U.S. patent application number 10/649144 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-03 for golf club head having internal fins for resisting structural deformation and mechanical shockwave migration.
Invention is credited to Boone, David D..
Application Number | 20050049081 10/649144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34216881 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050049081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boone, David D. |
March 3, 2005 |
Golf club head having internal fins for resisting structural
deformation and mechanical shockwave migration
Abstract
An improved golf club head has at least one fin, rib or arch
extending inside the club head structure and varying in height. The
fins run along the inside of the club head perimeter structure. The
fins are perpendicular to the face resulting in stiffening and
strengthening of the club head, thereby resisting structural
deformation and mechanical shockwave migration that occurs upon
impact with the golf ball. The fins traverse the length or a
portion of the length of the club head along an internal perimeter.
The fins are incorporated on either the crown and/or the sole, but
can be added to other portions of the club head, such as the skirt
or club face should additional stiffening and strengthening be
desired. The fins, can vary in size and shape and location
depending on the desired stiffness and on the size, shape and
material of the club head.
Inventors: |
Boone, David D.; (El Toro,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONARD TACHNER, A PROFESSIONAL LAW
CORPORATION
17961 SKY PARK CIRCLE, SUITE 38-E
IRVINE
CA
92614
|
Family ID: |
34216881 |
Appl. No.: |
10/649144 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/346 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 53/045 20200801; A63B 53/0437 20200801; A63B 53/0466 20130101;
A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 53/0454 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/346 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A golf club metal wood head having an enclosed hollow interior
defined by a plurality of surfaces including a crown, a sole, a
face, a skirt, a toe and a heel having a hosel extending therefrom;
the head comprising: at least one fin member extending from said
crown within said interior between said face and said skirt, said
fin member having a height which is minimum adjacent said face and
adjacent said skirt and which is maximum between said face and said
skirt.
2. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 1 wherein said
fin member at said maximum height is tangent to a plane which
intersects said crown where said crown merges with said face and
said skirt.
3. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 1 further
comprising a plurality of said fin members, at least two of said
fin members being parallel to each other and extending from said
crown within said interior between said face and said skirt.
4. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 3, at least two
of said fin members being parallel to each other and extending from
said sole within said interior between said face and said
skirt.
5. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 3 wherein each of
said fin members extending from said crown has a height which is
minimum adjacent said face and adjacent said skirt and which is
maximum between said face and said skirt.
6. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 5 wherein the
maximum height of each of said fin members extending from said
crown is tangent to a plane which intersects said crown where said
crown merges with said face and said skirt.
7. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 4 wherein each of
said fin members extending from said sole has a height which is
minimum adjacent said face and adjacent said skirt and which is
maximum between said face and said skirt.
8. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 7 wherein the
maximum height of each of said fin members extending from said sole
is tangent to a plane which intersects said crown where said crown
merges with said face and said skirt.
9. A golf club metal wood head having an enclosed hollow interior
defined by a plurality of surfaces including a crown, sole, a face,
a skirt, a toe and a heel having a hosel extending therefrom; the
head comprising: at least one fin member extending from at least
one of said plurality of surfaces with said interior and oriented
relative to said face for resisting deformation of said crown and
said sole upon impact of said face with a golf ball for promoting a
greater efficiency of the transfer of force into said golf ball
upon said impact
10. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member extends from said crown.
11. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member extends from said sole.
12. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member extends from said face.
13. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member has a tapered cross-section.
14. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member has an I-beam cross-section
15. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member has a uniform cross-section
16. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member has an arched shape.
17. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member has a V-shaped cross-section.
18. The golf club metal wood head recited in claim 9 wherein said
fin member is formed as a V-shaped groove in said surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of golf
clubs and specifically to an improved golf club head having one or
more internal fins.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Golf club heads that are made from a metallic material such
as titanium alloy or stainless steel (metal woods) have distinct
advantages over wooden club heads. Generally, wooden club heads are
less durable, vary significantly in density, hardness, grain
structure and require great expertise through the manufacturing
process to produce similar results from club to club. Metal woods
however can be replicated consistently with tolerances that in some
cases surpass aerospace quality components. Improvements over the
last decade in the manufacturing processes of metal woods have
enabled manufacturers to design larger metal wood club heads. These
larger metal woods deliver improved performance benefits over
smaller metal woods in that designers are able to transfer weight
to specific areas of the metal wood club head to enhance certain
desired characteristics at impact, namely golf ball launch, spin
and club head twist, which affect ball flight and direction. Larger
metal woods outperform their smaller counterparts because more of
their mass is distributed toward the perimeter of the club head
therefore making them more stable at impact. The larger metal woods
also exhibit less oscillation at impact with the golf ball and that
provides for a more efficient energy transfer resulting in longer,
straighter and more consistent shots. Because the larger metal wood
club heads are bigger than their smaller counterparts, they are
also easier to setup behind the golf ball thereby offering a
psychological benefit to the golfer. They look easier to hit.
[0005] Over the last decade manufacturers have substantially
increased the size of metal wood club heads, particularly drivers.
The pace at which this has happened has been driven by several
factors.
[0006] 1. Golfers are always searching for ways to hit the golf
ball further and straighter. Larger club heads are more stable
during impact with the golf ball and are easier to hit, resulting
in consistently longer and straighter hits.
[0007] 2. Manufacturing methods and processes have improved
allowing further development of larger metal wood club heads that
have extremely thin wall structures.
[0008] 3. These thin wall structures allow designers to manipulate
the weight distribution in the club head to optimize the stability
of the club head at impact with a golf ball.
[0009] 4. The successful development and introduction of lighter
and stronger high performance alloys further allows designers an
opportunity to manipulate weight and impact dynamics.
[0010] 5. The cost of development and manufacturing has been
greatly reduced making what would have been an exotic golf club
head a few years ago, an affordable purchase consideration for any
serious golfers looking for performance improvement in their
game.
[0011] Regardless of manufacturer, most metal wood club head
weights are within a few grams of each other. Typical driver club
head weights range from approximately 192 grams to 202 grams
depending on the club length, shaft type and manufacture
specifications. Generally, club head weights will remain constant
in order to provide proper balance, physical and mechanical
properties which combine to produce a well balanced, good
performing golf club.
[0012] Metal wood (driver) club heads have grown in size over the
last decade from approximately 200 cc in volume to over 400 cc in
volume but at the same time remaining in the weight range of 192
grams to 202 grams. In some cases these metal wood driver club
heads are becoming lighter to take advantage of the increased club
head size, lighter and longer shafts and lighter grips. The overall
lighter golf cub with increased length, can be swung at a higher
rate of speed increasing the club head velocity as it impacts the
golf ball resulting in added distance over shorter heaver metal
wood golf clubs that cannot be swung as fast. As the metal wood
golf cub heads become larger, the wall thickness must be reduced to
achieve the desired size and still remain in the desired weight
range. The larger the club head, the thinner the wall required to
produce it. The materials used to produce these large club heads
vary in density and strength properties. The largest metal wood
driver club heads are produced by cast or forged manufacturing
methods using titanium alloys. Titanium is preferred over stainless
steel alloys because it is approximately 45% lighter and approaches
the same strength as stainless steel. However other materials can
be used, such as carbon fiber, metal matrix composites, aluminum or
magnesium. When a metal wood driver comes into contact with the
golf ball during the golf swing, the resultant collision, depending
on the impact velocity and angle of attack of the metal wood,
causes the golf ball to compress and the metal wood driver club
head to deform. The amount of the deformation to the metal wood
club head, particularly driver club heads, during impact with the
golf ball depends on, but is not limited, to the following
factors.
[0013] 1. The size of the metal wood club head;
[0014] 2. The material used to construct the metal wood club
head;
[0015] 3. The design and construction of the metal wood club
head;
[0016] 4. The wall thickness of the metal wood cub head;
[0017] 5. The velocity of the metal wood club head as it comes into
contact with the golf ball;
[0018] 6. The angle of attack at which the metal wood club head
impacts the golf ball;
[0019] 7. The distribution of mass that makes up the metal wood
club head structure;
[0020] 8. The mass of the metal wood club head;
[0021] 9. The center of gravity of the metal wood club head;
[0022] 10. The golf ball impact point in relation to the clubhead
CG;
[0023] 11. The stiffness of the club metal wood club head;
[0024] 12. The strength of the metal wood club head structure.
[0025] As metal wood club heads become increasingly larger, their
ability to resist deformation at impact with the golf ball is
reduced particularly if a material is selected that has reduced
stiffness properties. Such is the case with titanium which has
roughly half the stiffness than that of stainless steel. Even with
the use of high performance materials like titanium or carbon
fiber, the weight constraints common in most driver club heads make
it imperative to design driver club heads with thinner walls.
[0026] As the club head comes into contact with the stationary golf
ball during the downswing, the club head structure oscillates and
deforms in an effort to move around the stationary golf ball. The
golf ball compresses under the impact load with the club head
initiating a lateral change in direction of the golf ball away from
the golf club head center of gravity resulting in the golf ball
rolling in the direction of least resistance prior to the
initiation of the rebound phase of the golf ball's impact with the
club head. During the impact process, the stored energy that would
normally be transmitted to the golf ball from the club head is
momentarily redirected to the club head. The resulting redirection
of energy sends a mechanical shockwave through the club head
structure causing said structure to flex and deform. This
occurrence creates a loss of energy that could otherwise be
imparted from the club head to the golf ball during impact. The
resulting energy loss that occurs during the impact of the golf
ball and the club head due to oscillation and flexing of the club
head structure, results in a reduction of energy that would
normally be transferred to the ball from the rigid golf club head
structure and therefore results in reduced initial velocity of the
golf ball as the golf ball rebounds away from the club head.
[0027] It would be highly advantageous to improve the golf club
head structure to resist structural deformation and shockwave
migration so that more of the energy at impact is transmitted to
the golf ball instead of being dissipated in the club head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The present invention provides an improved golf club head
wherein each club head has at least one rib/arch/fin, or a series
of ribs/arches/fins, herein referred to as "fins", that form from a
point of origination inside the club head structure and increase
and decrease in height. The fins are located to run along the
inside of the club head perimeter structure that is comprised of a
crown, sole, skirt and face. The angle of the fins is perpendicular
to the face resulting in stiffening and strengthening the club head
thereby resisting structural deformation and mechanical shockwave
migration that occurs upon impact with the golf ball.
[0029] This is accomplished by incorporating fins internally that
traverse the length or a portion of the length of the club head
along the perimeter radii as defined by the shape of the club head
structure. The demarcation line of the radius begins and ends at
the crown, sole, skirt and face transition. The fins are
incorporated on either the crown and/or the sole, but can be added
to other surfaces of the club head, such as the skirt, or club face
should additional stiffening and strengthening be desired. The fins
can vary in size and shape and location depending on the desired
stiffness and strength. The fins vary in size and shape depending
on the size, shape and material of the club head.
[0030] The dimensions of the fins are dependent on the shape and
radius of the inner and outer structure of the club head. The fins
have two dimensions that are governed by the size, shape and radius
of the club head structure.
[0031] 1. The height of each fin at its apex is at least the same
as that of the outer club head structural radii as measured at the
demarcation of surface transition points from where the radii
originate inside the cub head structure.
[0032] 2. The fin's height away from its apex is substantially less
than its height measured at its apex.
[0033] The fins can be incorporated into the club head structure
through typical manufacturing processes such as casting or forging
to produce a one piece club head or they can be affixed in a
secondary manufacturing process such as welding, brazing or gluing.
The shape and location of the fins resist impact-caused deformation
and shockwave migration, thereby reducing energy dissipation and
resulting in more efficient transfer of energy into the golf
ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The various embodiments, features and advantages of the
present invention will be understood more completely hereinafter as
a result of a detailed description thereof in which reference will
be made to the following drawings:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a golf club head in
a direction parallel to the hitting surface and showing one
embodiment of the inventive fins;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional end view of the FIG. 1
embodiment, but taken in a direction that is perpendicular to the
hitting surface;
[0037] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the force
vectors resulting in form the inventive fins;
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates the force vectors in a conventional club
head without the inventive fins;
[0039] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate cross-sectional side views showing
various overall shape variations of a fin of the invention;
[0040] FIGS. 9-14 illustrate various cross-sectional end views
showing shape variations of a fin of the invention; and
[0041] FIG. 15 illustrates placement of inventive fins on the
inside of the hitting surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Referring to the accompanying drawings and initially to
FIGS. 1-4, it will be seen that an improved metal wood golf club
head 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, comprises a hitting surface or face 12, a sole 14, a
crown 16, a skirt 18, a hosel 20, a toe 22 and a heel 24. These are
conventional features of a typical club head. Those features that
are novel and unique to the present invention comprise fins
15,17,19 and 21. While the illustrated embodiment employs four such
fins, (i.e., two along the interior of crown 16 and two along the
interior of sole 14) it will be understood that the actual number
may be other than four. Moreover, each such fin is preferably of
varying height with a maximum height or apex that coincides with an
imaginary surface drawn between demarcation or transition points on
the intersections between different club head surfaces. By way of
example, fin 15 has an apex 32 which coincides with a plane "A"
defined by the intersection of crown 16 with face 12 and with skirt
18 and by the intersection of crown 16 with toe 22 and with heel 24
or hosel 20. Similarly, fin 17 has an apex 34 which coincides with
a plane "B" defined by the intersection of sole 14 with face 12 and
with skirt 18 and by the intersection of sole 14 with toe 22 and
with heel 24. Upper fin 19 and lower fin 21 similarly have apices
36 and 38, respectively defined in the same manner.
[0043] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the advantageous effect of these
internal fins on forces generated by impact of the club head with a
golf ball (not shown). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the
force generated at the force 12 upon impact, in turn, generates a
rebound force at each of the fins (15, 17 for example). On the
other hand, in a conventional club head 30 shown in FIG. 4, the
force at the face propagates to each of the other surfaces with
little attenuation causing expansion of sole 31 and crown 33 and
rebounds from skirt 35 since there are no internal fins to
withstand and resist propagation of the impact force as there are
in the head 10 of FIG. 3.
[0044] The actual shape of the fins as well as the location of the
apex along each fin can be selected to promote higher energy
transfer into the golf ball while minimizing the effect on weight
distribution of the head structure. By way of example, FIGS. 5-8
illustrate in cross-sectional side views a number of alternative
embodiments of a fin structure. Fin 15 of FIG. 5 is that shown in
FIGS. 1-3 and comprises a solid fin with a more centrally
positioned apex. FIG. 6 shows a fin 23 that is open at its base to
reduce weight but is otherwise the same as fin 15. Fin 25 of FIG. 7
is a solid fin but has its apex located closer to the club head
face. Fin 27 of FIG. 8 is similar in shape to fin 25 of FIG. 7, but
has an open base to reduce weight.
[0045] FIGS. 9-14 illustrate alternative end view cross-sections of
the fins of the invention. By way of example, fin 15 of FIG. 9 has
a tapered cross-section. Fin 23 of FIG. 10 has the same
cross-section shape as fin 15, but with the open base shown in FIG.
6. FIG. 11 illustrates a fin 28 having an I-beam shaped
cross-section with a rail 26 at the bottom surface thereof. FIG. 12
illustrates a fin 29 having a uniform or constant width
cross-section. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate V-shaped cross-sections
one of which extends from crown 16 and the other of which is formed
from a groove in crown 16. FIGS. 5-8 and 9-12 are intended to
demonstrate numerous variations in fin shape, apex location and
cross-section. However, it will be understood that these variations
are only a few of innumerable possible variations each of which may
provide somewhat different effects on the attenuation of the impact
forces that would otherwise propagate toward the other surfaces of
the club head.
[0046] FIG. 15 illustrates yet another embodiment 40 which provides
either in addition to or as a substitution for the fins of FIGS.
1-3, a pair of fins 42 and 44 which are positioned on the interior
of face 12 and which also contribute to attenuation of the forces
generated upon impact of the face with a golf ball.
[0047] Having thus disclosed numerous illustrative embodiments of
the invention, it will be understood that the novel features
thereof reside fundamentally in the use of internal fin structures
to improve the efficiency of force transfer from the club head to
the golf ball and that the precise number, shape and location of
such fins may be varied within alternative versions to achieve the
desired results thereof. Accordingly, the applicant has disclosed
the currently contemplated best mode of the invention with the
understanding that the scope of the protection afforded hereby is
to be limited only by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *