Golf club head

• US 20050221915A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Burnett, Michael Scott, Vincent, Benoit, Hoffman, Joseph, Willett, Kraig, De Shiell, Drew T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/345
• 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

The present invention resides in a golf club head having a high COR that 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. The crown has a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm. The density of the crown is less than the density of the body portion. At least one of the striking plate and the crown is attached to the second portion by adhesive bonding, and the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a striking plate;

a side section extending rearward of the striking plate and having toe, rear, and heel regions;

a top portion having an upper opening formed therein;

a shoulder disposed around a periphery of the upper opening;

a ledge extending from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening;

a crown coupled to the ledge and having a side edge, wherein the side edge of the crown is disposed proximate to the shoulder; and

a veil disposed between the side edge of the crown and the shoulder.

21. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein at least one of the side edge of the crown and the shoulder are tapered.

22. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein both the side edge of the crown and the shoulder are tapered.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the side edge of the crown and the shoulder define an angle greater than about 90 degrees and less than about 180 degrees.

24. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the veil is comprised of a composite material.

25. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the crown is comprised of a first material and the veil is comprised of a second material.

26. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the first material is carbon fiber and the second material is glass.

27. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the crown and the veil are comprised of the same material.

28. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the veil covers an entire side edge of the crown.

29. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the veil covers an entire upper surface of the crown.

30. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a sole, wherein the sole has a thickness within a range of about 0.8 mm to about 2 mm;

a striking plate;

a side section extending rearward of the striking plate and having toe, rear, and heel regions, wherein the side section has a thickness within a range of about 0.8 mm to about 2 mm;

a top portion having an upper opening formed therein, wherein the top portion has a thickness within a range of about 0.7 mm to about 2 mm;

a shoulder disposed around a periphery of the upper opening;

a ledge extending from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening;

a crown coupled to the ledge and having a side edge, wherein the side edge of the crown is disposed proximate to the shoulder and at least one of the side edge of the crown and the shoulder are tapered; and

a veil disposed between the side edge of the crown and the shoulder;

wherein the crown is comprised of a first material and the veil is comprised of a second material.

31. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the first material is the same as the second material.

32. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the first material is different from the second material.

33. The golf club head of claim 32, wherein the first material is carbon fiber and the second material is glass.

34. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the ledge extends about 8 mm to about 12 mm from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening.

35. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the shoulder extends about 2 mm from an outer surface of the top portion to an inner surface of the ledge.

36. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the striking plate has a thickness within a range of about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm.

37. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a striking plate;

a side section extending rearward of the striking plate and having toe, rear, and heel regions;

a top portion having an upper opening formed therein;

a shoulder disposed around a periphery of the upper opening;

a ledge extending from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening;

a crown coupled to the ledge and having a side edge, wherein the side edge of the crown is disposed proximate to the shoulder, thereby forming an obtuse depression therebetween; and

a means for filling at least a portion of the obtuse depression and preventing cracking and peeling of a club head surface layer.