Golf club head

• US 6,592,468 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Morgulis, Mark, Vincent, Benoit, Renaudin, Jean-Pierre, Wahl, Bret, Peters, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/728,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/326, 473/332, 473/329, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/338, 473/339, 473/342, 473/344, 473/345, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/350, 473/219, 473/226, 473/242, 473/256, 473/520, 273/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head is disclosed that comprises a body having a striking face and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole. An insert is located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and an intermediate layer that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall. The intermediate layer has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the intermediate layer and movement of the core with respect to the intermediate layer.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel;

at least one aperture formed proximate the slot; and

a cell inserted within the aperture, wherein said cell comprises a sleeve and a pin, the sleeve comprising a material having a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the pin.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises an elastomeric material.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises a thermoplastic material.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said sleeve comprises urethane.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of apertures are formed proximate the slot; and

a separate cell is located within each aperture.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, and further comprising a plug located within said slot and covering said cell.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a striking face;

a sole;

a sole bar proximate the sole;

a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel;

at least one aperture formed proximate the slot;

a cell disposed within the aperture, the cell comprising a pin and an elastomeric sleeve, wherein the pin has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are higher than that of the sleeve.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein said elastomeric sleeve is formed of a thermoplastic material.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein said elastomeric sleeve is formed of urethane.

10. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a grip proximate an end of the shaft; and

a golf club head comprising a heel, a toe, a striking face, a sole, a sole bar proximate the sole, a slot formed proximate the sole bar, the slot extending longitudinally between the toe and the heel, at least one aperture formed proximate the slot, a cell inserted within the aperture, the cell comprising a pin and an elastomeric sleeve, wherein the pin has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are higher than that of the sleeve.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a striking face and a sole, wherein a recess is formed in the sole, the recess having a recess wall, and wherein the sole recess includes an elongated slot, extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head, and further includes an aperture formed within the slot; and

an insert located within the sole recess, the insert including a core and a sleeve that at least partially separates the core from the recess wall, wherein the core comprises a pin;

wherein the sleeve has a hardness and a modulus of elasticity that are less than that of the core, such that when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball, the resulting vibrations are dissipated by compression of the sleeve and movement of the core with respect to the sleeve.