Putter with vibration isolation

• US 7,473,186 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Morris, Thomas C., Soracco, Peter L., Best, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/585,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20070042835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473219-256, 473/288
• US Class Current: 473/329
• 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 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head with a vibration dampening insert is disclosed. The club head includes a face member, a dampening member, and a body member. The dampening member is sandwiched between the face member and the body member and extends along a large percentage of the face member. The dampening layer attenuates vibrations, providing consistent feel across the length of the striking face.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member defining a cavity in a face area thereof;

a face member positioned within said cavity;

a dampening member intermediate said body member and said face member, wherein said dampening member substantially envelops said face member, substantially isolating said face member from said body member;

a first fastener connecting said body member, said face member, and said dampening member through toe portions thereof;

and a second fastener connecting said body member, said face member, and said dampening member through heel portions thereof;

wherein said first and second fasteners are adjustable so as to impart variable levels of tension to said body member, said face member, and said dampening member.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said body member, said face member, and said dampening member are positioned to form a flush putting surface of the golf club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said body member includes a hosel for attaching a shaft to the club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

said face member defines a first hole and a second hole therethrough;

said dampening member defines a first hole and a second hole therethrough;

said body member defines a first and a second threaded recess therein;

said first face member hole, said first dampening member hole, and said first body member threaded recess are substantially aligned;

and said second face member hole, said second dampening member hole, and said second body member threaded recess are substantially aligned.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein:

said first fastener passes through said first face member hole and said first dampening member hole, and is mechanically retained by said threads within said first body member threaded recess; and

said second fastener passes through said second face member hole and said second dampening member hole, and is mechanically retained by said threads within said second body member threaded recess.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said dampening member has a thickness from approximately 0.02 inch to approximately 1 inch.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein said thickness is from approximately 0.03 inch to approximately 0.08 inch.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face member has a thickness from approximately 0.05 inch to approximately 0.25 inch.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein said thickness is from approximately 0.1 inch to approximately 0.2 inch.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first and second fasteners are independently adjustable so as to independently impart variable levels of tension to said body member, said face member, and said dampening member.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first and second fasteners are adjustable so as to vary the dampening ability of said dampening member.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a putter head.

13. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member defining a cavity in a face area thereof;

a face member positioned within the cavity;

a dampening member disposed between the body member and the face member, wherein the dampening member substantially envelops the face member;

a first fastener connecting the body member, the face member, and the dampening member through toe portions thereof;

and a second fastener connecting the body member, the face member, and the dampening member through heel portions thereof;

wherein the first and second fasteners are adjustable so as to impart variable levels of tension to the body member, the face member, and the dampening member.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are adjustable so as to vary the dampening ability of the dampening member.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners are independently adjustable so as to independently impart variable levels of tension to the body member, the face member, and the dampening member.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the dampening member completely isolates the face member from the body member.

17. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the dampening member comprises rubber, polyurethane, polybutadiene, silicone, or combinations thereof.

18. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the dampening member comprises a first material at a toe portion, a second material at a center portion, and a third material at a heel portion.