Multi-material golf club head

• US 8,870,682 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/759,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/349
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0479 Wedge-type clubs, details thereof
• 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 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• 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 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head formed of multiple materials is disclosed. Those portions of the club head that are subject to high stresses during normal use of the golf club head are formed of a metallic material. Most of the material beyond what is required to maintain structural integrity, however, is removed and replaced with a lightweight material. This freed-up mass that can be redistributed to other, more beneficial locations of the club head. The lightweight material also damps vibrations generated during use of the golf club. This vibration damper may be retained in a state of compression to enhance the vibration damping. One or more weight members may be included to obtain desired center of gravity position, moments of inertia, and other club head attributes. An insert formed of multiple materials and having regions of varying thickness may also be included on a rear surface of the club head.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a first body portion formed of a first material having a first density and including;

at least a part of a sole of the club head and forming a first part of a lower sole surface,

a face portion defining a peripheral opening, and

a hosel of the club head;

a face insert coupled to the peripheral opening of the first body portion and providing at least a portion of a face of the club head;

a second body portion formed of a second material with a second density lower than the first density, the second body portion having an upper part coupled to a rear surface of the first body portion opposite the face and a lower part extending backwards from the upper part and into the sole and forming a second part of the lower sole surface; and

a third body portion coupled to at least one of the first and second body portions and formed of a third material having a third density greater than the first density,

wherein if I_zz is a moment of inertia about a the vertical axis and CG_z is a height in mm of a center of gravity of the club head when the club head is at address, then CG_z * 170≦

I_zz >

about 2800 g·

cm²;

wherein the vertical center of gravity of the club head is greater than about 17 mm.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second material has a density less than about 3 g/cm³.

3. The club head of claim 1, wherein the club head is an iron-type club head.

4. A golf club head, comprising:

a first body portion including at least a part of a sole and forming a first part of a lower sole surface, a portion of a face defining an opening, and a hosel, the first body portion comprising a first material having a first density;

a face insert coupled to the opening in the first body portion and providing a central portion of the face;

a second body portion coupled to a rear surface of the first body portion opposite the face and extending down the rear surface and curving and extending into the sole and forming a second part of the lower sole surface, the second body portion comprising a second material having a second density; and

a third body portion coupled to at least one of the first and second body portions, the third body portion comprising a third material having a third density;

wherein the third density is greater than the first density and the first density is greater than the second density;

wherein a rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis is greater than about 2800 G·

cm² and wherein a vertical center of gravity is less than about 17 mm;

wherein the club head satisfies the relationship;

I_ZZ≧

CG_Z*D*17

where I_zz is the rotational moment of inertia about the vertical axis and has units of g·

cm² and CG_Z is the vertical center of gravity and has units of mm, and wherein D is the third density.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the third body portion comprises greater than about 10% of the total mass of the club head.

6. The club head of claim 4, wherein the club head is an iron-type club head.

7. A golf club head, comprising:

a first body portion including at least a part of a sole and forming a first part of a lower sole surface, a portion of a face defining an opening, and a hosel, the first body portion comprising a first material having a first density;

a face insert coupled to the opening in the first body portion and providing a central portion of the face;

a second body portion coupled to a rear surface of the first body portion opposite the face and extending down the rear surface and curving and extending into the sole and forming a second part of the lower sole surface, the second body portion comprising a second material having a second density; and

a third body portion coupled to at least one of the first and second body portions, the third body portion comprising a third material having a third density;

wherein the third density is greater than the first density and the first density is greater than the second density;

wherein the density of the third material is greater than about 10 g/cm³;

wherein a rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis is greater than about 2800 g·

cm² and wherein a vertical center of gravity is less than about 17 mm.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a first body portion including at least a part of a sole and forming a first part of a lower sole surface, and a hosel;

a face insert coupled to the first body portion;

a second body portion made of a material having a density D that is less dense than a first material of the first body portion and extending along and coupled to a rear surface of the first body portion and also extending back from the rear surface into the sole and forming a second part of the lower sole surface; and

a third body portion made of a third material more dense than the first material and coupled to at least one of the first and second body portions;

wherein, defining CG_z as a height of a center of gravity of the club head and I_zz as a rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis when the club head is at address;

I_ZZ≧

CG_Z*D*123, I_zz>

about 2800 g·

cm², and CG_z>

about 17 mm.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the club head is an iron-type club head and further wherein I_zz>

about 3000 g·

cm².

10. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the loft of the club head is between about 25°

and about 32°

.

11. A set of iron type golf clubs comprising:

at least one club of the set comprising a first club head comprising;

a first body portion including at least a part of a sole and forming a first part of a lower sole surface, and a hosel of the first club head, the first body portion comprising a first material having a first density;

a face insert coupled to the first body portion and cooperating with the first body portion to provide a face of the club head;

a second body portion coupled to a rear surface of the first body portion opposite the face and extending back from the rear surface and into the sole and forming a second part of the lower sole surface, the second body portion comprising a second material having a second density; and

a third body portion coupled to at least one of the first and second body portions, the third body portion comprising a third material having a third density;

wherein the third density is greater than the first density and the first density is greater than the second density;

wherein the vertical center of gravity of the club head is greater than about 17 mm; and

at least one club of the set comprising a second club head comprising;

a first body portion including at least a part of a sole and forming a first part of a lower sole surface, the first body portion comprising a first material having a first density;

a face insert coupled to the first body portion;

a second body portion coupled to a rear surface of the first body portion opposite the face and forming a second part of the lower sole surface, the second body portion comprising a second material having a second density; and

a third body portion coupled to at least one of the first and second body portions, the third body portion comprising a third material having a third density;

wherein the third density is greater than the first density and the first density is greater than the second density;

wherein the vertical center of gravity of the club head is less than about 17 mm, and

wherein all the clubs in the set have a rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis is greater than about 2800 g·

cm².

12. The set of golf clubs of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one club of the set satisfies the relationship:

I_ZZ≧

CG_Z*170

where I_zz is the rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis and has units of g·

cm² and CG_z is the vertical center of gravity and has units of mm.

13. The set of golf clubs of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one club of the set satisfies the relationship:

I_ZZ≧

CG_Z*D*17

where I_zz is the rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis and has units of g·

cm² and CG_z is the vertical center of gravity and has units of mm, and wherein D is the third density.

14. The set of golf clubs of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one club of the set satisfies the relationship:

I_ZZ≧

CG_Z*D*123

where I_zz is the rotational moment of inertia about a vertical axis and has units of g·

cm² and CG_z is the vertical center of gravity and has units of mm, and wherein D is the density of the second material.

15. The set of golf clubs of claim 11, wherein the face insert comprises titanium, a titanium alloy, a high strength steel, a high strength aluminum alloy, or a metal matrix composite material.

16. A golf club head, comprising:

a first body part comprising

a sole portion extending into a sole area member of the club head and forming a first part of a lower-most sole surface,

a face portion defining a peripheral opening, and

a hosel portion defining a hosel of the club head;

a face insert coupled to the peripheral opening of the first body part to provide a face;

a low density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and comprising a back portion extending down the rear surface opposite the face,

a turn portion comprising a bend, and

a lower portion extending into the first body part and forming a second part of the lower-most sole surface, the lower portion cooperating with the first body part to define the sole area member;

a high density body part coupled to the sole area member; and

a moment of inertia about a vertical axis when the club head is at address greater than about 2800 g·

cm², wherein the first body part, the low density body part, and the high density part each includes a material not found in the others.

17. The club head of claim 16, wherein the club head is an iron-type club head.