COMPOSITE METAL WOOD CLUB

• US 20090023511A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rice, Scott A., Meyer, Jeffrey W., Poynor, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,553,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/290
• 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/045 by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00

Abstract

A metal wood golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, comprising of a body portion and a crown portion, each portion constructed of a different density material. Combining a high-density material in the body portion, with a low-density material in the crown portion, creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The material for the crown portion is preferably a composite. A vibration dampening gasket is disposed between the ledge and lip sections of the body and crown respectively.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face portion including an inner zone and an intermediate zone surrounding the inner zone, wherein the inner zone has a relatively high flexural stiffness such that a measurement zone, defined by a rectangle having the dimensions of 0.5 inch by 1.0 inch with a geometric center that coincides with a geometric center of the face portion, has a lowest COR that is at least 93 percent of a maximum COR;

a body portion formed of a material having a first density;

a crown portion formed of a second material having a second density that is less than the first density, such that the club head has a center of gravity that is lower than the geometric center of the face portion; and

a dampening layer juxtaposed the body portion and the crown portion for acoustical attenuation between the frequencies of 3800 Hz and 10,000 Hz.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the inner zone and the intermediate zone create a gradient of flexural stiffness in the direction of high toe to low heel.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the club head is positioned below the geometric center of the face by 0.05 inch to 0.15 inch.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown portion is comprised of an inner surface layer composed of a vibration dampening material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the dampening layer is a gasket juxtaposed the body portion and the crown portion.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the inner zone and the intermediate zone are non-circular and form a major axis and a minor axis orthogonal to the major axis such that the major axis forms an angle of between 10 degrees and 60 degrees with a shaft axis.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the angle is between 20 degrees and 50 degrees.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the angle is between 25 degrees and 45 degrees.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the acoustical attenuation is between 28 percent and 50 percent.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the acoustic attenuation is between 28 percent and 50 percent when the club head is measured at a swing speed of 90 mph.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the acoustic attenuation is between 20 percent and 32 percent when the club head is measured at a swing speed of 105 mph.

12. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

a body portion coupled to the shaft and formed of a material having a first density, the body portion being comprised of a face portion including a measurement zone defined by a rectangle having the dimensions of 0.5 inch by 1.0 inch with a geometric center that coincides with a geometric center of the face portion and having a lowest COR that is at least 93 percent of a maximum COR;

a crown portion formed of a second material having a second density that is less than the first density, such that the club head has a center of gravity that is lower than the geometric center of the face portion; and

a dampening layer juxtaposed the body portion and the crown portion for acoustical attenuation between the frequencies of 3800 Hz and 10,000 Hz.

13. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the shaft is less than 50 grams and has a shaft torque of greater than 3.5 degrees.

14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the body portion is coupled to the shaft such that the face portion is at least 1 degree closed.

15. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the face portion has an effective hitting area of at least 7.5 inches squared.

16. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the measurement zone exhibits a reduction in back spin variance when measured and a club head speed of 90 mph and a launch angle of 11 degrees.

17. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the body portion is forged and the second material is a composite.

18. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the maximum COR is greater than 0.80.

19. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the dampening layer is a gasket that is juxtaposed an outer perimeter of the crown portion.