Golf club head

• US 20070060414A1
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Haralson, Gregory, Saliba, Allan, Rice, Scott, Breier, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0433 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light-weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club. The metallic portion of the club head may take on the appearance of a frame, into which several light-weight inserts are positioned. These light-weight inserts may be positioned in the crown, skirt, and sole of the club head. The club head may be formed by co-molding, eliminating the need for welding or adhesives, freeing mass to be used in more beneficial ways. The club head may be large to increase playability and forgiveness.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a first body portion formed of a metallic material and defining an opening therein; and

an insert positioned within said opening and joined to said first body portion by co-molding without the use of adhesives or welds.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said insert is formed of a light-weight material.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said light-weight material includes one or more of composites, polypropylenes, Kevlar, magnesium, thermoplastics, plastics, polymers, and low density metal alloys.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first body portion defines a second opening therein, and further comprising a second insert positioned within said second opening.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said second insert is formed of a light-weight material including one or more of composites, polypropylenes, Kevlar, magnesium, thermoplastics, plastics, polymers, and low density metal alloys.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes a sole and further comprising a first weight insert positioned on a toe side of said sole and a second weight insert positioned on a heel side of said sole, each of said first and second weight inserts having a mass from 2 grams to 35 grams.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein:

a center point on said sole defines a lowest point of the club head; and

each of said first and second weight inserts has a center of gravity that is at least 0.5 inch rearward of said center point, at least 0.75 inch from said center point towards a toe of the club head for said first weight insert and towards a heel of the club head for said second weight insert, and a maximum of 0.25 inch above said center point.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes a face having a surface area than 40 cm².

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes a crown having a surface area greater than 100 cm².

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the golf club head has a striking face and a sole;

said striking face has a surface area greater than 40 cm²; and

the club head has a center of gravity located a distance of approximately 1 inch or less above said sole.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the golf club head has a striking face having a width measured in a heel-toe direction and the head has a depth measured in a face-rear direction;

said depth is from 4.5 to 5 inches; and

said width is 4.5 to 5 inches.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said depth is within 0.25 inch of said width.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a striking face having a height measured in a sole-crown direction from 2.5 to 2.8 inches.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a striking face having an aspect ratio of greater than 1.5.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the golf club head has a center of gravity, a crown defining an outer periphery, and a sole; and

at least 35% of said outer periphery is on a sole side of said center of gravity.

16. A process of forming a golf club head, comprising:

providing an initial club head body, said initial club head body including an opening;

positioning said initial club head body within a mold;

inserting a molding material within said mold adjacent said opening;

molding said molding material; and

removing the golf club head from said mold.

17. The process of claim 16, further comprising inserting a bladder into said mold within said initial club head body.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein said providing includes providing an initial club head body having said opening located in a skirt region of said initial club head.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein said providing includes providing an initial club head body having said opening located in a crown region of said initial club head.

20. The process of claim 16, wherein said inserting includes inserting a fluid molding material within said mold.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein said inserting further includes mixing a plurality of fluid materials and inserting said mixed fluid into said mold.

22. The process of claim 16, wherein said inserting includes positioning one or more plies of composite material within said mold.

23. The process of claim 16, wherein said providing includes removing material from a precursor club head body to form said initial club head body.