Golf club head

• US 8,702,534 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: DeMille, Brandon D., Cackett, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US14/015,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20130344986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 235 Days
• Field of Search: 473/338, 473/339, 473344-346, 473348-350
• US Class Current: 473/344
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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

Abstract

A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf club head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face component;

a crown comprising an interior surface;

a sole comprising at least one aperture; and

a cover,

wherein the interior surface of the crown comprises one or more alignment features,

wherein the crown and sole are connected at the one or more alignment features by a hollow pillar composed of a composite material that extends from the at least one aperture and makes contact with the one or more alignment features, and

wherein the aperture is obscured from view by the cover.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face component is a face cup composed of a titanium alloy.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the crown and sole is made from a composite material.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face component is made from a titanium material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face component is a face plate.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face component comprises a striking area and a rear section extending laterally rearwardly from the striking face.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the rear section comprises a sole side, a crown side, a heel side, and a toe side.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more alignment features is integrally formed with the crown.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more alignment features is affixed to the interior surface of the crown.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown and the sole each have a periphery, and wherein each of the one or more alignment features is spaced inward from the periphery.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, further comprising a ribbon disposed between and connected to the crown and the sole at their respective peripheries.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the crown and sole are connected to one another at their respective peripheries.

13. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a titanium alloy face component comprising an X-shaped variable thickness pattern;

a compression-molded composite crown comprising an interior surface and at least one alignment feature disposed on the interior surface;

a sole comprising at least one aperture; and

a hollow pillar composed of a composite material,

wherein the crown has a thickness of 0.025 inch to 0.070 inch,

wherein the crown and the sole are connected to one another at their respective peripheries with an adhesive material,

wherein the at least one alignment feature is integrally formed with the crown and has a greater thickness than the crown, and

wherein the pillar extends from the at least one aperture and makes contact with the interior surface of the crown proximate the least one alignment feature.

14. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the face component is a face cup.

15. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the face component is a face plate.

16. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the at least one aperture is obscured from view by a cover.

17. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the pillar is bonded to the interior surface of the crown.

18. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the sole is composed of compression-molded composite, and wherein the sole comprises a plurality of deep pockets.

19. The wood-type golf club head of claim 18, wherein the deep pockets have a cumulative volume that is less than 50 cubic centimeters.

20. The wood-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the at least one alignment feature is spaced inward from the periphery of the crown.