Golf club head with concave insert

• US 8,007,371 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Breier, Joshua G., Haralson, Gregory, Rice, Scott A., Soracco, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/076,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20080268980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/342
• 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 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/0466 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 hollow golf club head with a concave portion is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a metallic portion and a light-weight portion, which may be formed of plastic, composite, or the like. The concave portion allows the club designer to make a club head having very thin portions while still maintaining the requisite structural integrity. Convex bulges may optionally be provided to house weight inserts to enhance the playing characteristics of the golf club. The metallic portion of the club head may take on the appearance of a frame, into which several light-weight inserts are positioned. These light-weight inserts may be positioned in the crown, skirt, and sole of the club head. The club head is thus contoured such that its surface area is substantially large. The club head may also be formed of a single, relatively light-weight material.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a first club head component formed of a first material, said first club head component having a first outer surface area, said first material having a first density; and

a second club head component coupled to said first club head component to cooperatively form a club head body, said second club head component formed of a second material, said second club head component having a second outer surface area, said second material having a second density less than said first density;

the club head defining a first plan profile, said first plan profile having a first side wall ratio, a first area, and a first geometrical center;

the club head defining a second plan profile having a second area equal to 90% of said first area, said second plan profile having a second side wall ratio equal to said first side wall ratio and a geometrical center that is coincident with said first geometrical center;

the club head defining a third plan profile having a third area equal to 80% of said first area, said third plan profile having a third side wall ratio equal to said first side wall ratio and a geometrical center that is coincident with said first and second geometrical centers;

wherein;

within said third plan profile a first ratio of projected area divided by actual area is less than 0.8 and a first equivalent density is less than 2; and

between said second plan profile and said first plan profile a second ratio of projected area divided by actual area is less than 0.8 and a second equivalent density is greater than 2.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first area is greater than 130 cm².

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head has a total outer surface area of at least 400 cm².

4. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a face insert, said face insert, said first club head component, and said second club head component cooperatively defining the club head.