Multiple material golf club head

• US 7,491,134 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Murphy, James M., Helmstetter, Richard C., Sorocco, Peter L., Rollinson, Augustin W., Galloway, J. Andrew, Cackett, Matthew T., Hocknell, Alan, Reyes, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/845,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60) and an aft body (61) 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 striking plate portion (72) preferably has an aspect ratio less than 1.7. The striking plate portion (72) preferably has concentric regions of thickness with the thickness portion in the center (102). The club head (42) has a volume in the range of 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, a weight in the range of 165 grams to 300 grams, and a striking plate portion (72) surface area in the range of 4.00 square inches to 7.50 square inches. The golf club head (42) has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.81 under test conditions such as the USGA test conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II, of the Rules of Golf for 1998-1999.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having a mass ranging from 50 grams to 110 grams; and

an aft-body connected to the face component, the aft-body having a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 165 grams to 225 grams and a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution ranging from 0.81 to 0.94.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 further comprising a weight member having a mass ranging from 30 grams to 120 grams.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the weight member has a mass ranging from 50 grams to 80 grams.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face component has a mass ranging from 65 grams to 95 grams.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the aft-body is composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the aft-body has a mass ranging from 15 grams to 50 grams.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 510 cubic centimeters.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the face component is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, amorphous metal, stainless steel and maraging steel.

8. The golf club head according to 1 wherein the face component comprises a striking plate portion and a return portion.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having a mass ranging from 50 grams to 110 grams; and

an aft-body connected to the face component, the aft-body having a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 165 grams to 225 grams and a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters;

wherein a moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z axis of the center of gravity of the golf club head ranges from 2800 g-cm² to 5000 g-cm²;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution ranging from 0.81 to 0.94.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a face component composed of a metal material, the face component having a mass ranging from 50 grams to 110 grams; and

an aft-body connected to the face component, the aft-body having a mass ranging from 10 grams to 60 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 165 grams to 225 grams and a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters;

wherein a moment of inertia, Izz, about a Z axis of the center of gravity of the golf club head ranges from 2800 g-cm² to 5000 g-cm²;

wherein a moment of inertia, Iyy, about a Y axis of the center of gravity of the golf club head ranges from 1500 g-cm² to 2750 g-cm²;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution ranging from 0.81 to 0.94.