Multiple material golf club head

• US 7,320,646 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2006
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/539,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473/224, 473/234
• US Class Current: 473/224
• 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 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying component (59) is disclosed herein. The face component (60) has a striking plate portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61) is composed of a crown portion (62), a sole portion (64) and optionally a ribbon section (90). The face component (60) is composed of a metal material, and the aft-body (61) is composed of a non-metal material such as a composite material or a thermoplastic material. The sound modifying component (59), which is attached to the metallic face component (60), alters the sound of the golf club head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

an aft-body composed of a non-metallic material, the aft body comprising a crown portion and a sole portion;

a face component attached to the aft-body, the face component composed of a metal material;

and a means for modifying the sound characteristics of the golf club head, the modifying means being attached to the face component, wherein the golf club head has a pitch ranging from 3500 Hertz to 4500 Hertz when striking a golf ball at a swing speed of approximately 100 miles per hour;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 510 cubic centimeters and a coefficient of restitution of 0.80 to 0.94.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the means for modifying the sound characteristics is composed of a metal material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the metal material for the means for modifying the sound characteristics is selected from a group consisting of a titanium alloy, amorphous metal, stainless steel and maraging steel.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the means for modifying the sound characteristics is attached to an interior surface of the face component.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4 wherein the means for modifying the sound characteristics is attached to the interior surface of the sole extension.

6. The golf club head according to claim 4 wherein the means of modifying the sound characteristics includes a ring.

7. The golf club head according to claim 4 wherein the means of modifying the sound characteristics includes a conical object.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the means for modifying the sound characteristics of the golf club head are attached using a welding or e-beam process.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein, the means for modifying the sound characteristics is attached to an exterior surface of the face component.

10. The golf club head according to a claim 9 wherein the means for modifying the sound characteristics includes an arcuate piece having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the return portion of the face component at a toe end, the second being attached to the return portion at a heel end.

11. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the aft-body includes a ribbon portion located between the crown portion and the sole portion, the arcuate piece extending generally along the ribbon portion of the aft-body.

12. The golf club head according to claim 11 wherein a fastener secures the arcuate piece to a rear section of the ribbon portion, the arcuate piece being detached from the aft body except at the fastener.

13. A golf club head comprising:

an aft-body composed of a non-metallic material, the aft body comprising a crown portion and a sole portion;

a face component attached to the aft-body, the face component composed of a metal material;

and a means for modifying the sound characteristics of the golf club head, the modifying means being attached to the face component, wherein the golf club head has a sound duration ranging from 4 milliseconds to 8 milliseconds, a RMS sound pressure level ranging from 94 decibels to 98 decibels and a pitch ranging from 3500 Hertz to 4500 Hertz when striking a golf ball at a swing speed of approximately 100 miles per hour;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 510 cubic centimeters and a coefficient of restitution of 0.80 to 0.94.

14. A golf club head comprising:

an aft-body composed of plies of pre-preg material, the aft body comprising a crown portion and a sole portion;

a face component attached to the aft-body, the face component comprising s striking plate portion and a return portion, the face component composed of a metal material;

and a means for modifying the sound characteristics of the golf club head, the modifying means being attached to the face component, wherein the golf club head has a pitch ranging from 3500 Hertz to 4500 Hertz when striking a golf ball at a swing speed of approximately 100 miles per hour;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 510 cubic centimeters and a coefficient of restitution of 0.80 to 0.94.