Dual density polymer putter

• US 6,386,991 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Byrne, Wayne H., Erickson, Joel B., Reyes, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/663,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/340, 473/345, 473/349, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/329, 473/332, 473/347
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf club head (22) composed of an interior body (42) having a first density and an outer shell (40) having a second density is disclosed herein. The golf club head (22) is preferably a putter. A method (100) for forming the golf club head (22) is also disclosed herein. The interior body (42) is preferably composed of an injectable polyurethane material integrated with tungsten to have a density between 4.0 g/cc to 10 g/cc. The outer shell (40) is preferably composed of a thermoplastic material such as an ionomer blend to have a density less than 1.0 g/cc.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a solid inner body having a blade portion and a flange portion composed of a first injectable material having a first density, the first density greater than 4.0 g/cc; and

an outer shell disposed over the solid inner body, the outer shell composed of a second injectable material having a second density, the second density less than the first density; and

the outer shell having a Shore D hardness of between 40 to 60;

wherein the weight of the club head is from 300 grams to 350 grams.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the first injectable material is a polyurethane material integrated with tungsten.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the tungsten is between 5 to 20 percent of the volume of the body.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the second injectable material is a material selected from the group consisting of ionomer, polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyurethane or block copolymer.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the outer shell has a thickness of between 0.100 inch and 0.500 inch.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the volume of the body is from 40 cc to 70 cc.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the first injectable material is composed of a nylon material integrated with tungsten.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the first injectable material has a first density between 6.5 g/cc and 10 g/cc.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the second injectable material is a material selected from the group consisting of ionomer, polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyurethane or block copolymer.

9. A putter head comprising:

a solid interior body composed of a polyurethane material integrated with a high density metal, the interior body having a density of 4.0 g/cc to 10 g/cc and occupying a volume of at least 100 cc;

an outer shell encompassing the interior body, the outer shell composed of a polymer material having a density less than 1.0 g/cc, the outer shell having a thickness of between 0.100 inch to 0.500 inch; and

a Shore D hardness of between 40 to 60;

wherein the weight of the club head is from 300 grams to 350 grams.

11. A method for forming a golf club head, the method comprising:

injecting a first injectable material having a first density that is greater than 4.0 g/cc into a mold having a first mold half and a second mold half mated together to form an interior body;

the interior body having a blade portion and a flange portion and having a shape substantially similar to the golf club head;

capturing the interior body within a second mold;

wherein the second mold has a first mold half and a second mold half and a plurality of gates located along the parting line of the first mold half and the second mold half;

wherein each mold half has a recess to an interior cavity and a plurality of retractable pins which captures the interior body;

injecting a second material into the second mold cavity via the plurality of gates to encompass the solid interior body and form an outer shell, the second material having a second density that is less than the first density, and the outer shell having a thickness of between 0.100 inch to 0.250 inch, a Shore D hardness of between 40 to 60;

and wherein the weight of the club head is between 300 grams to 350 grams.

12. The method according to claim 11 where in the first material is polyurethane material integrated with tungsten.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the tungsten is between 5 to 20 percent of the volume of the body.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the second material is a material selected from the group consisting of ionomer, polyether block amide, thermoplastic polyurethane and block copolymer.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the outer shell has a thickness of between 0.100 inch and 0.500 inch.

16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the volume of the interior body is from 40 cc to 70 cc;

and

wherein the total volume of the club head is between 35 cc to 120 cc.

17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the first material is composed of a nylon material integrated with tungsten.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the first material has a first density between 6.5 g/cc and 10 g/cc.