Golf Club Head or Other Ball Striking Device with Removable Face and/or Internal Support Structure

Abstract

A golf club has a head that includes a face member having a striking surface and an inner surface opposite the striking surface, and a body member connected to the face member, where the body member includes a crown portion and a supporting structure. The face member includes a frame portion connected to the supporting structure and forming at least a portion of an outer periphery of the striking surface, where the frame portion includes a mounting structure, and a face plate connected to the mounting structure to form at least a portion of a central region of the striking face. It includes a base member forming at least a portion of the sole of the head and a plurality of truss members connected to the base member, such that the truss members connect the base member to the crown portion and the frame portion of the face member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head having an internal supporting structure for weighting options and support: the golf club head comprising:
 a face member having a strike surface configured for striking a ball; and   a wood-type body member connected to the face member and extending rearwardly from the face member, wherein the wood-type body member comprises:
 a heel side, 
 a toe side, 
 a rear side; 
   a sole having a first sole region extending rearwardly from and integral to the face member;   a crown opposite the sole having a crown lip extending towards the sole and wrapping around the heel side, toe side, and rear side of club head;
 a body panel removably coupled to the crown and forming a second sole region; 
 an internal supporting structure spaced inwardly from the crown lip, and further comprising:
 a planar rectangular base member comprising;
 a base front end spaced rearward of the face member; 
 a base rear end spaced further from the face member than the base front end of the planar rectangular base member; 
 a base bottom surface that further forms a third sole region and is exposed to a wood-type body member external surface; 
 a base top surface that cooperates with the removable body panel and the second sole region; 
 
 one or more weight ports open to the base bottom surface and configured to receive one or more interchangeable weight members; and 
 
 two or more truss members having a circular cross-sectional shape and connect the planar rectangular base member to the crown; 
   wherein the crown, heel side, toe side, rear side, a first sole portion, second sole portion and third sole portion define an enclosed internal cavity; and   wherein the bottom surface of the rectangular base member is externally exposed permitting the one or more weight ports to be accessible for inserting the interchangeable weight members.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more truss members are connected to a top portion of the face member. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein at least two truss members of the two or more truss members are parallel with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the face member comprises a frame portion having a wall extending rearward from the striking surface and forming a portion of a heel, a toe, a sole, and the crown of the club head. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein at least two truss members of the two or more truss members extend forwardly from the base member to a top portion of the face member. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the crown and the face member are integrally formed of the same metallic material. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the crown is formed from a composite material. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the internal supporting structure is formed of a composite material. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the internal supporting structure is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable weight members are threaded and metallic. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein a first interchangeable weight member comprises a first weight mass different from a second weight mass of a second interchangeable weight member. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more truss members further comprise a first pair of truss members, a second pair of truss members, and a third pair of truss members; and
 wherein the first pair of truss members attach to the planar rectangular base member opposite one another and between the base front end and the base rear end.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the first pair of truss members and the planar rectangular base are integrally formed. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more weight ports are three weight ports aligned linearly along the planar rectangular base member between the base front end and the base rear end. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the body panel are formed from a material chosen from a group consisting of polymers, composites, and metallic materials. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the face member may be made from a titanium alloy.