Golf club head

• US 6,739,984 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thunder Golf LLC
• Original Assignee: Thunder Golf LLC
• Inventors: Ciasullo, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/450,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 473/345, 473/346, 473/334, 473/335, 473/339, 473/349, 294/212, 294/63, 228/107, 228/262.71
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head includes a sole plate member having a first material construction and a top plate member having a material construction distinct from the first material construction. The material construction of the top plate member has a density less than the first material construction of the sole plate member. The golf club head also includes a face plate member having a material construction distinct from the first material construction, wherein the material construction of the face plate member has a density less than the first material construction of the sole plate member. The sole plate member, the top plate member and the face plate member are bound together to form a golf club head offering improved distance.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a sole plate member being composed of a first material structure, wherein the sole plate member includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and the outer surface is composed of a first material and the inner surface is composed of a second material which is welded to the first material of the outer surface, the first material exhibiting a greater density than the second material;

a top plate member being composed of a material structure distinct from the first material structure, the material structure of the top plate member having a density less than the first material structure of the sole plate member; and

a face plate member being composed of a material structure distinct from the first material structure, the material structure of the face plate member having a density less than the first material structure of the sole plate member;

wherein the sole plate member, the top plate member and the face plate member are secured together to form a golf club head offering improved distance; and

wherein the top plate member includes at least one component formed from the second material and the top plate member includes a forward top plate member formed from the second material and a rearward top plate member;

the rearward top plate member includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and the outer surface is composed of the first material and the inner surface is composed of the second material which is welded to the first material of the outer surface.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first material is stainless steel and the second material is titanium.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the sole plate member is formed by explosion welding.

4. A metal wood type golf club head including a sole plate, a face plate and a top plate, comprising:

a first member positioned rearwardly of the face plate, the first member including an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the outer surface is composed of a first material and the inner surface is composed of second material which is explosion welded to the first material of the outer surface, the first material exhibiting greater density than the second material; and

a second member formed from a material with a density less than the first material of the first member;

wherein the first member and the second member are secured together to form a golf club head with a low and rearwardly positioned center of gravity to offer improved distance; and

wherein the first member includes the sole plate and the top plate includes a forward top plate and a rearward top plate, and the first member includes the rearward top plate and the second member includes the forward top plate.

5. A composite metal wood type golf club head including a face plate, a sole plate and a top plate coupled together to form an integral club head, comprising:

a sole plate member being composed of a first material structure, wherein the sole plate member includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and the outer surface is composed of a first material and the inner surface is composed of a second material which is explosion welded to the first material of the outer surface, the first material exhibiting a greater density than the second material;

a top plate member being composed of a material structure distinct from the first material structure, the material structure of the top plate member having a density less than the first material structure of the sole plate member, and

a face plate member being composed of a material structure distinct from the first material structure, the material structure of the face plate member having a density less than the first material structure of the sole plate member;

wherein the sole plate member, the top plate member and the face plate member are secured together to form a golf club head offering improved distance; and

wherein the top plate member includes at least one component for med from the second material and the top plate member includes a forward top plate member formed from the second material and a rearward top plate member, the rearward top plate member includes an outer surface and an inner surface, and the outer surface is composed of the first material and the inner surface is composed of the second material which is welded to the first material of the outer surface.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the first material is stainless steel and the second material is titanium.