Golf club heads with stiffening ribs

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a hollow golf club head comprising a first component adhered to a second component. The first component comprises: a crown return and a sole return extending rearwardly from the strikeface, a sole extension extending rearwardly from the sole return and forming a portion of the sole, a back rail connected to the sole extension, a skirt connected to the back rail, and a rib positioned on an interior surface of the golf club head. The crown return forms a portion of the crown. The sole return forms a portion of the sole. The rib comprises a lower front end point, a lower rear end point, an upper rear end point, a bottom edge, and a top edge. The rib height varies between the lower front end point and the lower rear end point. The rib extends from channel configured to receive a weight portion, to the crown.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a first component adhered to a second component to define a closed interior volume therebetween, a strikeface configured to strike a golf ball, a rear portion opposite the strikeface, a crown, a sole opposite the crown, a heel, and a toe opposite the heel;   the first component comprising a crown return extending rearwardly from the strikeface, and forming a portion of the crown, a sole return extending rearwardly form the strikeface and forming a first portion of the sole, a sole extension extending rearwardly from the sole return and forming a second portion of the sole, and a back rail connected to the sole extension;
 the back rail comprising a top wall, a rear wall, and a lip together defining a channel extending along the back rail in a heel to toe direction and configured to receive a weight portion of at least 14 grams; 
   a rib located within the closed interior volume and extending between one or more combinations selected from the group consisting of: the crown and the sole, the crown and the rear wall, and the sole and the rear wall.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises approximately 85%-90% of an overall mass of the golf club head. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the rib is proximal to the back rail and sole extension. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the rib further comprises a rib height measured perpendicular to an interior surface of the sole extension. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the rib height increases in an arcuate manner in a front-to-rear direction. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the rib is positioned within 20% of a rearmost point of the rear portion. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the rib is positioned within 10% of a rearmost point of the rear portion. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the rib forms a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first component further comprises a rib receiving channel configured to retain the rib. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the rear wall further comprises a plurality of weight receiving bosses, and wherein the rib extends between the plurality of weight receiving bosses. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein the rib does not intersect the plurality of weight receiving bosses. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a metallic material and the second component comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head comprising:
 a first component adhered to a second component to define a closed interior volume therebetween, a strikeface configured to strike a golf ball, a rear portion opposite the strikeface, a crown, a sole opposite the crown, a heel, and a toe opposite the heel;   the first component comprising a crown return extending rearwardly from the strikeface, and forming a portion of the crown, a sole return extending rearwardly form the strikeface and forming a first portion of the sole, a sole extension extending rearwardly from the sole return and forming a second portion of the sole, a back rail connected to the sole extension, and a crown bridge extending between the crown return and the back rail;
 the back rail comprising a top wall, a rear wall, and a lip together defining a channel extending along the back rail in a heel to toe direction and configured to receive a weight portion of at least 14 grams; 
   a rib located within the closed interior volume and extending between one or more combinations selected from the group consisting of: the crown bridge and the sole, the crown bridge and the rear wall, and the sole and the rear wall.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the crown bridge is integrally formed with the crown bridge and the sole. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first component comprises a metallic material and the second component comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first component comprises approximately 85%-90% of an overall mass of the golf club head. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the rib is positioned within 20% of a rearmost point of the rear portion. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the rib is positioned within 10% of a rearmost point of the rear portion. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the rib further comprises a rib height measured perpendicular to an interior surface of the sole extension. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 19 , wherein the rib height increases in an arcuate manner in a front-to-rear direction.