Golf club head

• US 7,281,994 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Burnett, Michael Scott, Vincent, Benoit, Hoffman, Joseph, Willett, Kraig, De Shiell, Drew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/144,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20050221915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473290-291, 273/DIG.7
• US Class Current: 473/345
• 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 53/0437 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 53/0466 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/07 Glass fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

The present invention resides in a wood-type golf club head having a high coefficient of restitution (COR) that is durable and has desirable acoustic qualities. The club head includes a body portion, a striking plate, a crown, and a surface veil. The body portion defines an upper opening, and the crown is secured to the body portion, enclosing the upper opening. The surface veil is provided about a junction of the crown and body portion.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a striking plate;

a side section extending rearward of the striking plate and having toe, rear, and heel regions;

a top portion having an upper opening formed therein;

a shoulder disposed around a periphery of the upper opening;

a ledge extending from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening;

a crown coupled to the ledge and having a side edge, wherein the side edge of the crown is disposed proximate to the shoulder; and

a veil disposed between the side edge of the crown and the shoulder, wherein the veil covers an entire side edge and entire upper surface of crown.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side edge of the crown and the shoulder are tapered.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein both the side edge of the crown and the shoulder are tapered.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the side edge of the crown and the shoulder define an angle greater tan about 90 degrees and less than about 180 degrees.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the veil is comprised of a composite material.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown is comprised of a first material and the veil is comprised of a second material.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first material is carbon fiber and the second material is glass.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown and the veil are comprised of the same material.

9. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a sole, wherein the sole has a thickness within a range of about 0.8 mm to about 2 mm;

a striking plate;

a side section extending rearward of the striking plate and having toe, rear, and heel regions, wherein the side section has a thickness within a range of about 0.8 mm to about 2 mm;

a top portion having an upper opening formed therein, wherein the top portion has a thickness within a range of about 0.7 mm to about 2 mm;

a shoulder disposed around a periphery of the upper opening;

a ledge extending from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening;

a crown coupled to the ledge and having a side edge, wherein the side edge of the crown is disposed proximate to the shoulder and at least one of the side edge of the crown and the shoulder are tapered; and

a veil disposed between the side edge of the crown and the shoulder;

wherein the crown is comprised of a first material and the veil is comprised of a second material.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first material is the same as the second material.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first material is different from the second material.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the first material is carbon fiber and the second material is glass.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the ledge extends about 8 mm to about 12 mm from the shoulder towards a center portion of the upper opening.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the shoulder extends about 2 mm from an outer surface of the top portion to an inner surface of the ledge.

15. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the striking plate has a thickness within a range of about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm.