Golf club head with coated striking plate

• US 6,428,427 B1
• Filed: 10/03/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Kosmatka, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/678,942
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/332, 473/340, 473/349, 473/341, 473/291, 473/330, 473/350, 473/342, 473/345, 473/346, 473/329, 228/176
• US Class Current: 473/349
• 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 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering 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: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head (20) having a thin striking plate (30) with a smooth exterior surface and a thin layer (35) disposed on the exterior surface (53). The thin layer (35) has a plurality of scorelines (75) that absorb the shock during impact with a golf ball. The striking plate (30) has a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.200 inch, and the thin layer (35) has a thickness in the range of 0.003 inch to 0.050 inch. The striking plate (30) may have a uniform thickness or a variable thickness.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a metal material, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel end, a toe end and a hollow interior;

a striking plate composed of a metal material attached to the body, the striking plate having an interior surface toward the hollow interior and a smooth exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the striking plate also having a central region, a transition region, a first peripheral region and a second peripheral region, the central region having a first thickness ranging from 0.125 inch to 0.145 inch and occupying 5% to 15% of the exterior surface of a core face area, the transition region encompassing the central region and occupying 35% to 50% of the exterior surface of a core face area, the first peripheral region encompassing the transition region and occupying 40% to 55% of the exterior surface of the core face, the first peripheral region having a second thickness less than the first thickness and ranging from 0.075 inch to 0.110 inch, the transition region having a thickness that transitions from the first thickness to the second thickness, the second peripheral region encompassing the first peripheral region and having a third thickness that ranges from 0.045 inch to 0.080 inch; and

a polymer layer disposed on the exterior surface of the striking plate, the polymer layer having a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.100 inch, the thin layer having a plurality of scorelines thereon.

2. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a heel end, a toe end and a hollow interior, the body composed of a titanium material and having a volume in excess of 280 cubic centimeters and weighing less than 215 grams;

a striking plate attached to the body, the striking plate having an interior surface toward the hollow interior and a smooth exterior surface opposite the interior she, the striking plate having a thickness range of 0.060 inch to 0.150 inch, the string plate composed of a titanium material and having an area greater 4.80 square inches; and

a polymer layer disposed on the exterior surface of the sing plate, the polymer layer having a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.050 inch, the thin layer having a plurality of scorelines thereon, each of the plurality of scorelines having a depth in the range of 0.003 inch to 0.025 inch, the polymer layer attached to the exterior surface by an adhesive.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the golf club head has a COR of at least 0.83 under USGA test conditions.

4. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of scorelines is comprised of 13 horizontal scorelines.

5. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the thin layer has a central impact region that has a low friction and low energy loss, and a peripheral impact region that has a high friction coefficient and a high energy loss.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein the central impact region of the thin layer is composed of a first polymer material and the peripheral impact region of the thin layer is composed of a second polymer material.

7. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the first polymer material is a polyurethane material having a Shore D hardness greater than 50 and the second polymer material is a polyurethane material having a Shore D hardness lower than 40.

8. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a titanium alloy material, the body having a crown, a sole and a striking plate which define a hollow interior, the sting plate having an interior surface toward the hollow interior and a smooth exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the sing plate hang a thickness range of 0.060 inch to 0.150 inch and an area greater than 4.80 square inches, wherein the body has a volume in excess of 280 cubic centimeters and a mass less than 215 grams;

a single layer composed of a thermoset polyurethane adhesively attached to the smooth exterior surface of the striking plate, the single layer having a thickness ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.025 inch, the single layer having a plurality of scorelines, having a depth of 0.005 inch to 0.010 inch.