Golf club head with stiffening and sound tuning composite member

• US 8,007,369 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Soracco, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/334,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• 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: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hitting face providing a surface area for striking a golf ball;

a body section including a crown section and a sole section and extending from a rear of said hitting face, the body section including at least one opening extending into an inner cavity of said golf club head, the opening configured to receive a composite member; and

a composite member attached to said body section and being disposed within said opening, thereby exposing said composite member to the inner cavity;

wherein said composite member comprises;

a sandwiching outer layer;

a sandwiching inner layer; and

a sandwiched core layer interposed between said sandwiching outer

layer and said sandwiching inner layer;

wherein said sandwiched core layer is comprised of a different material than said sandwiching outer layer and said sandwiching inner layer, and wherein said sandwiching outer layer, sandwiching inner layer, and sandwiched core layer are comprised of a different material than said body section;

wherein said golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 495 cubic centimeters;

wherein said golf club head has a length ranging from 3.5 inches to 5.0 inches and a width ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiched core layer dampens a vibration of said golf club head within said composite member.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiched core layer enhances the structural stiffness of said composite member.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiching outer layer and said sandwiching inner layer are both made of the same material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said golf club head has a frequency of greater than 3500 Hz when impacting said golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiched core layer has a uniform thickness over entire said composite member.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiched core layer has a variable thickness over entire said composite member.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiched core layer is comprised of foam composite.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sandwiched core layer is in the shape of a honeycomb.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a hitting face providing a surface area for striking a ball;

a body section including a crown section and a sole section and extending from a rear section of said hitting face, the body section including at least one opening extending into an inner cavity of said golf club head, the opening configured to receive a composite member; and

a composite member attached to said body section and being disposed within said opening, thereby exposing said composite member to the inner cavity;

wherein said composite member comprises;

a sandwiching outer layer;

a sandwiching inner layer; and

a sandwiched core layer comprising vibration dampening material interposed between said sandwiching outer layer and said sandwiching inner layer, and wherein said sandwiching outer layer, sandwiching inner layer, and sandwiched core layer are comprised of a different material than said body section;

wherein said golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 495 cubic centimeters;

wherein said golf club head has a length ranging from 3.5 inches to 5.0 inches and a width ranging from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said sandwiched core layer is comprised of a different material from said sandwiching outer layer and said sandwiching inner layer.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said golf club head has a frequency of greater than 3500 Hz when impacting said golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH.

13. A method of altering a sound of a golf club head comprising;

providing a body section, the body section including at least one opening extending into an inner cavity of said golf club head, the opening configured to receive a composite member;

attaching a composite member to the body section, the composite member being disposed within said opening, thereby exposing said composite member to the inner cavity;

wherein said composite member comprises;

a sandwiching outer layer at an external surface of said golf club head; and

a sandwiching inner layer at an internal surface of said golf club head; and

interposing a vibration damping layer between said sandwiching outer layer and said sandwiching inner layer;

wherein said sandwiching outer layer, sandwiching inner layer, and vibration damping layer are comprised of a different material than said body section.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said vibration damping layer is a different material from said sandwiching outer layer and said sandwiching inner layer.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

controlling a frequency of a sound made by said golf club head during impact with a golf ball at a swing speed ranging from 80 MPH to 130 MPH to a frequency greater than 3500 Hz.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said vibration damping layer is comprised of a foam composite material.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said vibration damping layer is in the shape of a honeycomb shape.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

identifying a location of the highest vibration within said golf club head during impact with a golf ball; and

interposing said vibration damping layer at said location of the highest vibration.