Composite golf club head having a metal striking insert within the front face wall

• US 6,648,774 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Lee, Kyu Wang
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, THANH P
• Application Number:
  US10/136,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20030207726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/342, 473/345, 473/350, 473/329, 473/346
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 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 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

The present invention provides a hollow golf club head comprising a metal striking insert and a composite body. The metal striking insert (1) is molding within the front face wall (2) of the club head body and is securely attached at the outside perimeter of the insert to the composite body and at the front corners of the composite body through the use of a sandwiched structure (7,8, &9). The sandwich structure formed at the boundaries of the striking metal insert efficiently dissipates the impact energy affected when a golf ball is hit. The structure also dampens efficiently the vibrations of the shock affected when the ball is hit on the metal striking insert. The present invention of positioning the insert inside the face wall, not extending outside the face wall, uses less metal material which is heavier than the composite material and makes a larger club head at the same total weight of the club head. A larger golf club head that gives a higher moment of inertia is highly sought-after for a hollow club head construction.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a metal striking insert with an edge extending laterally and outwardly from a striking plate; and

a hollow club head body composed of plies of pre-preg material and having an open portion in a front wall, the hollow club head body having a first edge and a second edge, the metal striking insert attached to the front wall of the hollow club head body and covering the open portion of the front wall, wherein the edge of the metal striking insert is bonded by the first edge and the second edge of the hollow club head body to form a sandwich structure;

wherein the golf club head has volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the metal striking insert is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein a rear peripheral region of hollow club head body comprises metal powder composed of a powder selected from the group consisting of tungsten, brass and steel, and the metal powder disposed between the plies of pre-preg material.

3. A golf club head comprising:

a metal striking insert with an edge extending laterally and outwardly from a striking plate, the edge having a plurality of openings; and

a hollow club head body composed of plies of pre-preg material and having an open portion in a front wall, the hollow club head body having a first edge and a second edge, the metal striking insert attached to the front wall of the hollow club head body and covering the open portion of the front wall, wherein the edge of the metal striking insert is bonded by the first edge and the second edge of the hollow club head body to form a sandwich structure;

wherein the golf club head has volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow club head composed of a carbon fiber composite material, the hollow club head body having a front face wall with an open portion, the hollow club head body having a first edge and a second edge; and

a metal striking insert with an edge extending laterally and outwardly from a striking plate, the edge of the metal striking insert molded between the first edge and the second edge of the hollow club head body to form a sandwich structure;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.