Golf club head having micro-vortex generators

Abstract

A golf club head may comprise a hosel portion, a front strike face, a sole, a crown and micro-vortex generators projecting from a surface of the crown. The micro-vortex generators may comprise a first elongated micro-vortex generator angled with respect to the front strike face and a second elongated micro-vortex generator having a front end rearward of the first micro-vortex generator.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a hosel portion;   a front strike face;   a sole;   a crown; and   micro-vortex generators projecting from a surface of the crown, the micro-vortex generators comprising:
 a first elongated micro-vortex generator angled with respect to the front strike face; and 
 a second elongated micro-vortex generator having a front end rearward of the first micro-vortex generator, wherein the micro-vortex generators comprise: 
 a first curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators, comprising the first elongated micro-vortex generator, having a first concave side facing a rear of the crown; and 
 a second curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators, comprising the second elongated micro-vortex generator, having a second concave side facing the rear of the crown. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated micro-vortex generator extends at a first angle with respect to the front strike face and wherein second elongated micro-vortex generator extends at a second angle, different than the first angle, with respect to the front strike face. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the second elongated micro-vortex generator is to receive airflow from the first elongated micro-vortex generator and to redirect the received airflow. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1  further comprising a third curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators having a third concave side facing the rear of the crown. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein the first elongated micro-vortex generator extends parallel to a longitudinal vertical plane extending through the golf club head perpendicular to the front strike face and wherein each remaining elongated micro-vortex generator of the first curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators is rearwardly angled towards the longitudinal vertical plane. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein the second curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators comprises individual micro-vortex generators rearwardly angled away from the longitudinal vertical plane. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the third curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators comprises individual micro-vortex generators transversely staggered with respect to individual micro-vortex generators of the first curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein each of the micro-vortex generators has a first end proximate the strike face that projects a first distance from the surface of the crown and a second end distant the strike face that projects a second distance, last than the first distance, from the surface of the crown. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein each of the micro-vortex generators has a sharp upper edge. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-vortex generators are contained within a projection region covering at least 20% and no greater than 70% of a total surface area of the crown. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-vortex generators collectively have a surface area of at least 5% to no greater than 30% of a total surface area of the crown. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the collective surface area of the micro-vortex generators have a micro-vortex generator packing density within the range of 2 to 50 percent. 
     
     
         14 . A golf club head comprising:
 a hosel portion;   a front strike face;   a sole;   a crown; and   micro-vortex generators projecting from a surface of the crown, the micro-vortex generators comprising:
 a first elongated micro-vortex generator angled with respect to the front strike face; and 
 a second elongated micro-vortex generator having a front end rearward of the first micro-vortex generator, wherein the micro-vortex generators comprise a first curvilinear row of micro-vortex generators having a concave side facing a rear of the crown, wherein individual micro-vortex generators of the first curvilinear row have progressively greater angles with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane, extending through the golf club head perpendicular to the strike face, as the individual micro-vortex generators become further transversely spaced from the longitudinal vertical plane. 
   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A golf club head comprising:
 a hosel portion;   a front strike face;   a sole;   a crown; and   micro-vortex generators projecting from a surface of the crown, the micro-vortex generators comprising:
 a first elongated micro-vortex generator angled with respect to the front strike face; and 
 a second elongated micro-vortex generator having a front end rearward of the first micro-vortex generator, wherein the micro-vortex generators comprise: 
 a first non-linear row of micro-vortex generators; and 
 a second non-linear row of micro-vortex generators rearward the first non-linear row, wherein individual micro-vortex generators of the second non-linear row are transversely staggered with respect to individual micro-vortex generators of the first non-linear row. 
   
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the micro-vortex generators have an increased density proximate the hosel region. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein each of the micro-vortex generators projects from the surface of the crown by less than 0.100 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-vortex generators comprising elongated individual micro-vortex generators having a front end proximate the strike face, a rear end distant the strike face and an upper edge spaced no greater than 0.100 inches above the surface of the crown, the upper edge forwardly sloping towards the surface of the crown. 
     
     
         21 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the crown has an apex and wherein the micro-vortex generators are located rearward of the apex. 
     
     
         22 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-vortex generators decrease aerodynamic drag by at least 20%. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A golf club head comprising:
 a hosel portion;   a front strike face;   a sole;   a crown; and   micro-vortex generators projecting from a surface of the crown, the micro-vortex generators comprising:
 a first elongated micro-vortex generator angled with respect to the front strike face; and 
 a second elongated micro-vortex generator having a front end rearward of the first micro-vortex generator, wherein the first elongated micro-vortex generator extends at a first angle with respect to the front strike face and wherein second elongated micro-vortex generator extends at a second angle, different than the first angle, with respect to the front strike face. 
   
     
     
         25 . The golf club head of  claim 24 , wherein the second elongated micro-vortex generator is to receive airflow from the first elongated micro-vortex generator and to redirect the received airflow.