Golf head having a ported construction

• US 20070293344A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PrIncorporatede Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Prince Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/336
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head has a face, a hosel, and a hollow body. The body includes an outer peripheral region, when viewed from above, and center portions on the upper surface and sole, respectively. The outer peripheral region has a weight-per-unit of surface area which is greater than the weight-per-unit of surface area of the center portions. The weight differential may be accomplished by molding ports into the hollow body around the periphery, which contain weight plugs. Alternately or in addition, a vertically oriented port may extend through the center portions to reduce weight.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising a club face, a hollow body having an outer surface, and a hosel;

wherein said hollow body has an upper surface and a sole;

wherein said hollow body, viewed from above, has an outer periphery and a peripheral region containing said outer periphery;

wherein said upper surface has a first center portion, located inwardly of said peripheral region;

wherein said sole has a second center portion, located inwardly of said peripheral region; and

wherein said outer peripheral region has an average weight-per-unit of outer surface area which is substantially greater than the average weight-per-unit of outer surface area of said center portions.

2. A golf club head comprising:

a metal club face and hosel unit;

a hollow body comprising a shell molded of a light weight material and having at least one port molded in said shell;

wherein said port has a peripheral wall having opposite ends; and

wherein at least one of said ends is bonded to said shell.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 2,

wherein said hollow body, viewed from above, has an outer periphery and a peripheral region containing said outer periphery;

wherein said at least one port extends into said hollow body from said peripheral region.

4. A golf club head according to claim 3, wherein said at least one port contains a weight plug secured therein.

5. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein said hollow body includes a plurality of ports extending into said hollow body from said peripheral regions, wherein each port contains a weight plug secured therein.

6. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein said weight plugs are removably secured in said ports.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a club face;

a hollow body molded of a light weight material;

wherein said hollow body, viewed from above, has an outer periphery and a peripheral region containing said outer periphery;

wherein said upper surface has a first center portion, located inwardly of said peripheral region;

wherein said sole has a second center portion, located inwardly of said peripheral region; and

wherein said hollow body has at least one vertically oriented port extending through said center portions for reducing the weight of said center portions, said port being defined by a peripheral wall having opposite ends bonded to said center portions.

8. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein said vertically oriented port is shaped to assist in aligning the club head for a shot.

9. A method of forming a golf club head comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a hollow prepreg form of uncured composite material;

(b) wrapping said prepreg form around pins to form ports;

(c) inserting at least one inflatable bladder into said prepreg form;

(d) placing said prepreg form into a closed mold having the shape of a golf club head; and

(e) heating said mold, while inflating said bladder, so that said prepreg form assumes the shape of the mold and cures, and such that the prepreg forms around internal pins to form ports during molding.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising further the step of providing a second bladder within said prepreg form, providing a plurality of hollow plugs of uncured composite material, inserting said mold pins through said plugs, positioning said plugs between said bladders such that said plugs form said ports during molding.