Multiple material golf club head

• US 7,121,957 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Hocknell, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/711,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/0462 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

Abstract

A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72), a return portion (74), and a second layer (72b) attached to an interior surface of the striking plate portion (72). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The club head (42) 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. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.81 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998–1999.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face component having a mass ranging from 25 grams to 100 grams, the face component comprising a striking plate portion and a return portion composed of a magnesium alloy material, the face component also comprising a second layer disposed on an interior surface of the striking plate portion, the second layer composed of a titanium alloy material, wherein the striking plate portion and the return portion of the face component have a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.060 inch, and the second layer of the face component has a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.060 inch; and

an aft-body connected to the face component, the aft-body having a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 165 grams to 225 grams and a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising a weight member having a mass ranging from 30 grams to 120 grams.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the weight member has a mass ranging from 50 grams to 80 grams.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the aft-body is composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the aft-body has a mass ranging from 15 grams to 50 grams.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 385 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a face component having a mass ranging from 25 grams to 100 grams, the face component comprising a striking plate portion and a return portion composed of a magnesium alloy material, the face component also comprising a second layer disposed on an interior surface of the striking plate portion, the second layer composed of a steel alloy material, wherein the striking plate portion and the return portion of the face component have a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.060 inch, and the second layer of the face component has a thickness ranging from 0.030 inch to 0.060 inch;

an aft-body connected to the face component, the aft-body having a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams, the aft-body composed of a non-metal material;

at least one weight member attached to the aft-body, the at least one weight member having a mass ranging from 30 grams to 120 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 165 grams to 225 grams and a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 385 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters.

9. The golf club head according to claim 7 wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis of the golf club head is greater than 3000 grams-centimeter squared.