Golf head having a ported construction

• US 7,811,178 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PrIncorporatede Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Prince Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/454,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473219-256, 473288-292
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head has a face, a hosel, and a hollow body. The body includes an outer peripheral region, when viewed from above, and center portions on the upper surface and sole, respectively. The outer peripheral region has a weight-per-unit of surface area which is greater than the weight-per-unit of surface area of the center portions. The weight differential may be accomplished by molding ports into the hollow body around the periphery, which contain weight plugs. Alternately or in addition, a vertically oriented port may extend through the center portions to reduce weight.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising a club face, a body comprised of a shell having a shaped wall, said wall having an outer surface and an inner surface;

wherein said club face and body are configured such that, when attached to a shaft, such assembly forms a putter;

wherein said body has an upper surface and a sole;

wherein said body, viewed from above, has an outer periphery and a peripheral region containing said outer periphery;

wherein said upper surface has a first center portion, located inwardly of said peripheral region; and

further comprising

a vertically oriented port defined by a peripheral wall which extends between said upper surface in said first center portion and said sole, said port having opposite ends which are open and secured to said upper surface and sole, respectively;

wherein said club face and the inner surface of said body are spaced from said peripheral wall to define an enclosed, hollow interior of said head; and

wherein said outer peripheral region has an average weight-per-unit of outer surface area which is substantially greater than the weight-per-unit of outer surface area of said center portion.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said shell is molded of a light weight, composite material;

wherein said peripheral wall of said port is formed of a composite material; and

wherein said opposite ends of said port are bonded to said shell.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, and further comprising at least one additional port which extends through the wall of said body at said peripheral region and into said enclosed, hollow interior of said head.

5. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein said at least one additional port contains a weight plug secured therein.

6. A golf club head according to claim 5, wherein said body includes a plurality of additional ports extending through the wall of said body at said peripheral region, wherein a plurality of said additional ports each contain a weight plug secured therein.

7. A golf club head according to claim 5, wherein said weight plugs are removably secured in said additional ports.

8. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said vertically oriented port is shaped to assist in aligning the club head for a putt.

9. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said side-by-side tubes extend from opposite sides of said club face.

10. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral region comprises at least one pair of hollow, side-by-side tubes made of composite material which extend along at least a portion said peripheral region and which are bonded together along at least parts of their lengths.

11. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein said side-by-side tubes extend from at least one side of said club face along at least a portion of said periphery.

12. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein said side-by-side tubes extend from opposite sides of said club face.

13. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein said tubes are separated from one another along other parts of their lengths to form hollow ports.

3. A golf club putter head comprising a club face and a body which supports said club face, wherein said body has a peripheral region comprising at least one pair of hollow tubes made of composite material, an outer periphery extending from opposite ends of said club face, and an attachment section for attaching a shaft;

wherein when said body is attached to a shaft, such assembly forms a putter;

wherein when said club face is orientated to hit a golf ball, said hollow tubes are positioned vertically relative to one another and have facing surfaces which lie generally in a horizontal plane;

wherein said hollow tubes have non-facing surfaces which form at least a portion of said outer periphery; and

wherein said facing surfaces are fused together along parts of the lengths of said hollow tubes and are separated from one another along other parts of their lengths so as to form ports having axes which are at least generally horizontal;

which ports extend from said outer periphery between the hollow tubes; and

which ports include walls formed by portions of said hollow tubes.

14. A golf club putter head as defined in claim 3, wherein said body includes an upper portion and a sole, wherein said side-by-side tubes extend along said periphery between at least a portion of said upper portion and said sole.

15. A golf club putter head as defined in claim 3, wherein said side-by-side tubes extend from at least one side of said club face.