Composite metal wood club

• US 20040176181A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rice, Scott A., Meyer, Jeffrey W., Poynor, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,214,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/329
• 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 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 53/045 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 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/045 by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00

Abstract

A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. The crown portion comprises an inner surface layer of a vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material. The transverse surfaces of the crown and body portions creating a gap that is filled with a shock absorption material such as putty or a rubber based structural adhesive.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion and a crown portion;

the body portion is composed of a first material having a density;

the crown portion is composed of a second material having a density that is less than the density of the first material; and

the crown portion includes an inner surface having a layer of vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the crown portion density is between about 0.1 g/cc to 4.0 g/cc.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first material is a titanium alloy and the second material is a composite or a thermoplastic or a metal.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first material is a stainless, steel alloy and the second material is a metal, a composite or a thermoplastic.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown portion is cast, formed, injection molded, machined or pre-preg sheet formed.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second material is a composite.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body portion is forged.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body portion is sheet metal formed.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body portion is cast.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution greater than 0.80.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the layer of vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material is integral with and covers substantially the entire inside surface of the crown portion.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the layer of vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material produces a reduction in noise from about 28% to 50% over a frequency range between about 3800 Hz to 10,000 Hz at a swing speed of 90 mph.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material is a titanium mesh.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the layer of vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material is integral with and in the shape of a ring juxtaposed against an outer ledge section adjoining an outer perimeter of the crown portion.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the layer of vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material is a gasket disposed between a ledge section of the crown portion and a lip section of the body portion.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the gasket is composed of titanium mesh or aluminum foil material or a viscoelastic material.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the crown portion includes a plurality of Y joints for securing to the body portion.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion and a crown portion;

the body portion is composed of a first material having a density;

the crown portion is composed of a second material having a density that is less than the density of the first material; and

a gap being defined between a transverse surface of the crown portion and a transverse surface of the body portion,

wherein the gap is filled with a shock absorption material.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the shock absorption material includes putty or a rubber based structural adhesive.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the gap further includes being of an L-shape and filled with putty or a rubber based structural adhesive.

21. The golf club head according to claim 18, wherein the first material is a titanium alloy and the second material is a composite or a thermoplastic or a metal.

22. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the crown portion is cast, formed, injection molded, machined or pre-preg sheet formed.

23. The golf club head according to claim 18, wherein the second material is a composite.

24. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the body portion is forged.

25. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the body portion is sheet metal formed.

26. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion and a crown portion;

the body portion is composed of a first material having a density;

the crown portion is composed of a second material having a density that is less than the density of the first material;

the body portion having a club face with an effective hitting area greater than 7.25 in² and a spin variance of less than 500 rpm when the club is struck at a 11°

launch angle and a club head speed of 90 mph.