Golf club having a damping element for ball speed control

Abstract

A golf club head including a striking face, a back portion, and a back cover attached to the back portion, wherein the golf club head includes damping structures and materials to achieve desired acoustic characteristics.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face;   a back portion behind said striking face extending from a topline to a sole;   a back cover attached to said back portion to enclose a cavity in said golf club head;   a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;   a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards said heel side of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   wherein said back portion includes a shelf recessed into said back portion; and   wherein said back cover includes at least one retaining member protruding in a direction towards said striking face.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one retaining member comprises an angled surface and a retaining groove. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said shelf fits within said retaining groove in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said angled surface engages said shelf during assembly to bend said at least one retaining member towards a central region of said back cover. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein said back cover includes four retaining members. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said back cover includes an inside perimeter portion abutting said shelf, and
 wherein said inside perimeter portion is attached to said shelf using an epoxy.   
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said shelf further comprises at least one shelf protrusion, and
 wherein said at least one shelf protrusion includes an aperture.   
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one retaining member includes a barb, and
 wherein said angled surface is located on a perimeter of said barb.   
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one retaining member extends through said aperture, and
 wherein said at least one shelf protrusion fits within said retaining groove.   
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein said back cover includes three retaining members. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face;   a back portion behind said striking face extending from a topline to a sole;   a back cover attached to said back portion to enclose a cavity in said golf club head;   a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;   a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards said heel side of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   wherein said back portion includes a shelf recessed into said back portion;   wherein said back cover includes at least one retaining member protruding in a direction towards said striking face; and   wherein said at least one retaining member mechanically locks said back cover to said shelf.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said shelf fits within a retaining groove on said at least one retaining member. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one retaining member comprises an angled surface that engages said shelf during assembly to bend said at least one retaining member towards a central region of said back cover. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said shelf further comprises at least one shelf protrusion,
 wherein said at least one shelf protrusion includes an aperture, and   wherein said at least one retaining member extends through said aperture.   
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said back cover includes an inside perimeter portion bonded to said shelf. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said back cover includes a central region inward from said inside perimeter portion, and
 wherein said central region includes one or more stiffening members.   
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said inside perimeter portion includes a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein an outermost portion of said inside perimeter portion includes a ridge. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said back cover includes three retaining members. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said back cover includes four retaining members.