Golf club and weighting system

• US 6,348,012 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Erickson, Joel B., Guard, John G., DiMarco, Thomas J., Dooley, James F., Pimentel, M. Grace Hohn
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/672,269
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 473/349, 473/350, 473/342, 473/345, 473/346, 473/409, 298/21, 228/110.1, 164/39
• 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 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: Y10T 29/53535 including means to vibrate work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53657 to apply or remove a resilient article [e.g., tube, sleeve, etc.]

Abstract

A golf club head having a defined internal cavity, and a golf club head containing a bi-material weight having a nonhomogeneous structure is disclosed herein. A method to add the bi-material weight to the golf club entails heating, vibration and cooling to produce the nonhomogeneous structure is also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method of producing a golf club head with a specific weight, the golf club head having an internal cavity defined by a plurality of walls of the golf club head, the internal cavity having an opening for access thereto, the method comprising:

placing a plurality of tungsten spheres within the internal cavity;

dispensing a second weight material into the internal cavity, the second weight material heated to a liquid phase, the second weight material having a density that is lower than tungsten;

imparting vibrational energy to orient the plurality of tungsten spheres throughout the second weight material within the internal cavity; and

cooling the second weight material to a solid phase within the internal cavity.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising heating the golf club head and the plurality of tungsten spheres within the internal cavity prior to dispensing the second weight material.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the internal cavity defines a cavity volume, and the plurality of tungsten spheres occupies 10% to 40% of the cavity volume.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the weight of the plurality of tungsten spheres is 15% to 60% of the weight of a combination of the plurality of tungsten spheres and the second weight material.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of tungsten spheres is oriented toward a toe region of the golf club head.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of tungsten spheres is oriented toward a heel region of the golf club head.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of tungsten spheres is oriented for equal distribution throughout the cavity.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising weighing the golf club head.

9. A method of producing a golf club head with a specific weight, the golf club head having an internal cavity defined by a plurality of walls of the golf club head and having an opening for access thereto, the method comprising:

placing a first weight material into the internal cavity through the opening, the first weight material having a density ranging from 12 g/cm³ to 20 g/cm³;

dispensing a second weight material into the internal cavity through the opening, the second weight material heated to a liquid phase, the second weight material having a density that is less than the density of the first weight material;

imparting vibrational energy to the golf club head to provide intimate contact between the first weight material which forms a discontinuous phase and the second weight material which forms a continuous phase; and

cooling the second weight material to a solid phase within the internal cavity.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising heating the golf club head and the first weight material prior to dispensing the second weight material into the internal cavity.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the internal cavity defines a cavity volume, and the first metal material occupies 10% to 40% of the cavity volume.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the weight of the first weight material is 15% to 60% of the weight of a combination of the first and the second weight material.

13. A method of producing a golf club head with a specific weight, the golf club head having an internal cavity defined by a plurality of walls of the golf club head, the internal cavity having an opening for access thereto, the method comprising:

placing a plurality of tungsten alloy spheres within the internal cavity;

dispensing a bismuth-tin solder into the internal cavity, the bismuth-tin solder heated to a liquid phase;

imparting vibrational energy to orient the plurality of tungsten alloy spheres throughout the bismuth-tin solder within the internal cavity; and

cooling the bismuth-tin solder to a solid phase within the internal cavity.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the golf club head is an iron-type club head with a rear cavity.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein imparting vibrational energy is accomplished by a mechanical device, ultrasound or radiation.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein cooling the bismuth-tin solder is accomplished by refrigeration, immersion in water or air cooling.