U.S. patent application number 09/683402 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for internal off-set hosel for a golf club head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Callaway Golf Company. Invention is credited to Aguinaldo, Homer E., Galloway, J. Andrew, Helmstetter, Richard C., Hocknell, Alan.
Application Number | 20020072433 09/683402 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24191118 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020072433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Galloway, J. Andrew ; et
al. |
June 13, 2002 |
Internal off-set hosel for a golf club head
Abstract
A golf club having an interior hosel that is disposed inward
from a striking plate to allow for compliance of the striking plate
during impact with a golf ball. The present invention also includes
a method for producing the golf club in which the interior hosel is
attached to a lateral extension of a face member. The lateral
extension is connected to the striking plate. The striking plate is
preferably composed of a forged titanium material.
Inventors: |
Galloway, J. Andrew;
(Escondido, CA) ; Helmstetter, Richard C.; (Rancho
Santa Fe, CA) ; Aguinaldo, Homer E.; (San Diego,
CA) ; Hocknell, Alan; (Encinitas, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CALLAWAY GOLF C0MPANY
2285 RUTHERFORD ROAD
CARLSBAD
CA
92008
|
Assignee: |
Callaway Golf Company
Carlsbad
CA
|
Family ID: |
24191118 |
Appl. No.: |
09/683402 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09683402 |
Dec 21, 2001 |
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09548968 |
Apr 13, 2000 |
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09548968 |
Apr 13, 2000 |
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09431982 |
Nov 1, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/324 ;
473/305; 473/345; 473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/00 20130101;
A63B 53/02 20130101; A63B 60/00 20151001; B21K 17/00 20130101; A63B
53/0408 20200801; A63B 53/0412 20200801; A63B 2053/0491 20130101;
A63B 53/0466 20130101; C23F 1/00 20130101; C23F 1/26 20130101; A63B
53/0441 20200801; A63B 53/0433 20200801; C22F 1/183 20130101; Y10T
29/49826 20150115; A63B 53/04 20130101; B21J 5/00 20130101; A63B
53/0458 20200801; A63B 53/0416 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/324 ;
473/345; 473/305; 473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. A method for producing a golf club head with an internal hosel,
the method comprising: providing a face member having a striking
plate with an interior surface and a face extension extending
laterally inward from the interior surface of the striking plate,
the face extension having an upper portion, a lower portion and a
heel wall; drilling a hole through the upper portion of the face
extension in proximity to the heel wall; placing a cylinder in
alignment with the hole in the upper portion; and attaching the
cylinder to the upper portion and the lower portion of the face
extension, the cylinder disposed inward from the striking
plate.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising reaming the
cylinder to create a hole in the cylinder prior to inserting the
cylinder through the hole in the upper portion.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising reaming the
cylinder to create a hole in the cylinder subsequent to inserting
the cylinder through the hole in the upper portion.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein attaching the cylinder
comprises welding the cylinder to the upper portion and the lower
portion of the face extension.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising drilling a
hole through the lower portion of the face extension, and aligning
the cylinder with the hole in the lower portion of the face
extension.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate is
composed of a forged titanium material.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the cylinder is disposed
at least 0.20 inch from the striking plate at its attachment to the
lower portion.
8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising attaching a
sole plate and a crown to the face member.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the cylinder has an
angled bottom end for attachment to the lower portion of the face
extension.
10. A method for producing a golf club head with an internal hosel,
the method comprising: providing a face member having a striking
plate with an interior surface and a face extension extending
laterally inward from the interior surface of the striking plate,
the face extension having an upper portion, a lower portion and a
heel wall, the face member composed of a forged titanium material;
drilling a hole through the upper portion and a hole through the
lower portion of the face extension in proximity to the heel wall;
inserting a solid cylinder through the hole in the upper portion
and in alignment with the hole in the lower portion; welding the
solid cylinder to the upper portion and the lower portion of the
face extension, the cylinder disposed inward from the striking
plate to allow for compliance of the striking plate during impact
with a golf ball; and reaming a hole through the solid cylinder to
form the interior hosel for receiving a shaft therethrough.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional application of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/548,968, filed on
Apr. 13, 2000 which is a continuation-in-part application of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/431,982, filed on
Nov. 1, 1999, for A Golf Club Head With A Face Composed Of A Forged
Material.
FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT
[0002] [Not Applicable]
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a golf club head with an
internal hosel and a method of manufacturing the same. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head
with an internal hosel moved inward off of the striking plate and a
method of manufacturing the same.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] When a golf club head strikes a golf ball, large impacts are
produced that load the club head face and the golf ball. Most of
the energy is transferred from the head to the golf ball, however,
some energy is lost as a result of the collision. The golf ball is
typically composed of polymer cover materials (such as ionomers)
surrounding a rubber-like core. These softer polymer materials
having damping (loss) properties that are strain and strain rate
dependent which are on the order of 10-100 times larger than the
damping properties of a metallic club face. Thus, during impact
most of the energy is lost as a result of the high stresses and
deformations of the golf ball (0.001 to 0.20 inches), as opposed to
the small deformations of the metallic club face (0.025 to 0.050
inches). A more efficient energy transfer from the club head to the
golf ball could lead to greater flight distances of the golf
ball.
[0007] The generally accepted approach has been to increase the
stiffness of the club head face to reduce metal or club head
deformations. However, this leads to greater deformations in the
golf ball, and thus increases in the energy transfer problem.
[0008] Some have recognized the problem and disclosed possible
solutions. An example is Campau, U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,965, for a
Method Of Making Iron Golf Clubs With Flexible Impact Surface,
which discloses a club having a flexible and resilient face plate
with a slot to allow for the flexing of the face plate. The face
plate of Campau is composed of a ferrous material, such as
stainless steel, and has a thickness in the range of 0.1 inches to
0.125 inches.
[0009] Another example is Eggiman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,261, for a
Golf Club Head With Elastically Deforming Face And Back Plates,
which discloses the use of a plurality of plates that act in
concert to create a spring-like effect on a golf ball during
impact.
[0010] A fluid is disposed between at least two of the plates to
act as a viscous coupler.
[0011] Yet another example is Jepson et al, U.S. Pat. No.
3,937,474, for a golf Club With A Polyurethane Insert. Jepson
discloses that the polyurethane insert has a hardness between 40
and 75 shore D.
[0012] Still another example is Inamori, U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,023,
for a Golf Club Head With Ceramic Face Plate, which discloses using
a face plate composed of a ceramic material having a high energy
transfer coefficient, although ceramics are usually harder
materials. Chen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,813 for a Golf Club
Head, discloses using multiple layers in the face to absorb the
shock of the golf ball.
[0013] One of the materials is a non-metal material.
[0014] Lu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,814, for a Hollow Club Head With
Deflecting Insert Face Plate, discloses a reinforcing element
composed of a plastic or aluminum alloy that allows for minor
deflecting of the face plate which has a thickness ranging from
0.01 to 0.30 inches for a variety of materials including stainless
steel, titanium, KEVLAR.RTM., and the like. Yet another Campau
invention, U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,248, for a Golf Club Having Insert
Capable Of Elastic Flexing, discloses a wood club composed of wood
with a metal insert.
[0015] Although not intended for flexing of the face plate, Viste,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,624 discloses a golf club head having a face
plate composed of a forged stainless steel material and having a
thickness of 3 mm. Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,140, for a Golf
Club Head And Method Of Forming Same, also discloses use of a
forged material for the face plate. The face plate of Anderson may
be composed of several forged materials including steel, copper and
titanium. The forged plate has a uniform thickness of between 0.090
and 0.1 30 inches.
[0016] Another invention directed toward forged materials in a club
head is Su et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,011 for a Golf Club Head. Su
discloses a club head composed of three pieces with each piece
composed of a forged material. The main objective of Su is to
produce a club head with greater loft angle accuracy and reduce
structural weaknesses. Finally, Aizawa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,216 for
a Golf Club Head, discloses a face plate having a curved ball
hitting surface.
[0017] The Rules of Golf, established and interpreted by the United
States Golf Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club
of Saint Andrews, set forth certain requirements for a golf club
head. The requirements for a golf club head are found in Rule 4 and
Appendix II. A complete description of the Rules of Golf is
available on the USGA web page at www.usga.org. Although the Rules
of Golf do not expressly state specific parameters for a golf club
face, Rule 4-1e prohibits the face from having the effect at impact
of a spring with a golf ball. In 1998, the USGA adopted a test
procedure pursuant to Rule 4-1e that measures club face COR. This
USGA test procedure, as well as procedures like it, may be used to
measure club face COR.
[0018] Although the prior art has disclosed many variations of face
plates, the prior art has failed to provide a face plate with a
high coefficient of restitution composed of a thin material, and to
construct a golf club that allows for maximum performance from the
face plate.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0019] The present invention provides a golf club head with an
interior hosel that is disposed inward from a striking plate
allowing for greater compliance of the striking plate with a golf
ball during impact. A more compliant striking plate provides for
lower energy loss and a higher coefficient of restitution.
[0020] One aspect of the present invention is a method for
producing a golf club head with an internal hosel. The method
includes providing a face member that has a striking plate with an
interior surface and a face extension extending laterally inward
from the interior surface of the striking plate. The face extension
has an upper portion, a lower portion and a heel wall.
[0021] The method also includes drilling a hole through the upper
portion of the face extension in proximity to the heel wall. The
method also includes placing a cylinder in alignment with the hole
in the upper portion. The method further includes attaching the
cylinder to the upper portion and the lower portion of the face
extension with the cylinder disposed inward from the striking
plate.
[0022] Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head
including a face member, an interior hosel, a crown and a sole. The
face member includes a striking plate for striking a golf ball. The
striking plate has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a
perimeter. The striking plate extends from a heel section of the
golf club head to a toe section of the golf club head. The face
member also includes a face extension extending laterally inward
along the entire perimeter of the striking plate.
[0023] The face extension has an upper portion, a lower portion
opposite the upper portion, a heel wall in the heel section of the
golf club head and substantially perpendicular to the face plate,
and a toe wall in the toe section of the golf club head. The
interior hosel receives a shaft and is attached to the upper
portion of the face extension and the lower portion of the face
extension. The entire interior hosel is disposed inward from the
striking plate thereby allowing for compliance of the striking
plate during impact with a golf ball. The crown member is secured
to the upper portion of the face extension at a predetermined
distance from the striking plate. The sole member is secured to the
lower portion of the face extension at a predetermined distance
from the striking plate.
[0024] Having briefly described the present invention, the above
and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be
recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following
detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a front view of the golf club of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 1A is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the
golf club of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of golf club head of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 2A is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of
the golf club of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a top plan isolated view of the face member of the
golf club head of the present invention with the crown in phantom
lines.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the golf club head of the
present invention.
[0031] FIG. 4A is a side plan view of an alternative embodiment of
the golf club head of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the golf club head of the present
invention.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG.
5.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 3
illustrating the hosel of the golf club head present invention.
[0035] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of circle 8 of FIG. 7.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG.
1.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a front view of the golf club head of the present
invention illustrating the variations in thickness of the striking
plate.
[0038] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the component of the golf
club head of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 12 is an isolated view of the face member with the
interior hosel attached.
[0040] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the crown and the connected
sole and face member.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a side view of a golf club head of the present
invention immediately prior to impact with a golf ball.
[0042] FIG. 15 is a side view of a golf club head of the present
invention during impact with a golf ball.
[0043] FIG. 16 is a side view of a golf club head of the present
invention immediately after impact with a golf ball.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] The present invention is directed at a golf club head with
an interior hosel that is off set from a striking plate allowing
for greater compliance of the striking plate during impact with a
golf ball. The compliant striking plate allows for a high
coefficient of restitution thereby allowing for greater distance of
a golf ball hit with the golf club head of the present invention.
The coefficient of restitution (also referred to herein as COR) is
determined by the following equation:
e=v.sub.2v.sub.1U.sub.1U.sub.2
[0045] wherein U.sub.1 is the club head velocity prior to impact;
U.sub.2 is the golf ball velocity prior to impact which is zero;
v.sub.1 is the club head velocity just after separation of the golf
ball from the face of the club head; v.sub.2 is the golf ball
velocity just after separation of the golf ball from the face of
the club head; and e is the coefficient of restitution between the
golf ball and the club face.
[0046] The values of e are limited between zero and 1.0 for systems
with no energy addition. The coefficient of restitution, e, for a
material such as a soft clay or putty would be near zero, while for
a perfectly elastic material, where no energy is lost as a result
of deformation, the value of e would be 1.0. The present invention
provides a club head having a striking plate or face with a
coefficient of restitution approaching 0.93, as measured under
conventional test conditions.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a golf club is generally designated
40. Such a golf club is described in greater detail in co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/431,982, filed on Nov. 1, 1999,
for A Golf Club Head With A Face Composed Of A Forged Material,
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The golf
club 40 has a golf club head 42 with a body 44 and a hollow
interior 46, not shown. Engaging the club head 42 is a shaft 48
that has a grip 50, not shown, at a butt end 52 and is inserted
into a hosel 54 at a tip end 56. An O-ring 58 may encircle the
shaft 48 at an aperture 59 to the hosel 54.
[0048] The body 44 of the club head 42 is generally composed of
four sections, the hosel 54, a face member 60, a crown 62 and a
sole 64. The club head 42 may also be partitioned into a heel
section 66 nearest the shaft 48, a toe section 68 opposite the heel
section 66, and a rear section 70 opposite the face member 60.
[0049] The face member 60 is generally composed of a single piece
of metal, and is preferably composed of a forged metal material.
More preferably, the forged metal material is a forged titanium
material. However, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize
that the face member may be composed of other materials such as
steels, vitreous metals, ceramics, composites, carbon, carbon
fibers and other fibrous materials without departing from the scope
and spirit of the present invention. The face member 60 generally
includes a striking plate (also referred to herein as a face plate)
72 and a face extension 74 extending laterally inward from the
perimeter of the striking plate 72. The striking plate 72 has a
plurality of scorelines 75 thereon. A more detailed explanation of
the scorelines 75 is set forth in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/431,521, filed on Nov. 1, 1999, entitled
Contoured Scorelines For The Face Of A Golf Club, and incorporated
by reference in its entirety. The face extension 74 generally
includes an upper lateral extension 76, a lower lateral extension
78, a heel wall 80 and a toe wall 82. As shown, the face extension
74 is generally non-planar.
[0050] The upper lateral extension 76 extends inward, toward the
hollow interior 46, a predetermined distance to engage the crown
62. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined distance ranges
from 0.2 inch to 1.0 inch, as measured from the perimeter 73 of the
face plate 72 to the edge of the upper lateral extension 76. Unlike
the prior art which has the crown engage the face plate
perpendicularly, the present invention has the face member 60
engage the crown 62 along a substantially horizontal plane. Such
engagement enhances the flexibility of the striking plate 72
allowing for a greater coefficient of restitution. The crown 62 and
the upper lateral extension 76 are secured to each other through
welding or the like along the engagement line 81. As illustrated in
FIG. 2A, in an alternative embodiment, the upper lateral extension
76 engages the crown 62 at a greater distance inward thereby
resulting in a weld that is more rearward from the stresses of the
striking plate 72 than that of the embodiment of FIG. 2.
[0051] The uniqueness of the present invention is further
demonstrated by a hosel section 84 of the upper lateral extension
76 that encompasses the aperture 59 to the interior hosel 54. The
hosel section 84 has a width w.sub.1 that is greater than a width
w.sub.2 of the entirety of the upper lateral extension 76. The
hosel section 84 gradually transitions into the heel wall 80. The
heel wall 80 is substantially perpendicular to the striking plate
72, and the heel wall 80 covers the interior hosel 54 before
engaging a ribbon 90 and a bottom section 91 of the sole 64. The
heel wall 80 is secured to the sole 64, both the ribbon 90 and the
bottom section 91, through welding or the like.
[0052] At the other end of the face member 60 is the toe wall 82
which arcs from the striking plate 72 in a convex manner. The toe
wall 82 is secured to the sole 64, both the ribbon 90 and the
bottom section 91, through welding or the like.
[0053] The lower lateral extension 78 extends inward, toward the
hollow interior 46, a predetermined distance to engage the sole 64.
In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined distance ranges from
0.2 inches to 1.0 inches, as measured from the perimeter 73 of the
striking plate 72 to the end of the lower lateral extension 78.
Unlike the prior art which has the sole plate engage the face plate
perpendicularly, the present invention has the face member 60
engage the sole 64 along a substantially horizontal plane. This
engagement moves the weld heat affected zone rearward from a
strength critical crown/face plate radius region. Such engagement
enhances the flexibility of the striking plate 72 allowing for a
greater coefficient of restitution. The sole 64 and the lower
lateral extension 78 are secured to each other through welding or
the like, along the engagement line 81. The uniqueness of the
present invention is further demonstrated by a bore section 86 of
the lower lateral extension 78 that encompasses a bore 114 in the
sole 64 leading to the interior hosel 54. The bore section 86 has a
width w.sub.3 that is greater than a width w.sub.4 of the entirety
of the lower lateral extension 78. The bore section 86 gradually
transitions into the heel wall 80.
[0054] The crown 62 is generally convex toward the sole 64, and
engages the ribbon 90 of sole 64 outside of the engagement with the
face member 60. The crown 62 may have a chevron decal 88, or some
other form of indicia scribed therein that may assist in alignment
of the club head 42 with a golf ball. The crown 62 preferably has a
thickness in the range of 0.025 to 0.060 inch, and more preferably
in the range of 0.035 to 0.043 inch, and most preferably has a
thickness of 0.039 inch. The crown 62 is preferably composed of a
hot formed or coined material such as a sheet titanium. However,
those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other
materials or forming processes may be utilized for the crown 62
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
invention.
[0055] The sole 64 is generally composed of the bottom section 91
and the ribbon 90 that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom
section 91. The bottom section 91 is generally convex toward the
crown 62. The bottom section has a medial ridge 92 with a first
lateral extension 94 toward the toe section 68 and a second lateral
extension 96 toward the heel section 66. The medial ridge 92 and
the first lateral extension 94 define a first convex depression 98,
and the medial ridge 92 and the second lateral extension 96 define
a second convex depression 100. A more detailed explanation of the
sole 64 is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6.007,433, filed on Apr. 2,
1998, for a Sole Configuration For Golf Club Head, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety. The sole 64 preferably
has a thickness in the range of 0.025 to 0.060 inch, and more
preferably 0.047 to 0.055 inch, and most preferably has a thickness
of 0.051 inch. The sole 64 is preferably composed of a hot formed
or coined metal material such as a sheet titanium material.
However, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that
other materials and forming processes may be utilized for the sole
64 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
invention.
[0056] FIGS. 6-8 illustrate the hollow interior 46 of the club head
42 of the present invention. The interior hosel 54 is disposed
within the hollow interior 46, and is located as a component of the
face member 60. The interior hosel 54 may be composed of a similar
material to the face member 60, and is secured to the face member
60 through welding or the like. The interior hosel 54 is located in
the face member 60 to concentrate the weight of the interior hosel
54 toward the face plate 72, near the heel section 66 in order to
contribute to the ball striking mass of the face plate 72. A hollow
interior 118 of the interior hosel 54 is defined by a hosel wall
120 that forms a cylindrical tube between the bore 114 and the
aperture 59. In a preferred embodiment, the hosel wall 120 does not
engage the heel wall 80 thereby leaving a void 115 between the
hosel wall 120 and the heel wall 80. The shaft 48 is disposed
within the interior hosel 54. Further, the hosel 54 is located
inward, or rearward, from the striking plate 72 in order to allow
for compliance of the striking plate 72 during impact with a golf
ball. In one embodiment, the interior hosel 54 is disposed 0.125
inch rearward from the striking plate 72.
[0057] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG. 1,
illustrating the interior heel half of the golf club head 42. As
shown in FIG. 9, the interior hosel 54 is off set inward in the
hollow interior 118 from the striking plate 72 to allow for
compliance of the striking plate during impact with a golf ball. At
a bottom end 121 of the interior hosel 54, the distance d between
the hosel wall 1 20 and the striking plate 72 preferably ranges
from 0.05 inch to 0.5, and is most preferably 0.25 inch. At the top
end 123 of the interior hosel 54, the distance between the hosel
wall 120 and the striking plate 72 may narrow, however, it remains
unattached to the striking plate 72. Thus, there is always a void
117 between the hosel wall 120 and the striking plate 72.
[0058] Preferably, the interior hosel 54 is welded at an engagement
133 with the hosel section 84, and welded at an engagement 135 with
the bore section 86.
[0059] Optional dual weighting members 122 and 123, as shown in
FIG. 11, may also be disposed within the hollow interior 46 of the
club head 42. In a preferred embodiment, the weighting members 122
and 123 are disposed on the sole 64 in order to the lower the
center of gravity of the golf club 40. The weighting members 122
and 123, not shown, may have a shape configured to the contour of
the sole 64. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will
recognize that the weighting member may be placed in other
locations of the club head 42 in order to influence the center of
gravity, moment of inertia, or other inherent properties of the
golf club 40. The weighting members 122 and 123 are preferably a
pressed and sintered powder metal material such as a powder
titanium material. Alternatively, the weighting members 122 and 123
may be cast or machined titanium chips. Yet further, the weighting
members 122 and 123 may be a tungsten screw threadingly engaging an
aperture 124 of the sole 64. Although titanium and tungsten have
been used as exemplary materials, those skilled in the pertinent
art will recognize that other high density materials may be
utilized as an optional weighting member without departing from the
scope and spirit of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates the variation in the thickness of the
striking plate 72. The face plate or striking plate 72 is
partitioned into elliptical regions, each having a different
thickness. A central elliptical region 102 preferably has the
greatest thickness that ranges from 0.110 inch to 0.090 inch,
preferably from 0.103 inch to 0.093 inch, and is most preferably
0.095 inch. A first concentric region 104 preferably has the next
greatest thickness that ranges from 0.097 inch to 0.082 inch,
preferably from 0.090 inch to 0.082 inch, and is most preferably
0.086 inch. A second concentric region 106 preferably has the next
greatest thickness that ranges from 0.094 inches to 0.070 inch,
preferably from 0.078 inch to 0.070 inch, and is most preferably
0.074 inch. A third concentric region 108 preferably has the next
greatest thickness that ranges from 0.090 inch to 0.07 inch. A
periphery region 110 preferably has the next greatest thickness
that ranges from 0.069 inch to 0.061 inch. The periphery region
includes toe periphery region 110a and heel periphery region 110b.
The variation in the thickness of the striking plate 72 allows for
the greatest thickness to be distributed in the center 111 of the
striking plate 72 thereby enhancing the flexibility of the striking
plate 72 which corresponds to a greater coefficient of
restitution.
[0061] In an alternative embodiment, the striking plate 72 is
composed of a vitreous metal such as iron-boron, nickel-copper,
nickel-zirconium, nickel-phosphorous, and the like. These vitreous
metals allow for the striking plate 72 to have a thickness as thin
as 0.055 inch. Preferably, the thinnest portions of such a vitreous
metal striking plate would be in the periphery regions 110a and
110b, although the entire striking plate 72 of such a vitreous
metal striking plate 72 could have a uniform thickness of 0.055
inch.
[0062] Yet in further alternative embodiments, the striking plate
72 is composed of ceramics, composites or other metals. Further,
the face plate or striking plate 72 may be an insert for a club
head such as wood or iron. Additionally, the thinnest regions of
the striking plate 72 may be as low as 0.010 inch allowing for
greater compliance and thus a higher coefficient of
restitution.
[0063] Additionally, the striking plate 72 of the present invention
has a smaller aspect ratio than face plates of the prior art. The
aspect ratio as used herein is defined as the width, w, of the face
divided by the height, h, of the face, as shown in FIG. 1A. In one
embodiment, the width w is 78 millimeters and the height h is 48
millimeters giving an aspect ratio of 1.635. In conventional golf
club heads, the aspect ratio is usually much greater than 1. For
example, the original GREAT BIG BERTHA.RTM. driver had an aspect
ratio of 1.9. The face of the present invention has an aspect ratio
that is no greater than 1.7. The aspect ratio of the present
invention preferably ranges from 1.0 to 1.7. One embodiment has an
aspect ratio of 1.3. The face of the present invention is more
circular than faces of the prior art. The face area of the striking
plate 72 of the present invention ranges 4.00 square inches to 7.50
square inches, more preferably from 4.95 square inches to 5.1
square inches, and most preferably from 4.99 square inches to 5.06
square inches.
[0064] The club head 42 of the present invention also has a greater
volume than a club head of the prior art while maintaining a weight
that is substantially equivalent to that of the prior art. The
volume of the club head 42 of the present invention ranges from 175
cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters, and more preferably
ranges from 300 cubic centimeters to 310 cubic centimeters. The
weight of the club head 42 of the present invention ranges from 165
grams to 300 grams, preferably ranges from 175 grams to 225 grams,
and most preferably from 188 grams to 195 grams. The depth of the
club head from the striking plate 72 to the rear section of the
crown 62 preferably ranges from 3.606 inches to 3.741 inches. The
height, H, of the club head 42, as measured while in striking
position, preferably ranges from 2.22 inches to 2.27 inches, and is
most preferably 2.24 inches. The width, W, of the club head 42 from
the toe section 68 to the heel section 66 preferably ranges from
4.5 inches to 4.6 inches.
[0065] FIGS. 11-13 illustrate a preferred assembly of the different
components of the golf club head 42. Essentially there are four
main components, the face member 60, the crown 62, the sole 64 and
the interior hosel 54. Sub-components include the weight members
122 and 123 and the decal 88. Preferably, the face member 60 is
formed in a forging process to create the striking plate 72 and
face extension 74 with the upper lateral extension 76, the lower
lateral extension 78, the heel wall 80 and the toe wall 82. The
aperture 59 is drilled in the hosel section 84 of the upper lateral
extension 76, and the drilling continues downward to the bore
section 86 where the bore 11 4 is created in the bore section 86.
The bore section 86 preferably has a greater thickness than the
hosel section 84 due to manufacturing needs such as welding and
shaft assembly.
[0066] Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the interior hosel 54 is welded
to the hosel section 84 and the bore section 86 in alignment with
the aperture 59 and the bore 114. In a preferred embodiment, a
solid cylinder is welded to the hosel section 84 and the bore
section 86 in alignment with the aperture 59 and the bore 114, and
then the solid cylinder is reamed to create the hollow interior 118
of the interior hosel 54, as defined by the hosel wall 120. In an
alternative embodiment, the interior hosel may be pre-reamed prior
to welding to the face member 60. Those skilled in the pertinent
art will recognize that methods similar to welding may be employed
for attachment of the hosel 54 to the face member 60 without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
[0067] Next, the sole 64 is welded to the face member 60 (with
attached hosel 54) as shown in FIG. 13. The weight members 122 and
123 are attached on the bottom section 91 of the sole 64, and then
the crown 62 is welded to the face member 60 and the ribbon section
90 of the sole 64.
[0068] As shown in FIGS. 14-16, the compliance of the striking
plate 72 allows for a greater coefficient of restitution, in the
range of 0.83 to 0.93 under test conditions such as the USGA test
conditions specified pursuant to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II of the
Rules of Golf for 1998-1999. At FIG. 14, the striking plate 72 is
immediately prior to striking a golf ball 140. At FIG. 15, the
striking plate 72 is engaging the golf ball, and deformation of the
golf ball 140 and striking plate 72 is illustrated. At FIG. 16, the
golf ball 140 has just been launched from the striking plate 72.
Thus, unlike a spring, the present invention increases compliance
of the striking plate to reduce energy losses to the golf ball at
impact, while not adding energy to the system.
[0069] From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the
pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this
invention and will readily understand that while the present
invention has been described in association with a preferred
embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and
substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be
unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following
appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in
which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in
the following appended claims.
* * * * *
References