Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club head including a striking face, a sole extending aft from the striking face, a crown extending aft from the striking face, a skirt extending between the sole and the crown, an interior cavity defined by the striking face, the sole, the crown, and the skirt, an aperture formed through the sole, the aperture having an aperture length and an aperture width, wherein the aperture length is substantially larger than the aperture width, and a stiffening member affixed to the sole, wherein a portion of the stiffening member resides within the aperture, wherein the sole is constructed of a first material having a first density, the stiffening member is constructed of a second material having a second density, and wherein the second density is at least 30% less than the first density.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a striking face;   an aft portion extending aft from said striking face, said aft portion comprising:
 a sole defining a lower surface of said golf club head and extending aft from said striking face; 
 a crown defining an upper surface of said golf club head and extending aft from said striking face; 
 a skirt extending between said sole and said crown; and 
 a hosel extending from said crown; 
   a heel side proximate said hosel;   a toe side opposite said heel side;   an interior cavity defined by said striking face, said sole, said crown, and said skirt; and   a stiffening member affixed to said aft portion,   wherein a portion of said stiffening member resides within said interior cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said stiffening member is affixed to said sole and said skirt. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said stiffening member is further affixed to said crown. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein said stiffening member extends around a majority of said golf club head. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein said stiffening member is located entirely within said interior cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said stiffening member is located proximate said striking face. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein said aft portion further comprises a receptacle, wherein said stiffening member resides within said receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein said stiffening member extends across a majority of said sole from said heel side to said toe side, said stiffening member extends across said skirt on said toe side, and said stiffening member extends across a majority of said crown from said toe side to said heel side. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one rib affixed to said crown extending substantially perpendicular to said stiffening member. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one rib is connected to said stiffening member. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a striking face;   an aft portion extending aft from said striking face, said aft portion comprising:
 a sole defining a lower surface of said golf club head and extending aft from said striking face; 
 a crown defining an upper surface of said golf club head and extending aft from said striking face; 
 a skirt extending between said sole and said crown; and 
 a hosel extending from said crown; 
   a heel side proximate said hosel;   a toe side opposite said heel side;   an interior cavity defined by said striking face, said sole, said crown, and said skirt; and   a stiffening member affixed to said aft portion,   wherein a portion of said stiffening member resides within said interior cavity, and   wherein said stiffening member extends from said heel side of said sole to said skirt on said toe side.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said stiffening member further extends from said skirt on said toe side to said heel side of said crown. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said aft portion further comprises a receptacle, wherein said stiffening member resides within said receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said stiffening member is located entirely within said interior cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said stiffening member is located proximate said striking face. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one rib affixed to said crown extending substantially perpendicular to said stiffening member. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one rib is connected to said stiffening member. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of ribs affixed to said crown, wherein said plurality of ribs are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of ribs are connected to said stiffening member. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said stiffening member is substantially parallel to said striking face.