Multi-material golf club head

• US 9,352,198 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• 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., Curtis, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Simms, Jr., John E
• Application Number:
  US13/922,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

The invention provides a golf club head that uses a light-weight material for part of the body and a strong material for a face-to-sole transition to provide a durable face with a high coefficient of restitution. The club head may have a first body part and a second body part. Material of the first body part extends down from a face member, bends around a face-sole transition, and continues into a sole return member to provide at least a portion of a ball-striking face and a sole surface. The first body part also provides a hosel. The second body part provides a significant proportion of the volume of the club head (e.g., at least about a third or even a majority). The low-density of the second body part allows for inclusion of one or more high-density third body parts to optimize mass distribution.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the high-density body part is provided as a plurality of separate pieces that are attached to the sole portion.

2. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the high-density body part has a density of at least 7.5 g/cc.

3. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the high-density body part comprises tungsten.

4. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the high-density body part is in the form of a bar.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the high-density body part is coupled to both the first and the low-density body parts.

6. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the low-density body part provides at least a third of a volume of the club head.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part providing a hosel and at least a part of a sole portion of the club head, the first body part comprising a front surface bent around a face-sole transition and providing at least a portion of a ball-striking face and at least a part of a downward-facing surface of the sole portion;

a low-density body part coupled to a rear surface of the first body part and providing at least a part of the sole portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion of the club head; and

a high-density body part coupled to the sole portion, wherein the low-density body part provides a majority of a volume of the club head.

8. A golf club head comprising:

a first body part comprising;

a sole member providing at least a part of a downward-facing surface of a sole portion of the club head, a face member providing at least a part of a ball-striking face and extending down around a face-sole transition and into the sole member, and a hosel extending upwards from a heel-side portion of the face member; and

a second body part coupled to a back surface of the first body part and providing at least part of the sole portion of the club head, wherein the second part contributes at least a third of a volume of the club head.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a front component formed of a first material and comprising a face member, a face-sole transition bend at a lower portion of the face member, a sole return extending back from the face-sole transition bend, and a hosel extending from the front component, wherein a front surface of the front component provides at least a portion of a ball-striking face; and

a back component formed of a second material distinct from the first material and attached to a back surface of the face member and cooperating with the front component to provide a main body of the club head, wherein the back component provides at least a quarter of a volume of the club head.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a front component formed of a first material and comprising a face member, a face-sole transition bend at a lower portion of the face member, a sole return extending back from the face-sole transition bend, and a hosel extending from the front component, wherein a front surface of the front component provides at least a portion of a ball-striking face; and

a back component formed of a second material distinct from the first material and attached to a back surface of the face member and cooperating with the front component to provide a main body of the club head, further comprising a high-density component disposed on the main body of the club head.

11. The club head of claim 10, further wherein the back component is also attached to an upper surface of the sole return.

12. The club head of claim 11, wherein the sole return and back component cooperate to provide a downward facing surface of a sole of the club head, wherein the downward facing surface faces downward when the club head is at address.