Multiple material golf club head

• US 7,399,237 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Erickson, Matthew J., Evans, D. Clayton, Gibbs, Evan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/859,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 major body having a mass ranging from 140 grams to 200 grams, wherein the sole section has a plurality of stiffening members having a thickness ranging from 0.050 inch to 0.500 inch;

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 350 cubic centimeters to 495 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 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.