Method and apparatus for forming a face structure for a golf club head

• US 7,527,565 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Nigro, Anthony V., Erickson, Matthew J., Kosmatka, John B., Ehlers, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/209,244
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473290-291
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3206 aliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes

Abstract

A golf club head having a multiple material face is disclosed herein. The golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value greater than 0.83 and a characteristic time value of less than 257 milliseconds. The golf club head is preferably composed of a titanium alloy with a polymer layer disposed over a titanium alloy front wall. A preferred polymer is a polyurethane polymer.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole and a front wall, the body having a hollow interior, the body having a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters, the body composed of a titanium alloy material, the front wall having a recess, the recess having a depth ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.0120 inch; and

a polymer layer disposed within the recess of the front wall, the polymer layer comprising a polymer material with an integrated reinforcement structure composed of interconnected hexagonal cells, the integrated reinforcement structure composed of an aluminum material, each hexagonal cell having a cell size of 0.0625 inch to 0.100 inch, the matrix layer having a thickness ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.0120 inch;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value greater than or equal to 0.83 and a characteristic time value of less than 257 milliseconds.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the polymer material of the polymer layer is composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2700 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

4. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole and a front wall, the body having a hollow interior, the body having a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters, the body composed of a titanium alloy material, the front wall having a recess, the recess having a depth ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.0120 inch; and

a polymer layer disposed within the recess of the front wall, the polymer layer comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material with an integrated reinforcement structure composed of interconnected hexagonal cells, the integrated reinforcement structure composed of an aluminum material, each hexagonal cell having a cell size of 0.0625 inch to 0.100 inch, the polymer layer having a thickness ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.0120 inch;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value greater than or equal to 0.83 and a characteristic time value of less than 257 milliseconds.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole and a front wall, the body having a hollow interior, the body having a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters, the body composed of a titanium alloy material, the front wall having a recess, the recess having a depth ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.0120 inch; and

a polymer layer disposed within the recess of the front wall, the polymer layer comprising a polymer material with an integrated reinforcement structure composed of interconnected hexagonal cells, the integrated reinforcement structure composed of an aluminum material, each hexagonal cell having a cell size of 0.0625 inch to 0.100 inch, the polymer layer having a thickness ranging from 0.080 inch to 0.0120 inch;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z axis of the center of gravity of the golf club head ranging from 2700 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm²; and

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution value greater than or equal to 0.83 and a characteristic time value of less than 257 milliseconds.