Combination golf club with an insert and golf ball

• US 6,273,832 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Rollinson, Augustin W., Guard, John G., Helmstetter, Richard C., Dooley, James F., Dennis, Victor S., Dewanjee, Pijush
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/693,684
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/340, 473/342, 473/349, 473/347, 473/348, 473/290, 473/291, 473/131, 473/378, 473/329, 473/331, 473/332, 473/351, 473/251, 473/341, 273/DIG.22, 273/DIG.8
• 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 53/0408 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 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• 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: Y10S 273/08 Urethane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/22 Ionomer

Abstract

A combination golf club with an insert and golf ball in which the cover of the golf ball and the insert are composed of substantially the same material. The preferred material is a thermoset polyurethane. An alternative material is an ionomer material. The golf club is preferably a putter.

Claims

1. A golf club and a golf ball, the combination comprising:

the golf club comprising club head body having a front face with a recess therein, and an insert disposed within the recess, wherein the insert comprises a body with an exterior surface, an interior surface and a perimeter defining the thickness of the body, the perimeter having a plurality of integral tabs extending therefrom that engage the club head body, wherein each of the plurality of tabs is compressible, and each of the plurality of tabs has a straight portion and a curved portion, the straight portion disposed between the curved portion and the perimeter, and the curved portion extending further than the straight portion to define an undercut between the curved portion and the perimeter; and

the golf ball comprising a core and a cover encompassing the core;

wherein the insert of the golf club and the cover of the golf ball are composed of the same material.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the material for the insert and the cover is a thermoset polyurethane.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tabs is disposed a predetermined distance apart from each other and the golf club head further comprises an epoxy disposed between each of the plurality of tabs.

4. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising means for attaching the insert within the recess of the body.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the attachment means is an epoxy adhesive applied to the interior surface of the insert.

6. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a protective coating on the exterior surface of the insert of the golf club head and on the exterior surface of the cover of the golf ball.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the club head is selected from the group consisting of a wood club head, a putter club head and an iron club head.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the golf club is a putter.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the insert is between 0.125 inch and 0.5 inch.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the material for the insert and the cover is an ionomer material.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the material for the insert and the cover is a polyetheramide material.