Golf club head with replaceable face

• US 8,753,228 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Golden, Charles E., Morin, John, Hipp, Helene
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/761,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20130150179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-530
• US Class Current: 473/342
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/0458 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head having a replaceable striking face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head where at least a portion of the frontal striking surface of the face is detachable and replaceable to improve performance. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a thinned striking face with a thickness of less than about 3.0 mm yielding a golf club head with a larger sweet spot that'"'"'s greater than 6% of the frontal striking surface; defined as an area of the frontal striking surface having at least 99% of the maximum characteristic time between about 239 microseconds to about 257 microseconds.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown portion and a sole portion; and

a replaceable striking face releasably connected to said body comprising an impact zone and a connection zone;

wherein said impact zone is configured to strike a golf ball and said connecting zone is configured to connect said replaceable striking face to said body;

a vibration dampening material juxtaposed between said connecting zone of said replaceable striking face and said body, wherein said vibration dampening material is configured to seal said golf club head;

wherein a thickness of said impact zone is less than about 3.0 mm;

wherein said golf club head has a volume of greater than about 350 cc;

wherein said golf club head has a primary first mode frequency of greater than about 3,500 Hertz;

wherein said replaceable striking face is connected to said body using at least one screw;

wherein said replaceable striking face further comprises at least one screw receptacle to engage a terminal end of said at least one screw, said terminal end comprising a threaded portion of said at least one screw; and

wherein said body comprises at least one screw well to engage a proximal end of said at least one screw, said proximal end comprising a head portion of said at least one screw.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said thickness of said impact zone is less than about 2.5 mm.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said thickness of said impact zone is less than about 2.0 mm.

4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said at least one screw well is formed in said sole portion of said golf club head.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown portion and a sole portion; and

a replaceable striking face releasably connected to said body comprising an impact zone and a connection zone;

wherein said impact zone is configured to strike a golf ball and said connecting zone is configured to connect said replaceable striking face to said body;

a vibration dampening material juxtaposed between said connecting zone of said replaceable striking face and said body, wherein said vibration dampening material is configured to seal said golf club head;

wherein a thickness of said impact zone is less than about 3.0 mm;

wherein said golf club head has a volume of greater than about 350 cc;

wherein said golf club head has a primary first mode frequency of greater than about 3,500 Hertz;

wherein said replaceable striking face is connected to said body using at least one screw;

wherein said replaceable striking face comprises at least one connection tab extending from said connection zone;

wherein said body comprises at least one slot configured to receive said at least one connection tab; and

wherein said at least one connection tab and said at least one slot are adapted to limit movement of said replaceable striking face relative to said body.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein said replaceable striking face further comprises at least one screw receptacle to engage a terminal end of said at least one screw, said terminal end comprising a threaded portion of said at least one screw.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein said body comprises at least one screw well to engage a proximal end of said at least one screw, said proximal end comprising a head portion of said at least one screw.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein said at least one screw well is formed in said sole portion of said golf club head.