GB2144042A

GB2144042A - Golf club head with insert

Info

Publication number: GB2144042A
Application number: GB08329640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald J C Sun
Original assignee: NORTHWESTERN GOLF CO
Current assignee: NORTHWESTERN GOLF CO
Priority date: 1983-06-21
Filing date: 1983-11-07
Publication date: 1985-02-27
Also published as: GB8329640D0

Abstract

A metal wood head has a stainless steel tubular insert 16 which extends through the neck or hosel 14 of the head and into a cast portion 17 of the body of the head. A portion of the length of the 16 is filled with the cast metal 18 during the casting process so that the tubular insert is prevented from loosening and becomes a solid integral part of the head, particularly in the area of the neck or hosel which is most susceptible to breakage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf club head with insert This invention relates to an improvement in golf clubs and, in particular, to metal woods and concerns a method and means for reinforcing the neck or hosel of a metal wood head to strengthen the connection of the shaft to the head to eliminate breakage.

Metal woods are cast into the general form and shape of a wood type head, and generally are of a hollow construction or have wood or plastic inserts. Those of a hollow construction normally are filled with a foamed plastic material or the like in an effort to duplicate the sound of a wood head upon hitting a golf ball. The majority of metal woods presently on the market are of stainless steel. however, there is a trend to use a lighter weight metal or alloy such as aluminium, magnesium. byzanium and the like. These lighter weight metals provide more flexibility in distributing the weight in the club head.

While there are these advantages in using the lighter weight metals and alloys. they do not have the strength of steel In attaching the golf club shaft to the head. the head is formed with a hollow neck or hosel into which the end of the shaft is extended to secure it to the head. A head cast of one of the lighter weight metals is subject to breakage at the neck or hosel area, particularly if the metal wood head is one of the so-called offset head types.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in metal wood heads for golf clubs.

According to the invention there is provided a metal wood head cast of metal and having a neck or hosel for receiving therein the end of a golf club shaft for affixing the head to the shaft, the head comprising a tubular insert within and extending through the neck or hosel and into a cast portion of the head, the tubular insert having a bore proportioned in diameter to receive therein the end of a golf club shaft to which the head is to be affixed, the insert being completely imbedded in the cast metal forming the neck or hosel and a portion of the length of the insert being filled with the cast metal whereby the insert is integrally formed with the head.

By means of the invention it is possible to provide a metal wood head for golf clubs which is practically immune to breakage at the neck or hosel area.

The metal wood head for golf clubs may be manufactured from light weight metals, or alloys such as aluminium. magnesium, byzanium and the like which is practically immune to breakage at the neck or hosel area.

The metal wood head may be of the socalled offset head type which is manufactured from light weight metals, or alloys such as aluminium. magnesium, byzanium and the like which is practically immune to breakage at the neck or hosel area The cast metal stood head may be pro.lded with a stainless steel tubular insert The insert is deposed te extern through the neck or hosel of the head and Into a cast portion of the body of the head. A portion of the length of the insert Is filled with the cast metal duringthe casting process so that the tubular insert is prevented from loosening and becomes a solid integral part of the head. particularly in the area of the neck or hosel which is most susceptible to breakage.The tensile strength of the metal wood head in the area of the neck or hosel is thereby greatly increased. and the metal wood head is practi cally immune to breakage at the neck or hosel area.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a isometric view of an embodiment of a metal wood head according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the metal wood head; and Fig. 3 is a section view taken along lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing. there is illustrated a metal wood head. i.e. a head which is of metal. cast or otherwise formed in the shape of a conventional wood head.

Generally. metal wood heads are of a hollow construction and are of a two-piece construction. Many are filled with a foamedplastics material or the like in an effort to duplicate the sound of a wood head upon hitting a golf ball. A typical metal wood head is disclosed in U.S.-A-4.214.754. and as therein disclosed. the all metal hollow golf driver is formed by casting a first main part from metal in the shape of practically a complete golf driver. except for an opening in its sole side. A second cast part fits within the opening and is weldable thereto to form a complete integral hollow metal golf driver.

The weight (mass) of the driver is distributed in order to reduce its torque and/or deflection.

In the illustrated embodiment. the metal wood head 10 is cast substantially in the shape of a complete golf driver. except that in this case an opening 11 is formed in the top side 1 3 of the head and an insert 1 2 of wood or plastics material is fitted within the opening. Also, the metal wood head 10. as can be best seen in Fig. 2. is of the type generally referred to as an "offset head" i.e. its neck or hosel 1 4 is offset with respect to its body portion. The improvement of the present invention is applicable for use with all metal wood heads, whether they be of the two-piece hollow construction as disclosed in U.S.-A4,214,754 or of the construction illustrated and whether or not they are of the "offset head" type, as more particularly described below.

As indicated above, most metal wood heads have been manufactured of a heavy metal such as steel, particularly stainless steel.

These metal wood heads for the most part have sufficient strength to resist breakage.

However, there now is a trend to use lighter metals and alloys, such as aluminium, byzanium, magnesium and the like, since these lighter weight metals provide more flexibility in distributing the weight in the club head.

Metal wood heads of these lighter metals and alloys do not have the strength of the heavier metals such as stainless steel and are susceptible to breakage at the connection of the golf club shaft to the head, i.e. in the area of the neck or hosel of the head. This is particularly true of metal wood heads having an offset neck or hosel.

In accordance with the present invention, the problem of breakage at the neck or hosel 14 of a metal wood head, particularly one cast of a lighter weight metal or alloy is eliminated by providing within the neck or hosel 14 a tubular insert 16 of a heavier metal preferably stainless steel. The insert 1 6 extends through the neck or hosel 14 and into a portion of the cast body of the head and is completely imbedded in the metal during casting of the head. The insert 16 also preferably is partially filled with the cast metal at its lower end.More particularly, as can be seen in Fig. 3, the insert 1 6 extends from substantially the upper terminal end of the neck or hosel 1 6 through the entire length of the neck or hosel 16 into a cast portion 1 7 of the body of the head and is completely imbedded in the cast metal. The lower end or length of the insert 1 6 designated by the length "a" which comprises approximately one-half its length is filled with the cast metal 1 8 during the casting operation. The length of insert 1 6 designated "a" also preferably is progressively reduced in diameter along the major portion of its length and terminates in a short length 20 which is of a reduced constant diameter.By forming the insert 1 6 in this fashion and by filling a portion of its length with the cast metal, the insert 1 6 effectively becomes an integral part of the cast metal head and greatly increases the tensile strength of the metal used. In addition, the cast metal 18 which fills the lower length of the insert 1 6 effectively locks the insert 1 6 in the neck or hosel 14 of the head 10 so that it is virtually impossible for the insert 1 6 to loosen or to be pulled out of the neck or hosel 14, particularly after the golf club shaft (not shown) is inserted and secured within the insert 16 to secure the head 10 to a golf club shaft.

In casting the metal head 10, one process which can be and preferably is, used to cast the metal head is a squeeze casting process wherein the metal is forced slowly and under a high pressure into a die. The tubular insert 1 6 is positioned within the die by means of a core pin over which the insert is extended, and is effectively automatically positioned within the die by its reduced diameter portion which functions as a seat. The tubular insert 1 6 therefore only can be seated a fixed length on the core pin. Upon closing the die, the insert 1 6 is locked in position and prevented from shifting during the casting process. The core pin furthermore prevents the entire bore of the insert 1 6 from filling with the cast material so that after casting the insert 1 6 is able to receive within its bore, without the need of a further boring step or operation, the end of a golf club shaft to which the metal head is to be affixed.

The interior diameter of the insert 1 6 is proportioned in accordance with the diameter of the golf club shaft to which the metal wood head is to be affixed. The end of the golf club shaft is simply extended into the bore in the insert 1 6 and the metal wood head and the shaft secured to one another in conventional fashion, as by extending a locking pin through an aperture formed in the neck or hosel 14 including the insert 1 6 and the shaft.

Claims

1. A metal wood head cast of metal and having a neck or hosel for receiving therein the end of a golf club shaft for affixing the head to the shaft, the head comprising a tubular insert within and extending through the neck or hosel and into a cast portion of the head, the tubular insert having a bore proportioned in diameter to receive therein the end of a golf club shaft to which the head is to be affixed. the insert being completely imbedded in the cast metal forming the neck or hosel and a portion of the length of the insert being filled with the cast metal whereby the insert is integrally formed with the head.

2. A metal wood head according to claim 1, wherein the tubular insert is of stainless steel.

3. A metal wood head according to claim 1 or 2, being of the offset head type.

4. A metal wood head according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the portion of the length of the insert filled with the cast metal comprises approximately one-half the length of the insert.

5. A metal wood head according to claim 1, 2, 3 ci 4, wherein the portion of the length of the tubular insert filled with the cast metal is progressively reduced in diameter along the major portion of that length and terminates in a short length which is of a reduced constant diameter.

6. A method af casting a metal wood head to reduce or virtually eliminate breakage thereof in the neck or hosel area comprising the steps of (a) providing a die having the form and shape of the head and having a core pin therein for receiving and positioning thereon a tubular insert; (b) positioning a tubular insert on said core pin, said core pin and said insert being positioned in the portion of said die forming the neck or hosel of said head; and (c) casting said head by filling said die with said metal, the tubular insert being completely imbedded in the cast metal during the casting process so as to become an integral part of said head.

7. A method according to claim 6, further including the step of positioning the tubular insert on said core pin such that a predetermined length of the bore in said tubular insert is filled with the cast metal during the casting process.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein approximately one-half the length of the tubular insert is filled with the cast metal during the casting process.

9. A method of claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said tubular insert is of stainless steel.

10. A method of casting a metal wood head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A metal wood head made according to the method of any one of claims 6 to 10.

1 2. A metal wood head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

1 3. A golf club comprising a metal wood head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 11 or

12.