Golf club head

• US 20030013545A1
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Renaudin, Jean-Pierre, Peters, Michael R., Vincent, Benoit, Wahl, Bret, Morgulis, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 6,616,547 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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

Abstract

A golf club head is disclosed that comprises a body having a striking face and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole. An insert is located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall. The intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a string face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel;

at least one aperture formed proximate the slot; and

a cell inserted within the aperture.

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

a sleeve; and

a pin.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises a material having a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the pin.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises an elastomeric material.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said sleeve comprises a thermoplastic material.

6. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said sleeve comprises urethane.

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

a plurality of apertures are formed proximate the slot; and

a separate cell is located within each aperture.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, and further comprising a plug located within said slot and covering said cell.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel; and

a cartridge disposed within the slot, the cartridge comprising a substrate having interstices, said interstices filled with a material that is softer than the substrate.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein said substrate is formed of metal.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein said substrate is formed of aluminum.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein said substrate is formed of bronze.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the interstices of said substrate are filled with an elastomeric material.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the interstices of said substrate are filled with urethane.

15. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the slot has slot sides, and the material filling the interstices of said substrate also is disposed between the substrate and the slot sides.

16. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the slot has slot sides, and the material filling the interstices of said substrate also is positioned between the substrate and the slot side that is proximate the striking face.

17. The golf club head of claim 9, and further comprising a rear cavity, wherein said slot extends from the sole to the rear cavity.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said sleeve is formed of a material that is softer than that of the substrate.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said sleeve is formed of an elastomer.

21. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said sleeve covers a substantial portion of said substrate.

22. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said substrate is formed of metal.

23. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said substrate has a plurality of interstices.

24. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the sleeve is formed of urethane.

25. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the sleeve has nubs formed thereon.

26. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the slot has slot sides, the sleeve has nubs, and the nubs are positioned proximate the slot sides.

27. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the slot has slot sides, the sleeve has nubs, and the nubs are positioned proximate the slot sides and proximate the substrate.

28. The golf club head of claim 18, and further comprising a rear cavity, wherein said slot extends from the sole to the rear cavity.

29. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said substrate is rigid.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel;

a cartridge disposed within the slot, the cartridge comprising a substrate that extends longitudinally between the toe and the heel; and

a sleeve that covers at least a portion of the substrate.

30. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel;

at least one aperture formed proximate the slot;

a cell disposed within the aperture, the cell comprising a pin and an elastomeric sleeve, wherein the pin has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are higher than that of the sleeve.

31. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein said elastomeric sleeve is formed of a thermoplastic material.

32. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein said elastomeric sleeve is formed of urethane.

33. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a grip proximate an end of the shaft; and

a golf club head comprising a heel, a toe, a striking face, a sole, a sole bar proximate the sole, a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel, at least one aperture formed proximate the slot, a cell inserted within the aperture, the cell comprising a pin and an elastomeric sleeve, wherein the pin has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are higher than that of the sleeve.

35. The golf club head of claim 34, wherein:

the sole recess includes an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head, and further includes an aperture formed within the slot;

the core of the insert comprises a pin; and

the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a sleeve.

36. The golf club head of claim 34, wherein:

the sole recess includes an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

the core of the insert comprises a substrate having interstices; and

the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a separate material that is disposed within the interstices of the substrate and that is located at least partially between the substrate and the recess wall.

37. The golf club head of claim 34, wherein:

the sole recess includes an elongated slot formed in the sole, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

the core of the insert comprises an elongated substrate; and

the intermediate layer of the insert comprises a sleeve that at least partially surrounds the substrate, the sleeve being disposed between the substrate and the recess wall.

34. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking face and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole, the recess having a recess wall; and

an insert located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall;

wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.