Integral sole plate and hosel for a golf club head

• US 6,332,847 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Evans, D. Clayton, Reyes, Herbert, Murphy, James M., Jacobson, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/753,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 473/305, 473/335, 473/336, 473/345, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/344
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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: B29C 70/342 using isostatic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/865 completely encapsulated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

A golf club head having a sole plate and hosel integral piece is disclosed herein. The integral piece may be composed of a metal material for with a golf club head having a composite body. The integral piece also improves the consistency of the loft and lie parameters of a golf club head. The hosel may be formed with the sole plate, or the hosel may be connected to the sole plate. The integral piece may also have a polymer sleeve thereabout to assist in reducing the stress at the tip end of a shaft inserted into the hosel.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a composite material of fibrous plies of pre-preg, the body having a hollow interior, a face, a sole, and a crown, the crown having a crown aperture therein, the sole having a recess and a sole aperture; and

a sole plate having an integral hosel tube projecting therefrom, the sole plate disposed within the recess of the sole and the hosel tube extending through the sole aperture and disposed in relation to the crown aperture, the sole plate and integral hosel tube composed of an injection molded polymer material that has a density greater than the composite material.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the sole plate is substantially flat having a thickness in the range of 0.01 inch to 0.50 inch.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the composite body has a weight strip or a loaded film embedded therein.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the integral hosel tube is positioned at an angle between 90 and 140 degrees relative to the sole plate.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the integral hosel tube has a passageway with a diameter in the range of 0.300 inch to 0.500 inch.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the sole plate and integral hosel tube weigh in the range of 30 to 50 grams.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the sole plate is bonded to the sole with an epoxy adhesive.