Multi-piece golf club head with improved inertia

• US 7,588,503 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L., Soracco, Peter L., Best, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/808,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 473/332, 473334-337, 473290-291, 473349-350
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• 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 multi-piece iron-type golf club head with a substantial weight member is disclosed and claimed. The golf club head includes a plurality of body members. A first body member includes a face, a rear surface, and a hosel. A viscoelastic material is attached to the rear surface, and a second body member is attached to the viscoelastic material. The second body member, which may be a weight member, has a substantially larger mass than in known golf clubs. The viscoelastic member may form a substantial part of the club head. The club head may also have a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. A low-density insert may be positioned within the recess.

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:

a first body member including a face and a rear surface, wherein at least a portion of the rear surface has a concave profile extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

a damping member coupled to the rear surface within the concave profile; and

a weight member coupled to said damping member;

wherein the club head has a sole formed of said first body member, said damping member, and said weight member, wherein the golf club head comprising a center of gravity and a moment of inertia measured about a vertical axis passing through said center of gravity from approximately 2400 gxcm^2 to approximately 2900 gxcm^2.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said weight member has a mass of 50 to 300 grams.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said rear surface has a concave profile extending from a heel of said club head to a toe of said club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the damping member comprises a viscoelastic material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said body member includes a top line having a recess therein extending toward said sole.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, further comprising an insert positioned within said recess.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein said insert is formed of a low-density, damping material.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the club head has a center of gravity located at least 0.01 inch from a center of gravity location for a substantially similar golf club head without said recess and said insert.

9. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein:

the club head has a center of gravity; and

the club head has an increase in a moment of inertia measured about a vertical axis passing through said center of gravity of at least 20 gm·

in² compared to a substantially similar golf club head without said recess and said insert.

10. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein:

said body member has a first volume;

said insert has a second volume; and

said second volume is from 0.5% to 10% of said first volume.

11. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein said insert substantially fills said recess.

12. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein said top has a top line with a length and said recess extends along said top from 10% to 95% of said length.

13. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein said recess has a depth from 0.01 inch to 0.25 inch.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said weight member forms a majority of a central portion of said sole.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein said weight member extends to a position adjacent said a central region of rear surface.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said sole is contoured such that a central portion of said sole is lower than corresponding heel and toe portions of said sole.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said weight member has a varying density.

18. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the damping member, weight member, and first body member are coupled.

19. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight member further comprises a recess.