Golf club head

• US 6,354,963 B1
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Company Limited (Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Company Limited (Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kodama, Hitoshi, Ishimori, Takumi, Numata, Kiharu, Takemoto, Hidehiro, Takano, Tsuneo
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/290,649
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/345, 473/346, 473/349, 473/350, 473/342, 473/347, 473/348, 473/290, 473/291, 473/287, 473/334, 473/335
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown 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
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/44 using isostatic pressure, e.g. pressure difference-moulding, vacuum bag-moulding, autoclave-moulding or expanding rubber-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/885 with incorporated metallic wires, nets, films or plates as lost heating elements B29C35/0272, B29C61/0625
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

Abstract

A hollow golf club head provides for a longer flight distance, a larger “sweet spot”, and reduced veering in the flight path than a conventional golf club head. The golf club head has a maximum weight of 200 g, a volume in the range from 300 to 900 cc and a moment of inertia of at least 4·10 ⁻⁴ kg·m². The head is made from a fiber reinforced epoxy resin which provides at least 30 kg/mm². Suitable reinforcing fibers include carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber and polyester fiber. Suitable resin materials include epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin and vinyl ester resin. The reinforcing fibers in the resin are arranged such that adjacent layers of reinforcing material are oriented perpendicular to one another. The perpendicular orientation of the fibers provide shock resistance to the head. A high elasticity and high density component, such as tungsten, is dispersed in the resin to provide reduced vibrations and improved acoustics to the head when impacting a ball. The outer layer of the head can be made from a metal material, such as titanium, to minimize damage to the face and the sole of the head due to friction. The club head is formed by: cutting fiber prepregs into a specified shape, placing the cut fiber prepregs into a two-piece concave mold such that the fibers in adjacent layers are aligned perpendicular to one another, closing the two-part concave mold around a nylon tube bag, pressurizing the nylon tube bag as the closed two part mold is heated to 130° C. for 1 hour, and splitting the mold open after heating to provide a hollow golf club head.

Claims

1. A hollow golf club head comprising:

a material having a specific strength of at least 30 kg/mm² wherein a moment of inertia around a vertical axis passing through a center of gravity when said head is in a usage position is 4·

10−

4 kg·

m²; and

said hollow golf club head having a volume of at least 400 cc.

2. A golf club head as described in claim 1 wherein said head has a maximum weight of 200 g.

3. A golf club head as described in claim 2 wherein said head has a volume in a range from 400 to 900 cc.

4. A golf club head as described in claim 3, wherein said head has a face with a minimum thickness of 4 mm.

5. A golf club head as described in claim 4 wherein an exterior surface of said head is layered with a metal fiber material.

6. A golf club head as described in claim 5 wherein said metal fiber material has a plurality of openings.

7. A golf club head as described in claim 6 wherein said material is a carbon fiber, bidirectionally reinforced epoxy resin.

8. A hollow golf club head for striking a golf ball when said golf club head is in a usage position, comprising:

a composite material formed in a shape;

said hollow golf club head having a volume of at least 400 cc;

said composite material having a specific strength in a range from 30 to 60 kg/mm²; and

a moment of inertia around a vertical axis passing through a center of gravity of said golf club head when said golf club head is in a usage position.

9. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8 wherein said moment of inertia is at least 4·

10<sup>−

4</sup> kg·

m².

10. A hollow golf club head as in claim 9 wherein said golf club head has a volume in a range from 400 to 900 cc.

11. A hollow golf club head as in claim 10, wherein said composite material has a head thickness of at least 3 mm.

12. A hollow golf club head as in claim 11, wherein said composite material includes a reinforced fiber.

13. A hollow golf club head as in claim 12, wherein said composite material includes a matrix resin.

14. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8 wherein said golf club head has a maximum volume of 900 cc.

15. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8, wherein said composite material has a head thickness of at least 3 mm.

16. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8, wherein said composite material includes a reinforced fiber.

17. A hollow golf club head as in claim 16, wherein said reinforced fiber includes at least one of carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber and polyester fiber.

18. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8, wherein said composite material includes a matrix resin.

19. A hollow golf club head as in claim 18, wherein said matrix resin includes at least one of epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin and vinyl ester resin.

20. A hollow golf club head as in claim 18, wherein a component is dispersed within said matrix resin, said component having a high elasticity and high density.

21. A hollow golf club head as in claim 20, wherein said component includes tungsten.

22. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8, wherein said composite material includes a bidirectionally reinforced matrix resin having an amount of reinforcement material dispersed therein.

23. A hollow golf club head as in claim 22, wherein said amount of reinforcement material is a minimum of 40% of a total volume of said matrix resin.

24. A hollow golf club head as in claim 22, wherein said amount of reinforcement material is a maximum of 70% of a total volume of said matrix resin.

25. A hollow golf club head as in claim 22, wherein said amount of reinforcement material is in a range from 40% to 70% of a total volume of said matrix resin.

26. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8, wherein:

said composite material has a first layer formed on a second layer;

said first layer including reinforced fibers aligned along a direction; and

said second layer including reinforced fibers aligned perpendicular to said direction.

27. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8, wherein said composite material has an outermost metal fiber layer.

28. A hollow golf club as in claim 27, wherein said metal fiber layer has a plurality of openings dispersed thereon.

29. A hollow golf club as in claim 27, wherein said metal fiber layer includes at least one of stainless steel, titanium alloy, and high-tensile aluminum alloy.

30. A hollow golf club head as in claim 8 wherein:

said moment of inertia is at least 4·

10<sup>−

4</sup> kg·

m²;

said golf club head has a volume in a range from 400 to 900 cc;

said composite material includes a bidirectionally reinforced matrix resin having an amount of reinforcement material dispersed therein;

said amount of reinforcement material is in a range from 40% to 70% of a total volume of said matrix resin; and

said matrix resin includes tungsten dispersed therein.