Golf club head

• US 6,616,547 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Vincent, Benoit, Renaudin, Jean-Pierre, Wahl, Bret, Morgulis, Mark, Peters, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/907,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20030013545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/326, 473/332, 473/329, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/338, 473/339, 473/342, 473/344, 473/345, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350, 473/219, 473/226, 473/242, 473/256, 473/520, 273/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 473/334
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head is disclosed that comprises a body having a striking face and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole. An insert is located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall. The intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a rear cavity;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel, the slot extending from the sole at least partly through the sole bar to the rear cavity; and

a cartridge disposed within the slot, the cartridge comprising a substrate having interstices, said interstices filled with a material that is softer than the substrate.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said substrate is formed of metal.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said substrate is formed of aluminum.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said substrate is formed of bronze.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the interstices of said substrate are filled with an elastomeric material.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the interstices of said substrate are filled with urethane.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the slot has slot sides, and the material filling the interstices of said substrate also is disposed between the substrate and the slot sides.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the slot has slot sides, and the material filling the interstices of said substrate also is positioned between the substrate and the slot side that is proximate the striking face.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said slot extends from the sole to the rear cavity.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a rear cavity;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel, the slot extending from the sole at least partly through the sole bar to the rear cavity;

a cartridge disposed within the slot, the cartridge comprising a substrate that extends longitudinally between the toe and the heel; and

a sleeve that covers at least a portion of the substrate.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said sleeve is formed of a material that is softer than that of the substrate.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said sleeve is formed of an elastomer.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said sleeve covers a substantial portion of said substrate.

14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said substrate is formed of metal.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said substrate has a plurality of interstices.

16. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the sleeve is formed of urethane.

17. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the sleeve has nubs formed thereon.

18. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the slot has slot sides, the sleeve has nubs, and the nubs are positioned proximate the slot sides.

19. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the slot has slot sides, the sleeve has nubs, and the nubs are positioned proximate the slot sides and proximate the substrate.

20. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said slot extends from the sole to the rear cavity.

21. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said substrate is rigid.

22. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking face, a rear cavity, and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole, the recess having a recess wall and including an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

an insert located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall;

the core of the insert comprises a substrate having interstices; and

the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a separate material that is disposed within the interstices of the substrate and that is located at least partially between the substrate and the recess wall; and

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.

23. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking face, a rear cavity, and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole, the recess having a recess wall; and

the sole recess includes an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

an insert located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall;

the core of the insert comprises an elongated substrate; and

the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a sleeve that at least partially surrounds the substrate, the sleeve being disposed between the substrate and the recess wall; and

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.

24. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel, and the slot having slot sides; and

a cartridge disposed within the slot, the cartridge comprising a substrate having interstices, said interstices filled with a material that is softer than the substrate, said material tilling the interstices also disposed between the substrate and the slot side that is proximate the striking face.

25. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein the material filling the interstices of said substrate is disposed between the substrate and both of the slot sides.

26. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between

the toe and the heel;

a cartridge disposed within the slot, the cartridge comprising a substrate that extends longitudinally between the toe and the heel; and

a sleeve that covers at least a portion of the substrate, wherein nubs are formed on said sleeve.

27. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein the slot has slot sides, and the nubs are positioned proximate the slot sides.

28. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein the slot has slot sides, and the nubs are positioned proximate the slot sides and proximate the substrate.

29. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking hoe and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole, the recess having a recess wall;

wherein the sole recess includes an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

an insert located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall;

wherein the core of the insert comprises a substrate having interstices;

wherein the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a separate material that is disposed within the interstices of the substrate and that is located at least partially between the substrate and the recess wall; and

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.

30. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking face and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole, the recess having a recess wall;

wherein the sole recess includes an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

an insert located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall;

wherein the core of the insert comprises an elongated substrate;

wherein the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a sleeve that at least partially surrounds the substrate, the sleeve being disposed between the substrate and the recess wall; and

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than tat of the core, such that when the gaff club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.