Golf club heads and methods to manufacture the same

• US 8,784,232 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Marty R., Morales, Eric J., Schweigert, Bradley D., Serrano, Anthony D., Nicolette, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US13/089,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/324
• 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 53/0416 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• 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 53/0487 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a front end comprising a front face;

a rear end;

a bottom portion; and

a top portion;

wherein;

the golf club head comprises a club head mass;

the bottom portion comprises;

a first bottom section coupled to the front end; and

a second bottom section between the first bottom section and the rear end;

the second bottom section comprises at least approximately 40% of the club head mass; and

the second bottom section comprises less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head;

the first bottom section comprises a first material;

the second bottom section comprises a second material different than the first material;

the second bottom section comprises an insert comprising the second material;

a mass of the insert comprises at least approximately 40% of the club head mass;

the insert comprises less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head; and

the materials of the golf club head comprise the first material and the second material.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the second bottom section comprises more than half of the club head mass.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the second bottom section comprises less than approximately 45% of the volume of materials of the golf club head.

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

a skirt portion between the top and bottom portions;

wherein;

the front end comprises a transition region between the front face and the first bottom section; and

the second bottom section is separated from the transition region by the first bottom section.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the insert is substantially “

D”

shaped;

the bottom portion comprises a first aperture; and

the insert is located in the first aperture and exposed to at least one of;

an interior of the golf club head;

or

an exterior of the golf club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the second bottom section bounds a perimeter of the insert; and

the insert comprises less than thirty-eight percent of the volume of the materials of the golf club head.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the insert is located fully below at least one of;

forty percent of a highest point of the golf club head;

or

0.6 inch above the bottom portion.

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

a brazed joint comprising a third material and coupling the insert to the bottom portion;

wherein;

the first material comprises at least one of stainless steel, aluminum, tungsten, magnesium, or nickel alloy;

the second material is denser than the first material; and

the third metal material comprises at least one of a copper material, a tin material, a silver material, or a zinc material.

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

a toe end and a heel end;

wherein the insert comprises;

a center portion located towards the rear end and substantially centered between the toe and heel ends;

a heel arm extending from the center portion substantially towards the heel end and the first bottom section;

a toe arm extending from the center portion substantially towards the toe end and the first bottom section; and

a front edge between the heel and toe arms and substantially concave relative to the front end.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a front end comprising a front face;

a rear end;

a bottom portion;

a top portion;

one or more top apertures located at the top portion; and

one or more top inserts located in the one or more top apertures;

wherein;

the golf club head comprises a club head mass;

the bottom portion comprises;

a first bottom section coupled to the front end; and

a second bottom section between the first bottom section and the rear end;

the second bottom section comprises at least approximately 40% of the club head mass; and

the second bottom section comprises less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head;

the first bottom section comprises a first material;

the second bottom section comprises a second material different than the first material;

the one or more top inserts comprise a third material; and

the third material of the one or more top inserts is less dense than the first material.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein:

the one or more top inserts comprise a single-piece top insert;

the single-piece top insert comprises;

one or more first segments comprising a first thickness; and

one or more second segments comprising a second thickness and coupled to the one or more first segments;

and

the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein:

the top portion comprises one or more grid segments arranged in a first grid pattern that defines the one or more top apertures;

the one or more first segments of the single-piece top insert are arranged in a second grid pattern matching the first grid pattern; and

the one or more first segments of the single-piece top insert abut the one or more grid segments of the top portion when the one or more top inserts are located in the one or more top apertures.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a front end comprising a front face;

a rear end;

a bottom portion comprising a club head low point of the golf club head;

a top portion;

a hosel protruding from the top portion; and

a center of gravity at a center of gravity height;

wherein;

the golf club head comprises a club head mass;

the bottom portion comprises;

a first bottom section coupled to the front end; and

a second bottom section between the first bottom section and the rear end;

the second bottom section comprises at least approximately 40% of the club head mass;

the second bottom section comprises less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head; and

when the golf club head is at address with the club head low point over a horizontal plane, the center of gravity height is located, measured perpendicular to the horizontal plane, below at least one of the following;

thirty-two percent of a height of the front face;

thirty percent of a highest point of the top portion;

or

twenty-three percent of a highest point of the hosel.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein:

the center of gravity height is located below thirty-two percent of the height of the front face.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein:

the center of gravity height is located below thirty percent of the highest point of the top portion.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein:

the center of gravity height is located below twenty-three percent of the highest point of the hosel.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow body comprising a sole, a crown, and a strike face;

a first weight coupled to the sole; and

a joint coupling together the sole and the first weight;

wherein;

the sole comprises;

a rear sole section bounding the first weight; and

a front sole section coupled to the strike face and separating the rear sole section from the strike face;

the first weight is separated from the strike face by the front sole section;

at least the sole of the hollow body comprises a first metal;

the first weight comprises a second metal different than the first metal;

the joint comprises a joint material different than the first and second metals;

the golf club head comprises a club head mass;

the first weight comprises a weight mass;

the club head mass comprises the weight mass;

the weight mass comprises more than at least approximately 40% of the club head mass;

a mass volume of the first weight comprises less than 50% percent of a mass volume of materials of the golf club head; and

the materials of the golf club head comprise the first metal, the second metal, and the joint material.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein:

the weight mass comprises between approximately 41% to approximately 45% of the club head mass;

the mass volume of the first weight comprises between approximately 42% to approximately 46% of the mass volume of the materials of the golf club head;

the rear sole section comprises a first opening through which the first weight is inserted; and

the first weight is exposed to an internal side of the sole and to an external side of the sole.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, further comprising:

a crown insert;

wherein;

the crown comprises a crown opening;

the crown insert is located in the crown opening;

the first weight comprises a first density;

the crown insert comprises a second density; and

the hollow body comprises a body density less than the first density and greater than the second density.

20. A method for providing a golf club head, the method comprising:

providing a front end of the golf club head, the front end comprising a front face;

providing a rear end of the golf club head;

providing a bottom portion of the golf club head; and

providing a top portion of the golf club head;

wherein;

providing the bottom portion comprises;

providing a first bottom section coupled to the front end; and

providing a second bottom section between the first bottom section and the rear end;

providing the second bottom section comprises;

providing the second bottom section to comprise at least approximately 40% of a club head mass of the club head; and

providing the second bottom section to comprise less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head;

providing the front end comprises;

providing a transition region between the front face and the first bottom section, the second bottom section being separated from the transition region by the first bottom section;

providing the second bottom section comprises;

providing an insert into an aperture of the second bottom section; and

providing the insert comprises;

providing a material of the insert to be more dense than a material of the first bottom section; and

locating the insert in the first aperture to be;

bounded by the second bottom section; and

exposed to internal and external sides of the bottom portion.