IRON GOLF CLUB WITH IMPROVED MASS PROPERTIES AND VIBRATION DAMPING

• US 20110201449A1
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/332
• 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 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 53/047 iron-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 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club is provided having improved playing characteristics based upon a multiple material construction. This construction involves a club body in combination with a face insert that defines a hollow channel therebetween. This hollow channel is substantially filled with a heterogeneous viscoelastic material, such as urethane containing tungsten powder. The heterogeneous material is formulated such that the density of the material is varied based upon the location of that material within the hollow channel of the golf club head. In particular, lower density portions of the material are located near the top of the club head, and higher density portions are located near the bottom or sole of the club head. This moves the center of gravity of the club head downward and rearward, yielding improved feel and improved weight distribution and enhancing performance of the club.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body portion defining a perimeter weight and constructed of a first material;

a hitting face disposed at the front of the body portion;

a channel defined by a portion of the perimeter weight, at least a portion of the channel being fully circumscribed by the perimeter weight and a back surface of the face;

at least one opening in the body portion adjacent to the channel, the opening located at a back of the body portion;

wherein a part of the channel is not exposed by the at least one opening;

said at least one opening comprising a first opening positioned near a top line of the body portion and a second opening positioned near a sole of the body portion;

a second material disposed in at least a portion of the channel, wherein the second material is different from the first material;

a third material disposed in at least a portion of the channel, wherein the third material is different from the first and second materials; and

wherein said second material is exposed by said first opening, and said third material is exposed by said second opening.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second material is disposed in only an upper portion of the entire channel near the top line of the body portion.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third material is disposed in only a lower portion of the entire channel near the sole of the body portion.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third material has a greater density than the first and second materials.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third material is a heterogeneous composite material comprising of tungsten.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second material has a lesser density than the first and third materials.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a viscoelastic material.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first opening is an elongate channel.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second opening is an elongate channel.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second and third materials comprise UV stabilizers.

11. A golf club head, comprising:

a body portion defining a perimeter weight and constructed of a first material;

a hitting face disposed at the front of the body portion;

a channel defined by a portion of the perimeter weight, at least a portion of the channel being fully circumscribed by the perimeter weight and a back surface of the face;

at least one opening in the body portion adjacent to the channel, the opening located at a back of the body portion;

said at least one opening comprising a first opening positioned near a top line of the body portion and a second opening positioned near a sole of the body portion;

a second material disposed in at least a first portion of the channel, wherein the second material is different from the first material, wherein said second material is exposed by said second opening;

a second portion of the channel, wherein no material is disposed within the second portion of the channel creating a hollow space, wherein the hollow space is exposed by said first opening.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second material is disposed in only a lower portion of the entire channel near the sole of the body portion.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second material has a greater density than the first material.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second material is a heterogeneous composite material comprising of tungsten.

15. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second material comprises a viscoelastic material.

16. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the first opening is an elongate channel.

17. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein a part of the channel is not exposed by the at least one opening.

18. A golf club head, comprising:

a body portion defining a perimeter weight and constructed of a first material;

a hitting face disposed at the front of the body portion;

a channel defined by a portion of the perimeter weight, at least a portion of the channel being fully circumscribed by the perimeter weight and a back surface of the face;

a second material disposed in at least a portion of the channel, wherein the second material is a heterogeneous composite material and is different than the first material;

wherein said second material is exposed by at least one of said first or second opening,

a step running along the perimeter weight, spaced from the back surface of the face to produce a gap, configured to allow the injection of the second material through the gap and into at least a portion of the channel.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, further comprising:

a third material disposed in at least a portion of the channel, wherein the third material is a heterogeneous composite material and is different from the first and second materials; and

said third material is exposed by at least one of said first or second opening.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein:

the third material has a greater density than the first and second materials, the second material has a lesser density than the first material;

the second material is exposed by the first opening; and

the third material is exposed by the second opening.