Golf club head having a composite crown

• US 10,737,148 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2019
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: DeShiell, Drew T., Willett, Kraig Alan, Burnett, Michael Scott, Vincent, Benoit, Hoffman, Joseph Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US16/359,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20190282866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/07 Glass fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

A golf club head has a high COR, is durable, and has desirable acoustic qualities. The club head includes a body portion, a striking face and a crown forming a hollow cavity of at least 150 cc in volume. The body portion defines a front opening and an upper opening, and it includes a sole and a side section that extends rearward of the front opening. The striking plate is secured to the body portion, enclosing the front opening. While partially assembled, final weighting and/or other attachment of other members to the inner surface of the club head can be preformed, as desired. The crown is secured to the body portion, enclosing the upper opening. A surface veil may also be provided about a junction of the crown and body.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a sole, a front portion defining a front opening, a top portion defining an upper opening, and a side portion, the side portion extending rearward of the front portion and having toe, rear, and heel regions, a hosel extending outward from the top portion proximate the heel region, wherein the body is comprised of a metallic material having a density of at least about 4 g/cc, the upper opening located solely in the top portion of the body and comprising at least 25% of a total area of the top portion;

a striking plate securely attached to the body portion and enclosing the front opening;

a support member located solely in the top portion of the body and surrounding the upper opening; and

a crown supported by and secured to the support member, thereby enclosing the upper opening, a first portion of the crown being sized to sit on the support member such that the first portion overlaps at least a portion of the support member, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body, the crown incorporating composite material having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm;

wherein the crown incorporating composite material weighs at least 20% less than a weight of a crown sized to sit on the supporting member and formed of the same metallic material of the body.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the composite material has a 50% to 70% fiber volume ratio and a density between about 1.4 g/cc and about 1.65 g/cc.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and the striking plate has a thickness in a range of from about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the support member is located on an annular lip.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein a shoulder is arranged adjacent to at least a front portion of the annular lip.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the crown is sized to abut and cover the annular lip of the body such that a side edge of the first portion is proximate to the shoulder, thereby forming the junction between the first portion of the crown and the body.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the shoulder is a distance (D1) of at least 7 mm rearward from the front of the golf club head.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the volume is at least 350 cc.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the crown is comprised of at least four plies of uni-tape standard modulus graphite.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the at least four plies are oriented at any combination of 0°

, +45°

, −

45° and

90°

.

11. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a sole, a front portion defining a front opening, a top portion defining an upper opening, and a side portion, the side portion extending rearward of the front portion and having toe, rear, and heel regions, a hosel extending outward from the top portion proximate the heel region, wherein the body is comprised of a metallic material having a density of at least about 4 g/cc, the upper opening located solely in the top portion of the body and comprising at least 25% of a total area of the top portion;

a striking plate securely attached to the body portion and enclosing the front opening;

a support member located solely in the top portion of the body and surrounding the upper opening; and

a crown supported by and secured to the support member, thereby enclosing the upper opening, a first portion of the crown being sized to sit on the support member such that the first portion overlaps at least a portion of the support member, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body, the crown incorporating composite material having a 50% to 70% fiber volume ratio and a density between about 1.4 g/cc and 1.65 g/cc, and wherein the crown has a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the body is formed of titanium and the volume is at least 350 cc.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the crown is comprised of at least four plies of uni-tape standard modulus graphite.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and the striking plate having a thickness in a range of from about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a sole, a front portion, a top portion defining an upper opening, and a side portion, the side portion extending rearward of the front portion and having toe, rear, and heel regions, a hosel extending outward from the top portion proximate the heel region, an upper edge being defined between the front portion and the top portion, the upper opening located solely in the top portion of the body and a support member located solely in the top portion of the body and surrounding the upper opening, wherein the body is comprised of a metallic material having a density of at least about 4 g/cc;

a crown secured to the top portion and covering the upper opening and the support member, a first portion of the crown being sized to abut the support member such that the first portion overlaps the support member and is joined to the support member by adhesive thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body, the crown incorporating composite material and having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm; and

a shoulder extending adjacent to at least a frontward portion of the support member, the shoulder being a distance of at least 7 mm rearward from the upper edge;

wherein the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the upper opening comprises at least 25% of a total area of the top portion.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, further comprising a striking plate securely attached to the body portion and enclosing a front opening in the front portion;

wherein the body is formed of steel.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, further comprising a striking plate securely attached to the body portion and enclosing a front opening in the front portion;

wherein the body is formed of titanium.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein at least one of the crown and the striking plate is attached by adhesive bonding.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the upper opening comprises at least 60% of a total area of the top portion.