Constant resonant frequency golf club head

• US 4,930,781 A
• Filed: 08/17/1988
• Issued: 06/05/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dillis V. Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Dillis V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US07/232,960
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167-175, 428/593, 164/98, 164/34, 164/246, 164/361, 164/363
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A metallic golf club head formed with a one-piece thin-walled forward body including a ball striking face, a perimeter wall having a uniform rearward depth and a hosel, and a rear cover that encloses the perimeter wall.

Claims

1. A metallic club head comprising:

a one piece metallic body including a forward wall, a perimeter wall surrounding and extending rearwardly from the forward wall and a hosel extending generally upwardly from the perimeter wall, said perimeter wall having a substantially constant length normal to the forward wall and a rearwardly facing opening, and a one-piece cover for the perimeter wall opening, the forward wall having a forward face having a roll and bulge and a rear surface, and partitions extending integrally and rearwardly from the forward wall rear face, said partitions ending in a surface having a roll and bulge substantially the same as the forward face of the forward wall.

2. A metallic club head, comprising:

a metallic body having a forward wall with a rear surface, a perimeter wall surrounding the forward wall and a hosel extending generally upwardly from the perimeter wall, a plurality of partitions extending rearwardly from and integral with the forward wall rear surfaces and the perimeter wall, said partitions extending substantially entirely across the forward wall and being formed integrally with the perimeter wall and extending a substantial distance rearwardly from the forward wall, and a rear cover attached to the perimeter wall.

3. A metallic club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the partitions have a symmetrical pattern and end in a partition wall parallel to the forward wall.

4. A metallic club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the perimeter wall ends coextensively with the partitions defining a rear body wall substantially parallel to the forward wall.

5. A metallic club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the cover has a shape complementary to the forward wall so that it is substantially parallel thereto.

6. A metallic club head as defined in claim 2, wherein the cover has a cup-shaped configuration substantially the same as conventional wood club heads.

7. A metallic club head comprising:

a metallic body having a forward wall with roll and bulge and a rear surface, a perimeter wall surrounding the forward wall and a hosel extending generally upwardly from the perimeter wall, and a plurality of partitions extending rearwardly from and integral with the forward wall rear surface and perimeter wall, said partitions extending rearwardly substantially entirely across the forward wall and being formed integrally with the perimeter wall, said perimeter wall extending substantially coextensively with said partitions and defining a rear body wall having a roll and bulge complementary to the forward wall, and a rear cover member attached over the body rear wall.

8. A method of making a metallic club head, comprising:

molding a metallic body having a forward wall with a rear surface with a plurality of integral partitions extending rearwardly from the rear surface and a perimeter wall extending rearwardly from the forward wall also integral with the partitions by investment casting with a collapsible core for the partitions and the inside surfaces of the perimeter wall and the forward wall, withdrawing the core from a wax equivalent in a rearward direction, and attaching a rear cover over the rear of a body formed from a mold made from the wax equivalent.

9. A method of making a metallic club head as defined in claim 8, including the step of forming the cover with a shape substantially complementary to the forward wall, and attaching the cover to the opening in the body so the cover is substantially parallel to the forward wall.

10. A metallic club head, comprising:

a metallic body having a forward wall with a rear surface a perimeter wall surrounding the forward wall and a hosel extending generally upwardly from the perimeter wall, and a plurality of partitions extending rearwardly from and integral with the forward wall rear surface, said partitions extending substantially entirely across the forward wall and being formed integrally with the perimeter wall, said forward wall having a thickness at least 0.100 inches, said partitions extending rearwardly from the forward wall at least 0.250 inches.

11. A metallic club head, comprising:

a one piece metallic body including a forward wall with a rear surface, a perimeter wall surrounding and extending rearwardly from the forward wall and a hosel extending generally upwardly from the perimeter wall, said perimeter wall having a rearwardly facing opening, a one-piece cover for the perimeter wall opening, and a plurality of symmetrical partitions extending rearwardly from and integral with the forward wall rear surface a substantial distance from the forward wall and ending substantially coextensively with the perimeter wall, said perimeter wall and said partitions ending in a rear wall parallel and complementary to the forward wall, said cover being attached to the rear wall.

12. An investment cast stainless steel metal "wood" club head comprising:

a one-piece stainless steel investment casting having an opening for removal of an interior forming mold, said casting including a forward wall less than 0.125 inches in thickness having a forward ball striking surface and a rear surface, a plurality of clusters of reenforcing cells many of which are surrounded by other cells together forming a uniform pattern extending integrally and rearwardly from the rear surface of the forward wall, a perimeter wall extending integral from the forward wall having wall thickness in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.100 inches, and a cover plate attached over the opening in the casting, said reenforcing cells being constructed to reduce the weight of the forward wall permitting the saved weight to be added to the perimeter wall to strengthen the perimeter wall while maintaining club head integrity and overall weight.