Golf club head providing enhanced acoustics

• US 20040087388A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Golden, Charles E., Beach, Todd P., Willett, Kraig A.
• Application Number:
  US10/285,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20040087388A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics

Abstract

An golf club head is provided, having enhanced sound and feel characteristics. The club head has a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face. The body further includes a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, and it defines a volume of at least 100 cc. The club head further includes a stiffening member disposed within the body and attached to both the sole and the crown. The member is spaced apart from the striking face and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point, thereby forming a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face, the body further including a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, wherein the body defines a volume of at least 100 cc; and

a stiffening member attached to both the sole and the crown, spaced apart from the striking face, and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point;

wherein the member is configured to form a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the body has a volume of at least 150 cc and is formed of one or more titanium alloys.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is formed of one or more steel alloys.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the member is substantially the same thickness as a section of the heel region adjacent to the member.

5. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the member is a solid piece.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the member has at least one opening formed therein.

7. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein all portions of the member are closer to a rearmost point of the body than to a center point of the face.

8. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the member is less than 2 mm thick.

9. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the member is about 1 mm thick.

10. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the member is attached at the heel region and extends less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region.

11. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the member is planar and is angled about 45 degrees relative to the striking face.

12. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the member is planar and is substantially normal to a vertical, tangential plane of the heel region at the junction the member.

13. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, further comprising an additional element spaced apart from the face and attached to an inner surface of the body.

14. A golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the member has two side ends connected to the body thereby isolating the additional element within the local stiffness zone.

15. A golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein the additional element comprises a weight member at least partly formed of a polymeric material.

16. A method of enhancing the acoustic quality of a golf club head, comprising the steps of:

forming a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, wherein the body defines a volume of at least 100 cc; and

providing a stiffening member attached to both the sole and the crown, spaced apart from the striking face, and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point;

wherein the member is configured to form a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of providing the member is performed by casting the member of a metallic material integrally with at least the side portion.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the forming step further includes the steps of casting at least the top and side portions of a metallic material and welding the striking face to an opening at a front of the body.

19. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the forming step further includes the steps of casting at least the bottom and side portions of a metallic material and attaching the top portion to an opening at a top of the body.

20. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of providing the member is performed by welding the member to the top, side and bottom portions of the body.

21. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising the step of attaching an additional element to an inner surface of the body.

22. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of providing the member includes forming the member of a metallic material using one of forging, casting and stamping methods.

23. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of providing the member includes forming the member with at least one opening therein.

24. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of providing the member includes forming the member with at least one cutout along at least one end of the member

25. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of providing the member includes forming the member of a non-metallic material to have a stiffness at least as great as the material of the body of the club head.