Golf club head

• US 6,811,496 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• 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: Beach, Todd P., Vincent, Benoit, Wahl, Bret
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/234,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/326, 473/329, 473/332, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/345, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350, 473/219, 473/226, 473/242, 473/256, 473/290, 473/291, 473/292, 473/346, 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 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 53/047 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, a rear cavity and a sole bar, wherein a recess is formed in the sole bar that extends generally from the rear cavity. An insert is located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that 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 body having a striking face, a rear cavity, a hosel and a sole portion, the rear cavity having a cavity wall and a cavity rim, a recess formed proximate the rear cavity, the recess having a recess wall and a recess bottom, the recess extending generally from the rear cavity toward a bottom of the sole portion; and

an insert located within the recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that separates the core from the recess bottom;

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.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a badge covering at least a portion of a proximal end of the insert, the badge visible at the rear cavity of the body.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the core comprises at least one pin, the intermediate layer covering a distal end of the pin and sides of the pin such that the pin is spaced from the recess wall.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the core comprises a plurality of pins and the intermediate layer extends between the pins.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking face is separately formed and attached to a main body portion comprising at least the sole portion.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the striking face has a modulus of elasticity different from a modulus of elasticity of the main body.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the main body portion comprises the rear cavity and the sole portion, a hollow portion being formed between the striking face and the cavity wall.

8. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking face, a rear cavity and a sole portion, a recess formed in the rear cavity extending generally toward a bottom of the sole portion, at least one aperture formed proximate the recess and extending generally from the recess toward the bottom of the sole portion; and

a cell inserted within the aperture, the cell having a pin and an outer sleeve;

wherein the sleeve has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the pin, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the sleeve and friction between the pin and the sleeve.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a main body having a front perimeter, a hosel, a rear portion forming a rear cavity and a sole portion, a first recess formed in the sole portion and extending generally from the rear cavity toward a bottom of the sole portion, the first recess having a recess wall;

a striking face attached to the front perimeter of the main body, a hollow portion formed between the striking face and a wall of the rear cavity;

a core and an intermediate layer located within the first recess, the intermediate layer separating the core from the recess wall; and

a weight located in the sole portion having a density greater than or equal to a density of the core;

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.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising a second recess formed in the sole portion and extending generally rearward from the hollow portion, the weight located within the second recess.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the core comprises at least one pin.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the core comprises a plurality of pins and the intermediate layer extends at least between the pins.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the weight is located in the first recess proximate the core and the intermediate layer.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising a badge located at a proximal end of the first recess.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a main body having a front portion with a front perimeter, a hosel, a rear portion forming a rear cavity and a sole portion, a first recess formed in the sole portion and extending generally from the rear portion toward the front portion, the first recess having a recess wall and a recess bottom;

an insert located within the first recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that separates the core from the recess bottom;

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness and 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.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the insert has an exposed end and further comprising a badge covering at least a portion of the exposed end of the insert, the badge being visible from a rear of the body.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the core has a density greater than that of the body.