Golf club heads with reinforcing member

Abstract

Described herein is a golf club head comprising reinforcement members. The reinforcement members span across a rear cavity to connect to at least two portions of the perimeter of the club head and do not touch the rear surface of the strike face. The reinforcement members can be integrally casted or separately formed and attached to the club head. The reinforcement members improve the sound and vibrational response of the club head.

1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a strike face having a striking surface for impacting a golf ball and a strike face rear surface opposite the striking surface; 
 a top rail; 
 a toe; 
 a heel; 
 a sole; 
 a rear portion extending upward from the sole; 
 a first locating feature indented into the top rail; and 
 a second locating feature indented into the rear portion; 
 wherein the strike face rear surface, the top rail, the toe, the heel, and the sole cooperate to define a rear cavity; 
   an insert disposed in the rear cavity; and   a first reinforcing member co-molded with the insert and configured to be placed into the first locating feature and the second locating feature, the first reinforcing member including a first locking feature such that during a molding process, a portion of the insert extends through the first locking feature to secure the first reinforcing member to the insert.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcing member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a rigid plastic, and a TPC. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , further comprising a third locating feature indented into the insert, wherein the first reinforcing member is further configured to be placed into the third locating feature. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the first locating feature comprises a first inward recession located in the top rail and the second locating feature comprises a second inward recession located in the rear portion, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first reinforcing member is not integrally cast with the body of the golf club head and the insert contacts the rear portion of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed from a first material, the insert is formed from a second material, and the first reinforcing member is formed from a third material, wherein the first, second, and third materials are different from each other. 
     
     
         7 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a strike face including a striking surface having a strike face center for impacting a golf ball, and a strike face rear surface opposite the striking surface; 
 a top rail; 
 a toe; 
 a heel; 
 a sole; 
 a rear portion extending upward from the sole; 
 a first locating feature indented into the top rail; and 
 a second locating feature indented into the rear portion; 
 wherein the strike face rear surface, the top rail, the toe, the heel, and the sole cooperate to define a rear cavity; 
   an insert disposed in the rear cavity, wherein a third locating feature is indented into the insert; and   a first reinforcing member affixed to the top rail, the insert, and the rear portion via adhesive, wherein the first reinforcing member is configured to be placed into the first locating feature, the second locating feature, and the third locating feature.   
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the first reinforcing member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a rigid plastic, and a TPC. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the first reinforcing member comprises a first locking feature such that during a molding process, the insert mechanically couples with the first locking feature to secure the first reinforcing member to the insert. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the first locating feature comprises a first inward recession located in the top rail and the second locating feature comprises a second inward recession located in the rear portion, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the first reinforcing member is not integrally cast with the body of the golf club head. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the body is formed from a first material, the insert is formed from a second material, and the first reinforcing member is formed from a third material, wherein the first, second, and third materials are different from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the insert contacts the rear portion of the body. 
     
     
         14 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body, comprising:
 a strike face including a striking surface for impacting a golf ball and a strike face rear surface opposite the striking surface; 
 a top rail; 
 a toe; 
 a heel; 
 a sole; and 
 a rear portion extending upward from the sole; 
 wherein the strike face rear surface, the top rail, the toe, the heel, and the sole cooperate to define a rear cavity; 
   an insert disposed in the rear cavity; and   a first reinforcing member co-molded with the insert and comprising:
 a first end secured to the top rail close to a center plane of the golf club head; 
 a second end located near the rear portion closer to the toe; and 
 a first reinforcing member length, measured from the first end to the second end, of 0.2 inch to 3.0 inches. 
   
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the first reinforcing member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a rigid plastic, and a TPC. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first locating feature indented into the top rail;   a second locating feature indented into the rear portion; and   a third locating feature indented into the insert;   wherein the first reinforcing member is configured to be placed into the first locating feature, the second locating feature and the third locating feature; and   wherein the first reinforcing member comprises a first locking feature such that during a molding process, the insert mechanically couples with the first locking features to secure the first reinforcing member to the insert.   
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the first locating feature comprises a first inward recession located in the top rail and the second locating feature comprises a second inward recession located in the rear portion, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the first reinforcing member is not integrally cast with the body of the golf club head. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the body is formed from a first material, the insert is formed from a second material, and the first reinforcing member is formed from a third material, wherein the first, second, and third materials are different from each other. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the insert contacts the rear portion of the body.