical than horizontal and the sole region 28 includes the
surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when the club 10 is
in the address position.
[0070] The fin-like drag-reduction features on the sole portion
like those shown in FIG. 8 also may take on other, orientations,
shapes and/or characteristics, e.g., akin to the variations in the
raised fin constructions shown in FIGS. 6A through 6F.
[0071] According to other aspects, as shown in FIG. 9, the sole
region 28 may have an alternative drag-reduction feature 60. The
drag-reduction feature 60 may include one or more elongated
indentations 62 generally oriented from the front toward the rear
of the club head 14. The drag-reduction feature 60 is configured to
channel air flowing over the sole region 28 of the club head 14
generally from the ball striking face 17 toward the rear region
22.
[0072] The indentations 62 may include a first indentation 62a and
a second indentation 62b. Each indentation 62 may include a
lowermost contour 61, i.e., the deepest part of the indentation 62
extending along the elongated length of the indentation. The
indentation 62a and its lowermost contour 61a are shown as
extending in a generally linear fashion, at an angle
.epsilon..sub.1 relative to the T.sub.0 centerline of the club head
14, from a forward portion of the club head 14 toward a rearward
portion of the club head 14. Similarly, the indentation 62b and its
lowermost contour 61b are shown as extending in a generally linear
fashion, at an angle .epsilon..sub.2 relative to the T.sub.0
centerline of the club head 14, from the forward portion of the
club head 14 toward a rearward portion of the club head 14. The
indentations 62 and their lowermost contours 61 need not extend
linearly from the forward portion toward the rearward portion.
Thus, in certain aspects, one or both of the indentations 62 may be
formed in a piecewise linear fashion. In other aspects, one of both
of the indentations 62, or portions thereof, may be curved.
[0073] Angles .epsilon..sub.1 and .epsilon..sub.2 may be equal, but
of opposite signs. Alternatively, angles .epsilon..sub.1 and
.epsilon..sub.2 need not be equal. According to some aspects, the
lowermost contours 61 of the indentations 62 may be oriented up to
45 degrees from the centerline T.sub.0. Thus, in certain aspects,
one or both of the angles .epsilon..sub.1 and .epsilon..sub.2 may
range from approximately 1 degree to approximately 45 degrees. In
other aspects, the angles .epsilon..sub.1 and .epsilon..sub.2 may
range from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 25 degrees or
from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 15 degrees. It may be
preferred to have the relatively shallow angles .epsilon..sub.1 and
.epsilon..sub.2 that range from approximately 5 degrees to
approximately 10 degrees. Alternatively, it may be preferable to
have one or both of the indentations 62 only very slightly angled,
i.e., oriented up to a maximum of only approximately 5 degrees from
the centerline T.sub.0.
[0074] In the particular structure illustrated in FIG. 9, the
indentations 62 extend from a forward-most end 64 adjacent the ball
striking face 17 to a rearward-most end 66 located in a
substantially central portion of sole region 28. As shown in FIG.
9, the indentation 62a is spaced apart from the indentation 62b at
the forward portion of the club head 14 approximately equidistant
from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14. By way of
non-limiting examples, the forward-most ends 64a, 64b of the
indentations 62 may be spaced apart from one another by
approximately 20 mm to approximately 70 mm, by approximately 30 mm
to approximately 60 mm, or by approximately 25 mm to approximately
50 mm. According to certain embodiments, the forward-most ends 64a,
64b of the indentations 62a, 62b need not be positioned equidistant
from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head 14.
[0075] Also as shown in FIG. 9, the lowermost contours 61 of the
indentations 62 converge toward each other as they extend toward
the rearward portion of the club head 14. According to certain
embodiments, the rearward-most ends 66a, 66b of the lowermost
contours 61a, 61b of the indentations 62a, 62b may be abutted or
joined to one another. According to other embodiments, the
rearward-most ends 66a, 66b may be spaced apart from one another.
By way of non-limiting examples, the rearward-most ends 66a, 66b of
the lowermost contours 61a, 61b of the indentations 62 may be
spaced apart from one another by approximately 2 mm to
approximately 25 mm, by approximately 5 mm to approximately 15 mm,
or by approximately 5 mm to approximately 10 mm. According to
certain embodiments, the rearward-most ends 66a, 66b of the
lowermost contours 61a, 61b of the indentations 62a, 62b may be
positioned equidistant from the centerline T.sub.0 of the club head
14. According to even other embodiments, the rearward-most ends
66a, 66b of the lowermost contours 61a, 61b of the indentations
62a, 62b may be positioned different distances from the centerline
T.sub.0, and in some example structures, the rearward-most ends
66a, 66b may both be positioned to the same side of the centerline
T.sub.0.
[0076] According to certain embodiments, the indentations 62 may
extend into the surface of the sole region 28 by a depth D.sub.SI.
Typically, the indentations 62 may have a maximum depth of up to
approximately 8 mm. For certain structures, it may be advantageous
for the indentations 62 to have a maximum depth of less than
approximately 6 mm, or less than approximately 5 mm, or even less
than approximately 3 mm. It may be preferable for the indentations
62 to have a maximum depth of between approximately 2 mm to
approximately 6 mm or, for certain embodiments, to have a maximum
depth of between approximately 2 mm to approximately 5 mm. The
depth of indentation 62a may be the same as the depth of
indentation 62b. Further, the depth of the indentations 62 may be
greatest in the forward portion of the club head 14 and may be
least in the rearward portion of the club head 14. In certain
embodiments, the depth of the indentations 62 may decrease (e.g.,
linearly decrease) as the indentations 62 extend from the forward
region to the rearward region of the club head 14. Optionally, the
depth of the indentations 62 may be reduced to zero in the rear
region 22 or at the rearward-most end 66 of the indentations
62.
[0077] The indentations 62 may be of any suitable shape, although a
preferred shape may include a relatively wide opening that opens
into a relatively shallow concavity, as best shown in FIG. 9. The
width of the opening of the indentations 62 may range from
approximately 2 mm up to approximately 10 mm, from approximately 2
mm up to approximately 7 mm, or even from approximately 3 mm to
approximately 5 mm. In certain aspects, the cross-sectional shape
of the indentations 62 may best be described as being substantially
triangular in shape. The side surfaces of the elongated indentation
may be straight or curved. Providing the indentations 62 with
convexly curved sides would allow the indentations 62 to more
smoothly merge into the surface of the sole region 28. Of course,
the cross-sectional shape of the indentations 62 need not be
constant along the length of the indentations 62. By way of
non-limiting example, the width of the opening of the indentations
62 may be constant along the length of the indentations 62, while
the depth of the indentations 62 may be at a maximum at, or near,
the forward-most ends 64 of the indentations 62 and thereafter
gradually decreasing to zero at the rearward-most ends 66 of the
indentations 62.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 9, the forward-most end surface may be
canted or sloped away from the ball striking face 17. Such a sloped
surface may provide a smoother, more aerodynamic, transition from
the sole region 28 to the indentations 62. Other options for the
forward-most end surface of the indentations 62 may include those
described above with respect to indentations 42 formed on the
surface of the crown region 18. Additionally, the forward-most end
64 of the indentation 62 need not extend all the way to the ball
striking face 17. By way of non-limiting examples, the forward-most
end 64 of the indentation 62 may be positioned up to approximately
2 mm, up to approximately 5 mm, or even up to approximately 10 mm
away from the ball striking face 17. Further, for purposes of this
measurement, where the ball striking face 17 and the sole region 28
transition from one to the other, the ball striking face 17
includes the surface that is more vertical than horizontal and the
sole region 28 includes the surface that is more horizontal than
vertical, when the club 10 is in the address position.
[0079] As discussed above, the rearward-most end 66 of the
indentation 62 may smoothly and tangentially merge into the surface
of the sole region 28. In other words, the depth of the indentation
62 may gradually decrease to zero at the rearward-most end 66.
Alternatively, the rearward-most end 66 of the indentation 62 may
extend below the surface of the sole region 28, such that a more
abrupt end of the indentation 62 is provided. In such case,
according to certain embodiments, the rearward-most end 66 may
taper up to a relatively thin trailing edge. Additionally, the
rearward-most end 66 of the indentation 62 need not extend all the
way to the rear region 22 of the club head 14. By way of
non-limiting examples, the rearward-most end 66 of the indentation
62 may be positioned up to approximately 2 mm, up to approximately
5 mm, up to approximately 10 mm, or even up to approximately 20 mm
away from the rear region 22. For purposes of this measurement,
where the rear region 22 and the sole region 28 transition from one
to the other, the rear region 22 includes the surface that is more
vertical than horizontal and the sole region 28 includes the
surface that is more horizontal than vertical, when the club 10 is
in the address position.
[0080] The indentation drag-reduction features on the sole portion
like those shown in FIG. 9 also may take on other orientations,
shapes and/or characteristics, e.g., akin to the variations in the
raised fin constructions shown in FIGS. 6A through 6F.
[0081] According to certain aspects, one or more of the
drag-reduction features 30, 40, 50, 60 may be included on any given
club head 14. Further, the drag-reduction features 30, 40, 50, 60
may include more that two fins 32, 52, more than two indentations
42, 62, or any desired combination of fins and indentations.
[0082] The one or more drag-reduction features 30, 40, 50, 60 may
be oriented to mitigate drag not only when the ball striking face
17 is leading the swing, but also during other portions of the
downswing stroke, particularly as the club head 14 rotates around
the yaw axis. Thus, in certain configurations, one or more of the
fins 32, 52 and/or indentation 42, 62 of the drag-reduction
features 30, 40, 50, 60 may be oriented to channel the air flow
when the hosel region 26 and/or a portion of the heel region 24
lead the swing. For example, FIG. 6F shows a drag-reduction feature
30 oriented generally from the hosel region 26 or from a region
adjacent the hosel region back toward the rear region 22 of the
club head 14
[0083] Thus, by way of non-limiting example, one or both of the
fins 32, 52 and/or indentations 42, 62 of the drag-reduction
features 30, 40, 50, 60 may be curved so as to provide a generally
convex aspect when viewed from the heel region 24. In certain
configurations, both fins and/or indentations may curve in the same
general direction toward the rear 22 as the drag-reduction feature
30, 40, 50, 60 extends away from the ball striking face 17. This
generally curvature of the drag-reduction feature 30, 40, 50, 60
may enhance the ability to delay the transition of the airflow from
laminar to turbulent over a greater yaw angle range of the club
10.
[0084] Other drag-reducing structures, for example, such as
chamfers and/or fairings between the various regions of the club
head 14 may be provided in combination with one or more of the
drag-reduction feature 30, 40, 50, 60 in order to reduce the drag
on the club head during a user's golf swing from the end of a
user's backswing throughout the downswing to the ball impact
location.
[0085] While there have been shown, described, and pointed out
fundamental novel features of various embodiments, it will be
understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in
the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their
operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,
it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements
which perform substantially the same function, in substantially the
same way, to achieve the same results are within the scope of the
invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment
to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is the
intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *