Multiple Material Golf Club Head

• US 20060217215A1
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Erickson, Matthew J., Evans, D. Clayton, Gibbs, Evan D., Rice, Bradley C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 53/0416 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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

Abstract

A wood-type golf club head (40) having a major body (50), a striking plate insert (55) and a minor body (60) is disclosed herein. The major body (50) is composed of a metal material and has a front wall section (72), a return section (74), a sole section (76), a ribbon section (78) and a ledge portion (80). The minor body (50) is preferably composed of a low density material and has a crown section (62) and a ribbon section (64). The striking plate insert (55) is composed of a metal material. An epoxy-based composition (200) is placed at a face-sole junction (205) to lower the amplitude of the sound of the golf club head (40) during impact with a golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a titanium alloy material, the body having a sole section, a ribbon section and front wall section with an opening;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate composed of a titanium alloy material;

a plurality of stiffening members disposed on an interior surface of the sole section of the major body, each of the plurality of stiffening members extending along a majority of the length of the sole section and having a thickness ranging from 0.100 inch to 0.400 inch and a height ranging from 0.05 inch to 0.50 inch;

wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2800 to 5000 grams-centimeters squared, the moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2000 to 3500 grams-centimeters squared and the moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2000 to 3500 grams-centimeters squared;

wherein the golf club head ha a length ranging from 3.5 inches to 4.5 inches and a width ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.5 inches;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 495 cubic centimeters.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert has a plurality of concentric regions of varying thickness.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has an amplitude level of less than 118 decibels when impacting a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has an amplitude level of approximately 110 decibels when impacting a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising an epoxy-based composition position at a face-sole junction of the body, the epoxy based composition having a mass ranging from 3.0 grams to 10.0 grams and extending from 2.0 inches to 3.5 inches along a heel to toe direction of the face-sole junction;

6. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein the epoxy-based composition has a mass of 5 grams.

7. A driver-type golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a cast titanium alloy material, the major body having a front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the return section extending a distance ranging 0.10 inch to 2.75 inches from a perimeter of the front wall section, the ledge section is inward a distance ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.020 inch from an exterior surface of the major body;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate insert composed of a formed titanium alloy material;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body, the minor body having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.070 inch, the minor body composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material;

a plurality of stiffening members disposed on an interior surface of the sole section of the major body, each of the plurality of stiffening members extending along a majority of the length of the sole section and having a thickness ranging from 0.100 inch to 0.400 inch and a height ranging from 0.05 inch to 0.50 inch;

wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2800 to 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and the moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2000 to 3500 grams-centimeters squared.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the striking plate insert has a plurality of concentric regions of varying thickness.

9. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the golf club head has an amplitude level of less than 118 decibels when impacting a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

10. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the golf club head has an amplitude level of approximately 110 decibels when impacting a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

11. The golf club head according to claim 7 further comprising an epoxy-based composition position at a face-sole junction of the body, the epoxy based composition having a mass ranging from 3.0 grams to 10.0 grams and extending from 2.0 inches to 3.5 inches along a heel to toe direction of the face-sole junction;

12. The golf club head according to claim 11 wherein the epoxy-based composition has a mass of 5 grams.

13. A driver-type golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a metal material, the major body having front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the front wall section has an opening, the major body having a mass ranging from 140 grams to 200 grams;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body, the minor body having a mass ranging from 4 grams to 50 grams and composed of a titanium alloy material;

a plurality of stiffening members disposed on an interior surface of the sole section of the major body, each of the plurality of stiffening members extending along a majority of the length of the sole section and having a thickness ranging from 0.100 inch to 0.400 inch and a height ranging from 0.05 inch to 0.50 inch; and

epoxy-based composition position at a face-sole junction of the major body, the epoxy based composition having a mass ranging from 3.0 grams to 10.0 grams and extending from 2.0 inches to 3.5 inches along a heel to toe direction of the face-sole junction;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.

14. The golf club head according to claim 13 wherein the golf club head has an amplitude level of less than 118 decibels when impacting a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

15. The golf club head according to claim 13 wherein the golf club head has an amplitude level of approximately 110 decibels when impacting a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.