Golf club head

• US 5,720,674 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Galy, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/640,340
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 473/345, 473/334, 473/335, 473/338, 473/339, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0433 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

Abstract

A golf club head (1) whose volume is delimited by a crown (3), a sole-plate (11), a belt (4), and a hitting surface (2), junctions between the belt (4) and the hitting surface (2) delimiting a heel (9) and a toe (10). The belt (4) comprises at least one arcuate portion (8, 32, 33, 34, 35) which forms a visible layer of the belt (4), while extending along the belt (4) between the heel (9) and the tip (10), the arcuate portion (8, 32, 33, 34, 35) being a peripheral weight made of a high-density material.

Claims

1. A golf club head of a wood type comprising a body made of a low density material, said golf club head having a hollow volume delimited by an upper face, or crown, and a lower face, or sole-plate, separated by a belt and a front, or hitting, surface junctions of said belt and of said hitting surface delimiting a heel and a toe, wherein said belt comprises at least one arcuate portion extending peripherally along said belt between said heel and said toe and forming a visible layer of said belt, said arcuate portion being a peripheral weight made of a metallic material having a higher density than said low density material.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising an arcuate portion which is continuous along said belt from said heel to said toe.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein a total weight of said head is between 185 and 205 grams, a weight of said arcuate portion is between 40 and 60 grams, and a volume of said head is between 250 and 270 cm³.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the head comprises at least (a) an upper part incorporating said crown, said hitting surface, and an upper portion of said belt;

(b) a lower part incorporating said sole-plate and a lower portion of said belt; and

(c) an intermediate part constituted by said arcuate portion.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein said upper part, said lower part and said intermediate part are screwed together.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, comprising said at least one arcuate portion and a block incorporating at least said crown, said belt, said sole plate, and said hitting surface.

7. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein said arcuate portion is made of a copper metal alloy, and said block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy.

8. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein said arcuate portion and said block are welded together.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, comprising two arcuate portions, which, taken together, extend over at least 60% of a length of said belt between said heel and said toe.

10. The golf club head according to claim 9, wherein said head comprises at least (a) a first arcuate portion, (b) a second arcuate portion, and (c) a block comprising at least said crown, said belt, said sole-plate, and said hitting surface.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein said first and second arcuate portions are made of a copper-based metal alloy and said block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy.

12. The golf club head according to claim 10, wherein said arcuate portions and said block are welded together.

13. The golf club head according to claim 9, wherein the total weight of said head is between 185 and 205 grams, the weight of each said arcuate portion is between 16 and 34 grams, and the volume of said head is between 250 and 270 cm³.

14. A process for manufacture of a golf club head of a wood type having a volume delimited by an upper face, or crown, and a lower face, or sole-plate, separated by a belt, and a front, or hitting, surface, junctions between said belt and said hitting surface delimiting a heel and a toe, said process comprising assembling distinct first and second elements, said first element being an arcuate portion, which is a visible layer of said belt extending peripherally along said belt between said heel and said toe, said second element being a block incorporating at least said crown, said belt, said sole-plate, and said hitting surface.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein said arcuate portion is made of a high-density material such as a copper metal alloy, and said block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy.

16. The process according to claim 14, wherein said arcuate portion and said block are welded together.