Golf club head

• US 6,672,975 B1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/248,669
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/342, 473/345, 473/346, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• 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

Abstract

A golf club head (20) having a body (22), a striking plate (24) and a frame (26) is disclosed herein. The body (22) is preferably composed of a low-density material. The frame (26) has a plurality of arms (42a-d) for attachment to the striking plate (24). The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) preferably has a mass between 105 grams and 300 grams.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole and a ribbon, the body having an opening at a front end and a plurality of grooves, the body composed of a material having a density less then 4.5 grams per cubic centimeter;

a striking plate positioned over the opening, the striking plate having a uniform thickness in the range of 0.040 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate insert composed of a metal material; and

a frame having a plurality of arms, each of the arms positioned within a corresponding groove of the body, each arm engaging the striking plate for attachment thereto;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution of 0.80 to 0.94, and the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate is composed of a formed metal material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein striking plate is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a forged metal material, a formed metal material, a machined metal material and a cast metal material.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body has a mass ranging from 50 grams to 90 grams.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the moment of inertia about an lzz axis of the golf club head is greater than 3000 grams-centimeter squared.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), blends of polycarbonate and polyurethane, carbon epoxy and plies of pre-preg.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of amorphous metals, titanium alloys, stainless steel and carbon steel.

8. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole and a ribbon, the body having an opening at a front end and a plurality of grooves, the body composed of a thermoplastic material having a density less then 4.5 grams per cubic centimeter;

a striking plate positioned over the opening, the striking plate having a uniform thickness in the range of 0.040 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate insert composed of a metal material; and

a frame having a plurality of arms and a central body, each of the arms positioned within a corresponding groove of the body and the central body engaging an aft end of the body, each arm engaging the striking plate for attachment thereto, the frame composed of a metal material;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution of 0.80 to 0.94, and the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole and a ribbon, the body having an opening at a front end, the body having a heel crown groove, a toe crown groove, a heel sole groove and a toe sole groove, the body composed of a thermoplastic material having a density less then 4.5 grams per cubic centimeter;

a striking plate positioned over the opening, the striking plate having a uniform thickness in the range of 0.040 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate having an upper heel hole, a lower heel hole, an upper toe hole and a lower toe hole, the striking plate insert composed of a metal material; and

a frame having a central body, an upper heel arm, a lower heel arm, an upper toe arm and a lower toe arm, wherein the upper heel arm is positioned within the heel crown groove of the body to engage the upper heel hole of the striking plate, wherein the lower heel arm is positioned within the heel sole groove of the body to engage the lower heel hole of the striking plate, wherein the upper toe arm is positioned within the toe crown groove of the body to engage the upper toe hole of the striking plate, wherein the lower toe arm is positioned within the toe sole groove of the body to engage the lower toe hole of the striking plate;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution of 0.80 to 0.94, and the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters.

10. The golf club head according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of fasteners for attaching the striking plate to the frame.