Multi-material golf club head

• US 20040147342A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dick's Sporting Goods Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VyaTek Sports Incorporated
• Inventors: Lindsay, Howard Alvin
• Granted Patent: US 7,338,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0466 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

Abstract

A golf club head in accordance with various aspects of the present invention, may have a higher volume and/or higher strength. The golf club head may comprise a frame structure with a composite matrix. The golf club head may also comprise a detachable face, allowing various faces of differing materials to be attached to the body. A detachable face further allows the head to be tuned via placement/rearrangement of weights within the head to change the center of gravity and moment of inertia.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body combination having a body frame structure defining an outer surface of the golf club head and encompassing a filler matrix in contact with an inner surface of said body frame structure;

a faceplate; and

wherein

said body frame structure having a faceplate aperture further comprising a perimeter substantially coincident with said faceplate, said faceplate aperture further comprising a faceplate receiving ridge upon which said faceplate is retained on said body frame structure.

2. A golf club head in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a fastening mechanism for fastening said faceplate to one of said frame structure and said filler matrix.

3. A golf club head in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a coolant system and wherein said fastening mechanism comprises a weld.

4. A golf club head in accordance with claim 2, wherein said fastening mechanism comprises removable and re-attachable fasteners.

5. A golf club head in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a tuning weight attached to an interior surface of said body combination.

6. A golf club head in accordance with claim 5, wherein said tuning weight provides for an adjustable center of gravity.

7. A golf club head in accordance with claim 5, wherein said tuning weight provides for an adjustable moment of inertia.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a body combination having a body frame structure defining an outer surface of the golf club head and at least one aperture and a filler matrix which fills an area defined by said aperture;

a faceplate; and

wherein

said body frame structure further comprises a faceplate aperture having a perimeter substantially contiguous with said faceplate and a faceplate receiving ridge upon which said faceplate is retained on said body frame structure.

9. A golf club head in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a fastening mechanism for fastening said faceplate to said body frame structure.

10. A golf club head in accordance with claim 9, wherein said fastening mechanism comprises removable and re-attachable fasteners.

11. A golf club head in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a coolant system and wherein said fastening mechanism comprises a weld.

12. A golf club head in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a tuning weight attached to an interior surface of said body combination.

13. A golf club head, comprising a body frame having a faceplate aperture having a perimeter substantially contiguous with a faceplate and a faceplate receiving ridge upon which said faceplate is retained on said body frame structure, said faceplate removably attachable to said faceplate receiving ridge with a fastening mechanism.

14. A golf club head in accordance with claim 13, wherein said fastening mechanism comprises screws threaded into said faceplate receiving ridge.

15. A golf club head in accordance with claim 14, wherein said body comprises a body frame structure and filler matrix combination.

16. A golf club head in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a tuning weight attached to an interior surface of said body combination.

17. A golf club head assembly, comprising:

a faceplate;

a body combination having

a body frame structure defining an outer surface of the golf club head, and

at least one aperture with a filler matrix which fills an area defined by said aperture;

said body frame structure further comprising a faceplate aperture having a perimeter substantially contiguous with said faceplate and configured to receive said faceplate; and

a cooling system proximate to an area where said faceplate and said body frame structure meet to reduce the amount of heat transferred to said filler matrix during a welding operation to attach said faceplate to body frame structure.

18. A golf club head in accordance with claim 17, wherein said cooling system is a heat sink.

19. A golf club head in accordance with claim 17, wherein said cooling system is a liquid bath.

20. A golf club head in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a tuning weight attached to an interior surface of said body combination.