Multiple material golf club head

• US 7,066,835 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Evans, D. Clayton, Erickson, Matthew J., Gibbs, Evan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/711,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/346
• 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 53/0408 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A wood-type golf club head (40) having a major body (50), a striking plate insert (55) and a minor body (60) is disclosed herein. The major body (50) is composed of a metal material and has a front wall section (72), a return section (74), a sole section (76), a ribbon section (78) and a ledge portion (80). The minor body (50) is preferably composed of a low density material and has a crown section (62) and a ribbon section (64). The striking plate insert (55) is composed of a metal material. The minor body (60) is preferably attached by a liquid adhesive to the ledge section (80) of the major body (60). At least one stiffening member (122) disposed on the interior surface of the sole section (76) of the major body (50) increases the sound of the golf club head (40) during impact with a golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a metal material, the major body having front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the front wall section has an opening, the return section extending a distance ranging 0.1 inch to 2.75 inches from a perimeter of the front wall section, the major body having a mass ranging from 140 grams to 200 grams;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body, the minor body having a mass ranging from 4 grams to 50 grams; and

a stiffening member disposed on an interior surface of the major body;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 290 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters;

wherein the minor body is composed of a metal material having a density lower than the density of the material of the major body.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a metal material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the ledge section is inward a distance ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.020 inch from an exterior surface of the major body.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert has a plurality of concentric regions of varying thickness.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the major body is composed of a cast titanium alloy material and the striking plate is composed of a formed titanium alloy.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a first resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2200 Hertz.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a second resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2550 Hertz.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a first resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2700 Hertz.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a second resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 3400 Hertz.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 350 cubic centimeters to 495 cubic centimeters.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head ranges from 2800 grams-centimeters squared to 5000 grams-centimeters squared.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a cast titanium alloy material, the major body having a front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the return section extending a distance ranging 0.10 inch to 2.75 inches from a perimeter of the front wall section, the ledge section is inward a distance ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.020 inch from an exterior surface of the major body;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate insert composed of a formed titanium alloy material;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body with a liquid adhesive, the minor body having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.070 inch, the minor body composed of a plurality of plies of pre-preg material;

a plurality of stiffening members disposed on an interior surface of the sole section of the major body, each of the stiffening members extending along a majority of the length of the sole section and having a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch;

wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2800 to 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and the moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2000 to 3500 grams-centimeters squared, and wherein the golf club head the golf club head has a first resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2200 Hertz, and a second resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2550 Hertz.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a cast titanium alloy material, the major body having a front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the return section extending a distance ranging 0.10 inch to 2.75 inches from a perimeter of the front wall section, the ledge section is inward a distance ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.020 inch from an exterior surface of the major body;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.250 inch, the striking plate insert composed of a formed titanium alloy material;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body with a liquid adhesive, the minor body having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.070 inch, the minor body composed of a magnesium alloy material;

a plurality of stiffening members disposed on an interior surface of the sole section of the major body, each of the stiffening members extending along a majority of the length of the sole section and having a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch;

wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2800 to 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and the moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2000 to 3500 grams-centimeters squared, and wherein the golf club head the golf club head has a first resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2200 Hertz, and a second resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2550 Hertz.

14. A golf club head comprising:

a major body composed of a cast titanium alloy material, the major body having a front wall section, a return section, a sole section, a ribbon section and a ledge section, the return section extending a distance ranging 0.10 inch to 2.75 inches from a perimeter of the front wall section, the ledge section is inward a distance ranging from 0.005 inch to 0.020 inch from an exterior surface of the major body;

a striking plate insert positioned in the opening of the front wall section of the major body, the striking plate insert having a thickness in the range of 0.010 inch to 0.25 0 inch, the striking plate insert composed of a formed titanium alloy material;

a minor body having a crown section and a ribbon section, the minor body attached to the ledge section of the major body with a liquid adhesive, the minor body having a thickness ranging from 0.010 inch to 0.070 inch, the minor body composed of an aluminum alloy material;

a plurality of stiffening members disposed on an interior surface of the sole section of the major body, each of the stiffening members extending along a majority of the length of the sole section and having a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch;

wherein the moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2800 to 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and the moment of inertia about the Iyy axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head that ranges from 2000 to 3500 grams-centimeters squared, and wherein the golf club head the golf club head has a first resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2200 Hertz, and a second resonant frequency on the sole section of at least 2550 Hertz.