U.S. patent application number 10/459235 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for golf club head with porous sole plate.
Invention is credited to Burrows, Bruce D..
Application Number | 20030236132 10/459235 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30000507 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030236132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burrows, Bruce D. |
December 25, 2003 |
Golf club head with porous sole plate
Abstract
A golf club head of the metal wood type is provided, wherein the
club head includes a porous plate defining a portion of at least
one wall thereof, such as a portion of the sole plate. Upon
striking impact of the club head with a golf ball, the porous plate
facilitates transmission of a significant portion of the resultant
shock energy from the club head in the form of a distinctive
audible output, with a corresponding reduction in transmission of
vibrational energy through the associated club shaft to the
golfer's hands.
Inventors: |
Burrows, Bruce D.; (Santa
Clarita, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stuart O. Lowry
KELLY BAUERSFELD LOWRY & KELLEY, LLP
Suite 1650
6320 Canoga Avenue
Woodland Hills
CA
91367
US
|
Family ID: |
30000507 |
Appl. No.: |
10/459235 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60390083 |
Jun 20, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 53/0437 20200801; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 60/54 20151001;
A63B 2071/0625 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/344 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf club head, comprising: a head including a sole plate, a
faceplate, a rear wall, a heel segment, a toe segment, and a cap
plate cooperatively defining a hollow interior, and further
defining a hole formed therein; and a porous member mounted on said
head and substantially covering said hole, said porous member
facilitating transmission of at least a portion of shock energy
from said club head upon impact engagement of said club head
faceplate with a golf ball.
2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said hole is formed in
said sole plate.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said hole has a generally
circular shape, and further wherein said porous member is mounted
generally within and substantially closes said hole.
4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said porous member
comprises a sintered metal matrix.
5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said porous member
comprises a metal matrix.
6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said hole is formed
generally centrally within said sole plate.
7. A golf club head, comprising: a head including a sole plate, a
faceplate, a rear wall, a heel segment, a toe segment, and a cap
plate cooperatively defining a hollow interior, said sole plate
further defining a hole formed therein; and a porous member mounted
on said sole plate and substantially covering said hole, said
porous member facilitating transmission of at least a portion of
shock energy from said club head upon impact engagement of said
club head faceplate with a golf ball.
8. The golf club head of claim 7 wherein said hole has a generally
circular shape, and further wherein said porous member is mounted
generally within and substantially closes said hole.
9. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein said hole is formed
generally centrally within said sole plate.
10. The golf club head of claim 7 wherein said porous member
comprises a metal matrix.
11. A hollow golf club head including a faceplate for impact
engagement with a golf ball, the improvement comprising: a porous
member mounted on said club head and substantially covering a hole
formed therein, said porous member facilitating transmission of at
least a portion of shock energy from said club head upon impact
engagement of said club head faceplate with a golf ball.
12. The hollow golf club head of claim 11 wherein said hole has a
generally circular shape, and further wherein said porous member
comprises a generally circular disk mounted generally within and
substantially closing said hole.
13. The hollow golf club head of claim 11 wherein said porous
member comprises a sintered matrix.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/390,083, filed Jun. 20, 2002.
[0002] This invention relates generally to improvements in golf
club heads of the so-called metal wood type. More particularly,
this invention relates to an improved metal wood type club head
designed for improved dissipation of shock energy generated upon
normal striking impact with a golf ball, to correspondingly reduce
transmission of such shock energy typically in the form of
vibration to the golfer's hands via the associated club shaft.
[0003] Golf club heads of the so-called metal wood type are
generally known in the art, wherein the shape of a traditional
wood-type club head is reproduced in the form of a hollow metal
shell or the like. In a typical construction, the club head
comprises a base member or body formed by casting or forging or the
like in an upwardly open shell-shaped configuration defining a sole
plate and upstanding club head side walls, including a front face
for striking a golf ball. This base member additionally includes a
hosel for suitable connection to the end of a golf club shaft. The
open top of the base member is normally closed by a cap plate which
is typically welded thereto, to form the hollow metal head
structure. In an alternative configuration, the base member or body
can be formed as a downwardly open shell, and a sole plate is
attached thereto as by welding to form the hollow club head
structure.
[0004] Significant development effort has been directed to
improving metal wood type golf clubs, to improve distance,
accuracy, and overall playability in different conditions. Much of
this effort has focused upon improvements in club head weight
distribution, structural stiffness, and aerodynamics.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,159 is directed to an improved metal
wood golf club head having a relatively large dome element
incorporated into the sole plate. This dome element comprises an
upwardly extending structure that effectively adjusts the club head
weighting and the location of the so-called sweet spot for optimal
ball impact. In addition, this dome element has been found to
reduce the transmission of vibrational energy from the club head
via the club shaft to the golfer's hands, resulting from shock
impact of the club head faceplate with a golf ball. Instead, a
significant portion of this impact shock energy is believed to be
emanated or transmitted from the club head, by means of the dome
element, in the form of a distinctive and audible ringing sound.
Such reduction in the transmission of vibrational energy to and
through the club shaft to the golfer's hands produces a more solid
and crisp tactile feedback for each golf shot, and further reduces
golfer fatigue in the course of a round of golf.
[0006] The present invention relates to a further improved golf
club head of the metal wood type, designed for more effective
transmission of ball impact shock energy from the club head in the
form of a distinctive audible sound, to achieve a further reduction
in the transmission of vibrational energy through the club shaft to
the golfer's hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the invention, a golf club head of the
metal wood type is provided with a porous plate defining a portion
of at least one wall thereof, such as at least a portion of the
sole plate. Upon striking impact of the club head with a golf ball,
the porous plate facilitates transmission of a significant portion
of the resultant shock energy from the club head in the form of a
distinctive audible sound output, with a corresponding substantial
reduction in the transmission of vibrational energy through the
associated club shaft to the golfer's hands.
[0008] In one preferred form of the invention, the club head is
defined by an upwardly open and generally shell-shaped base member
or body formed by metal casting or the like to define a sole plate
bounded by upstanding side walls, including a front impact face or
faceplate for striking a golf ball, a rear face, a heel segment,
and a toe segment. A hosel is normally incorporated into the base
member generally at the heel segment thereof, wherein the hosel is
adapted for suitable connection to the lower end of a club shaft. A
cap plate, which can also be formed by metal casting or the like,
is provided for connection as by welding to the upper margins of
the upstanding side walls to close the open top of the base member
and thereby form a hollow metal wood club head. In one alternative
configuration, the base member or body may be formed to include the
cap plate with downwardly extending side walls for suitable
connection as by welding to a separately formed sole plate.
[0009] At least one wall of the metal wood club head includes the
porous plate. In a preferred form, the porous plate is mounted as
by welding or the like to extend across and close an opening formed
in the club head sole plate. The porous plate may be formed from a
suitable rigid yet porous metal-based material, such as a
disk-shaped plate formed from metallic balls interconnected as by
sintering to define a rigid yet porous construction.
[0010] In use, upon normal striking impact of the club head
faceplate with a golf ball, a significant portion of the resultant
impact shock energy emanates or is transmitted from the club head
through the porous plate to the surrounding air for dissipation in
the form of a readily audible and distinctive sound. Conversely,
any residual portion of this shock energy available for
transmission to the club shaft, and ultimately to the golfer's
hands, is significantly reduced.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a metal wood-type golf
club head;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1, illustrating a porous sole plate in accordance with the
novel features of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the golf
club head;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a toe end elevation view of the golf club head;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally on the
line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improved metal wood
type golf club head referred to generally by the reference numeral
10 is provided. The improved club head 10 comprises a hollow head
construction formed primarily from cast or forged metal components,
and includes a porous plate 12 (FIGS. 2-5) defining a portion of at
least one wall thereof such as at least a portion of a sole plate
14 of the club head 10. Upon striking impact of the club head with
a golf ball, the porous plate 12 facilitates transmission of a
significant portion of the resultant shock energy from the club
head in the form of a distinctive audible sound output, with a
corresponding substantial reduction in the transmission of
vibrational energy through an associated club shaft 16 to the
golfer's hands.
[0019] The overall construction and configuration of the
illustrative golf club head 10 generally conforms to existing metal
wood technology, wherein an enclosed and hollow club head is formed
from metal components or the like which are typically cast or
forged from stainless steel, titanium or other selected metal or
metal alloy. The club head 10 includes a base member or body 18
including a hosel 20 for suitable attachment to the lower end of
the club shaft 16. As shown, the base member 18 is formed as an
upwardly open and generally shell-shaped structure to include the
bottom sole plate 14 joined at its perimeter to upstanding side
walls of the club head, namely, a front impact face or faceplate 24
for striking a golf ball, a rear face 26, a toe segment or wall 28,
and a heel segment or wall 30. The hosel 20 is normally formed at
the inboard side of the heel segment 30 and is adapted for
connection to the golf club shaft 16. These upstanding side walls
of the base member or body 18 are adapted for assembly with and
secure attachment to a similarly constructed cap plate 32 which is
normally welded thereto and then appropriately surface finished to
provide an attractive hollow metal golf club head.
[0020] In accordance with the invention, at least one wall defining
the club head 10 is defined by or includes as a portion thereof the
porous plate 12. In a preferred embodiment as shown in the
illustrative drawings, the porous plate 12 comprises a generally
circular or disk-shaped element having a size and shape for
mounting as by welding within and substantially covering or closing
a matingly shaped opening 34 (FIG. 3) formed generally centrally
within the sole plate 14.
[0021] The porous plate 12 comprises a structurally rigid element
having a mass that is compatible with the overall weighting and
center of gravity of the club head 10, and further which does not
compromise the structural integrity of the club head upon impact
with a golf ball. Importantly, the porous plate 12 additionally
provides a porous pathway which vents the interior of the club head
10 to the exterior. One preferred material for the porous plate
comprises a matrix of small balls or spheres which are structurally
compounded as by sintering to provide a rigid, lightweight and
porous structure.
[0022] In use, upon normal impact of the club head faceplate 24
with a golf ball (not shown) in the course of a golf shot, a
resultant and substantial shock wave is generated within and
through the hollow metal club head 10. A significant portion of
this impact shock energy is emanated or transmitted from the club
head 10 through the porous plate 12 to the surrounding air for
dissipation in the form of a readily audible and distinctive sound.
Conversely, any residual portion of this impact shock energy is
significantly reduced, wherein such residual energy is otherwise
undesirably available for transmission in the form of vibration to
the club shaft 16, and ultimately to the golfer's hands. This
reduction in vibrational energy transmitted to the club shaft 16
and to the golfer's hands beneficially produces a golf club with a
more solid and crisp tactile feedback for each golf shot, while at
the same time reducing golfer fatigue in the course of a round of
golf.
[0023] A variety of further modifications and improvements in and
to the metal wood type golf club head of the present invention will
be apparent to those persons skilled in the art. For example, it
will be apparent that the porous plate 12 may be provided in
virtually any selected size and shape, such as a recessed dome
element, and may be mounted at a club head wall other than the sole
plate 14 as shown. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is
intended by way of the foregoing description and accompanying
drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.
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