High performance low cost driver using multiple material face design

• US 20060229141A1
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Galloway J. Andrew
• Original Assignee: Galloway J. Andrew
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/398,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229141A1
• 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 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 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

Abstract

A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face cup assembly (59) and an aft-body (61). The face cup assembly (59) includes a face component (60) with a striking plate (58) and a reinforcing plate (57) mounted thereto. The aft-body (61), which is composed of a non-metal material, such as a composite material or a thermoplastic material, includes a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and an optional ribbon section (90). The face component (60) and the reinforcing plate (57) are composed of metal materials, while the striking plate (58) is preferably composed of a composite or thermoplastic material.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having a striking wall portion and a return portion, the striking wall portion having a striking plate recess formed in a hitting surface of the striking wall portion, a face striking wall, and a reinforcing plate recess formed in a non-hitting surface, the face striking wall having a thickness in the range of 0.05 inch to 0.09 inch, the return portion extending a distance ranging between 0.2 inch and 1.0 inch from a perimeter of the striking wall portion;

a striking plate composed of a composite material and having a thickness in the range of 0.02 inch to 0.10 inch, the striking plate being disposed in the striking plate recess of the face component;

a reinforcing plate composed of a metal material and having a thickness in the range of 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch, the reinforcing plate being disposed in the reinforcing plate recess of the face component; and

an aft-body having a crown portion and a sole portion, the aft-body being attached to the return portion of the face component,

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution between 0.80 to 0.94.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate has a thickness in the range of 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch, and the striking plate comprises a plurality of plies of pre-preg sheets.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face component is composed of magnesium, and the face striking wall has a thickness in the range of 0.06 inch to 0.09 inch.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face component is composed of aluminum, and the face striking wall has a thickness in the range of 0.05 inch to 0.08 inch.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcing plate has a thickness in the range of 0.04 inch to 0.05 inch and is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, titanium alloys, and maraging steel.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 which was a volume between 290 cubic centimeters and 600 cubic centimeters.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 where in a moment of inertia about the Izz axis is greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared and a moment of inertia about the Iyy axis is greater than 1900 grams-centimeters squared.

8. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a first metal material, the face component having a striking wall portion and a return portion, the striking wall portion having a striking plate recess formed in a hitting surface of the striking wall portion, a face striking wall, and a reinforcing plate recess formed in a non-hitting surface, the face striking wall having a thickness in the range of 0.05 inch to 0.09 inch, the return portion extending a distance ranging between 0.2 inch to 1.0 inch from a perimeter of the striking wall portion;

a striking plate composed of a composite material and having a thickness in the range of 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch, the striking plate being disposed in the striking plate recess of the face component;

a reinforcing plate composed of a second metal material and having a thickness in the range of 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch, the second metal material having a higher density than the first metal material, the reinforcing plate being disposed in the reinforcing plate recess of the face component; and

an aft-body having a crown portion, a sole portion, the aft-body being attached to the return portion of the face component,

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis greater than 3000 grams-centimeters-squared and moment of inertial about the Iyy axis greater than 1900 grams-centimeters-squared.

9. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the aft-body further comprises a ribbon and a weight strip composed of a metal material disposed in the ribbon.

10. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the face component includes an integral hosel.

11. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the coefficient of restitution is between 0.80 and 0.94.

12. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the striking plate portion has an aspect ratio no greater than 1.7.

13. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the golf club head has a volume in the range of 385 cubic centimeters to 415 cubic centimeters, and a weight in the range of 100 grams to 195 grams.

14. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the first metal material is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, magnesium alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys.

15. The golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the second metal material is selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, and steel alloys.