U.S. patent application number 11/705097 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for golf club head.
This patent application is currently assigned to Adams Golf IP, L.P.. Invention is credited to Edwin H. Adams.
Application Number | 20070142126 11/705097 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46327273 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070142126 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adams; Edwin H. |
June 21, 2007 |
Golf club head
Abstract
A golf club head includes a club head body having a striking
face, a soleplate, a toe, a heel and a hosel. The club head body
includes a body shell composed of the striking face, soleplate, toe
and heel, wherein at least a portion of the body shell is composed
of a flexible material having a density of less than approximately
2.5 g/cm.sup.3 and tensile strength of at least approximately 465
MPa/(g/cm.sup.3).
Inventors: |
Adams; Edwin H.; (Santa
Maria, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELSH & FLAXMAN LLC
2000 DUKE STREET, SUITE 100
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Adams Golf IP, L.P.
|
Family ID: |
46327273 |
Appl. No.: |
11/705097 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11509706 |
Aug 25, 2006 |
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11705097 |
Feb 12, 2007 |
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60710875 |
Aug 25, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/00 20151001;
A63B 53/04 20130101; A63B 60/02 20151001; A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 2209/023 20130101; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 53/0416
20200801; A63B 53/0437 20200801; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B
53/0408 20200801; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 53/0412 20200801;
A63B 2209/02 20130101; A63B 60/54 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body, the club head
body includes a striking face, a soleplate, a toe, a heel and a
hosel; the club head body including a body shell composed of the
striking face, soleplate, toe and heel, wherein at least a portion
of the body shell is composed of a flexible material having a
density of less than approximately 2.5 g/cm.sup.3 and tensile
strength of at least approximately 465 MPa/(g/cm.sup.3).
2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the flexible
material is composed of carbon nanotubes.
3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the carbon
nanotubes are tiny carbon tubes woven into a sheet of a
predetermined size.
4. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the shell
includes a crown which is composed of carbon nanotubes.
5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head
body has a volume of at least approximately 300 cc.
6. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the club head
body has a mass of approximately 180 g to approximately 250 g, and
the body shell has a mass of no more than 150 g.
7. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the soleplate
is composed of carbon nanotubes.
8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head
body has a volume of at least approximately 300 cc.
9. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the club head
body has a mass of approximately 180 g to approximately 250 g, and
the body shell has a mass of no more than 150 g.
10. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head
is a metal wood type golf club head.
11. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the striking
face has a loft of approximately 7 degrees to approximately 13
degrees.
12. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head
body has a volume of at least approximately 300 cc.
13. The golf club head according to claim 12, wherein the club head
body has a mass of approximately 180 g to approximately 250 g, and
the body shell has a mass of no more than 150 g.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/509,706 entitled "Golf Club Head", filed
Aug. 25, 2006, which is currently pending, which claims the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/710,875,
entitled "GOLF CLUB HEAD", filed Aug. 25, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a golf club head. More
particularly, the invention relates to a golf club head composed of
a lightweight material offering improved strength and enhanced mass
positioning within a golf club head.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Golf club manufacturers are consistently attempting to
design golf clubs that are easier to hit and offer golfers greater
forgiveness when the ball is not struck directly upon the sweet
spot of the striking face. As those skilled in the art will
certainly appreciate, many designs have been developed and proposed
for assisting golfers in learning and mastering the very difficult
game of golf.
[0006] Much of the focus of the golf club heads is on ways to shift
the weight within the golf club head in a manner which improves the
striking characteristics of the club.
[0007] As such, a need exists for an improved golf club head which
provides for greater versatility in shifting mass about a golf club
head in a manner improving the striking characteristics of the golf
club head. The present invention provides such a club head, which
also provides a club head exhibiting improved strength
characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a golf club head including a club head body that includes a
striking face, a soleplate, a toe, a heel and a hosel. The club
head body includes a body shell composed of the striking face,
soleplate, toe and heel, wherein at least a portion of the body
shell is composed of a flexible material having a density of less
than approximately 2.5 g/cm.sup.3 and tensile strength of at least
approximately 465 MPa /(g/cm.sup.3).
[0009] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a
golf club head wherein the flexible material is composed of carbon
nanotubes.
[0010] It is also another object of the present invention to
provide a golf club head wherein the carbon nanotubes are tiny
carbon tubes woven into a sheet of a predetermined size.
[0011] It is also a further object of the present invention to
provide a golf club head wherein the shell includes a crown which
is composed of carbon nanotubes.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
golf club head wherein the club head body has a volume of at least
approximately 300 cc.
[0013] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a golf club head wherein the club head body has a mass of
approximately 180 g to approximately 250 g, and the body shell has
a mass of no more than 150 g.
[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a golf club head wherein the soleplate is composed of carbon
nanotubes.
[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
golf club head wherein the club head is a metal wood type golf club
head.
[0016] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a golf club head wherein the striking face has a loft of
approximately 7 degrees to approximately 13 degrees.
[0017] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth
certain embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a driver type golf
club head in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the golf club head shown in
FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head along
the line III-III in FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a driver type golf club head
in accordance with an alternate embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head along
the line V-V in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed
herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for
the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art how to make
and/or use the invention.
[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a golf club head is
shown. The golf club head 10 includes a club head body 11. The club
head body 11 includes a striking face 12, a soleplate 14, a crown
16, a toe 18, a heel 20, a skirt 21, or other structure, used in
connecting the crown 16 to the soleplate 14, and a hosel 22 to
which a golf club shaft 24 is secured, as well as any weight
member(s) 28 which might be incorporated into the club head body
11. The club head body 11 includes a body shell 26 composed of the
striking face 12, soleplate 14, crown 16, toe 18, heel 20 and skirt
21. That is, the body shell 26 may generally be considered the
structure used in striking a golf ball and, as will be discussed
below in greater detail, may have various weighting member(s) 28
secured thereto in an effort to optimize the striking
characteristics of the golf club head 10. The combination of the
hosel 22, weighting member(s) 28 and the body shell 26 generally
make up the club head body 11 as discussed herein. While the
present metal wood type golf club head, and those which follow, are
disclosed as including a skirt, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that club heads constructed without a skirt will still
be considered to fall within the spirit of the present
invention.
[0025] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the golf club
head 10 is that of a metal wood type driver, that is, a metal wood
driver type golf club head having a striking face 12 with a loft of
approximately 7 degrees to approximately 13 degrees. The golf club
head 10, and in particular, the club head body 11, has a volume of
at least approximately 300 cc as measured along its outer surface
and, considering current weight standards applied to golf club
heads, has a mass of approximately 180 g to approximately 250 g,
preferably approximately 180 g to approximately 220 g, and
preferably approximately 200 g.
[0026] Although a driver type golf club head is disclosed herein in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the concepts underlying the present invention may be applied to a
variety of golf club head types, for example, fairway woods,
hybrids, irons, etc., without departing from the spirit of the
present invention. As discussed below in detail, when these various
golf club head types are employed in the spirit of the present
invention, the volume and weighting of these golf club heads are
varied to suit their differing constructions and the manner in
which the weight distribution is manipulated is similar.
[0027] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, at least a portion of the body shell 26 is composed of a
relatively flexible, transparent sheet made from minute carbon
nanotubes. The carbon nanotube sheet is secured to the remainder of
the body shell 26 through the use of adhesive, heat, brazing,
welding and/or soldering, or any other known coupling
techniques.
[0028] The nanotubes are tiny carbon tubes, too small to see with
the naked eye, and are woven into an aerogel sheet of a
predetermined size; in fact, trillions of tubes are woven into
aerogel sheets about two inches wide and three feet long, which
then may be used in the manufacture of golf club heads in
accordance with the present invention. In accordance with a
preferred embodiment, multiple aerogel sheets are layered to
produce the densified, highly oriented carbon nanotube sheet
material exhibiting desirable characteristics for use in the
manufacture of golf club heads. This carbon nanotube sheet material
preferably has a thickness of 50 nm and a density of 0.5
g/cm.sup.3. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the carbon
nanotube sheet material offers a density of less than approximately
2.5 g/cm.sup.3, preferably less than approximately 2.0 g/cm.sup.3,
and a tensile strength of at least approximately 465
MPa/(g/cm.sup.3). Specifics regarding the manufacture and
composition of the transparent carbon nanotube sheet material are
disclosed by Mei et al. in Science Magazine. Mei Zhang, Shaoli
Fang, Anvar A. Zakhidov, Sergey B. Lee, Ali E. Aliev, Christopher
D. Williams, Ken R. Atkinson, and Ray H. Baughman, "Strong,
Transparent, Multifunctional, Carbon Nanotube Sheets", Science 19
Aug. 2005; 309:1215-1219, which is incorporated herein by
reference. Additional information concerning carbon nanotube
fabrication is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication
Nos. 2002/0113335 to Lobovsky et al., entitled "Spinning,
Processing, and Applications of Carbon Nanotube Filaments, Ribbons
and Yarns", 2003/0165648 to Lobovsky et al., entitled "Composite
Material Comprising Oriented Carbon Nanotubes in a Carbon Matrix
and Process for Preparing Same", 2004/0096389 to Lobovsky et al.,
entitled "Spinning, Processing, and Applications of Carbon Nanotube
Filaments, Ribbons and Yarns", and 2005/0074569 to Lobovsky et al.,
entitled "Composite Material Comprising Oriented Carbon Nanotubes
in a Carbon Matrix and Process for Preparing Same", which are also
incorporated herein by reference.
[0029] The carbon nanotube sheet material described above is a
strong and lightweight material. With this in mind, use of the
carbon nanotube sheet material offers a great reduction in the
weight of the golf club head without sacrificing strength. Although
carbon nanotube sheet material is disclosed for use in accordance
with various embodiments disclosed herein, those skilled in the art
will appreciate other materials offering similar weight and
strength characteristics may be employed without departing from the
spirit of the present invention.
[0030] Implementation of the carbon nanotube sheet material reduces
the mass of the body shell 26 to approximately no more than 150 g.
Since the body shell 26 has a mass of no more than 150 g, weight
member(s) 28 are attached to the body shell 26 in a manner bringing
the golf club head 10 up to a mass commensurate with that of a
conventional metal wood driver type golf club head. As such, at
least approximately 30 g to 100 g of weight member(s) 28 are
available for selective positioning within (or to the outer surface
of) the club head body 11 in a manner optimizing the golf club head
10 for specific golf swings.
[0031] As those skilled in the art will certainly appreciate, the
extra weight member(s) 28 may be positioned at a variety of
locations depending upon the swing characteristics of the golfer.
For example, the majority of the weight member(s) 28 could be
placed on the center of the soleplate 14 to pull the center of
gravity as low as possible or they could be positioned around the
outer skirt of the golf club head to maximize the moment of
inertia. One could also position the weight member(s) on the
soleplate, but position it all the way back to increase launch
angle while keeping the backspin relatively low (High Launch/Low
Spin) or position it all the way forward to control launch angle,
lower spin and also lower the amount of gear effect spin caused by
off-center hits.
[0032] In addition, to reducing the overall weight of the club
head, the flexibility of the carbon nanotube sheet material further
enhances functionality of the club head. For example, and in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the crown 16 of the body shell 26 of the club head 10 is composed
of the carbon nanotube sheet material described above, while the
remainder of the body shell 26 of the golf club head 10 is composed
of a metal, for example, a titanium alloy (although those skilled
in the art will appreciate that a variety of materials may be used
without departing from the spirit of the invention). The crown 16,
composed of the carbon nanotube sheet material, is drawn taughtly
across the opening defined by the remainder of the club head body
11. As such, the carbon nanotube sheet material substantially
resembles a conventional club head crown when viewed from above,
but offers a level of weight, flexibility and strength previously
unknown within the golf industry. By manufacturing the crown 16 of
the club head 10 from a high strength, low weight flexible
material, and in addition to the reduction in weight discussed
above in detail, the flexible carbon nanotube sheet material will
function to dampen vibration when the club head 10 strikes a golf
ball and will allow an altering of the hitting characteristics of
the club head.
[0033] Similarly, the striking face, soleplate, toe, heel and/or
hosel, or combinations thereof, may be formed from the carbon
nanotube sheet material. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 4
and 5, it is contemplated, the soleplate 114 might be manufactured
from the carbon nanotube sheet material in an effort to provide for
enhanced club head strength, while the striking face 112, crown
116, toe 118, heel 120 and skirt 121 of the body shell 126 are
composed of traditional golf club head materials. The provision of
a lightweight, high strength flexible soleplate 114 changes the
hitting characteristics of the striking face 112, absorbs vibration
during a strike of a golf ball and flexes when it is swept against
the grass or other surface as so often occurs when striking a golf
ball. All of these factors work together to provide a golf club
head 110 improving the overall performance of the golf club.
[0034] By constructing portions of the club head from a transparent
material the interior of the club head is exposed. Since the
interior of the club head body is exposed, one may view the
internal structure thereof. As such, it is contemplated the golf
club head may be provided with an internal adjustment structure
which a user can view as he or she adjusts working components of
the golf club head. For example, the implementation of a
transparent carbon nanotube sheet material body shell allows for
the possibility of a weight adjustment system that requires
internal viewing for verification of proper weight positioning or
support structure adjustment which similarly requires internal
viewing for verification of the proper weight position.
[0035] Similarly, the golf club head might be provided with an
internal indicator providing golfers with an impression indicative
of where on the striking face the prior ball was struck. Such an
internal indicator is secured along the rear surface of the
striking face and one may look through the transparent crown to
view the impression provided by the indicator.
[0036] While the preferred embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit
the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover
all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *