Golf club head

• US 20050255939A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• 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 7,261,646 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. A golf club head, comprising:

a body portion defining an upper opening and a front opening and having a sole and a side section, the side section extending rearward of the front opening and having toe, rear and heel regions, the body portion having a density of at least about 4 g/cc;

a striking plate securely attached to the body portion, enclosing the front opening; and

a crown secured to the body portion thereby enclosing the upper opening, the crown incorporating composite material and having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm, the golf club head having a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and a volume of at least 150 cc.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, the body portion including a recessed support extended from a shoulder and positioned adjacent to the upper opening to support the crown.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the recessed support is an annular lip surrounding the upper opening.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, the crown having a first portion sized to sit on the recessed support of the body portion such that a side edge of the first portion is proximate to the shoulder of the body portion, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion, the crown further having a surface veil secured atop the junction.

5. A golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of the side edge of the first portion and the shoulder of body portion has a tapered profile thereby forming a depression about the junction, wherein the surface veil at least partially fills the depression.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein the surface veil entirely covers an upper surface of the first portion of the crown.

7. A golf club head as defined in claim 4, wherein the volume is at least 350 cc.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a body portion defining an upper opening and a front opening and having a sole and a side section, the side section extending rearward of the front opening and having toe, rear and heel regions, the body portion including a recessed support extended from a shoulder and positioned adjacent to the upper opening, the body portion having a density of at least about 4 g/cc;

a striking plate securely attached to the body portion, enclosing the front opening; and

a crown securely attached to the body portion enclosing the upper opening, the crown including plies of composite material having a fiber areal weight of between 20 g/m² and 200 g/m² and having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm, the weight of the crown being less than the weight of a similar sized piece formed of the material of the body portion;

wherein at least one of the striking plate and the crown is attached to the body portion by adhesive bonding, the golf club head having a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and a volume of at least 150 cc.

9. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the recessed support is an annular lip surrounding the upper opening.

10. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, the crown having a first portion sized to sit on the recessed support of the body portion such that a side edge of the first portion is proximate to the shoulder of the body portion, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion, the crown further having a surface veil secured atop the junction.

11. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the side edge of the first portion and the shoulder of body portion has a tapered profile thereby forming a depression about the junction, wherein the surface veil at least partially fills the depression.

12. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the surface veil entirely covers an upper surface of the first portion of the crown.

13. A golf club head as defined in claim 10, wherein the plies of composite material include a fabric ply and at least one layer of at least four plies of uni-tape standard modulus composite.

14. A method of manufacturing a hollow golf club head having a volume of at least 150 cc, comprising:

forming a body of a metal material, the body having walls forming a front that defines a front opening, a side section, a sole and a top section that defines an upper opening, the body including a recessed support extended from a shoulder and positioned adjacent to the upper opening;

forming a striking plate adapted to be secured to the body and enclose the front opening;

securely attaching the striking plate to the body, enclosing the front opening;

forming a crown of a material having a density less than 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than 2 mm, the crown adapted to be secured to the body, enclosing the upper opening; and

securely attaching the crown to the body, enclosing the upper opening;

wherein at least one of the crown and the striking plate is attached by adhesive bonding to the opening in the body, the golf club head having a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein forming the body comprises casting a metal material, the front and upper openings are formed in the casting step.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein forming the striking plate comprises cold-forming a metal material to the desired thickness, shape and size, and the step of attaching the striking plate comprises welding.

17. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein:

forming the crown comprises forming a first portion sized to sit on the recessed support of the body such that a side edge of the first portion is proximate to the shoulder of the body portion, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion; and

attaching the crown comprising securing a surface veil atop the junction.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising:

providing a tapered profile to at least one of the side edge of the first portion and the shoulder of body portion has a tapered profile thereby forming a depression about the junction, wherein the surface veil at least partially fills the depression.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the surface veil entirely covers an upper surface of the first portion of the crown.