Hollow golf club with composite core

• US 7,281,991 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Peter J., Kays, Christopher R., Diaz, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau; Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/180,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 473334-338, 473/342, 473/332, 473345-346, 473/326, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/002 Clubs made of composite, plastics or rubber materials, with integral head and 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 53/0466 wood-type
• 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

Abstract

A hollow golf club having a hosel sleeve weight made from tungsten material in the upper hosel area and a tungsten toe plug in the lower toe portion of the club head. This combination creates an increase in the moment of inertia of the club head about the x, y and z axes of the club head. A composite core is bladder molded into a cavity in the club head to provide support for a relatively thin front face and the composite core is visible on the rear surface of the club head. The core material is less dense and has greater flexibility than the front face.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a substantially hollow body having a front face, a sole portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a hosel;

an impact plate inserted into a front opening defined in the front face;

an open port disposed in the lower toe portion having a receptacle defined therein;

the body made of a first material and a composite core of a second material less dense and more flexible than the first is inserted into the body through the open port;

the composite core inflated and expanded by pressurized gas wherein at least a portion of the composite core biasly juxtaposes against an inner surface of the body to form a hollow body of the second material having an internal volume between 20 cc to 50 cc wherein the composite core does not completely cover the port;

the body of the first material having a rear opening that is sealed by a visible portion of the inflated composite core;

a hosel sleeve weight inserted into the hosel; and

a toe plug secured into the open port of the toe portion.

2. The club head of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the toe plug is at least 1.00 inches from a center line of the front face and the center of gravity of the hosel sleeve weight is at least 2.00 inches from the center line of the front face.

3. The club head of claim 1, wherein the toe plug varies in weight from about 10 grams to 30 grams.

4. The club head of claim 1, wherein the hosel sleeve weight varies in weight from about 16 grams to about 34 grams.

5. The club head of claim 1, wherein the length of the hosel sleeve weight varies from about 0.575 inch to about 1 inch.

6. The club head of claim 1, wherein the composite core is made from a lightweight material such as plastic or carbon graphite.

7. The club head of claim 6, wherein the composite core material has a density equal or less than 4.5 gm/cc.

8. The club head of claim 6, wherein the composite core material has a density equal or less than 1.65 gm/cc.

9. The club head of claim 1, wherein the toe plug and hosel sleeve weight are formed from tungsten and the body is formed from a 431 stainless steel.

10. The club head of claim 1, wherein the toe plug is made from titanium, the hosel sleeve weight is formed from aluminum, with an extra heavy weighted sole thereby creating a club head with an extremely low center of gravity.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a substantially hollow body having a front face, a sole portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a hosel;

an impact plate inserted into a front opening defined in the front face;

an open port disposed in the lower toe portion having a receptacle defined therein;

the body made of a first material, and a composite core of a second material less dense and more flexible than the first is inserted into the body through the open port;

the composite core inflated and expanded by pressurized gas wherein at least a portion of the composite core biasly juxtaposes against an inner surface of the front face to form a hollow body of the second material having an internal volume between 20 cc to 50 cc wherein said composite core does not completely cover said port;

a rear opening defined in the body of the first material that is sealed by a visible portion of the inflated composite core;

a hosel sleeve weight connected to the hosel; and

a toe plug secured into the open port of the toe portion,

wherein the positioning of the hosel sleeve weight and the toe plug cause an increase in the moment of inertia of the club head.

12. The club head of claim 11, wherein the center of gravity of the toe plug is at least 1.00 inch from a center line of the front face and the center of gravity of the hosel sleeve weight is at least 2.00 inches from the center line of the front face.

13. The club head of claim 12, wherein the toe plug varies in weight from about 10 grams to 30 grams.

14. The club head of claim 12, wherein the hosel sleeve weight varies in weight from about 16 grams to about 34 grams.

15. The club head of claim 12, wherein the length of the hosel sleeve weight varies from about 0.575 inch to about 1 inch.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a substantially hollow body made of a first material, and a composite core of a second material less dense than the first is inserted into the body through an open port;

the composite core inflated and expanded by pressurized gas wherein at least a portion of the composite core biasly juxtaposes against an inner surface of the body to form cavity having a volume between 20 cc to 50 cc wherein the composite ore does not completely cover the port; and

a rear opening defined in the body that is sealed by a visible portion of the inflated composite core wherein the open port is different from the rear opening.