GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20050288124A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Cackett, Matthew T., Hocknell, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,163,470 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 2209/02 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, and a hollow interior;

a striking plate insert attached to the body, the striking plate insert being composed of a material having a density greater than that of the body; and

a weighting member attached to the body, the weighting member providing weighting at least at a rear portion of the body,

wherein the golf club head has a front wall, a center of gravity located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall, and a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein an exterior surface of the striking plate insert forms the exterior surface of the front wall.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the body is an aft-body having an open front, and further comprising a face component attached to the open front of the aft-body, the face component including a face cup having an opening, the striking plate insert being disposed in the opening of the face cup.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is embedded in the front wall of the golf club head.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4 wherein the body is an aft-body having an open front, and further comprising a face component attached to the open front of the aft-body, the face component including the front wall of the golf club head.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a non-metallic material.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body includes a ribbon and the weighting member is located along at least a portion of the ribbon of the body.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the weighting member is coupled to the striking plate insert.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weighting member is an external frame having a plurality of arms and a central body, the central being located at a rear portion of the body of the golf club head.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

11. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, steel alloys and amorphous materials.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole and a ribbon, the body having an opening at a front end;

a striking plate insert positioned over the opening, the striking plate insert composed of a metal material having a density greater than that of the body; and

a weighting member attached to the body and providing weighting at a rear portion of the body,

wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate, and a robustness efficiency parameter of less than 0.41.

13. The golf club head according to claim 12 wherein the weighting member disposed within an exterior recess in the ribbon at an aft end of the body.

14. The golf club head according to claim 12 wherein the weighting member is an external frame having a plurality of arms and a central body, the central body being located at an aft-end of the body, the plurality of arms being attached to the striking plate insert.

15. The golf club head according to claim 12 wherein the body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), blends of polycarbonate and polyurethane, carbon epoxy and plies of pre-preg.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a face component having a return portion and a striking plate insert;

an aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component;

wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a material having a density greater than that of the aft-body, and

wherein the golf club head has a front wall and a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall, and a robustness efficiency parameter of the less than 0.41.

17. The golf club head according to claim 16 wherein the aft-body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), blends of polycarbonate and polyurethane, carbon epoxy and plies of pre-preg.

18. The golf club head according to claim 16 wherein an exterior surface of the striking plate insert forms the exterior surface of the front wall.

19. The golf club head according to claim 18 wherein the return portion and the striking plate insert are composed of metal materials.

20. The golf club head according to claim 16 wherein the face component includes the front wall and the striking plate insert is embedded in the front wall of the face component.

21. The golf club head according to claim 20 wherein the front wall and the return portion are composed of a composite material.

22. The golf club head according to claim 16 wherein the aft-body includes a ribbon and a weighting member located along at least a portion of the ribbon.

23. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a composite material having a front wall, a sole, a ribbon;

a striking plate insert composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material, the striking plate insert being disposed in the face;

at least one weight strip composed of a material having a density greater than the composite material, the at least one weight strip being disposed along the ribbon of the aft-body; and

a crown plate attached to the body,

wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall, and a robustness efficiency parameter less than 0.41.

24. The golf club head according to claim 23 further comprising a second weight strip, the second weight strip being disposed along the sole of the body and extending from proximate the front wall to an aft-end of the body.