Golf club head with filled recess

• US 6,835,144 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Best, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/289,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20040092331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/329, 473/332, 473/333, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/345, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350, D21/747, D21/748, D21/749, D21/750, D21/751, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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 having a cavity back design with a recess therein for placement of a lightweight polymer material. The club head having a back surface of a club face. The polymer material only bonded to the recess by its perimeter with a predetermined void between the polymer and the back surface of the club face. The lightweight material allows for a larger club head and consequently a bigger sweet spot without increasing the overall weight of the club head. Unwanted vibrations caused upon the club head hitting a golf ball are dampened by a spring/mass system. The polymer material serves as the spring and a decorative medallion, which is attached only to the polymer and not the club head, provides the mass. Vibrations created by contact between club head and golf ball are dampened in accordance to material characteristics of the selected polymer.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a club face;

a back portion;

a recess defined by a perimeter wall in the back portion and a back surface of the club face;

a polymer material substantially filling the recess and attaching to the club head only by a perimeter surface bonded to the perimeter wall, wherein a predetermined void is defined directly between the back surface and the polymer material; and

a medallion attached directly to the polymer material, the polymer mateilal having a first specific gravity and the medallion having a second specific gravity greater than the first,

wherein upon an impact of the club head and a golf ball, a spring/mass type of vibration dampening is created that will cause the polymer and medallion to react and vibrate, whereby unwanted vibrations are dampened with respect to shear properties of the polymer material.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material is an epoxy.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material is a polyurethane.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material is a thermoset material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material has an intrinsic damping coefficient of about 0.01 to 0.3 when tested at 1 Hz and 100 microns.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material has a Shore C hardness of about 40 to 60.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material has a Shore D hardness of less than 50.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material has a flexural modulus of less than 30,000 psi.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polymer material has a glass transition temperature greater than 200°

F.