Golf club head

• US 7,163,470 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Cackett, Matthew T., Hocknell, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter, Jr.; Alvin A.
• Application Number:
  US10/710,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising an aft-body with a face component attached to an open front of the aft-body, the face component having an opening, the body having a hollow interior, the face component composed of a magnesium material and the aft-body composed of a non-metal material;

a striking plate insert attached to the body over the opening of the face component, the striking plate insert composed of a stainless steel material and having a density greater than that of the body; and

a weighting member attached to the body, the weighting member providing weighting at least at a rear portion of the body, wherein the golf club head has a front wall, a center of gravity located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall, the golf club head has a moment of inertia Ixx about the X-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 1600 g-cm² to 3100 g-cm², a moment of inertia Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm², and a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the weighting member is an external frame having a plurality of arms and a central body, the central being located at a rear portion of the body of the golf club head.

3. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole and a ribbon, the body having an opening at a front end, the body formed from a face component composed of a magnesium metal material and an aft-body composed of a non-metallic material;

a striking plate insert positioned over the opening, the striking plate insert composed of a stainless steel material having a density greater than that of the body; and

a weighting member attached to the body and providing weighting at a rear portion of the body,

wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate, the golf club head has a moment of inertia Ixx about the X-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 1600 g-cm² to 3100 g-cm², a moment of inertia Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm ² to 4000 g-cm², and a robustness efficiency parameter of less than 0.41.

4. The golf club head according to claim 3 wherein the weighting member disposed within an exterior recess in the ribbon at an aft end of the body.

5. The golf club head according to claim 3 wherein the weighting member is an external frame having a plurality of anns and a central body, the central body being located at an aft-end of the body, the plurality of anus being attached to the striking plate insert.

6. A golf club head comprising:

a face component having a return portion, the face component composed of a magnesium metal material and having an opening;

an aft-body attached to the return portion of the face component, the aft-body composed of a non-metallic material;

a striking plate insert is composed of a stainless steel material having a density greater than that of the aft-body and the face component, and is placed within the opening of the face component, and

wherein the golf club head has a front wall and a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the front wall, the golf club head has a moment of inertia Ixx about the X-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 1.600 g-cm² to 3100 g-cm² a moment of inertia Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm², and a robustness efficiency parameter of the less than 0.41.

7. The golf club head according to claim 6 wherein the aft-body includes a ribbon and a weighting member located along at least a portion of the ribbon.