Putter with vibration isolation

• US 7,641,569 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US12/327,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 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 damping insert is disclosed. The club head includes a face member, a damping member, and a body member. The damping member is sandwiched between the face member and the body member and extends along a large percentage of the face member. The damping 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 the cavity;

a damping member intermediate the body member and the face member, wherein the damping member substantially envelops the face member and isolates the face member from the body member;

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

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

wherein the first and second fasteners are independently adjustable to vary the damping ability of the damping member between an uncompressed and compressed state.

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

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

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

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

the damping member defines a first hole and a second hole therethrough;

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

the first face member hole, the first damping member hole, and the first body member threaded recess are substantially aligned; and

the second face member hole, the second damping member hole, and the second body member threaded recess are substantially aligned.

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

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

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

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

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the 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 the thickness is from approximately 0.1 inch to approximately 0.2 inch.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the 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 damping member.

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

12. A golf club head, comprising:

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

a face member positioned within the cavity;

a damping member intermediate the body member and the face member, wherein the damping member substantially envelops the face member;

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

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

wherein the first and second fasteners are independently adjustable to vary the level of engagement of the fasteners with the body member.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the first fastener has a first level of engagement with the body and second fastener has a second level of engagement, and wherein the amount of compression of the damping member is a function of the first and second levels of engagement.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first and second levels of engagement leave the damping member in an uncompressed state.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the first and second levels of engagement differ.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the first and second levels of engagement leave the damping member in a compressed state.

17. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the body member, the face member, and the damping member are positioned to form a flush putting surface of the golf club head.