GOLF CLUB HEADS AND METHODS TO MANUFACTURE GOLF CLUB HEADS

• US 20190314690A1
• Filed: 05/24/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, Llc
• Original Assignee: Parsons Xtreme Golf, Llc
• Inventors: Schweigert, Bradley D., Nicolette, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,722,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0429 the face insert comprising two or more layers of material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/006 Surfaces specially adapted for reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion having a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The front portion may include a front pocket defined by an interior wall. A face portion may be positioned in the front pocket. The material of the face portion may have a substantially higher yield strength than the material of the interior wall. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the front portion comprising;

a front pocket formed in the front portion, the front pocket defined by a perimeter surface and an interior surface, the interior surface of the front pocket defining a surface of an interior wall, the interior wall having a thickness between and including 0.020 inch and 0.030 inch, the interior wall comprising a first material having a first yield strength; and

a face portion positioned in the front pocket, the face portion comprising a second material having a second yield strength, the face portion having a front surface and a rear surface, at least a portion of the rear surface of the face portion contacting the interior surface of the front pocket, the face portion having a thickness between and including 0.080 inch and 0.120 inch,

wherein a perimeter surface of the face portion is joined to the perimeter surface of the front pocket, and

wherein the second yield strength is at least 40% greater than the first yield strength.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a cast titanium material, and the second material comprises a forged titanium material.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 further comprising a first opening in the interior wall and a second opening in the interior wall, wherein the first opening is located above a center point of the front pocket and the second opening is located below a center point of the front pocket.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 1 further comprising a first opening in the interior wall and a second opening in the interior wall, wherein the first opening is located on a heel side of the front pocket and the second opening is located on a toe side of the front pocket.

5. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the face portion comprises an X-shaped protrusion on the rear surface of the face portion, the X-shaped protrusion comprising a first protrusion extending from the rear surface and intersecting with a second protrusion extending from the rear surface.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the first material has a density greater than 4.4 grams per cubic centimeter, and the second material has a density greater than 4.4 grams per cubic centimeter.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion;

a front pocket formed in the front portion, the front pocket comprising an interior wall, the interior wall comprising a first material having a first yield strength; and

a face portion positioned in the front pocket and joined to the front portion, the face portion comprising a second material having a second yield strength,

wherein the first material is a cast titanium material,

wherein the second material is a forged titanium material, and

wherein the second yield strength is at least 40% greater than the first yield strength.

8. A golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the second material has a yield strength at least 45% greater than a yield strength of the first material.

9. A golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the face portion is joined to the front portion by a weld bead extending around a front perimeter edge of the face portion.

10. A golf club head as defined in claim 7, wherein the front pocket has a depth of less than 0.110 inch.

11. A golf club head as defined in claim 7 further comprising a gap between a side surface of the face portion and a side surface of the front pocket, wherein the gap is at least partially filled with a weld material.

12. A golf club head as defined in claim 7 further comprising a V-shaped gap between a side surface of the face portion and a side surface of the front pocket, wherein the V-shaped gap is at least partially filled with a weld material.

13. A golf club head as defined in claim 7 further comprising a polymer insert on an inner surface of the bottom portion.

14. A golf club head comprising:

a body portion comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a bottom portion, and a top portion having an opening;

a front pocket formed in the front portion, the front pocket defined by an interior wall and a perimeter surface; and

a face portion comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a front perimeter edge, a rear perimeter edge, and a perimeter surface extending between the front perimeter edge and the rear perimeter edge, the face portion positioned in the front pocket, the rear surface of the face portion in contact with the interior wall of the front pocket,

wherein the interior wall comprises a first titanium-based material and the face portion comprises a second titanium-based material, the second titanium-based material having a yield strength at least 40% greater than a yield strength of the first titanium-based material.

15. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein the second titanium-based material has a yield strength at least 50% greater than a yield strength of the first titanium-based material.

16. A golf club head as defined in claim 14 further comprising a weld between a perimeter surface of the face portion and the perimeter surface of the front pocket.

17. A golf club head as defined in claim 14 further comprising a crown portion attached to the top portion and covering the opening, the crown portion comprising:

an upper plurality of composite layers;

a lower plurality of composite layers;

a crown stiffening portion disposed between the upper plurality of composite layers and the lower plurality of composite layers, the crown stiffening portion comprising;

a first integral rib extending from a front perimeter of the crown portion toward a rear perimeter of the crown portion, the first integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers; and

a second integral rib extending from the front perimeter of the crown portion toward the rear perimeter of the crown portion, the second integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers.

18. A golf club head as defined in claim 14 further comprising a crown portion attached to the top portion and covering the opening, the crown portion comprising:

an upper plurality of composite layers;

a lower plurality of composite layers; and

a crown stiffening portion disposed between the upper plurality of composite layers and the lower plurality of composite layers, the crown stiffening portion comprising;

a toe-side integral rib extending from a front perimeter of the crown portion to a rear perimeter of the crown portion, the toe-side integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers;

a heel-side integral rib extending from the front perimeter of the crown portion to the rear perimeter of the crown portion, the heel-side integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers; and

a central integral rib extending along the front perimeter of the crown portion and connecting the toe-side integral rib to the heel-side integral rib, the central integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers.

19. A golf club head as defined in claim 14 further comprising a crown portion attached to the top portion and covering the opening, the crown portion comprising:

an upper plurality of composite layers;

a lower plurality of composite layers;

a first integral rib disposed between the upper plurality of composite layers and the lower plurality of composite layers, the first integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers arranged in a stack, wherein at least one composite layer in the stack is wider than an adjacent composite layer in the stack; and

a second integral rib disposed between the upper plurality of composite layers and the lower plurality of composite layers, the second integral rib comprising a plurality of composite layers arranged in a stack, wherein at least one composite layer in the stack is wider than an adjacent composite layer in the stack.

20. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein the interior wall has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.25 inch, and the face portion has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.105 inch.