Method for making a golf club face

• US 8,021,245 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/459,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20100009773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/331
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• 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: B44C 5/00 Processes for producing special ornamental bodies

Abstract

An improved face for a golf club head includes shallow and deep markings configured to provide a pleasing appearance when viewed head on, and to frame the central region of the impact surface of the face when viewed at address. Use of only shallow markings in the central region of the impact surface prevents existence of stress fractures resulting from use of deep markings in the central region. This allows for a face thinner than those incorporating conventional grooves in the central regions of their impact surfaces, resulting in both superior resistance to cracking and improved C.O.R. Specified methods of manufacture are particularly suited for making clubs incorporating these shallow and deep markings.

Claims

1. A face for a golf club head, the face comprising an impact surface having a geometric center, the impact surface comprising:

a central region including the geometric center of the impact surface, wherein the central region is disc-shaped, with a radius of at least about 6 mm, and is centered at the geometric center of the impact surface;

shallow markings located entirely within the central region, the shallow markings having a first depth, the central region being free of markings having a depth greater than the first depth; and

deep markings located outside the central region, the deep markings having a second depth greater than the first depth of the shallow markings.

2. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the central region comprises at least about 10 percent of the impact surface.

3. The face as defined in claim 2, wherein the central region comprises at least about 20 percent of the impact surface.

4. The face as defined in claim 3, wherein the central region comprises at least about 40 percent of the impact surface.

5. The face as defined in claim 4 wherein the deep markings have second depth of about 0.20 mm.

6. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped central region has a radius of at least about 1.0 cm.

7. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the disc-shaped central region has a radius of about 1.5 cm.

8. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the shallow markings have first depth greater than about 0.01 mm.

9. The face as defined in claim 8, wherein the shallow markings have first depth of about 0.02 mm.

10. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the shallow markings are regions of texture comprising indentations and extrusions from the plane of the impact surface.

11. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the shallow markings are regions of oxidation of the impact surface.

12. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the deep markings have second depth of less than about 0.50 mm.

13. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the deep markings are grooves, the grooves being straight and having substantially constant width and second depth.

14. The face as defined in claim 13, wherein the grooves are horizontal, vertical, or combinations of these.

15. The face as defined in claim 13, wherein the shallow markings are elongated straight markings having width substantially equal to that of the grooves.

16. The face as defined in claim 13 wherein the shallow markings are elongated straight markings substantially parallel to at least a portion of the grooves.

17. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the shallow markings generally extend to edges of the central region.

18. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the impact surface further comprises a heel region and a toe region, wherein the central region is situated between the heel region and the toe region, and wherein the heel region and the toe region each comprise deep markings.

19. The face as defined in claim 18, wherein the impact surfaces comprises at least one deep marking above the central region.

20. The face as defined in claim 1, wherein the deep markings are filled with paint.

21. The golf club head having a hosel, a sole, a back, and a face as defined in claim 1.

22. The golf club head as defined in claim 21, wherein the head is incorporated into a driver or a fairway wood.

23. A face for a golf club head, the face comprising an impact surface, the impact surface comprising:

a circular central region extending from a geometric center of the impact surface, wherein the central region has a radius of about 1.5 cm;

a heel region and a toe region, wherein the central region is situated between the heel region and the toe region;

horizontal grooves located in the heel region and the toe region, the grooves being straight and having a depth between about 0.15 mm and about 0.50 mm and substantially constant width;

horizontal shallow markings located entirely within the central region, the shallow markings being straight and having a depth between about 0.01 mm and a first depth, the first depth being at least 0.05 mm less than the depth of the grooves, the central region being free of markings or grooves having a depth greater than the first depth; and

wherein the grooves are collinear with and have width substantially equal to that of the shallow markings.

24. The face as defined in claim 23, wherein the horizontal shallow markings have a first depth of about 0.02 mm, and the horizontal grooves have depth of about 0.20 mm and substantially constant width.

25. The face as defined in claim 23, wherein the impact surface further comprises a horizontal outer shallow marking outside the central region, the horizontal shallow marking being straight and having first depth of about 0.02 mm.

26. A face for a golf club head, the face comprising an impact surface, the impact surface comprising:

a circular central region extending from a geometric center of the impact surface, wherein the central region has a radius of about 1.5 cm and is free of deep markings having a second depth;

a heel region and a toe region, wherein the central region is situated between the heel region and the toe region;

horizontal shallow markings located in the central region, the shallow markings being straight and having a first depth less than the second depth; and

horizontal grooves located in the heel region and the toe region, the grooves being straight and having a depth between about 0.15 mm and about 0.50 mm and substantially constant width;

wherein the grooves are collinear with and have width substantially equal to that of the shallow markings; and

wherein the impact surface further comprises a horizontal framing groove above the central region, the framing groove being straight and having depth of about 0.20 mm.

27. A face for a golf club head, the face comprising an impact surface, the impact surface comprising:

a circular central region extending from a geometric center of the impact surface, wherein the central region has a radius of about 1.5 cm and is free of deep markings having a second depth;

a heel region and a toe region, wherein the central region is situated between the heel region and the toe region;

horizontal shallow markings located in the central region, the shallow markings being straight and having a first depth less than the second depth; and

horizontal grooves located in the heel region and the toe region, the grooves being straight and having a depth between about 0.15 mm and about 0.50 mm and substantially constant width;

wherein the grooves are collinear with and have width substantially equal to that of the shallow markings; and

wherein an outer shallow marking is below the center region.

28. A face for a golf club head, the face comprising an impact surface having a geometric center, the impact surface comprising:

a disc-shaped central region a having a radius of at least about 6 mm, centered at the geometric center of the impact surface, wherein the central region is free of deep markings;

shallow markings located in the central region, the shallow markings having a first depth insufficient to impart substantial spin to a golf ball striking the markings; and

deep markings located outside the central region having a second depth, the second depth of the deep markings being greater than the first depth of the shallow markings.