Gold club head

• US 7,416,496 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Cackett, Matthew T., Hocknell, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US11/530,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 2209/02 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 53/0408 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon disposed between the crown and sole, and a hollow interior;

a striking plate insert attached to the body, the striking plate insert being composed of a material having a density greater than that of the body; and

an external weighting frame having a plurality of arms and a central body, the central body of the external weighting frame being located at a rear portion of the body;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate insert;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

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

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a non-metallic material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, steel alloys and amorphous materials.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), blends of polycarbonate and polyurethane, carbon epoxy and plies of pre-preg.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the external weighting frame has four arms with each of the four arms positioned in a corresponding groove in the body.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the external weighting frame is composed of a stainless steel material.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of plies of pre-preg material, the striking plate insert is composed of a titanium material, the external weighting frame is composed of stainless steel, and the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of 0.385.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the external weighting frame has a mass ranging from 30 to 90 grams.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is attached to each of the plurality of arms of the external weighting frame.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon disposed between the crown and sole, and a hollow interior;

a striking plate insert attached to the body, the striking plate insert being composed of a material having a density greater than that of the body; and

an external weighting frame having a plurality of arms and a central body, each of the plurality of arms attached to the striking plate insert;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate insert;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

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

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

11. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the body is composed of a non-metallic material.

12. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, steel alloys and amorphous materials.

13. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), blends of polycarbonate and polyurethane, carbon epoxy and plies of pre-preg.

14. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the external weighting frame has four arms with each of the four arms positioned in a corresponding groove in the body.

15. The golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the external weighting frame is composed of a stainless steel material.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon disposed between the crown and sole, and a hollow interior, the body having four grooves;

a striking plate insert attached to the body, the striking plate insert being composed of a material having a density greater than that of the body; and

an external weighting frame having four arms and a central body, each of the four arms positioned in a corresponding groove of the four groves of the body and each of the four arms attached to the striking plate insert;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate insert;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

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

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².