U.S. patent application number 12/694955 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-28 for golf club head with sound tuning.
Invention is credited to Joshua G. Breier, Oswaldo Gonzalez, Douglas E. Roberts.
Application Number | 20110183776 12/694955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44022956 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110183776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Breier; Joshua G. ; et
al. |
July 28, 2011 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH SOUND TUNING
Abstract
A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes
a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and a sound tuning
feature inside the hollow body. The dimensions and location of the
tuning feature are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the
golf club head.
Inventors: |
Breier; Joshua G.; (Vista,
CA) ; Gonzalez; Oswaldo; (San Jacinto, CA) ;
Roberts; Douglas E.; (Carlsbad, CA) |
Family ID: |
44022956 |
Appl. No.: |
12/694955 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/346 ;
473/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 53/045 20200801; A63B 53/0408 20200801; A63B 53/0466 20130101;
A63B 53/0437 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/346 ;
473/345 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf club head, comprising: a body including a crown portion
and a sole portion and defining an interior cavity, wherein the
crown portion includes a first crown thickness area having a first
crown thickness, a second crown thickness area having a second
crown thickness that is greater than the first crown thickness, and
a crown transition defining an interface between the first crown
thickness area and the second crown thickness area, wherein the
crown transition is located on the crown portion at a location that
exhibits at least 75% of a maximum displacement of a vibration mode
having a frequency less than about 3600 Hz., wherein the sole
portion includes a first sole thickness area having a first sole
thickness, a second sole thickness area having a second sole
thickness that is greater than the first sole thickness, and a sole
transition defining an interface between the first sole thickness
area and the second sole thickness area, and wherein the sole
transition is located on the sole portion at a location that
exhibits at least 75% of a maximum displacement of a vibration mode
having a frequency less than about 4100 Hz.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a truss
system, wherein the truss system comprises a first rib that
intersects the first sole thickness area and the second sole
thickness area.
3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the truss system
comprises a second rib that extends from the first rib.
4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the second rib intersects
the first sole thickness area and the second sole thickness
area.
5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown transition has
a length less than about 2.00 mm.
6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown transition is
radiused such that the radius is tangent to the first crown
thickness area.
7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole transition has a
length less than about 2.00 mm.
8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole transition is
radiused such that the radius is tangent to the first sole
thickness area.
9. A golf club head, comprising: a body including a crown portion
and a sole portion and defining an interior cavity; and a truss
system that comprises a first rib disposed on the sole portion,
wherein the sole portion includes a first sole thickness area
having a first sole thickness, a second sole thickness area having
a second sole thickness that is greater than the first sole
thickness, and a sole transition defining an interface between the
first sole thickness area and the second sole thickness area,
wherein the sole transition is located on the sole portion at a
location that exhibits at least 75% of a maximum displacement of a
vibration mode having a frequency less than about 4100 Hz, and
wherein the first rib intersects the first sole thickness area and
the second sole thickness area.
10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the truss system
comprises a second rib that extends from the first rib.
11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second rib
intersects the first sole thickness area and the second sole
thickness area.
12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the sole transition has
a length less than about 2.00 mm.
13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the sole transition is
radiused such that the radius is tangent to the first sole
thickness area.
14. A golf club head, comprising: a body including a crown portion
and a sole portion and defining an interior cavity, wherein the
crown portion includes a first crown thickness area having a first
crown thickness, a second crown thickness area having a second
crown thickness that is greater than the first crown thickness, and
a crown transition defining an interface between the first crown
thickness area and the second crown thickness area, wherein the
crown transition is located on the crown portion at a location that
is within about 15 mm of an area of maximum displacement of a
vibration mode having a frequency less than about 3600 Hz., wherein
the crown transition has a length less than about 2.00 mm, and
wherein the crown transition is radiused such that the radius is
tangent to the first crown thickness area.
15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the sole portion
includes a first sole thickness area having a first sole thickness,
a second sole thickness area having a second sole thickness that is
greater than the first sole thickness, and a sole transition
defining an interface between the first sole thickness area and the
second sole thickness area.
16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the sole transition
portion is located on the sole portion at a location that is within
about 15 mm of an area of maximum displacement of a vibration mode
having a frequency less than about 4100 Hz.
17. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the sole transition has
a length less than about 2.00 mm.
18. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the sole transition is
radiused such that the radius is tangent to the first sole
thickness area.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to golf club heads, and
more specifically to hollow golf club heads including sound tuning
features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As the size of hollow golf club heads has increased, weight
distribution has become a major design consideration. In
particular, in the quest to design a golf club head of a desired
volume while providing discretionary mass, it has become desirable
to decrease the wall thicknesses of the portions that do not
contribute directly to improved mass properties. Because of the
thin wall and the large volumes of the golf club head, large
portions of the head act as membranes and vibrate relative to each
other. In some instances, the vibration takes place at a relatively
low frequency, which results in unappealing sound and feel during
impact between the golf club head and a golf ball.
[0003] Previous attempts to tune the sound of the golf club heads
have generally included adding material to increase the rigidity of
a portion of the club head that exhibits a maximum vibrational
displacement caused by impact with a golf ball. For example, ribs
are often incorporated into the crown and/or sole of the golf club
head to increase the rigidity of those portions. Unfortunately,
oftentimes the addition of ribs in the sole and crown reduces the
discretionary mass of the club head and forces additional mass to
be placed in less ideal locations for manipulating the center of
gravity and the moment of inertia of the club head.
[0004] Sound tuning features have been incorporated into hollow
bodied golf clubs. One example is described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,852,038 to Yabu for a Golf Club Head and Method of Making the
Same. In that example, a hollow body golf club head includes
rib-like walls that form the inner surface of the sole and crown.
The sound emitted into the hollow cavity due to contact with a golf
ball is directed rearward and parted laterally by the ribs. Sound
bars are included in some embodiments that are located a small
distance behind the club face and extends between the crown and
sole. The sound bars are included to further part the sound
vibrations.
[0005] Another example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,641 to
Lin for a Golf Club Head that Makes a Sound when Striking the Ball.
In that example, the golf club head includes a sound plate that is
suspended in the hollow body of the club head that makes a sound
and echoes the sound during impact between the club head and a golf
ball. One edge of the sound plate is fixed to a wall of the hollow
club head and the remaining edges are unattached so that the sound
plate is able to vibrate relative to the remainder of the club
head.
[0006] It is desirable to provide a golf club that has sound tuning
features for altering the sound produced by the golf club head
during ball impact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention is directed to a golf club head with sound
tuning so that the vibration characteristics of the golf club head
may be altered to produce a desired sound.
[0008] In an embodiment, a golf club head includes a body including
a crown portion and a sole portion and defines an interior cavity.
The crown portion includes a first crown thickness area having a
first crown thickness, a second crown thickness area having a
second crown thickness that is greater than the first crown
thickness, and a crown transition. The crown transition defines an
interface between the first crown thickness area and the second
crown thickness area and is located on the crown portion at a
location that exhibits at least 75% of a maximum displacement of a
vibration mode having a frequency less than about 3600 Hz. The sole
portion includes a first sole thickness area having a first sole
thickness, a second sole thickness area having a second sole
thickness that is greater than the first sole thickness, and a sole
transition. The sole transition defines an interface between the
first sole thickness area and the second sole thickness area and is
located on the sole portion at a location that exhibits at least
75% of a maximum displacement of a vibration mode having a
frequency less than about 4100 Hz.
[0009] In another embodiment, a golf club head includes a body and
a truss system. the body includes a crown portion and a sole
portion and defines an interior cavity. The truss system comprises
a first rib disposed on the sole portion. The sole portion includes
a first sole thickness area having a first sole thickness, a second
sole thickness area having a second sole thickness that is greater
than the first sole thickness, and a sole transition. The sole
transition defines an interface between the first sole thickness
area and the second sole thickness area and is located on the sole
portion at a location that exhibits at least 75% of a maximum
displacement of a vibration mode having a frequency less than about
4100 Hz. The first rib intersects the first sole thickness area and
the second sole thickness area.
[0010] In a further embodiment, a golf club head includes a body
including a crown portion and a sole portion and defines an
interior cavity. The crown portion includes a first crown thickness
area having a first crown thickness, a second crown thickness area
having a second crown thickness that is greater than the first
crown thickness, and a crown transition. The crown transition
defines an interface between the first crown thickness area and the
second crown thickness area and is located on the crown portion at
a location that is within about 15 mm of an area of maximum
displacement of a vibration mode having a frequency less than about
3600 Hz. The crown transition has a length less than about 2.00 mm
and is radiused such that the radius is tangent to the first crown
thickness area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in
which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head including
sound tuning features according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom schematic view of a golf club head
without sound tuning features illustrating the topography of a
vibration mode;
[0014] FIG. 3 is another bottom schematic view of the golf club
head of FIG. 2 including sound tuning features illustrating the
altered topography of the vibration mode;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top schematic view of a golf club head without
sound tuning features illustrating the topography of a vibration
mode;
[0016] FIG. 5 is another top schematic view of a golf club head of
FIG. 4 including sound tuning features illustrating the altered
topography of the vibration mode;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a detail view of the crown portion of the golf
club head corresponding to Detail I of FIG. 6;
[0019] FIG. 8 is another detail view of the crown portion of the
golf club head corresponding to Detail II of FIG. 6; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is a detail view of the sole portion of the golf club
head corresponding to Detail III of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The present invention is directed to a golf club head
including sound tuning features. The sound tuning features are
included to tailor the sound produced by the golf club head to any
desired frequency, amplitude and/or duration.
[0022] Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise
expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values
and percentages such as those for amounts of materials, moments of
inertias, center of gravity locations, loft and draft angles, and
others in the following portion of the specification may be read as
if prefaced by the word "about" even though the term "about" may
not expressly appear with the value, amount, or range. Accordingly,
unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set
forth in the following specification and attached claims are
approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties
sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least,
and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of
equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter
should at least be construed in light of the number of reported
significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding
techniques.
[0023] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters
setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations,
the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are
reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however,
inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the
standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
Furthermore, when numerical ranges of varying scope are set forth
herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values
inclusive of the recited values may be used.
[0024] Every golf club produces a distinct sound and feel when it
is used to strike a golf ball. The sound and feel are produced by
the vibration behavior of the golf club head which is a result of
the design of the golf club head. Golf club head designs are
analyzed and samples are tested to characterize the vibration
characteristics of a particular design in an attempt to determine
whether the sound and feel produced by the golf club head will be
acceptable to the average golfer. In particular, the frequency
values and displacement shapes are determined for the various
vibration modes of the club head. It is generally understood that
the lower frequency modes, especially those at frequencies below
about 3500 Hz, have a tendency to detrimentally affect the sound
and feel of a particular golf club head.
[0025] A golf club head including unique sound modifying features
will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Golf club head 10
generally includes a crown portion 12, a heel portion 14, a toe
portion 16, a rear portion 18, a front portion 20, a hosel 22 and a
sole portion 24 that combine to form a generally hollow body having
an interior cavity. Front portion 20 includes a striking face 21
for impacting a golf ball. Crown portion 12 extends rearward from
front portion 20 and forms a top surface of club head 10. Heel
portion 14 and toe portion 16 form sidewalls of club head 10 and
extend generally downward from the edges of crown portion 12 and
rearward from side edges of front portion 20. Rear portion 18
extends between heel portion 14 and toe portion 16 to complete the
side wall of club head 10. Sole portion 24 extends between the
lower edges of front portion 20, heel portion 14, toe portion 16
and rear portion 18 and generally forms the bottom surface of club
head 10.
[0026] Golf club head 10 includes structural features that tune the
sound of the golf club head by manipulating the frequency and
displacement shape of the vibration modes. Generally, vibration
mode frequencies of less than about 3500 Hz are undesirable, so it
is desirable to include such structural features so that the first
vibration mode is at a frequency greater than about 3500 Hz. In
particular, golf club head 10 includes sound tuning features that
both manipulate the vibration modes of the club head while
advantageously manipulating the mass of the club head. For example,
and as will be discussed in greater detail below, features that add
and remove mass from discrete areas of the club head are employed
to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head. The mass is
manipulated at areas at or adjacent one or more hot spots in the
vibration mode. As used herein, hot spots are localized areas of
the structure that exhibit increased displacement at the frequency
of the vibration mode. For each vibration mode there is generally a
primary hot spot that exhibits maximum displacement over the
structure for that vibration mode. Some vibration modes also
exhibit secondary and/or tertiary hot spots that exhibit local
maximum displacement, but with a displacement magnitude that is
less than that of the primary hot spot.
[0027] A golf club having generally constant thickness crown and
sole portions was analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA) and
the lowest frequency vibration mode (i.e., first mode) was
determined to be as illustrated in FIG. 2. In that instance, the
modeled golf club head exhibited a first mode having a frequency of
about 2946 Hz. The location of maximum displacement of that
vibration mode, i.e., the primary hot spot, was determined to be on
the sole of the club head, generally at location A. A secondary hot
spot was determined to also be on the sole, toward toe portion 16,
generally at location B. Because the vibration mode included
maximum displacement on the sole and because it is generally
desired to lower the center of gravity of the golf club head, sound
tuning features that add mass were added to sole portion 24 of golf
club head 10.
[0028] In particular, a truss system 25 was added to sole portion
24. Truss system 25 includes a first rib 26 and a second rib 28.
First rib 26 extends generally across club head 10 in a heel to toe
direction. Second rib 28 is generally located adjacent toe portion
16 of club head 10 and extends from first rib 26 generally toward
the intersection of toe portion 16 and front portion 20.
[0029] First and second ribs 26, 28 were oriented so that they pass
through locations on sole portion 24 that are adjacent the primary
and secondary hot spots of the analytical vibration mode of FIG. 2.
In particular, first rib 26 extends through a location on sole
portion 24 that exhibits a displacement having a magnitude that is
at least 75% of the maximum displacement of the primary hot spot.
More preferably, first rib 26 extends through a location near the
primary hot spot that exhibits a displacement having a magnitude
that is at least 85% of the maximum displacement for that hot spot.
Second rib 28 similarly extends through a location of sole portion
24 that exhibits a high relative displacement for the locale. In
particular, second rib 28 extends through a location that exhibits
a displacement magnitude that is at least 75%, more preferably 85%,
of the maximum displacement of the secondary hot spot.
[0030] The addition of truss system 25 increased the frequency of
the first mode of the analytical model to about 3310 Hz, while only
incrementally changing the displacement profile of the vibration
mode, as shown in FIG. 3. Because, even with the addition of truss
system 25, the club head exhibited a first mode frequency still
below about 3500 Hz., the thickness of sole portion 24 was
increased universally by 0.05 mm. However, that change in thickness
increased the frequency of that vibration mode only
incrementally.
[0031] Rather than adding additional sound tuning features that
locally add mass, such as ribs, to further increase the frequency,
as is conventionally done, the thickness of an area of sole portion
24 was reduced and provided the unexpected result of significantly
increasing the frequency of the vibration mode. The reduced
thickness area 30, was sized and located so that an edge of area 30
was located adjacent the primary and secondary hot spots, as
illustrated in FIG. 3. In particular, area 30 has a thickness that
is approximately 0.05 mm thinner than the surrounding area of sole
portion 24. Preferably, the edge of area 30 extends through
locations adjacent the sole hot spots that exhibit at least 75%,
more preferably 85%, of the maximum displacement of the nearest hot
spot. It should be appreciated that a plurality of reduced
thickness areas may be incorporated that are oriented so that an
edge is located adjacent a single or multiple hot spots.
[0032] The addition of area 30 to sole portion 24 resulted in an
increase in the frequency of that mode to about 4013 Hz, resulting
in it no longer being the lowest frequency mode of the golf club
head. Instead, after the addition of the sound tuning features in
sole portion 24, the lowest frequency mode of the analytical was
determined to be on the crown, at location C, at a frequency of
about 3380 Hz, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in a model having a crown
portion with a generally constant thickness.
[0033] A reduced thickness area 32 was incorporated into crown
portion 12, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Area 32 was sized and located
so that an edge of area 32 was located adjacent the primary hot
spot of analytical vibration mode. Preferably, the edge of area 32
extends through a location adjacent the crown hot spot that
exhibits at least 75%, more preferably 85%, of the maximum
displacement of the hot spot. As a result of that change, the
frequency of the vibration mode was increased to about 3422 Hz and
incrementally altered the displacement shape of the vibration mode.
Finally, the crown thickness was increased in both area 32 and the
peripheral area 34 by about 0.10 mm. As a result, the frequency of
the vibration mode was increased to about 3500 Hz.
[0034] At least portions of the sound tuning features are
positioned adjacent hot spots of the analytical vibration modes so
that they have a significant impact on the local vibration
behavior. As described above, the sound tuning features are
preferably located based on vibrational displacement values of
analytical models of the club head lacking the features. It should
be appreciated, however, that alternatively, the sound tuning
features may be positioned so that they are located within a
distance of a location exhibiting maximum displacement regardless
of the relative magnitude of the displacement. For example, the
sound tuning features extend through a location that is at least
within 15 mm of the nearest hot spot, or more preferably within 10
mm. Additionally, the reduced thickness portions of crown portion
12 and sole portion 24 may have any shape.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, the sound tuning features of
club head 10 will be described in greater detail. The tuning
features include mass increasing features, such as truss system 25,
and mass reducing features, such as reduced thickness areas 30 and
32.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiments, truss system 25 includes
interconnected ribs 26, 28. First rib 26 generally extends across
club head 10 in a heel to toe direction and is located rearward and
below a center of gravity of the golf club head when the club head
is in an address position. First rib 26 has a length generally
between about 90 mm and about 120 mm, a thickness between about
0.125 mm and about 1.50 mm, and a maximum height in a sole to crown
direction of between about 0.25 mm and about 15 mm. Second rib 28
is located generally adjacent toe portion 16 and extends from first
rib 26 generally toe-ward and forward. Second rib 28 has a length
generally between about 30 mm and about 60 mm, a thickness between
about 0.125 mm and about 1.50 mm, and a maximum height in a sole to
crown direction of between about 0.25 mm and about 15 mm. It should
be appreciated that the truss system may include any number of ribs
or pads that are interconnected or discrete components and the
features may be constructed as integral cast or forged features or
constructed separately and coupled to the club head. It should
further be appreciated that the thicknesses of the features forming
the truss system are greater than the thick and reduced thickness
portions of the crown and sole portions.
[0037] The edges of area 30 and area 32 are configured to provide a
relatively drastic change in thickness over a short distance. That
configuration provides a stepped interface between the adjacent
regions of thickness that extends generally through the hot spots.
In particular, area 30 has a thickness that is reduced in
comparison to the adjacent area of sole portion 24. In general,
sole portion 24 has a thickness of about 0.60 mm to about 1.00 mm
and reduced thickness area 30 has a thickness that is about 85% to
about 95% of the thickness of the remainder of sole portion 34.
Preferably, area 32 has a thickness of about 0.50 mm to about 0.95
mm.
[0038] A transition area 31, shown in FIG. 9, provides an interface
between the thicker area of sole portion 24 and area 30. A length
Xs of transition area 31 is preferably less than about 2.00 mm, and
more preferably less than about 1.20 mm. Transition area 31 may
have any desired shape. For example, transition area 31 may have
any cross-sectional shape, such as curved or linear, i.e.,
transition area may be generally radiused, as shown, or generally
conical. Preferably, transition area 31 is radiused and the radius
Rs is about 2.00 mm to about 4.00 mm. Additionally, it is
preferable that radius Rs is configured so that it is tangent to
the reduced thickness area 30. It should be further appreciated
that the transition area may be stepped rather than including a
smooth transition between area 30 and the remainder of sole portion
24.
[0039] Similarly, area 32 has a thickness that is reduced in
comparison to the adjacent peripheral area 34. Generally,
peripheral area 34 has a thickness of about 0.60 mm to about 1.00
mm and reduced thickness area 32 has a thickness that is about 65%
to about 80% of the thickness of peripheral area 34, and more
preferably area 32 has a thickness of about 70% to about 75% of the
thickness of peripheral area 34. Preferably, area 32 has a
thickness of about 0.40 mm to about 0.80 mm.
[0040] A transition area 33 provides an interface between the
thicker peripheral area 34 and area 32. A length Xc of transition
area 33 is preferably less than about 2.00 mm, and more preferably
less than about 1.20 mm. Transition area 33 may have any desired
shape. For example, transition area 33 may have any cross-sectional
shape, such as curved or linear, i.e., transition area may be
generally radiused, as shown, or generally conical. Preferably,
transition area 33 is radiused and the radius Rc is about 2.00 mm
to about 4.00 mm. Additionally, it is preferable that radius Rc is
configured so that it is tangent to the reduced thickness area 32.
It should be further appreciated that the transition area may be
stepped rather than including a smooth transition between area 32
and peripheral portion 34.
[0041] While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of
the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives stated above,
it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments
may be devised by those skilled in the art. Elements from one
embodiment can be incorporated into other embodiments. Therefore,
it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to
cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *