Golf club-heads having a particular relationship of face area to face mass

• US 20080146374A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Larsen, Peter L., Beach, Todd P., Chao, Bing-Ling
• Granted Patent: US 8,096,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/350
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• 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

Golf clubs and club-heads for same are disclosed. An exemplary club-head has a hollow body and a face plate. The body defines a front opening and a face support, wherein the face plate is affixed to the face support and covers the front opening. The “face portion” of the club-head has a face area (A_f, in mm²) and a face mass (M_f, in grams), wherein A_f>5400 mm², and in a plot of M_f as a function of A_f, M_f is below M_f=0.0072(A_f)+18. At least a portion of the face plate can be made of composite. E.g., the face plate can include a composite plate made of carbon fiber and cured epoxy resin. The strike face of the face plate can include a composite plate and a cap bonded to the composite plate on the strike face. The cap can be made of a metallic material, such as (but not limited to) titanium alloy or stainless steel.

Claims

1. A club-head for a golf club, comprising:

a hollow body defining a front opening having a face support; and

a face plate affixed to the face support and covering the front opening;

wherein a face portion of the club-head has a face area (A_f) and a face mass (M_f, in grams);

A_f≧

5400 mm²; and

in a plot of M_f as a function of A_f, M_f is below M_f=0.0072(A_f)+18.

2. The club-head of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one wall made of metal.

3. The club-head of claim 2, wherein the metal comprises titanium alloy.

4. The club-head of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the face plate comprises a composite material.

5. The club-head of claim 4, wherein the face plate comprises a composite plate.

6. The club-head of claim 5, wherein the composite plate comprises carbon fiber and cured epoxy resin.

7. The club-head of claim 4, wherein:

the face plate has a strike face; and

the face plate comprises a composite plate and a cap bonded to the composite plate on the strike face.

8. The club-head of claim 7, wherein the cap comprises a metallic material.

9. The club-head of claim 1, wherein the face plate has a substantially uniform thickness.

10. The club-head of claim 1, wherein the face plate has a variable thickness.

11. The club-head of claim 10, wherein peripheral regions of the face plate are thinner than a central region of the face plate.

12. The club-head of claim 1, wherein:

the face plate has a strike face;

the face plate comprises a composite plate and a metal cap bonded to the composite plate on the strike face;

the composite plate has a substantially uniform thickness; and

the metal cap has a substantially uniform thickness.

13. The club-head of claim 1, wherein:

the face plate has a strike face;

the face plate comprises a composite plate and a metal cap bonded to the composite plate on the strike face;

the composite plate has a variable thickness; and

the metal cap has a substantially uniform thickness.

14. The club-head of claim 1, wherein:

the body comprises body walls defining an external contour;

the body walls include a transition zone in which the external contour transitions to the face plate; and

the walls of the transition zone have an inside radius in a range of 0.1 to 3.0 mm.

15. The club-head of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the body walls is made of titanium alloy.

16. The club-head of claim 1, wherein:

the face plate has a strike face;

the face plate comprises a composite plate and a metal cap bonded to the composite plate on the strike face; and

the body comprises body walls comprising a titanium alloy.

17. The club-head of claim 1, wherein A_f is within a range of 5400 to 10,000 mm².

18. The club-head of claim 17, wherein A_f is within a range of 7000 to 10,000 mm².

19. The club-head of claim 17, wherein A_f is within a range of 8500 to 10,000 mm².

31. The golf club of claim 17, wherein A_f is within a range of 5400 to 10,000 mm².

32. The golf club of claim 31, wherein A_f is within a range of 7000 to 10,000 mm².

33. The golf club of claim 31, wherein A_f is within a range of 8500 to 10,000 mm².

20. A golf club, comprising:

a club-head, comprising a hollow body and a face plate, the body defining a front opening having a face support, and the face plate being affixed to the face support and covering the front opening; and

a shaft affixed to the club-head;

wherein a face portion of the club-head has a face area (A_f) and a face mass (M_f, in grams), A_f≧

5400 mm², and in a plot of M_f as a function of A_f, M_f is below M_f=0.0072(A_f)+18.

21. The golf club of claim 20, further comprising a hosel to which the shaft is affixed.

22. The golf club of claim 20, configured as a driver.

23. The golf club of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the face plate comprises a composite material.

24. The golf club of claim 23, wherein the face plate comprises a composite plate.

25. The golf club of claim 24, wherein the composite plate comprises carbon fiber and cured epoxy resin.

26. The golf club of claim 23, wherein:

the face plate has a strike face; and

the face plate comprises a composite plate and a cap bonded to the composite plate on the strike face.

27. The golf club of claim 26, wherein the cap comprises a metallic material.

28. The golf club of claim 27, wherein the body comprises a titanium alloy.

29. The golf club of claim 20, wherein the face plate has a substantially uniform thickness.

30. The golf club of claim 20, wherein the face plate has a variable thickness.

34. The golf club of claim 20, wherein the body comprises body walls defining an external contour;

the body walls include a transition zone in which the external contour transitions to the face plate; and

the walls of the transition zone have an inside radius in a range of 0.1 to 3.0 mm.