U.S. patent application number 12/405075 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for golf club head with elevated face.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY. Invention is credited to MATTHEW T. CACKETT, ALAN HOCKNELL.
Application Number | 20100234126 12/405075 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42731160 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100234126 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CACKETT; MATTHEW T. ; et
al. |
September 16, 2010 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH ELEVATED FACE
Abstract
A driver type golf club head (20) preferably having a body (21)
defined by a crown (22), a face (23) and a sole (24). The face (23)
has an elevated height, h1, as measured from a lower edge (23b) of
the face (23) to the ground. The height, h1, is preferably at least
0.3 inch from the ground.
Inventors: |
CACKETT; MATTHEW T.; (SAN
DIEGO, CA) ; HOCKNELL; ALAN; (CARLSBAD, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CALLAWAY GOLF C0MPANY
2180 RUTHERFORD ROAD
CARLSBAD
CA
92008-7328
US
|
Assignee: |
CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
CARLSBAD
CA
|
Family ID: |
42731160 |
Appl. No.: |
12/405075 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/328 ;
473/345; 473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 53/0412 20200801; A63B 53/0408 20200801; A63B 53/0466
20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 53/0458 20200801; A63B 60/00
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/328 ;
473/349; 473/345 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A driver type golf club head comprising: a body having a crown,
a sole, and a face; wherein the face has a first height, h1,
measured from the ground to a lower edge of the face, a second
height, h2, measured from the ground to a center of the face, and a
third height, h3, measured from the ground to an upper edge of the
face; and wherein h1 is at least 0.3 inch above the ground when at
address.
2. The driver type golf club head in claim 1 wherein a volume of
the body ranges from 400 cc to 470 cc.
3. The driver type golf club head in claim 1 wherein the golf club
head has a moment of inertia, Izz, about a center of gravity of the
golf club head greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared and a
moment of inertia, Iyy, above the center of gravity greater than
3500 grams-centimeters squared.
4. The driver type golf club head in claim 1 wherein a height of a
center of gravity of the golf club head is at least 0.060 inch
relative to a face center normal line.
5. The driver type golf club head in claim 1 wherein a ratio of h2
divided by h3 is at least 0.57.
6. The driver type golf club head in claim 1 wherein a length from
the lower edge of the face to an aft end of the golf club head
ranges from 4 inches to 5 inches.
7. The driver type golf club head in claim 1 wherein address for a
golf club utilizing the golf club head is at a lie angle of sixty
degrees and a face angle of zero degree.
8. A driver type golf club head comprising: a crown, a sole and a
face having an upper edge and a lower edge; a length from the lower
edge of the face to an aft end of the golf club head ranges from 4
inches to 5 inches wherein the face at address has a first height,
h1, measured from the ground to the bottom of the face, a second
height, h2, measured from the ground to the center of the face and
a third height, h3, measured from the ground to the top of the
face; wherein h1 is at least 0.3 inch above the ground at address;
and wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 400 cubic
centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters, a moment of inertia, Izz,
about a center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 5000
grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia, Iyy, above the
center of gravity of the club head greater than 3500
grams-centimeters squared.
9. The driver type golf club head in claim 8 wherein the ratio of
h2/h3 is at least 0.57.
10. The driver type golf club head in claim 8 wherein a height of
the center of gravity of the golf club head is at least 0.060 inch
relative to a face center normal line.
11. The driver type golf club head in claim 8 wherein address for a
golf club utilizing the golf club head is at a lie angle of sixty
degrees and a face angle of zero degree.
12. A golf club head comprising: a body having a face, a crown and
a sole, the body composed of a titanium alloy material; wherein the
golf club head has a volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to
470 cubic centimeters; wherein the face, at address, has a first
height, h1, measured from the ground to a lower edge of the face, a
second height, h2, measured from the ground to the center of the
face and a third height, h3, measured from the ground to an upper
edge of the face; wherein h1 is at least 0.3 inch above the ground;
and wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the
Izz axis through a center of gravity of the golf club head which is
greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of
inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the
golf club head which is greater than 3500 grams-centimeters
squared.
13. The driver type golf club head in claim 12 wherein a ratio of
h2/h3 is at least 0.57.
14. The driver type golf club head in claim 12 wherein a height of
a center of gravity of the golf club head is at least 0.060 inch
relative to a face center normal line.
15. The driver type golf club head in claim 12 wherein address for
a golf club utilizing the golf club head is at a lie angle of sixty
degrees and a face angle of zero degree.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a golf club head. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head
having an elevated face.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Existing driver heads are generally designed such that when
the club is soled on the ground, the bottom of the striking face is
near the ground. As a result, there are limits to how low the cg of
the head can be placed relative to the striking face. As driver
sizes increase towards USGA limit dimensions
(5''.times.5''.times.2.8''), especially in depth, these shapes have
a common deficiency in that the cg tends to be high, relative to
the face center normal. As a result these drivers, many of which
have a depth approaching 5'', appreciatively have large Izz and Iyy
moment of inertia values, but also center of gravity, ("CG")
positions that are deep and high, which is unfavorable. The high CG
position results in shots that have excess backspin which causes a
less preferable ball flight and reduced distance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The current invention allows for the forgiveness advantages
typical of a large, deep driver, while having the added advantages
of reduced backspin and improved trajectory and distance. It is
hypothesized that the distribution of ball strikes on the face will
migrate to follow the center of the face. This is in part due to
visual perception that the preferred hit location is at the center
of the face. Thus, as the face and center are raised further off
the ground, so too will the hit distribution.
[0008] The current invention is a driver type golf club head
comprising a crown, a sole, a front wall having a perimeter, and a
face. There is a heel wall extending 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches
rearward from the perimeter of the front wall. Additionally, there
is a rear wall substantially perpendicular to the heel wall, and a
toe wall substantially perpendicular to the rear wall, the toe wall
extending from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches from a rear edge of the toe
wall.
[0009] The face has a first height, h1, measured from the ground to
the bottom of the face, a second height, h2, measured from the
ground to the center of the face and a third height, h3, measured
from the ground to the top of the face, when a golf club is at
address.
[0010] The first height, h1 is at least 0.3 inch above the ground
when the golf club head is at address. The golf club head has a
volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters,
a moment of inertia, Izz, about the center of gravity of the golf
club head greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment
of inertia, Iyy, above the center of gravity of the club head
greater than 3500 grams-centimeters squared.
[0011] The ratio of h2/h3 is at least, if not greater than, 0.57
and the height of the center of gravity is at least, if not greater
than, 0.060 inch relative to the face center normal. The
measurement of h1 is preferably more than 0.3 inch when a golf club
is at address at a lie angle of sixty degrees and a face angle of
zero degree.
[0012] One aspect of the present invention is a driver type golf
club head. The golf club head includes a body with an elevated
face. The body has a crown portion, a front wall having a perimeter
and a sole portion. The body also has a heel wall, a toe wall and a
rear wall. The heel wall extends 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches rearward
from the perimeter of the front wall and the rear wall is
substantially perpendicular to the heel wall. The toe wall is
substantially perpendicular to the rear wall, and the toe wall
extends from 4.0 inches to 5.0 inches from the rear edge of the toe
wall. The face on the front wall has a first height, h1, measured
from the ground to the bottom of the face, a second height, h2,
measured from the ground to the center of the face and a third
height, h3, measured from the ground to the top of the face. When
then the golf club head is at address with a lie angle of 60
degrees and a face angle 0 degrees, h1 is at least 0.3 inch above
the ground. Preferably, the ratio of h2/h3 is at least, if not
greater than, 0.57. The height of the center of gravity is at
least, if not greater than, 0.060 inch relative to the face center
normal. The golf club head has a volume ranging from 400 cubic
centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters, a moment of inertia, Izz,
about the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 5000
grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia, Iyy, above the
center of gravity of the club head greater than 3500
grams-centimeters square.
[0013] A second aspect of the present invention is a golf club
head. The golf club head has a body having a face wall, a crown
wall, a sole wall, a heel wall, a rear wall, and a toe wall. The
face wall has an approximately rectangular shape and the face wall
has a variable thickness. The golf club head has a volume ranging
from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters, a moment of
inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the
golf club head which is greater than 5000 grams-centimeters
squared, and a moment of inertia, Iyy, above the center of gravity
of the club head greater than 3500 grams-centimeters squared. The
face wall has a first height, h1, measured from the ground to the
bottom of the face, a second height, h2, measured from the ground
to the center of the face and a third height, h3, measured from the
ground to the top of the face, when then the golf club head is at
address. When the golf club is at address at a lie angle of
preferably sixty degrees and a face angle of zero degree, h1 is at
least 0.3 inch above the ground. The height of the center of
gravity is at least, if not greater than, 0.060 inch relative to
the face center normal. The ratio of h2/h3 is at least, if not
greater than, 0.57.
[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head.
The golf club head has a face component composed of a metal
material. The face component has a striking plate portion and a
return portion. Coupled to the return potion of the face component
is a substantially square aft-body. The length of the face
component coupled to the aft-body ranges from 4 inches to 5 inches.
The striking plate portion has a first height, h1, measured from
the ground to the bottom of the face, a second height, h2, measured
from the ground to the center of the face and a third height, h3,
measured from the ground to the top of the face, when a golf club
is at address. When the golf club is at address at a lie angle of
sixty degrees and a face angle of zero degree, h1 is at least 0.3
inch above the ground. The ratio of h2/h3 is at least, if not
greater than, 0.57. The golf club head has a volume ranging from
400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters, a moment of
inertia, Izz, about the center of gravity of the golf club head
greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared, a moment of inertia,
Iyy, above the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than
3500 grams-centimeters squared. The height of the center of gravity
is at least, if not greater than, 0.060 inch relative to the face
center normal.
[0015] 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 THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a golf club head.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a golf club head.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a golf club head.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a golf club head.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a toe side view of a golf club head.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a heel side view of a golf club head.
[0022] FIG. 6A is a heel side view of a golf club head.
[0023] FIG. 6B is a heel side view of a golf club head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1-6, a golf club of the present invention
is generally designated 20. The golf club head 20 preferably
includes a body 21defined by a crown 22, a face 23, a sole 24, a
heel end 25, a toe end 26 and an aft end 27. A leading edge 30 of
the sole 24 is the forwardmost lowest point of the sole 24 at
address. A lowest edge 23b of the face 23 is adjacent to a
forwardmost edge of the sole 24.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 6A, the face 23 has a first height, h1,
measured from the ground to a lowest edge 23b of the face 23 when a
golf club utilizing the golf club head 20 is at address. The face
23 also preferably has a second height, h2, measured from the
ground to a face center "FC" of the face 23 when then the golf club
head is at address. The face 23 also has a third height, h3,
measured from the ground to an upper edge 23a of the face 23, when
then the golf club head is at address.
[0026] The first height, h1 is preferably at least 0.3 inch above
the ground when a golf club utilizing the golf club head 20 is at
address, and more preferably 0.31 inch to 0.50 inch above the
ground when a golf club utilizing the golf club head 20 is at
address.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the golf club head 20 has a
volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters,
a moment of inertia, Izz, about the center of gravity of the golf
club head greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment
of inertia, Iyy, above the center of gravity of the club head
greater than 3500 grams-centimeters squared.
[0028] Additionally in a preferred embodiment, the ratio of h2/h3
is at least, is not greater than, 0.57. As shown in FIG. 6B, the
height of a center of gravity of the golf club head 20, "CG", is at
least, if not greater than 0.060 inch relative to a face center
normal line 31. Also in the preferred embodiment, the measurement
of h1 is preferably more than 0.3 inch when the golf club head is
addressed at a lie angle of sixty degrees and the face angle is
zero degree.
[0029] The golf club head 20 is preferably composed of a single
piece of metal, and is preferably composed of a cast metal
material. More preferably, the cast metal material is a stainless
steel material or a titanium material such as pure titanium and
titanium alloys such as 6-4 titanium alloy, SP-700 titanium alloy
(available from Nippon Steel of Tokyo, Japan), DAT 55G titanium
alloy available from Diado Steel of Tokyo, Japan, Ti 10-2-3 Beta-C
titanium alloy available from RTI International Metals of Ohio, and
the like. Alternatively, the golf club head 20 is manufactured
through forging, welding, forming, machining, powdered metal
forming, metal-injection-molding, electrochemical milling, and the
like.
[0030] The face 23 preferably has variable thickness. Various
variable face thickness patterns are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,471,603, for a Contoured Golf Club Face, U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,234
for a Golf Club Striking Plate Having Elliptical Regions Of
Thickness, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,666 for a Golf Club Striking
Plate With Variable Thickness, which are all owned by Callaway Golf
Company and which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0031] The golf club head 20 preferably has a high coefficient of
restitution thereby enabling for greater distance of a golf ball
hit with the golf club head. The coefficient of restitution (also
referred to herein as "COR") is determined by the following
equation:
e = v 2 - v U 1 - U 2 ##EQU00001##
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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 golf club head 20
preferably has a coefficient of restitution ranging from 0.81 to
0.94, as measured under conventional test conditions.
[0034] The mass of the golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 165
grams to 250 grams, more preferably ranges from 175 grams to 230
grams, and most preferably from 190 grams to 205 grams.
[0035] The center of gravity and the moment of inertia of the golf
club head 20 is preferably measured using a test frame (X.sup.T,
Y.sup.T, Z.sup.T), and then transformed to a head frame (X.sup.H,
Y.sup.H, Z.sup.H). The center of gravity of a golf club head may be
obtained using a center of gravity table having two weight scales
thereon, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,452, entitled High
Moment Of Inertia Composite Golf Club, and hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
[0036] In general, the moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z axis for
the golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 2800 g-cm.sup.2 to
5000 g-cm.sup.2, preferably from 3000 g-cm.sup.2 to 4500
g-cm.sup.2, and most preferably from 3750 g-cm.sup.2 to 4250
g-cm.sup.2. The moment of inertia, Iyy, about the Y axis for the
golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 1500 g-cm.sup.2 to 4000
g-cm.sup.2, preferably from 2000 g-cm.sup.2 to 3500 g-cm.sup.2, and
most preferably from 2400 g-cm.sup.2 to 2900 g-cm.sup.2. The moment
of inertia, Ixx, about the X axis for the golf club head 20
preferably ranges from 1500 g-cm.sup.2 to 4000 g-cm.sup.2,
preferably from 2000 g-cm to 3500 g-cm.sup.2, and most preferably
from 2500 g-cm.sup.2 to 3000 g-cm.sup.2.
[0037] In general, the golf club head 20 preferably has products of
inertia such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,832, and is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety. Preferably, each of the
products of inertia, Ixy, Ixz and Iyz, of the golf club head 20 has
an absolute value less than 100 grams-centimeter squared.
Alternatively, the golf club head 20 has a at least one or two
products of inertia, Ixy, Ixz and Iyz, with an absolute value less
than 100 grams-centimeter squared.
[0038] A width of the golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 4.0
inches to 5.5 inches, and most preferably from 4.75 inches to 5.0
inches. The height of the golf club head preferably ranges from 2.0
inches to 3.0 inches, and most preferably ranges from 2.40 inches
to 2.65 inches. The length of the golf club head preferably ranges
from 3.5 inches to 5.5 inches, and most preferably from 4.0 inches
to 5.0 inches.
[0039] 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.
* * * * *