Golf club head with low density crown

• US 20070037632A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Douglas C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49966 with supplemental joining

Abstract

A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include a low density portion and a high density portion. The high density portion includes at least a sole, a face, and at least one support member. The support member is operatively connected to the face and the sole, and maintains the structural integrity of the golf club head. The low density portion comprises the crown and the skirt of the club head. When the low density portion is attached to the at least one support member, a golf club head may be formed. In this manner, the center of gravity of the club head may be lowered and moved away from the face of the club.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a first portion including a sole, a face, and a support member extending from an upper portion of the face to a rear portion of the sole; and

a second portion including a crown and a skirt coupled to the sole, the face, and the support member, the second portion formed of a low density material;

wherein the low density material is formed of one or more of magnesium, thermal plastic, and a composite material; and

wherein between about 50% and about 90% of the crown and the skirt are formed of the low density material.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the support member corresponds to the outer perimeter of the crown and the skirt of the golf club head.

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises two or more pieces.

4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of a density of the first portion to a density of the second portion is about 3:

1 or greater.

5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises less than about 5% of the total weight of the golf club head.

6. A golf club head, comprising:

a face, at least two support members, and a sole, each comprising a material having a first density; and

a crown and a skirt, each comprising a material having a second density, wherein the crown and skirt are operatively connected to the at least two support members;

wherein at least 95% of the crown and skirt are formed by the material having a second density.

7. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the material having a second density comprises at least one of magnesium, thermal plastic, and composite material.

8. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the ratio of the first density to the second density is about 2:

1 or greater.

9. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the ratio of the first density to the second density is about 3:

1 or greater.

10. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

11. The golf club according to claim 6, further comprising at least one weight attached to the sole.

12. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the crown and skirt comprise less than about 5% of the total weight of the golf club head.

13. The golf club according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the crown and the skirt comprise a metallic material.

14. A method for forming a golf club head, comprising:

forming a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and one or more support members;

forming a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt, the second portion comprising a low density material;

inserting the second portion through the face; and

forcing the second portion into contact with the one or more support members.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising applying an adhesive to selected areas of the second portion and the one or more support members.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising attaching a face plate to the face.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the forcing is performed using one of a bladder or a jack.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the forming the first portion includes attaching weights to the sole.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the forming the first portion includes forming the one or more support members such that they extend from the face to a rear portion of the sole.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the forcing is performed manually.