Golf club

• US 4,730,830 A
• Filed: 04/09/1986
• Issued: 03/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon J. Tilley
• Original Assignee: Gordon J. Tilley
• Inventors: Tilley, Gordon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/849,909
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 273/173, 273/78, 273/167 H, 273/174, 273/171, 273/172, 273/170, 273/167 F, 273/167 J
• US Class Current: 473/337
• 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 53/0416 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club having a hollow head (10) is filled with a filling material formed with a multiplicity of blind bores (18). The bores are spaced apart in the filling material, and the open ends of the bores normally are covered by an insert (14a) which forms the striking surface of the golf club head. The insert is detachable from the hollow head to permit access to the open ends of the blind bores. The blind bores can receive weights to achieve a desired weight and balance of the hollow head. The weights are removable when the insert is detached from the hollow head. The front ball striking surface of the insert is defined by a layer of woven plastic impregnated with a liquid plastic material, such as epoxy resin. The rear surface of the insert includes a layer of compacted, folded strands or ribbons of carbon fiber. When a foam filling material is injected into the hollow club head, the foam will reach and penetrate interstices of the folded carbon strands.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a hollow head;

a filling material having multiplicity of spaced apart blind bores disposed in said hollow head;

an insert detachably mounted on said hollow head, said insert normally covering the open ends of said bores and permitting access to said bores when detached from said hollow head; and

at least one weight removably receivable in respective ones of said bores when said insert is detached for adjusting the balance of said hollow head.

2. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein a surface of said insert forms a ball engaging surface comprising a surface element which is woven from filaments of plastics material.

3. A golf club according to claim 2, wherein said surface element is backed by an impact-resistant material coextensive with a rear face of said surface element.

4. A golf club according to claim 3, wherein said impact-resistant material comprises carbon in the form of ribbons or strands of carbon fiber looped and compacted to form a unitary body.

5. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said insert is received in a recess formed in said hollow head to present said ball engaging surface flush with the exterior of said hollow head.