GOLF CLUB HEAD
First Claim
1. A golf club head, comprising:
- a body defining a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a face portion;
said face portion comprising a striking surface on an outer side, said face portion having a periphery proximate a first junction of said face and crown portions, proximate a second junction of said face and sole portions, proximate a third junction of said face and toe portions, and proximate a fourth junction of said face and heel portions, said striking surface having a total area measured on said outer side, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face portion; and
each point on said striking surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness such that said face portion has a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said first junction and a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said third junction, said first and second stiffness profiles similarly having low first stiffness values at first locations farthest from said balance point and encompassing said periphery of said striking face, said first and second stiffness profiles similarly having high second stiffness values at second locations between said periphery and said balance point, and said first and second stiffness profiles similarly having third stiffness values at said central region;
wherein said face portion is substantially symmetric about central vertical and horizontal axes such that said first stiffness profile also applies between said balance point and said second junction and said second stiffness profile applies between said balance point and said fourth junction, said first stiffness values including minimum values adjacent said first, second, third and fourth junctions, said first stiffness values increasing to less than about 3.4 times said minimum values, said second stiffness values being at least about 3.5 times said minimum values, said third stiffness values greater than said minimum values and less than about 3.5 times said minimum values, and said second and third stiffness values comprising an area of said striking surface extending approximately halfway from said balance point to said first, second, third and fourth junctions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A golf club head is provided having a substantially increased sweet spot across its club face. A preferred construction includes an annular area on a rear surface having increased thickness surrounding a central region with a balance point of the club face. The central region of the face has a generally reduced thickness that is less than the maximum of the annular area but greater than a minimum thickness at the peripheral area. The face material may be metallic, but in alternative embodiments the effective bending stiffness profiles represented by this annular area may be achieved by appropriate use of composites, for example. Methods for manufacturing a golf club head having a face with the bending stiffness profiles of the present invention include forging and machining techniques as well as laser deposition and inertia welding.
47 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A golf club head, comprising:
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a body defining a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a face portion;
said face portion comprising a striking surface on an outer side, said face portion having a periphery proximate a first junction of said face and crown portions, proximate a second junction of said face and sole portions, proximate a third junction of said face and toe portions, and proximate a fourth junction of said face and heel portions, said striking surface having a total area measured on said outer side, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face portion; and
each point on said striking surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness such that said face portion has a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said first junction and a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said third junction, said first and second stiffness profiles similarly having low first stiffness values at first locations farthest from said balance point and encompassing said periphery of said striking face, said first and second stiffness profiles similarly having high second stiffness values at second locations between said periphery and said balance point, and said first and second stiffness profiles similarly having third stiffness values at said central region;
wherein said face portion is substantially symmetric about central vertical and horizontal axes such that said first stiffness profile also applies between said balance point and said second junction and said second stiffness profile applies between said balance point and said fourth junction, said first stiffness values including minimum values adjacent said first, second, third and fourth junctions, said first stiffness values increasing to less than about 3.4 times said minimum values, said second stiffness values being at least about 3.5 times said minimum values, said third stiffness values greater than said minimum values and less than about 3.5 times said minimum values, and said second and third stiffness values comprising an area of said striking surface extending approximately halfway from said balance point to said first, second, third and fourth junctions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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14. A face insert for a golf club head, comprising:
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a substantially planar striking surface on a front side of said insert, a rear surface on a rear side and a periphery for attachment to the golf club head, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face insert and each point on said striking surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness profile, said striking surface having a total area on said front side of said insert;
said face insert having a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third stiffness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth stiffness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles having stiffness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said periphery, said stiffness profiles having stiffness values at least 3.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum stiffness values, said stiffness profiles having stiffness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of high stiffness comprising said second locations, the stiffness values of said third locations forming a reduced stiffness region including a point having a local minimum stiffness value, said substantially annular region comprising at least about 12% of said total area of said striking surface.
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19. A golf club head, comprising:
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a body having a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a crown portion together defining a front portion;
said front portion having a substantially planar striking surface provided on a front side, a rear surface on a rear side and a periphery, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said front portion and each point on said striking surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness, said striking surface having a total area on said front side of said front portion;
said front portion having a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third stiffness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth stiffness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles having stiffness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said periphery, said stiffness profiles having stiffness values at least 3.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum stiffness values, said stiffness profiles having stiffness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of high stiffness comprising said second locations, the stiffness values of said third locations forming a reduced stiffness region including a point having a local minimum stiffness value, said substantially annular region comprising at least about 12% of said total area of said striking surface.
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23. A face insert for a golf club head, comprising:
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a substantially planar striking surface on a front side of said insert, a rear surface on a rear side and a periphery for attachment to the golf club head, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face insert and each point on said striking surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness profile, said striking surface having a total area on said front side of said insert;
said face insert having a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third stiffness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth stiffness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles similarly having stiffness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said periphery, said stiffness profiles similarly having stiffness values at least 3.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum stiffness values, said stiffness profiles similarly having stiffness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of high stiffness comprising said second locations, the stiffness values of said third locations forming a reduced stiffness region including a point having a local minimum stiffness value, said substantially annular region and said reduced stiffness region extending about 50% of the distance from said balance point to each of said top and bottom edges and said first and second side edges.
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27. A method of manufacturing a face insert for a golf club head having a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80, comprising:
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forming a first surface on a front side of said insert, said first surface comprising a periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said first surface having a total area on said front side of said insert, said first surface having a balance point at a central region, and each point on said first surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness value;
forming a second surface on a rear side of said insert;
forming said face insert to result in a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third stiffness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth stiffness profile between said balance point and said second side edge;
providing said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles such that they similarly have stiffness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said first face and including minimum values adjacent said edges;
providing said stiffness profiles such that they similarly have stiffness values at least 3.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum stiffness values; and
providing said stiffness profiles such that they similarly have stiffness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles in combination forming a substantially annular region of high stiffness comprising said second locations, the stiffness values of said third locations forming a reduced stiffness region including a point having a local minimum stiffness value, said substantially annular region and said reduced stiffness region extending about 50% of the distance from said balance point to each of said top and bottom edges and said first and second side edges.
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40. A golf club head, comprising:
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a body having a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a crown portion together defining a front opening;
a face insert having a periphery for attachment at said front opening of said body, a substantially planar striking surface on a front side of said insert and a rear surface on a rear side, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face insert and each point on said striking surface having a local cross-sectional bending stiffness, said striking surface having a total area on said first side of said insert;
said face insert having a first stiffness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second stiffness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third stiffness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth stiffness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles similarly having stiffness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said edges, said stiffness profiles similarly having stiffness values at least 3.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum stiffness values, said stiffness profiles similarly having stiffness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth stiffness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of high stiffness comprising said second locations, the stiffness values of said third locations forming a reduced stiffness region including a point having a local minimum stiffness value, said substantially annular region and said reduced stiffness region extending about 50% of the distance from said balance point to each of said top and bottom edges and said first and second side edges. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A face insert for a golf club head, comprising:
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a substantially planar striking surface on a front side of said insert, a rear surface on a rear side and a periphery for attachment to the golf club head, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face insert and each point on said striking surface having a thickness, said striking surface having a total area on said first side of said insert;
said face insert having a first thickness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second thickness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third thickness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth thickness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said edges, said thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at least 1.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum thickness values, said thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth thickness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of increased thickness comprising said second locations, the thickness values of said third locations forming a reduced thickness region, and said substantially annular region comprises at least about 12% of said total area of said striking surface. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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57. A face insert for a golf club head, comprising:
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a substantially planar striking surface on a front side of said insert, a rear surface on a rear side and a periphery for attachment to the golf club head, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face insert and each point on said striking surface having a thickness, said striking surface having a total area on said first side of said insert;
said face insert having a first thickness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second thickness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third thickness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth thickness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said edges, said thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at least 1.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum thickness values, said thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth thickness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of increased thickness comprising said second locations, the thickness values of said third locations forming a reduced thickness region, and an area including said substantially annular region and said reduced thickness region extending about 50% of the distance from said balance point to each of said top and bottom edges and said first and second side edges.
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62. A golf club head having a coefficient of restitution measuring at least about 0.80, comprising:
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a body having a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and a crown portion together defining a front opening;
an insert disposed in said opening, said insert having a substantially planar striking surface on a front side, a rear surface on a rear side and a periphery for attachment at said opening, said periphery having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, said striking surface having a balance point at a central region of said face insert and each point on said striking surface having a thickness, said striking surface having a total area on said first side of said insert;
said face insert having a first thickness profile between said balance point and said top edge, a second thickness profile between said balance point and said bottom edge, a third thickness profile between said balance point and said first side edge and a fourth thickness profile between said balance point and said second side edge; and
said first, second, third and fourth thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at first locations encompassing said periphery of said striking face and including minimum values adjacent said edges, said thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at least 1.5 times said minimum values at second locations between said first locations and said balance point, said second locations including points having maximum thickness values, said thickness profiles similarly having thickness values at third locations in said central region that are less than the values at said second locations but greater than said minimum values at said first locations;
wherein said first, second, third and fourth thickness profiles in combination represent a substantially annular region of increased thickness comprising said second locations, the thickness values of said third locations forming a reduced thickness region, and an area including said substantially annular region and said reduced thickness region extending about 50% of the distance from said balance point to each of said top and bottom edges and said first and second side edges.
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63. A golf club head having a coefficient of restitution measuring at least about 0.80, comprising:
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a body having a crown and a sole that cooperate to define an opening, a face plate fixedly secured proximate the opening, wherein the face plate is oriented generally vertically, having a sweet spot that defines the preferred location at which a golf ball is to be struck;
wherein the face plate defines a thickened, generally ring-shaped region surrounding the face plate'"'"'s geometric center, a reduced thickness inner region radially inward of the ring-shaped region and including the face plate'"'"'s geometric center, and a thin outer region radially outward of the geometric center and the ring-shaped region, wherein at least one boundary lines separate the ring-shaped region from the outer region, said boundary line being located where the face plate has a thickness that is about 50% more than the minimum thickness of the outer region, and wherein the combined areas of the ring-shaped and inner region is between about 25% and about 75% of the total area of the ring-shaped, inner and outer regions. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification