Golf club head with low density crown

• US 8,597,139 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Douglas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/900,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49966 with supplemental joining

Abstract

A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include a low density portion and a high density portion. The high density portion includes at least a sole, a face, and at least one support member. The support member is operatively connected to the face and the sole, and maintains the structural integrity of the golf club head. The low density portion comprises the crown and the skirt of the club head. When the low density portion is attached to the at least one support member, a golf club head may be formed. In this manner, the center of gravity of the club head may be lowered and moved away from the face of the club.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and a plurality of elongated support members extending from an upper portion of the face to a rear portion of the sole, wherein the first portion comprises a first material having a first density; and

a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt coupled to the sole, the face, and the support members, wherein the second portion comprises a second material having a second density, and wherein about 50 percent and about 90 percent of the crown and the skirt are formed of the second material, and wherein the second portion comprises less than about 5 percent of the total weight of the golf club head,

wherein a ratio of the first density to the second density is about 2;

1 or greater, and wherein the plurality of elongated support members comprise one or more recesses that correspond to one or more protrusions formed in the second portion.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of elongated support members corresponds to the outer perimeter of the crown and the skirt of the golf club head.

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first density to second density is about 3:

1 or greater.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated support members comprises about 10 percent or less of the crown and the skirt.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated support members comprises about 5 percent or less of the crown and the skirt.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongated support members comprises about 2 percent or less of the crown and the skirt.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members comprises between about two to about four support members.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and a plurality of elongated support members extending from an upper portion of the face to a rear portion of the sole, wherein the first portion comprises a first material having a first density and a first weight; and

a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt coupled to the sole, the face, and the support members, wherein the second portion comprises a second material having a second density and a second weight,

wherein a ratio of the first density to the second density is about 2;

1 or greater, and wherein the plurality of elongated support members comprise one or more recesses that correspond to one or more protrusions formed in the second portion, and wherein the plurality of elongated support members comprises about 10 percent or less of the crown and the skirt.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the ratio of the first weight to second weight is about 100:

1 to about 20;

1.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the ratio of the first weight to second weight is about 90:

1 to about 40;

1.

11. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein about 50 percent and about 90 percent of the crown and the skirt are formed of the second material.

12. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the one or more recesses are located in bottom portions of the plurality of elongated support members.

13. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the crown and the skirt comprise about 20 percent or less of the total weight of the club head.

14. The club head of claim 13, wherein the crown and the skirt comprise about 10 percent or less of the total weight of the club head.

15. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the plurality of support members comprises between about two to about four support members.

16. A golf club head, comprising:

a first portion comprising a sole, a face, and a plurality of support members extending from an upper portion of the face to a rear portion of the sole, wherein the first portion comprises a first material having a first density; and

a second portion comprising a crown and a skirt coupled to the sole, the face, and the support members, wherein the second portion comprises a second material having a second density,

wherein a ratio of the first density to the second density is about 2;

1 or greater, and wherein the second portion comprises less than about 5 percent of the total weight of the golf club head.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the ratio of the first density to the second density is about 3:

1 or greater.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the ratio of the first density to the second density is about 5:

1 or greater.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the plurality of support members comprises between about two to about four support members.

20. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the plurality of support members comprise one or more recesses that correspond to one or more protrusions formed in the second portion.