Golf club head with gasket

• US 6,964,617 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Williams, Luke R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/709,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 473244-248, 473342-350
• US Class Current: 473/245
• 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 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61) and a gasket (300) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is preferably composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The gasket (300) controls the face angle of the club head (42). The width of the gasket (300) varies to provide an open face angle club head, a closed face angle club head, or a neutral face angle club head (42). The club head (42) preferably has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face component, the face component having striking plate portion and a return portion;

an aft-body having a crown portion, a sole portion and a ribbon portion, the aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component; and

a gasket positioned in a gap between the face component and the aft-body, the gasket having a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, the second width greater than the first width;

wherein the second portion adjusts a face angle of the golf club head between an amount of greater than zero degrees to less than six degrees.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is composed of a polymer material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer material.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the first width has a range of 0.010 inch to 0.100 inch, and the second width has a range of 0.011 inch to 0.200 inch.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the second portion is located on a heel region of a crown section of the gasket.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the second portion is located on a toe region of a crown section of the gasket.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the second portion is located on a toe region of a crown section of the gasket and an upper region of a toe section of the gasket.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the second portion is located on a toe region of a sole section of the gasket.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face angle of the golf club head is closed.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face angle of the golf club head is open.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the gap is positioned 0.5 inch to 2.5 inches from a perimeter of the striking plate of the face component.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having striking plate portion and a return portion, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch and the return portion having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch;

an aft body comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a crown portion and an upper ribbon portion and the lower section comprising a sole portion and a lower ribbon portion, the aft-body composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium and aluminum, the aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component, the aft body having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.100 inch; and

a gasket positioned in a gap between the face component and the aft-body, the gasket having a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, the second width greater than the first width;

wherein the second portion adjusts a face angle of the golf club head between an amount of greater than zero degrees to less than six degrees;

wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity is greater than 3000 grams—

centimeter squared, and the moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity is greater than 1900 grams—

centimeter squared.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having striking plate portion and a return portion, the striking plate portion having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch;

an aft body comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a crown portion and an upper ribbon portion and the lower section comprising a sole portion and a lower ribbon portion, the aft-body composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of magnesium alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium and aluminum, the aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component, the aft body having a thickness ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.100 inch;

a gasket positioned in a gap between the face component and the aft-body, the gasket having a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, the second width greater than the first width;

wherein the second portion adjusts a face angle of the golf club head between an amount of greater than zero degrees to less than six degrees;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 525 cubic centimeters and a mass ranging from 175 grams to 225 grams.

14. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a titanium alloy material and comprising a return portion and a striking plate portion, the striking plate portion having concentric regions of varying thickness with the thickest region about the center of the striking plate portion;

an aft body comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section comprising a crown portion, an upper ribbon portion and an inward recessed section, the lower section comprising a sole portion, a lower ribbon portion and an inward recessed section, the aft body composed of an injection molded magnesium alloy material, the aft body having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.100 inch, the return portion overlapping the inward recessed portion and attached to the inward recessed portion, the ribbon portion having a heel weighting cavity, a rear weighting cavity and a toe weighting cavity; and

a gasket positioned in a gap between the face component and the aft-body, the gasket having a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, the second width greater than the first width;

wherein the second portion adjusts a face angle of the golf club head between an amount of greater than zero degrees to less than six degrees.