Golf club head having a hollow plastic body and a metallic sealing element

• US 5,547,427 A
• Filed: 09/30/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Rigal, Jean-Pierre, Vincent, Beno it
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/313,041
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 A, 273/167 H, 273/167 F, 273/170, 273/171, 273/172, 273/173, 273/174, 273/79, 273/78, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/186.2, 273/187.4, 473/345, 473/346, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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

Abstract

The invention is related to a golf club head including a hollow body made of a single molded thermoplastic piece, an opening facing forwardly and including an upper wall, a peripheral wall, and possibly a lower wall. Further included is an impact-resistant metallic sealing element including a front wall forming the impact surface of the club head, attached and cooperating with the body so as to define an inner space. Such a construction improves upon the sensation perceived by the golfer at impact while retaining direct transmission of information to him or her, and it increases the range of possible mass distribution and concentration so as to make the head more tolerant by increasing its moments of inertia.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hollow body made of a single piece, said hollow body comprising an upper wall and a peripheral wall;

an impact-resistant metallic sealing element, said sealing element comprising a shock-resistant front wall, said front wall comprising a ball-striking surface, said sealing element cooperating with said hollow body to define an inner space;

said hollow body being molded in thermoplastic and comprising, at a periphery of said hollow body, at least one housing, said housing having therewithin an additional mass made of a high-density material; and

said sealing element comprises an upper tubular portion extending to form a neck of said golf club head and being adapted to have force-fitted therein a golf club shaft.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said single piece hollow body further comprises a lower wall.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said hollow body comprises at least one inner reinforcement wall.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said hollow body comprises a plurality of inner reinforcement walls.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said hollow body has a thickness comprised between 1.5 mm and 4 mm.

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said sealing element is a molded or forged element.

7. A golf club head according to claim 6, wherein:

said sealing element is made of steel.

8. A golf club head according to claim 7, wherein:

said sealing element has a thickness comprised between 2.5 mm and 3 mm.

9. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said sealing element is made of metal by gravity molding or injection molding.

10. A golf club head according to claim 9, wherein:

said sealing element is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

11. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein:

said sealing element has a thickness comprised between 4 mm and 5 mm.

12. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said sealing element comprises an inner portion extending rearwardly from said sealing element along a predeterminate length; and

an additional mass is affixed to said inner portion of said sealing element.

13. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of additional masses; and

a plurality of housings affixed to a rearwardly facing surface of said sealing element for housing respective ones of said plurality of masses.

14. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said sealing element further comprises a lower portion constituting a sole of said golf club head.

15. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said front wall of said sealing element comprises a recess facing externally of said golf club head;

an insert positioned within said recess, said insert being made of a composite material.

16. A golf club head according to claim 15, wherein:

said composite material comprises ceramic.

17. A golf club head according to claim 15, wherein:

said composite material comprises plastic.

18. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said golf club head is a wood type.

19. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein:

said golf club head is an iron type.