Golf Club Head

• US 20070004531A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• 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: Hocknell, Alan, Cackett, Matthew, Galloway, J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/334
• 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 face component comprising a front wall and a return portion, the face component composed of a non-metallic material;

an aft body connected to the face component, the aft-body comprising a sole portion, a ribbon and a crown portion, the body composed of a non-metallic material;

a weight piece disposed within a hollow interior formed by the face component and the aft-body, the weight piece comprising a striking plate insert embedded within the face component and a plurality or return portion tabs extending rearward from the striking plate insert, the weight piece composed of a high density material having a density greater than the density of the material of the face component or the aft-body; and

a weight strip positioned within the ribbon of the aft-body;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters;

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.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the aft-body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic materials, thermosetting materials and plies of pre-preg material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight piece is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, a thermoplastic material filled with metal, and a film loaded with a high density material.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weight strip is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, tungsten, steel, aluminum, tin and silver, brass.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face component is composed of a thermoplastic urethane material, the weight piece is composed of a steel material, the aft-body is composed of plies of pre-preg material, and the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of 0.351.

6. A golf club head comprising:

a face component comprising a front wall and a return portion, the face component composed of a non-metallic material;

an aft body connected to the face component, the aft-body comprising a sole portion, a ribbon and a crown portion, the body composed of plies of preg material;

a weight piece disposed within a hollow interior formed by the face component and the aft-body, the weight piece comprising a striking plate insert embedded within the face component and a plurality or return portion tabs extending rearward from the striking plate insert, the weight piece composed of a steel material; and

a weight strip positioned within the ribbon of the aft-body;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters;

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.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a face component comprising a front wall and a return portion, the face component composed of a composite material;

an aft body connected to the face component, the aft-body comprising a sole portion, a ribbon and a crown portion, the body composed of a composite material;

a weight piece disposed within a hollow interior formed by the face component and the aft-body, the weight piece comprising a striking plate insert embedded within the face component and a plurality or return portion tabs extending rearward from the striking plate insert, the weight piece composed of a steel material; and

a weight strip positioned within the ribbon of the aft-body, the weight strip composed of a film containing a tungsten;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters;

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.