Multiple density golf club head and method of manufacturing the same

• US 5,938,543 A
• Filed: 07/18/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Never Compromise Inc.
• Inventors: Morris, Thomas C., Sanyal, Vikash, McGeeney, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US08/897,076
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324-350
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/74 Moulding material on a relatively small portion of the preformed part, e.g. outsert moulding B29C70/845 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/84 by moulding material on preformed parts to be joined joining plastic parts by moulding B29C65/70
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

A multiple density golf club head including a heel formed of a dense metallic material, a toe formed of a dense metallic material and a center segment formed of a non-metallic material is provided. The non-metallic material of the center segment has a density substantially less than the metallic material comprising the heel or the toe. The materials in the heel, toe and center segment extend for the entire depth of the club head. The positioning of the higher density regions at the heel and toe of the golf club provides for desirable heel-toe weighting characteristics. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a golf club head in accordance with the present invention. The method incorporates various manufacturing techniques into a cost effective process for manufacturing the club head of the present invention.

Claims

1. A golf club head having a striking face and a back surface on generally a depthwise opposite side of the golf club head from the striking face, the golf club head having a substantially uniform depthwise construction from the striking face through to the back surface, the golf club head comprising:

a heel extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface, the heel being formed of a first material having a first density;

a toe extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface, the toe being formed of a second material having a second density; and

a center segment extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface and being formed of a third material having a density less than the first density and the second density, the center segment having;

a first interface surface extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface; and

a second interface surface opposite the first interface surface and extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface,

wherein the heel is attached to the center segment at the first interface surface and the toe is attached to the center segment at the second interface surface.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said first material and said second material are the same material and said first density is the same as said second density.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first interface surface is planar and extends perpendicularly from the striking face to the rear surface; and

the second interface surface is planar and extends perpendicularly from the striking face to the rear surface.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the toe includes a toe planar surface extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface, the toe being attached to the center segment at the toe planar surface; and

the heel includes a heel planar surface extending depthwise from the striking face to the back surface, the heel being attached to the center segment at the heel planar surface.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the strike face extends across one side of said heel, toe, and center segment, said third material of said center segment being homogenous substantially entirely along at least one plane perpendicular to said strike face.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the third material of said center segment includes a polymeric material.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the third material comprises a thermosetting polymer.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said first material and said second material are metallic materials.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

said first material and said second material are the same material and are both metallic materials; and

said third material of said center segment includes a polymeric material.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 further comprising a chemical bonding agent bonding said heel to said center section and a chemical bonding agent bonding said toe to said center section along said first and second interface surfaces.