Golf club head

• US 6,475,102 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Evans, D. Clayton, Helmstetter, Richard C., Cleveland, Roger C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/683,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 473/338, 473/344, 473/345, 473/349, 473/350, 473/346, 473/342, 473/343, 473/300, 295/275, 295/273, 164/98
• US Class Current: 473/344
• 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 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49776 Pressure, force, or weight determining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49984 and casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

A golf club head has a four-faceted sole. The golf club head has a body that has a volume between 140 cubic centimeters and 350 cubic centimeters. The body of the golf club head weighs between 140 grams and 215 grams. The golf club head preferably has a bismuth weighting system. The golf club head is preferably a driver, but may also be a fairway wood. The four-faceted sole is composed of a central facet, a toe facet, a heel facet and a rear facet.

Claims

1. A sole for a golf club head having a crown, a toe end, a heel end and a striking plate, the sole comprising:

a central facet extending rearward from the striking plate, the central facet having a first sole area;

a heel facet disposed adjacent to the central facet and having a second sole area;

a toe facet disposed adjacent to the central facet and having a third sole area; and

a rear facet disposed rearward of the central facet and having a fourth sole area;

whereby the first sole area is larger than the combined areas of the second sole area, the third sole area and the fourth sole area.

2. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a volume greater than 300 cubic centimeters, having a hollow interior, and having a crown, a striking plate, a ribbon, a heel end, a toe end and a sole, the sole comprising a central facet extending rearward from the striking plate, the central facet having a first sole area having an area ranging from 4.0 to 6.0 square inches, a heel facet disposed adjacent to the central facet, angled toward the ribbon relative to the central facet, and having a second sole area having an area ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 square inches, a toe facet disposed adjacent to the central facet, angled toward the ribbon relative to the central facet, and having a third sole area having an area ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 square inches, anda rear facet disposed rearward of the central facet, angled toward the ribbon relative to the central facet, and having a fourth sole area having an area ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 square inches.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the golf club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy and steel.

4. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a striking plate, a heel end, a toe end and a sole, the sole comprising a central facet extending rearward from the striking plate, the central facet having a first sole area occupying 50 to 70 percent of the total sole surface area, a heel facet disposed adjacent to the central facet and having a second sole area occupying 10 to 25 percent of the total sole surface area, a toe facet disposed adjacent to the central facet and having a third sole area occupying 5 to 25 percent of the total sole surface area, and a rear facet disposed rearward of the central facet and having a fourth sole area occupying 10 to 25 percent of the total sole surface area.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a striking plate, a heel end an toe end and a hollow interior;

a weight compartment disposed within the hollow interior and connected to the sole, the weight compartment defining a chamber of a predetermined volume;

a weight member disposed within the weight compartment, the weight member weighing between 3 grams and 70 grams, and composed of a material having a density between 7 grams/cubic centimeter and 20 grams/cubic centimeter.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein the weight member is composed of bismuth.

7. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein the body has a volume of 140 cubic centimeters to 350 cubic centimeters.

8. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein the body weighs between 135 grams to 205 grams.

9. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein the sole has four facets.

10. The golf club head according to claim 9 wherein one of the facets is a rear facet having a recess for placement of a medallion therein, and also having a portal for access to the weighting compartment.