Golf club head with coated striking plate

• US 6,638,182 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Kosmatka, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/064,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20020187852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/342, 473/330, 473/331, 473/345, 473/346, 473/349, 473/290, 473/291, 473/292, 473/329, 473/332
• US Class Current: 473/331
• 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 having a crown, a sole, a ribbon, a striking plate and a hollow interior, the body composed of a titanium alloy material, the striking plate having an interior surface toward the hollow interior and a smooth exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the striking plate having a thickness range of 0.010 inch to 0.200 inch, the body having a volume of 250 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters; and

a thin layer disposed on the exterior surface of the striking plate, the thin layer composed of a material having a density lower than the density of the striking plate and selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyimides and polyamides, the thin layer having a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.025 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 ribbon, a striking plate and a hollow interior, the body composed of a titanium alloy material, the striking plate having an interior surface toward the hollow interior and a smooth exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the striking plate having a thickness range of 0.010 inch to 0.200 inch, the striking plate having a core face area between 4.80 square inches and 5.50 square inches, the body having a volume of 250 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters; and

a thin layer disposed on the exterior surface of the striking plate, the thin layer composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material having a density lower than the density of the striking plate, the thin layer having a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.025 inch, the thin layer having a plurality of scorelines thereon;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.83 under USGA test conditions.

3. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon, a striking plate and a hollow interior, the body composed of a metal material, the striking plate having an interior surface toward the hollow interior and a smooth exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the striking plate having a thickness range of 0.010 inch to 0.200 inch, the striking plate having a core face area between 4.80 square inches and 5.50 square inches, the body having a volume of 250 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters; and

a thin layer disposed on the exterior surface of the striking plate, the thin layer having a central impact region composed of a polyurethane material having a Shore D hardness greater than 50 for low friction and low energy loss, and a peripheral impact region composed of a polyurethane material having a Shore D hardness lower than 40 for a high friction coefficient and a high energy loss, the thin layer having a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.025 inch, the thin layer having a plurality of scorelines thereon;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.83 under USGA test conditions.