IRON-TYPE GOLF CLUB

• US 20090075751A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Burnett, Michael Scott, Golden, Charles E., Gilbert, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A a golf club including a club head having a club head main body, a supporting member and a muscle back shell. The muscle back shell is coupled to the club head main body and the supporting member.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head main body;

a hitting face coupled to the club head main body;

a muscle back shell coupled to a rear portion of the club head main body; and

a supporting member interposed between the club head main body and at least a portion of the muscle back shell,

wherein the club head main body comprises a first material and the muscle back shell comprises a second material, and

wherein the club head has a first vibration mode frequency value of at least 4000 Hz.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a first vibration mode frequency value of at least 4400 Hz.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a second vibration mode frequency value of at least 5000 Hz.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the club head has a second vibration mode frequency value of at least 5500 Hz.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a third vibration mode frequency value of at least 7400 Hz.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the club head has a third vibration mode frequency value of at least 7700 Hz.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first material has a density between about 9 g/cm³ and about 19 g/cm³ and the second material has a density between about 4 g/cm³ and about 8 g/cm³.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 further comprising a third material having a lower density than the first material, wherein the third material is coupled to the supporting member.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the third material is a viscoelastic material having a density in the range of about 0.8 g/cm³ to about 1.5 g/cm³ and about Shore A40 to Shore A90 hardness rating.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head main body and the hitting face are a monolithic body.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head main body and the supporting member are a monolithic body.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a club head main body;

a hitting face;

a supporting member; and

a muscle back shell,

wherein the club head main body and the hitting face are a monolithic body,

wherein the muscle back shell is coupled to the club head main body and the supporting member to define an enclosed cavity, and

wherein the club head has a first vibration mode frequency value of at least 4000 Hz.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the club head has a first vibration mode frequency value of at least 4400 Hz.

14. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the club head has a second vibration mode frequency value of at least 5000 Hz.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the club head has a second vibration mode frequency value of at least 5500 Hz.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the club head has a third vibration mode frequency value of at least 7400 Hz.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the club head has a third vibration mode frequency value of at least 7700 Hz.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a club head main body;

a hitting face coupled to the club head main body;

a supporting member; and

a muscle back shell,

wherein muscle back shell is coupled to the club head main body and the supporting member to define an enclosed cavity, and

wherein the club head has a first vibration mode frequency value of at least 4000 Hz, a second vibration mode frequency value of at least 5000 Hz, and a third vibration mode frequency value of at least 7400 Hz.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the club head has a first vibration mode frequency value of at least 4400 Hz.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the club head has a second vibration mode frequency value of at least 5500 Hz.