METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A FACE STRUCTURE FOR A GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20090181793A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: ERICKSON, MATTHEW T., EHLERS, STEVEN M., KOSMATKA, JOHN B., NIGRO, ANTHONY V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,645,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3206 aliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

A golf club head having a multiple material face is disclosed herein. The golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value greater than 0.83 and a characteristic time value of less than 257 milliseconds. The golf club head is preferably composed of a titanium alloy with a polymer layer disposed over a titanium alloy front wall. A preferred polymer is a polyurethane polymer.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole and a front wall, the body having a hollow interior, the body having a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters;

wherein a face of the golf club head has an aspect ratio greater than 0.575;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 185 grams to 215 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value greater than or equal to 0.83 and a characteristic time value of less than 257 milliseconds under the standard USGA Pendulum Test.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the front wall comprises a polymer layer disposed on an exterior surface of a metal face wall, the polymer layer comprising a polymer material with an integrated reinforcement structure, the polymer layer having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the integrated reinforcement structure is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aramid fiber, fiberglass, carbon and polyurethane.

4. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the body is composed of a titanium alloy material and the metal face wall has a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.150 inch.

5. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the polymer material of the polymer layer is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether block copolymer, ionomer, nylon, polyamide and polypropylene.

6. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the polymer layer has a thickness ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.120 inch.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2700 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value ranging from 0.835 to 0.855.