Golf club head

• US 9,211,449 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: DeMille, Brandon D., Cackett, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US14/623,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20150157904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 473/344, 473/345, 473/342, 473/346, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 portion; and

an aft body attached to the face portion, the aft body comprising a crown portion and a sole portion, the crown portion having an interior surface, the sole portion defining a plurality of deep pockets, each of the plurality of deep pockets having an opening,

wherein the crown portion and sole portion are connected to one another at one or more locations that form at least one pillar,

wherein the interior surface of the crown portion is visible at the opening of each of plurality of deep pockets of the sole portion,

wherein the sole portion contacts the interior surface of the crown to form each of the plurality of deep pockets,

wherein the plurality of deep pockets has a cumulative volume of less than 50 cubic centimeters, and

wherein each of the plurality of deep pockets is disposed near a rear portion of the head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown portion is composed of a composite material.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the composite material is compression molded.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face portion is composed of a metal material.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy, steel, and amorphous metal.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a ribbon disposed between and connected to the crown portion and the sole portion.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face portion is a face cup.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the face cup is composed of a titanium material.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face portion is a face plate.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown portion comprises an extension portion, and wherein the sole portion comprises a recess that receives the extension portion.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown portion and the sole portion are connected to one another with an adhesive material.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the wood-type golf club head is a driver-type head.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face portion comprises a variable thickness pattern selected from the group consisting of an X-shaped thickness pattern and elliptical thickness rings.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face portion comprises an X-shaped thickness pattern combined with elliptical thickness rings.