Multiple material golf club head

• US 7,273,419 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Erickson, Matthew J., Evans, D. Clayton, Gibbs, Evan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US11/234,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/328
• 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0466 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 wood-type golf club head (40) preferably having a major body (50), a striking plate insert (55) and a minor body (60) is disclosed herein. The major body (50) is preferably composed of a metal material and has a front wall section (72), a return section (74), a sole section (76), a ribbon section (78) and a ledge portion (80). The minor body (50) is preferably composed of a low density material and has a crown section (62) and a ribbon section (64). The striking plate insert (55) is preferably composed of a metal material. The wood-type golf club head (40) preferably has a sole section 76 with a first keel (400) and a second keel (405).

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a metal material, the major body having front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the front wall section has an opening, the return section extending a distance ranging 0.1 inch to 2.75 inches from a perimeter of the front wall section, the major body having a mass ranging from 140 grams to 200 grams;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body, the minor body having a mass ranging from 4 grams to 50 grams; and

wherein the sole section has a first keel and a second keel;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a metal material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the minor body is composed of a metal material having a density lower than the density of the material of the major body.

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

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the sole section has a curvature section between the first keel and the second keel.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert has a plurality of concentric regions of varying thickness.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the major body is composed of a cast titanium alloy material, the striking plate insert is composed of a formed titanium alloy, and the minor body is composed of a composite material.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 495 cubic centimeters.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head ranges from 2800 grams-centimeters squared to 5000 grams-centimeters squared.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a front wall section, a crown section, a sole section, and a ribbon section; and

an internal hosel;

the crown section is composed of a non-metal material;

the sole section has a first keel, a curvature portion and a second keel;

the first keel is located at a sole-face junction and the second keel is located at a sole ribbon junction,

the golf club head has a volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters; and

the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2800 grams-centimeters squared to 5000 grams-centimeters squared.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the first keel is located from 2.5 inches to 4.0 inches from the second keel.

12. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the first keel is located from 3.0 inches to 3.5 inches from the second keel.

13. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the curvature section has a radius of curvature ranging from 1.50 inches to 3.5 inches.

14. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters.

15. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein a height from the first keel to the crown is a distance ranging from 2.0 inches to 2.5 inches, and a height from the second keel to the crown is a distance ranging from 1.0 inch to 1.5 inches.