U.S. patent application number 13/759329 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-13 for iron-type golf club head with vibration damping.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is Callaway Golf Company. Invention is credited to Augustin W. Rollinson.
Application Number | 20130150178 13/759329 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47604533 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130150178 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rollinson; Augustin W. |
June 13, 2013 |
IRON-TYPE GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH VIBRATION DAMPING
Abstract
The present invention relates to an iron-type golf club head
which comprises a body m ember with a central cavity therein, a
damping member and a face member disposed within the central
cavity. Further, the rear surface of the body member includes an
opening, preferably circular in shape. The body member is composed
of a first metal material and the face is composed of a second
metal material. The damping member is preferably composed of a EPDM
material.
Inventors: |
Rollinson; Augustin W.;
(Carlsbad, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Callaway Golf Company; |
Carlsbad |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Carlsbad
CA
|
Family ID: |
47604533 |
Appl. No.: |
13/759329 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12632675 |
Dec 7, 2009 |
8366566 |
|
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13759329 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/332 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0429 20200801;
A63B 53/0433 20200801; A63B 53/0475 20130101; A63B 60/54 20151001;
A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 53/042 20200801;
A63B 53/0425 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/332 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. An iron-type golf club head comprising: a body member composed
of an iron alloy material, the body member having a rear surface, a
sole surface, a crown surface, and a front surface, wherein the
front surface has a central cavity therein and the rear surface has
an opening therein; a damping member disposed in the central cavity
of the front surface, the damping member having a mass that ranges
from 5 grams to 30 grams; and a face member mounted in the central
cavity of the front surface and disposed over the damping member,
the face member composed of a second metal material, wherein the
damping member is located directly behind the front surface of the
face member and around a perimeter of the face member.
2. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the
iron alloy material has a density of between 8 g/cm.sup.3 and 12 g
cm.sup.3.
3. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the
damping member material comprises an EPDM material.
4. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the
damping member material comprises a viscoelastic material.
5. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the
second metal material is a titanium alloy.
6. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the
opening in the rear surface is circular shaped.
7. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the
iron alloy material is carbon steel.
8. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the
face member comprises a plurality scorelines.
9. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a
portion of the damping member is exposed due to the opening.
10. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the
golf club head has an Izz of 2100-2700 g-cm.sup.2.
11. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the
golf club head has an Iyy of 400-800 g-cm.sup.2.
12. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the
golf club head has an Ixx of 2200-2800 g-cm.sup.2.
13. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the
second metal material is a zirconium alloy.
14. An iron-type golf club head, comprising: a body member composed
of an iron alloy material, the body having a rear surface, a sole
surface, a crown surface, and a front surface, wherein the front
surface has a central cavity therein, the central cavity having a
perimeter that generally parallels a perimeter of the body member,
the body member having a mass that ranges from 100 grams to 240
grams; a damping member composed of a viscoelastic material, the
damping member disposed in the central cavity; and a face member
composed of a titanium alloy material mounted in the central cavity
of the body member and disposed over the damping member, wherein
the damping member is located directly behind the front surface of
the face member and around a perimeter of the face member.
15. The iron-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the iron
alloy material has a density of between 8 g/cm.sup.3 and 12
g/cm.sup.3.
16. The iron-type golf club head of claim 13, wherein the golf club
head has an Izz of 2100-2700 g-cm.sup.2, an Iyy of 400-800
g-cm.sup.2, and an Ixx of 2200-2800 g-cm.sup.2.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/632,675, filed
on Dec. 7, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,366,566, issued on Feb. 5,
2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety herein.
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 an iron-type golf club.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an iron-type
golf club with improved vibration damping.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] The prior art discloses various methods for vibration
damping. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,822 issued to
Roach for Iron Golf Club with Improved Mass Properties and
Vibration Damping. This patent discloses a golf club having a
multiple material construction, wherein the center of gravity is
located downward and rearward of the golf club head, while
providing vibration damping.
[0007] Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,597,633 to Shimazaki, et
at. for Golf Club Head, which discloses a golf club head with a
spacer member formed of a viscoelastic body with vibration damping
performance. Yet another example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,476,162 issued
to Stites, et al. for Golf Club Head Having a Bridge Member and
Damping Element. This patent discloses a golf club head comprising
a damping element which reduces the vibration and sound of the golf
club head upon impact with a golf ball.
[0008] Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,585,232 issued to Krumme
for Golf Club Head, which discloses the use of a polyurethane
elastomer to provide vibration damping. A further example of
vibration damping is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,503 to Roach
et al. for Multi-Piece Golf Club Head with Improved Inertia, This
patent discloses the use of larger amount of viscoelastic material
to achieve a greater variety of club head characteristics,
including vibration damping.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides an iron-type golf club head
which has a low center of gravity, a high moment of inertia,
reduced vibrations, and a solid feel and appearance. The golf club
head includes a plurality of members. A body member includes a rear
surface, a sole surface, a crown surface, and a front surface. The
front surface has a central cavity disposed within, and the rear
surface has an opening.
[0010] A damping member is disposed within the cavity of the front
surface. The damping member has a mass that ranges from 5 grams to
30 grams and is preferably composed of an EPDM material. A face
member is mounted in the central cavity of the front surface and
the face member is preferably composed of a titanium alloy.
[0011] 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
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.
[0013] FIG, 2 is a rear plan view of the iron club head of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the iron club head of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the iron club head of FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a toe side view of the iron club head of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a heel side view of the iron club head of FIG.
1,
[0018] FIG. 7 is bottom plan view of the rear surface of the iron
club head of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the body, damping, and face
member of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1-10, an iron-type golf club head in
accordance with the present invention is generally designated 20,
The club head 20 is an iron-type golf club head and includes a body
22 having a heel end 24 and a toe end 26. The body 22 has a rear
surface, a sole surface 30 and crown surface 32. Further, the body
has a front surface 34 wherein the front surface 34 has a central
cavity therein 36. The body has a hosel 38 for receiving a shaft,
not shown. In a preferred embodiment the body member 22 of the golf
club head 20 is composed of an iron alloy, however, those of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the golf club head
20 may also be composed of other materials, such as carbon steel,
titanium, titanium alloy, zirconium or zirconium alloy.
[0021] Disposed within the cavity 36 of the front surface 34 is a
damping member 40, The damping member 40 is preferably composed of
an EPDM material. Alternatively, the damping member 40 may be
composed of a viseoelastic material. The damping member 40 is
located directly behind the ball-striking surface 44, as well as
around the perimeter of the face member 42, where significant
vibration could occur. A face member 42 is mounted to the central
cavity 36 of the front surface 34 and is disposed over the damping
member 40. The face member 42 of the golf club head 20 is
preferably composed of a titanium alloy. The ball-striking surface
44 of the face member 42 has a plurality of scorelines 46 formed
therein. In a preferred embodiment the top of the hosel 30 is lower
than the toe end 26 of the front wall 34, thereby lowering the
center of gravity of the club head 20.
[0022] The golf club head 20 also has a crown surface 32, a sole
surface 30, a heel wall 54, a toe wall 56 and a rear surface 28.
The crown surface 32 extends rearward from the top end of the front
wall 34, in a direction opposite the ball-striking surface 44, to
the rear surface 28 of the body 22. The sole surface 30 extends
rearward from the bottom end of the front wall 34 to the rear
surface 28. The heel wall 54 extends rearward from the heel end 24
of the front wall 34 to the rear surface 28, and the toe wall 56
extends rearward from the toe end 26 of the front wall 34 to the
rear surface 28. The rear surface 28, the crown surface 32, the
sole surface 30, the heel wall 54 and the toe wall 56 define a
central cavity 36 in the front surface 34 of the club head 20. The
crown surface 32, the sole surface 30, the heel wall 54 and the toe
wall 56 also provide the club head 20 with perimeter weighting to
make the club head more forgiving and provide better performance
for the typical golfer.
[0023] As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the rear surface 28 includes
an opening 60, which is preferably circular in shape. A portion of
the damping member 40 is exposed due to the opening 60 in the rear
surface 28.
[0024] The axes of inertia are designated X, Y and Z. The X-axis
extends from rear of the golf club head 20 through the center of
gravity, CG, and to the front wall. The Y-axis extends from the
heel end 24 of the golf club head 20 through the center of gravity,
CG, and to the toe end 26 of the golf club head 20. The Z-axis
extends from the bottom wall through the center of gravity, CG, and
to the top wall.
[0025] As defined in Golf Club Design, Fitting Alteration &
Repair, 4.sup.th Edition, by Ralph Maltby, the center of gravity,
or center of mass, of the golf club head is a point inside of the
club head determined by the vertical intersection of two or more
points where the club head balances when suspended. A more thorough
explanation of this definition of the center of gravity is provided
in Golf Club Design, Fitting, Alteration & Repair.
[0026] The center of gravity and the moments of inertia of the golf
club head 20 are 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 the golf club head 20
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. If a shaft is present, the shaft is
removed and replaced with a hosel cube that has a multitude of
faces normal to the axes of the golf club head. Given the weight of
the golf club head, the scales allow one to determine the weight
distribution of the golf club head when the golf club head is
placed on both scales simultaneously and weighed along a particular
direction, the X, Y or Z direction.
[0027] In general, the moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z-axis for
the golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 2100 g-cm.sup.2 to
2700 g-cm.sup.2. The moment of inertia, Iyy, about the Y-axis for
the golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 400 g-cm.sup.2 to 800
g-cm.sup.2. The moment of inertia, Ixx, about the X-axis for the
golf club head 20 preferably ranges from 2200 g-cm.sup.2 to 2800
g-cm.sup.2.
[0028] 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.
* * * * *