Crownless golf club

• US 5,518,242 A
• Filed: 06/26/1995
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lisco Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Steven J., Melanson, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/494,871
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 273/169, 273/173, 273/167 E, 273/167 H, 273/78, D21/214, D21/215, D21/220
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 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 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head comprising a striking face section, a sole, and a flange extending about the periphery of the sole. The flange decreases in height from the upper edge of the striking face section to the back edge of the sole. A composition insert is secured within the front of the striking face section. This structure provides a crownless club head. In one modification, the insert has only edge support by the body of the club head. In another modification, the club head is made of a solid material having a high strength/density ratio with no face insert.

Claims

1. A golf club head formed of a base material comprising

a striking face section having a thickness T;

a sole extending rearwardly from a bottom of said face section;

a flange extending upwardly about the periphery of said sole to the back of said striking face section, said flange decreasing in height from said back of said striking face section to a back edge of said sole, said flange, said sole, and said back of said face section collectively forming an upwardly exposed cavity in said club head;

an opening having an inner surface in said striking face section;

a rim projecting from said inner surface of said opening; and

an insert of a predetermined thickness in said striking face section secured to said rim, said insert having a substantially higher strength density ratio than the base material of said club head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said insert is a titanium alloy.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said insert is a sandwich configuration comprising outer titanium alloy plates secured together by compression-molded graphite.