Golf Club Having a Reinforced Ball Striking Plate

Abstract

A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball striking device comprising:
 a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, the ball striking plate having a geometric center, a desired-contact region, and a perimeter;   one or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs located on the rear surface and extending away from the geometric center toward the perimeter;   wherein the one or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs have a cross-sectional shape; a height (h r ), a width (w r ), and a cross-sectional area (a r ).   
     
     
         2 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs are curved. 
     
     
         3 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs have a half-elliptical cross-section; and
 wherein h r  is 0.40 mm, w r  1.0 mm, and a r  is 0.314 mm 2 .   
     
     
         4 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs have a rectangular cross-section; and
 wherein h r  is 0.30 mm, w r  0.80 mm, and a r  is 0.240 mm 2 .   
     
     
         5 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs have a u-shaped cross-section;
 wherein h r  is 0.30 mm, w r  1.50 mm, and a r  is 0.315 mm 2 ;   wherein the u-shaped cross-section comprises a flange thickness (t f ); and   wherein t f  is 0.15 mm.   
     
     
         6 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs is a linear element. 
     
     
         7 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs extends to the perimeter of the ball striking plate. 
     
     
         8 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs has an approximately constant cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         9 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs has a cross-sectional area that decreases as the spoke-like reinforcement rib extends outward. 
     
     
         10 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball striking plate comprises a thickened portion, the thickened portion including an elevated area on the rear surface of the ball striking plate positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. 
     
     
         11 . The ball striking device of  claim 10 , wherein the elevated area has a maximum thickness that ranges from approximately 2.5 mm to approximately 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein a peripheral portion of the ball striking plate at least partially surrounds the thickened portion, the peripheral portion having a minimum thickness that is less than approximately 2.0 mm.