Golf club head with a stiffening plate

• US 20050009624A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plus 2 International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plus 2 International, Inc.
• Inventors: Long, Dabbs Clayton
• Granted Patent: US 7,192,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/329
• 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 53/045 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a sole, a crown, and a face plate. A secondary plate attaches to a rear side of the face plate.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a heel;

a toe;

a crown;

a face plate extending between the sole and the crown; and

a secondary plate for limiting the deflection of the face plate, the secondary plate attaches to a surface of the face plate at or adjacent an outer edge of the secondary plate such that the outer edge is spaced from at least one of the sole and the crown.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate is spaced from the sole and the crown.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the secondary plate is spaced from the heel and the toe.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate and the face plate define a gap between them.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate is shaped as a circle, an ellipse, a cross, a tee or a free-form shape.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least a substantial portion of the outer edge of the secondary plate is attached to the face plate.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate is flat.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate is curved.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate is centered along the horizontal center of the face plate.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate is centered along the vertical center of the face plate.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the secondary plate includes an opening.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the surface area of the secondary plate is about one-quarter to about one-third the surface area of the face plate.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face plate includes a ring and the secondary plate attaches to the ring.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the secondary plate includes a thickened edge attached to the ring.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a sole;

a crown;

a face interposed between the sole and the crown; and

a plate attached to a rear surface of the face and including an opening, wherein the plate attaches to the rear surface at a location spaced from the center of the plate.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the opening in the plate is aligned with a central vertical axis of the face.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the opening in the plate is aligned with a central horizontal axis of the face.

18. The golf club of claim 15, further comprising a weld positioned in the opening attaching the plate to the face.

19. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the opening is circular.

20. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the plate includes a plurality of openings.

21. A method of making a golf club head comprising:

forming a hollow club head body having a crown and a sole;

affixing a portion of a secondary plate spaced from the center of the secondary plate to a rear surface of a face plate; and

affixing the face plate to the hollow club head body.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the affixing a secondary plate includes affixing the secondary plate to the face plate at a position spaced from the periphery of the face plate.