Golf club head having a striking face with improved impact efficiency

• US 6,478,692 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Kosmatka, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US09/683,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20020119831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 473/32, 473/332, 473/349, 473/350, 473/379, 473/342, 473/345, 473/346, 473/290, 473/291
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A compliant golf club head permits a more efficient impact between a golf ball and the golf club head. Material and geometry constraints of a striking plate of the golf club head can reduce energy losses caused by large strain and strain rate values of the golf ball, these constraints on the striking plate yield a measure of the impact efficiency of the golf club head. Designating a required natural frequency range of the striking plate provides improved impact efficiency between the golf ball the golf club head.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body;

an elliptical striking plate connected to the body, the striking plate composed of a first material, and having a natural frequency less than 4000 Hz and greater than 2800 Hz.

2. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of stainless steel and having a volume ranging from 200 cubic centimeters to 325 cubic centimeters; and

a striking plate connected to the body, the striking plate composed of a first material, and having a natural frequency less than 3300 Hz and greater than 2800 Hz.

3. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a first metal material, the body having a top region, a bottom region, a rear region and an open front, the first material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, steel alloy and composite materials; and

a striking plate composed of a second material and having a natural frequency less than 8500 Hz and greater than 2800 Hz, and the striking plate disposed in the open front of the body.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the second material is aluminum alloy.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the second material is titanium alloy having a natural frequency less than 5900 Hz and greater than 2800 Hz.

6. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the second material is stainless steel having a natural frequency less than 5400 Hz and greater than 2800 Hz.

7. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the striking plate has a maximum thickness of less than 0.200 inches.

8. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the maximum thickness of the striking plate is less than 0.200 inches and greater than 0.070 inches.

9. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the striking plate has a maximum thickness of less than 0.140 inches.

10. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the maximum thickness of the striking plate is less than 0.140 inches and greater than 0.070 inches.

11. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the striking plate has a maximum thickness of less than 0.130 inches.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body composed of a titanium alloy material, the body having a top region, a bottom region, a rear region and an open front, the body having a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 450 cubic centimeters; and

a striking plate composed of a metal material and having a natural frequency less than 8500 Hz and greater than 2800 Hz, a maximum thickness of the striking plate is less than 0.200 inches and greater than 0.070 inches, and the striking plate disposed in the open front of the body.