Multi-component golf club head

• US 8,342,984 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNIS, MICHAEL DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/467,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 473/345, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/345
• 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 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 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 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/00 Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49993 Filling of opening

Abstract

A golf club head having multiple components is provided. The golf club head includes a plurality of components wherein at least one component exhibits a different modulus of elasticity than the other components. In some structures, one or more of the plurality of components that comprise the golf club head is titanium or titanium alloy component provided in the heel and/or toe areas of the club head structure immediately adjacent the ball striking face, wherein that titanium or titanium alloy component has a lower modulus of elasticity than the material making up the club face and/or other club head body components.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a club face extending from a toe area to a heel area;

a first body portion creating a circumference proximate to the club face and extending less than 40% of a distance from the club face to a rear of the head at each of the toe area and the heel area, the first body portion further extending at least 60% of a distance from the club face to the rear of the head at a center crown portion of the club face between the heel area and the toe area;

a second body portion proximate to the first body portion at the toe area of the club head that extends toward the rear of the club head and toward the center crown portion of the club head, wherein the second body portion has a higher modulus of elasticity than the first body portion; and

a third body portion proximate to the first body portion at the heel area of the club head that extends toward the rear and the center crown portion of the club head, wherein the third body portion has a higher modulus of elasticity that the first body portion.

2. The club head of claim 1, wherein the first body portion comprises a first titanium component.

3. The club head of claim 2, wherein the first titanium component is a titanium alloy that contains, by weight, from 2.5 to 3.5% aluminum;

from 2.5 to 3.5% chromium;

from 2.5-3.5% tin;

from 14-16% aluminum;

optionally minor amounts of hydrogen, iron, nitrogen, oxygen, or impurities; and

the balance titanium.

4. The club head of claim 3, wherein the second body portion is a second titanium component that differs from the first titanium component.

5. The club head of claim 4, wherein the second titanium component comprises KS120.

6. The club head of claim 1, wherein the second body portion and the third body portion have the same modulus of elasticity.

7. The club head of claim 3, wherein the second body portion and third body portion are made of KS120.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth body portion that has a higher modulus of elasticity than the first body portion.

9. The club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth body portion engaged with the second body portion and the third body portion and located along the rear of the golf club head.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a club face extending from a toe area to a heel area;

a first body portion engaged at the heel area of the club face, wherein the first body portion extends in a front-to-rear direction at least 10% of an overall club head breadth dimension and less than 60% of the overall club head breadth dimension, and wherein the first body portion has a first modulus of elasticity;

a second body portion engaged at the toe area of the club face, wherein the second body portion extends in the front-to-rear direction at least 10% of the overall club head breadth dimension and less than 60% of the overall club head breadth dimension, wherein the second body portion has a second modulus of elasticity that may be the same as or different from the first modulus of elasticity; and

a third body portion having a higher modulus of elasticity than the first and second body portions, wherein the third body portion is engaged with the club face at about a center of the club face in a heel-to-toe direction and extends away from the club face toward the rear of the club head.

11. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the third body portion and the club face surround the first body portion and the second body portion.

12. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the first body portion extends in the front-to-rear direction at least 25% of the overall club head breadth dimension, and wherein the second body portion extends in the front-to-rear direction at least 25% of the overall club head breadth dimension.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a club face extending from a toe area to a heel area;

a first body portion engaged with a perimeter portion of the club face, wherein the first body portion has a first modulus of elasticity and includes;

a toe oriented portion that extends in a front-to-rear direction at least 10% of an overall club head breadth dimension and less than 60% of the overall club head breadth dimension,

a heel oriented portion that extends in the front-to-rear direction at least 10% of the overall club head breadth dimension and less than 60% of the overall club head breadth dimension, and

a center crown portion that extends in the front-to-rear direction at least 40% of the overall club head breadth dimension; and

a second body portion engaged with the first body portion and extending rearward from at least a portion of the first body portion, the second body portion having a higher modulus of elasticity than the first body portion.

14. A golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the first body portion further includes a center sole portion that extends in the front-to-rear direction at least 40% of the overall club head breadth dimension.

15. A golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the second body portion is engaged with and extends rearward from the toe oriented portion of the first body portion, and wherein the golf club head further comprises:

a third body portion engaged with and extending rearward from the heel oriented portion of the first body portion, the second body portion having a higher modulus of elasticity than the first body portion, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the second body portion is the same as or different from the modulus of elasticity of the third body portion.

16. A golf club head according to claim 15, wherein the center crown portion and the center sole portion of the first body portion separate the second and third body portions from one another.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a face component including a ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end of the golf club head; and

a club head body extending rearward from the face component, wherein the club head body includes;

a toe body portion adjacent the toe end of the face component, wherein the toe body portion has a first modulus of elasticity,

a heel body portion adjacent the heel end of the face component, wherein the heel body portion has a second modulus of elasticity, and

a major body portion including one or more portions extending rearward from the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the major body portion has a third modulus of elasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity,

wherein the golf club head has a COR response at a location spaced horizontally one-half inch from a geometric center of the face component that is higher than a COR response at a location spaced horizontally one-half inch from the geometric center of a face component of a similarly structured golf club head in which the toe body portion and the heel body portion are replaced with corresponding body portions made of a material having the third modulus of elasticity or higher, wherein the COR responses are measured under standard USGA testing conditions.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a face component including a ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end of the golf club head; and

a club head body extending rearward from the face component, wherein the club head body includes;

a toe body portion adjacent the toe end of the face component, wherein the toe body portion has a first modulus of elasticity,

a heel body portion adjacent the heel end of the face component, wherein the heel body portion has a second modulus of elasticity, and

a major body portion including one or more portions extending rearward from the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the major body portion has a third modulus of elasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity,

wherein the golf club head has a COR response at a location spaced horizontally one inch from a geometric center of the face component that is higher than a COR response at a location spaced horizontally one inch from the geometric center of a face component of a similarly structured golf club head in which the toe body portion and the heel body portion are replaced with corresponding body portions made of a material having the third modulus of elasticity or higher, wherein the COR responses are measured under standard USGA testing conditions.

19. A golf club head comprising:

a face component including a ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end of the golf club head; and

a club head body extending rearward from the face component, wherein the club head body includes;

a toe body portion adjacent the toe end of the face component, wherein the toe body portion has a first modulus of elasticity,

a heel body portion adjacent the heel end of the face component, wherein the heel body portion has a second modulus of elasticity, and

a major body portion including one or more portions extending rearward from the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the major body portion has a third modulus of elasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity,

wherein the golf club head has a COR response at a location spaced horizontally 1½

inches from a geometric center of the face component that is higher than a COR response at a location spaced horizontally 1½

inch from the geometric center of a face component of a similarly structured golf club head in which the toe body portion and the heel body portion are replaced with corresponding body portions made of a material having the third modulus of elasticity or higher, wherein the COR responses are measured under standard USGA testing conditions.

20. A golf club head comprising:

a face component including a ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end of the golf club head; and

a club head body extending rearward from the face component, wherein the club head body includes;

a toe body portion adjacent the toe end of the face component, wherein the toe body portion has a first modulus of elasticity,

a heel body portion adjacent the heel end of the face component, wherein the heel body portion has a second modulus of elasticity,

a crown body portion adjacent an upper part of the face component and extending between the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the crown body portion has a third modulus of elasticity, and

a major body portion including one or more portions extending rearward from the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the major body portion has a fourth modulus of elasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity, the second modulus of elasticity, and the third modulus of elasticity

wherein the golf club head has a COR response at a location spaced vertically one-half inch from a geometric center of the face component that is higher than a COR response at a location spaced vertically one-half inch from the geometric center of a face component of a similarly structured golf club head in which the toe body portion, the heel body portion, and the crown body portion are replaced with corresponding body portions made of a material having the fourth modulus of elasticity or higher, wherein the COR responses are measured under standard USGA testing conditions.

21. A golf club head comprising:

a face component including a ball striking face extending between a toe end and a heel end of the golf club head; and

a club head body extending rearward from the face component, wherein the club head body includes;

a toe body portion adjacent the toe end of the face component, wherein the toe body portion has a first modulus of elasticity,

a heel body portion adjacent the heel end of the face component, wherein the heel body portion has a second modulus of elasticity,

a crown body portion adjacent an upper part of the face component and extending between the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the crown body portion has a third modulus of elasticity, and

a major body portion including one or more portions extending rearward from the toe body portion and the heel body portion, wherein the major body portion has a fourth modulus of elasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity, the second modulus of elasticity, and the third modulus of elasticity

wherein the golf club head has a COR response at a location spaced vertically one inch from a geometric center of the face component that is higher than a COR response at a location spaced vertically one inch from the geometric center of a face component of a similarly structured golf club head in which the toe body portion, the heel body portion, and the crown body portion are replaced with corresponding body portions made of a material having the fourth modulus of elasticity or higher, wherein the COR responses are measured under standard USGA testing conditions.