Multiple material golf club head with a polymer insert face

• US 20020065144A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Breier, Joshua G., Sarkar, Kamal, Rollinson, Augustin W., Guard, John G., Hettinger, Ronald K., Dewanjee, Pijush K., Helmstetter, Richard C., Hall, J. Neil
• Granted Patent: US 6,478,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/332
• 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 53/002 Clubs made of composite, plastics or rubber materials, with integral head and shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/10 Prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3206 aliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3225 Polyamines
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/7607 Compounds of C08G18/7614 and of C08G18/7657

Abstract

The present invention is a golf club (30) having a club head main body (34) with a recess (38), an polymer insert (40) in the recess (38), an isolation layer (52) and a weight body (50). The polymer insert (40) is composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material having a Shore D hardness in the range of 42 to 55, and a Bayshore rebound in the range of 51 to 60. The preferred thermosetting polyurethane material is formed from a p-phenylene diisocyanate prepolymer and a curing agent. The golf club (30) is preferably a putter, however, it may be a wood or an iron. The particular thermosetting polyurethane provides a soft striking face for feel and a good rebound for distance. The weight body (50) is preferably composed of a tungsten alloy, and the isolation layer (52) is preferably composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a main body having a front face with a recess therein;

the recess defined by a front face wall and a plurality of edge walls, wherein the recess face wall defines the depth of the recess;

an insert disposed within the recess, the insert formed from a polyurethane material having a thickness in the range of 0.125 inch to 0.500 inch;

an isolation layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed on the main body opposite of the front face; and

a weight body disposed on the first surface of the isolation layer.

2. A golf club head comprising:

a main body having a sole, a crown, a heel end a toe end and a face with a recess therein, the main body composed of carbon steel;

an insert comprising a polyurethane material;

an isolation layer disposed on the main body, the isolation layer having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface contacting the main body; and

a weight body disposed on the first surface of the isolation layer.

3. A putter head comprising:

a club head main body comprising a sole, a crown, a toe section, a heel section, a rear section and a front face having a recess therein;

an insert disposed within the recess, the insert composed of a polymer material, the insert having a Shore D hardness in the range of 42 to 55, and a Bayshore rebound in the range of 55 to 70;

an isolation layer having a first surface and a second surface, the isolation layer composed of a polymer material; and

a weight body attached to the first surface of the isolation layer, the weight body composed of a tungsten alloy.