CAVITY BACK GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20080318708A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Clausen, Karl A., Morris, Thomas C., Lo, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,803,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head having a cavity back design with a cavity therein for placement of lightweight dual-durometer silicone. The club head is prepared by brushing an adhesive onto the interior wall, but omitting a pre-selected area of the wall to allow silicone to shrink away at the omitted area to allow for control of the shrinkage. A first shot of 80 Shore A silicone is placed into the cavity and disposed against the interior wall. Next, a softer 50 Shore A silicone is juxtaposed against the first shot of silicone and it is pressed using a hot mold finishing tool wherein a substantial portion of the cavity is filled. A polycarbonate insert is attached to an outer surface of the second silicone to provide a zero gap appearance. A tan delta ratio of the first silicone to the second silicone is greater than 1.6. A storage modulus of the first silicone is at least three times greater than the second silicone. And, a loss modulus of the first silicone is at least ten times the second silicone.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body;

a cavity defined by an interior surface of the body;

a first silicone having a first hardness and disposed contiguously against a substantial portion of the interior surface therein partially filling the cavity;

a second silicone having a second hardness of at least 20 Shore A points lower than the first silicone and juxtaposed against an outer surface of the first silicone therein filling the cavity, and

a polycarbonate insert attached to an outer surface of the second silicone to provide a zero gap appearance.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first silicone has a Shore A hardness of about 70 to 80 and the second silicone material has a Shore A hardness of about 40 to 50.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate insert is attached by a tongue and groove fit and held by a glue adhesive.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a medallion affixed to the polycarbonate insert.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the medallion is affixed by tape and glue.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a no-adhesive zone is created on a lower front portion of the interior surface to allow shrinkage of the first silicone to be confined to that portion of the club head.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the tan delta ratio of the first silicone to the second silicone is greater than 1.6.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the storage modulus of the first silicone is at least three times greater than the second silicone.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body portion is constructed from type 431 Stainless Steel having a density of about 7.75 grams per cc.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the silicone materials have a density no greater than 1.2 grams per cc.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the volume of silicone is at least 33 percent of the club head volume.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head is cast.

14. A golf club comprising:

a cavity back body having an interior surface defining a cavity, and a hosel portion for attaching a shaft to the body;

a first silicone having a Shore A hardness of about 70 to 80 disposed contiguously against a substantial portion of the interior surface therein partially filling the cavity;

a second silicone having a Shore A hardness at least 20 points lower than the first silicone, the second silicone juxtaposed against the first silicone therein filling the cavity;

a tan delta value of the first silicone to the second silicone greater than 1.6;

a storage modulus of the first silicone at least three times greater than the second silicone; and

a loss modulus of the first silicone at least ten times the second silicone.

9. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the loss modulus of the first silicone is at least ten times the second silicone

15. The golf club of claim 14, wherein a polycarbonate insert is attached to an outer surface of the second silicone by means of a tongue and groove fit and held by a glue adhesive, therein providing a zero gap appearance.

16. The golf club of claim 15, further comprising a medallion affixed to the polycarbonate insert.

17. The golf club of claim 14, wherein a no-adhesive zone is created on a lower front portion of the interior surface to allow shrinkage of the first silicone to be confined to that portion of the club head

18. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the first silicone has a Shore A hardness of about 80 and the second silicone material has a Shore A hardness of about 50.

19. A golf club head comprising:

a body;

a cavity defined by an interior surface of the body;

a first silicone having a first hardness and disposed contiguously against a substantial portion of the interior surface therein partially filling the cavity;

a second silicone having a second hardness of at least 20 Shore A points lower than the first silicone and juxtaposed against the first silicone therein filling the cavity; and

a no-adhesive zone created on a lower front portion of the interior surface for allowing shrinkage of the first silicone to be confined to that portion of the club head.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein a polycarbonate insert is attached to an outer surface of the second silicone to provide for a zero gap appearance.

21. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein a medallion is affixed to the polycarbonate insert.

22. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein a tan delta ratio of the first silicone to the second silicone is greater than 1.6.

23. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the storage modulus of the first silicone is at least three times greater than the second silicone.

24. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the loss modulus of the first silicone is at least ten times the second silicone.

25. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the first silicone has a Shore A hardness of about 80 and the second silicone material has a Shore A hardness of about 50.