GB2445056A

GB2445056A - A golf club head

Info

Publication number: GB2445056A
Application number: GB0721111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marty R Jertson; Eric J Morales
Original assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2006-12-20
Filing date: 2007-10-26
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Also published as: CA2608831A1; GB0721111D0; CN101204625A; JP2008155018A

Abstract

A golf club head (100) comprising a hollow body (110) of a first metal material having a heel end (135), a toe end (130), a skirt (155), a sole (145), a crown (140), an opening having at least one edge curved in an concave or non linear manner relative to the skirt, a cup face (120) of a second metal material having a surface to impact a ball and being configured with a concave or non-linear edge relative to the surface joining the hollow body at the opening. A brazed joint is coupled to the hollow body and the cup face.

Description

GOLF CLUB HEADS WITH AN ARCUATE JOINT AND METHODS TO

MANUFACTURE GOLF CLUB HEADS

(0001 The present disclosure relates generauy to golf equipment, and more particularly, to golf club heads with an arcuale joint and methods to manufacture golf club heads.

2] To join two pieces of metal together, various techniques and processes such as brazing, adhesive bonding, mechanical bonding (e.g., bolting), soldering, and/or welding may be used. For some applications such as high-quality consumer products, brazing processes may be more advantageous than other bonding techniques and processes. With the ability to join two dissimilar metals (e.g., steel and titanium), brazing processes may provide more material options for product designs. Typically, a brazed joint may provide a well-finished, clean appearance of the two pieces of metal (e.g., a brazed joint may not require additional grinding or finishing). In contrast to other bonding techniques and processes, brazing processes may result less bum through, if any, in thin-wall structures (e g, sheet meial) Further, a brazed joint may withstand severe vibration and shock because the brazed joint is typically stronger than the two pieces of metal being bonded together. Thus, brazing processes may be well-suited for manufactunng golf club heads.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus according to Claim 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

100031 FIG. I is a perspective diagram representation of an example golf club head according to an embodiment of the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein.

100041 FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an example hollow body and an example cup face of FIG. I. 100051 FIG. 3 depicts a top view of an example golf club head of FIG I. I 0006J FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the example hollow body and the example cup face of FIG. I. 100071 FIG. 5 depicts a bottom view of the example golf club head of FIG I. 100081 FIG. 6 depicts a cross section of the example golf club head of FIG. I along line 6-6.

100091 FIG 7 depicts a cross section of a portion of an example brazed joint.

100191 FIG. 8 depicts a cross section of a portion of another example brazed joint 100111 FIG. 9 is a perspective diagram representation of an example golf club head according to another embodiment of the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein.

100121 FIG. 10 depicts a top view of the example golf club head of FIG. 9.

100131 FIG. 11 depicts a bottom view of the example golf club head of FIG. 9.

100141 FIG. 12 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which the example golf club head of FIG. I may be manufactured

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

10015J In general, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture associated with golf club heads with an arcuate joint are described herein The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard 1001 6J In the example of FIGs 1-6, a golf club head 100 may include a hollow body 110 and a cup face 120. The hollow body 110 may include a toe end 130, a heel end 135, a crown 140 (e.g., a top wall), a sole 145 (e.g., a bottom wall), an opening 150, and a skirt 155 (e g., side wall). The opening ISO may be located at a front end 160 of the hollow body 110 and extend between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135 The skirt 1 55 may be located between the crown 140 and the sole 145 and wrap around a back end 165 of the golf club head 100 from the toe end 130 to the heel end 135.

100171 The hollow body 110 may also include a hosel 170 and a hosel transition 175.

For example, the hosel 1 70 may be located at or proximate to the heel end 135. The hose I may extend from the hollow body 110 via the hosel transition 175. To form a golf club, the hosel 170 may receive an end of a shaft (not shown). The shall may be secured to the golf club head 100 by an adhesive bonding process (e.g., epoxy) andlor other suitable bonding processes (e.g., mechanical bonding, soldenng, welding, andlor brazing).

f0018j To form the golf club head 100, the cup face 120 may cover the opening 150 of the hollow body 110. The cup face 120 may include a surface 180, a top portion 190, and a bottom portion 195. In one example, the surface 180 may be configured to impact a golf ball. In particular, the surface 180 may include a plurality of grooves 185. The plurality of grooves 185 may be elongated in a direction between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135 on the surface 180. The top and bottom portions 190 and 195 may be configured to couple the cup face 120 with the crown 140, sole 145, and the skirt 155 of the hollow body 110 at the opening 150 10019J In one example, the hollow body 110 may include one or more arcuate edges located at the front end 160 (e.g., 210 and 410 of FIGs. 2 and 4, respectively). Accordingly, the cup face 120 may also include one or more arcuate edges to couple with the hollow body at the opening 150 (c g, 215 and 415 of FIGs 2 and 4, respectively). As illustrated in FIGs. 2 and 3, the crown 140 may include an arcuate edge 210 curved in a concave manner relative to the skirt 155 or the back end 165 of the hollow body 110 (e g,curved in a direction towards the skirt 155 or the back end 165). The arcuate edge 210 may extend between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135 In the example of FIGs. 4 and 5, the sole 145 may include an arcuae edge 410 curved in a concave manner relative to the skirt 155 or the back end 165 of the hollow body 110 (e.g., curved in a direction towards the skirt 155 or the back end 165) The arcuate edge 410 may extend between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135. The hollow body 110 may also include a transition edge 230 extending between the crown 140 and the sole 145 at the heel end 135 tojoin thearcuate edges 210 and 410. In one example, the transition edge 230 may form a U-shaped configuration.

100201 To form the golf club head 100, the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 may be aligned to couple to each other Refemng to FIGs. 2 and 3, for example, the top portion 190 may include an arcuate edge 215 curved in a convex manner relative to the surface 180 (e.g., curved in a direction towards the surface 180). The arcuate edge 215 may extend between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135. Turning to FIGs. 4 and 5, for example, the bottom portion 195 may include an arcuate edge 415 curved in a convex manner relative to the surface 180 (e.g., curved in a direction towards the surface 180). The arcuate edge 415 may extend between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135. The cup face 120 may also include a transition edge 235 extending between the top portion 190 and the bottom 195 at the heel end to join the arcuate edges 215 and 415. For example, the transition edge 235 may form a U-shaped configuration or other suitable configuration so that the cup face 120 may cover the opening 150 of the hollow body 110. Accordingly, the cup face 120 may cover the opening of the hollow body 110 by aligning the arcuate edge 210 of the hollow body 110 with the arcuate edge 215 of the cup face 120, the arcuate edge 410 of the hollow body 110 with the arcuate edge 415 of the cup face 120, and the transition edge 230 of the hollow body 110 with the transition edge 235 of the cup face 120.

f0021J As depicted in FIGs. 2-5, the arcuate edges 215 and 415 may have a bell-shaped configuration, a U-shaped configuration, a parabolic configuration, or any other suitable configurations. Each of the arcuate edges 215 and 41 5 may include a distal point 220 and 420, respectively. Each of the distal points 220 and 420 may be a point on the arcuate edges 215 and 415, respectively, furthest away from the surface 180. For example, the distal points 220 and/or 420 may be aligned with the center of a sweet spot on the surface 180. The sweet spot may be an area on the surface 180 where an individual may effectively hit a ball. In one example, the sweet spot may be located at or proximate to the center of the surface 180. In another example, the sweet spot may be an area on the surface 180 located closer to the toe end 130 than the heel end 135 or vice versa.

100221 As described in detail below, the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 may be made of two dissimilar metal materials (e.g., two metal materials that may not be feasibly and/or physically welded together). For example, the hollow body 110 may be made of a high-density metal material such as stainless steel, aluminum, tungsten, nickel alloy, and/or any other suitable materials. In contrast, the cup face 120 may be made of a relatively light-weight metal material sich as titanium, titanium alloy, and/or other suitable materials. With the arcuate edges 210 and 410 curved in a concave manner relative to the skirt 155 or the back end 165 of the hollow body 110, the size of the hollow body 110 may be reduced (e g., less high-density metal material used to manufacture the golf club head 100) With the arcuate edges 215 and 415 curved in a convex manner relative to the surface 180, the size of the cup face 120 may be increased (e g., more light-weight metal maienal used to manufacture the golf club head 100). With an increase rn a relatively light-weight metal material, the mass at the center of the golf club head 100 may be reduced with the arcuale edges 210, 215, 410, and 415. Thus, the hollow body 110 may generate a higher moment of inertia (MO!), which in turn, may affect feel and/or sound propagated from the golf club head 100 when the surface 180 impacts a baji.

100231 Further, the arcuate edges 210 and 410 may provide additional flexibility to insert one or more weight pads within the hollow body 110 because the structure of the hollow body 110 may require less high-density metal material with the arcuate edges 210 arid 410.

In addition, the cup face 120 may vibrate at the fundamental response frequency of the relatively light-weight metal material when the surface 180 impacts a ball. Thus, the golf club head 100 may provide suitable acoustical and/or vibrational feedbacks to an individual when the individual hits golf balls with the golf club head 100. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard [0024J As noted above, brazing processes may be well suited for used to join two dissimilar pieces of metal together. Accordingly, brazing processes may be used to join the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 together. in one example, the hollow body 110 may be made of a first metal material such as a tungsten-based metal whereas the cup face 1 20 may be made of a second metal material such as a titanium-based metal. Turning to FIG. 6, for example, the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 may be joined together by a brazed joint 600 (e.g., the brazed joints 700 and 800 of FIGs. 7 and 8, respectively) made of a third filler metal such as a copper-based metal or any other suitable materials (e.g, tin, zinc, silver, etc.). With arcuate edges 210, 215, 410, and 415 (FIGs 2-5), the brazed joint 600 may be located away from high stress points on the golf club head 100. The brazed joint 600 may extend in paths formed by the arcuate edges 210, 215, 410, and 415. Further, the brazed joint 600 may also extend in paths formed by the transition edges 230 and 235 between the crown 140, the top portion 190, the hosel transition 1 75, the surface 180, the sole 145, the skirt 155, arid the bottom portion 195.

100251 Brazing processes may also provide a well-finished, cle.n appearance of the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 at the brazed joint 600 (e.g., additional grinding or finishing may not be necessary). Further, the crown 140, the sole 145, and/or the skirt 155 of the hollow body 110 may be thin-walled structures. Thus, brazing processes may be suitable to join the hollow body 11010 the cup face 120 because brazing processes may result in less burn through of the crown 140 and/or the sole 145 than other bonding processes. Further, the brazed joint 600 may withstand severe vibration and shock because the brazed joint 600 may be stronger than the two pieces of metal being bonded together (e.g., the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120) By coupling the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 together with a brazing process, the golf club head 100 may be able to withstand repeated impacts of a golf ball on the surface 180 of the cup face 120.

100261 The brazed joInt 600 may be any suitable type ofjoints. In one example, the brazed joint 600 may be a dovetail joint (FIG. 6). Referring to FIG. 7, for another example, the brazed joint 600 may be a butt joint 700. The joInt 700 may be positioned in a flushed, end-to-end arrangement. In one example, each of the arcuate edges 210 and 215 may have a substantially, vertical straight edge 710 and 715, respectively in another example, each of the arcuate edges 210 and 215 may have a slanted, straight edge (not shown). Turning to FIG. 8, for yet another example, the brazed joint 600 may be a butt-lap Joint 800. The joint 800 may have an S-shaped configuration. In one example, each of the arcuate edges 210 arid 215 may be an edge with an L-shaped configuration 810 and 815, respectively. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in (his regard.

100271 Referring back to FIG. 6, the surface 180, the top portion 190, and the bottom portion 195 of the cup face 120 may form a U-shaped configuration. Alternatively, the cup -face 120 may be configured in other suitable shapes such as an L-shaped configuration. In one example, the cup face 120 may include the surface 180 and the top portion 190 but not the bottom portion 195 to form an L-shaped configuration. In another example, the cup face may include the surface 180 and the bottom portion 195 but not the top portion 190 to form an L-shaped configuration. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

100281 Although FIGs. 1-6 may depict a metal wood-type club head (e.g., drivers, fainvay woods, etc.), the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein may be readily applicable to other suitable types of golf club heads. For example, the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable to hybrid-type club heads or other suitable types of golf club heads.

[0029J While the above examples describe various portions and/or surfaces of the golf club head 100, the golf club head 100 may not include certain portions and/or surfaces. For example, although FIGs. 1-6 may depict the crown 140, the sole 145, and the skirt 155 as separate surfaces, the skirt 155 may merge with either the crown 140 or the sole 145 into a single surface of the hollow body 110 (e g., the hollow body 110 may include the crown 140 and the sole 145 but not the skirt 155). In one example, the sole 145 and the skirt 155 may merge into a single bottom surface of the golf club head 100. In a similar manner, the surface 180, the top portion 190, and the bottom portion 195 may be depicted as separate surfaces, the surface 180 may merge with either the top portion 190 or the bottom portion into a single surface of the cup face 120 Further, while FIGs. 1-6 may depict the hosel and the hosel transition 175, the golf club head 100 may not include the hosel 170 and/or the hosel transition 175. In one example, the golf club head may include a bore (not shown) within the hollow body 110 to receive a shaft (e.g., an opening of the bore may be flushed with the crown 140). The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited this regard.

100301 Although the above examples may describe the hollow body 110 having the arcuate edges 210 and 4 tO, one of the edges associated with either the crown 140 or the sole maybe a substantially straight edge In the example of FIGs. 9-11, a golf club head 900 may include a hollow body 910 and a cup face 920. The hollow body 910 may include a toe end 930, a heel end 935, a crown 940 (e.g., a top wall), a sole 945 (e g., a bottom wall), and a skirt 955 (e.g., a side wall). The skirt 955 may be located between the crown 940 and the sole 945 and wrap around a back end 965 of the golf club head 900 from the toe end 930 to the heel end 935. The hollow body 910 may also include a hosel 970 and a hosel transition 975. For example, the hosel 970 may be located at or proximate to the heel end 935. The hoscl 970 may extend from the crown 940 via the hosel transition 975 [0031J The cup face 920 may include a surface 980, a top portion 990, and a bottom portion 995. The surface 980 may be configured to impact a ball. In particular, the surface 980 may include a plurality of grooves 985. The plurality of grooves 985 may be elongated in a direction between the toe end 930 and the heel end 935 on the surface 980. The top and bottom portions 990 and 995 may be configured to couple the cup face 120 with the hollow body 910 at the opening 950.

100321 In contrast to the golf club head 100 (FIGs. 1-6), the golf club head 900 may include an arcuate edge 1010 and a straight edge 1110. In particular, the hollow body 910 may include the arcuate edge 1010 on the crown 940 at a front end 960, and the straight edge 1110 on the sole 945 at the front end 960 The arcuate edge 1010 and the straight edge 1110 may extend between the toe end 930 and the heel end 935 The arcuatc edge 1010 may curve in a concave manner relative to the skirt 955 or the back end 965 of the hollow body 910.

The hollow body 910 may also include a transition edge 1030 extending between the crown 940 and the sole 945 at the heel end 935 to join the arcuate edge 1010 and the straight edge 1110. Accordingly, the cup face 920 may also include an arcuate edge 1015 at the top portion 990 and a straight edge 1115 at the bottom portion 995. The arcuate edge 1015 may curve in a convex manner relative to the surface 980 of the cup face 920. The cup face 920 may also include a transition edge 1035 extending between the top and bottom portions 990 and 995 to join the arcuate edge 1015 and the straight edge 1115.

(0033] To form the golf club head 900, the cup face 920 may cover an opening (not shown) at the front end 960 of the hollow body 910 by aligning the arcuate edge 1010 of the hollow body 910 with the arcuate edge 1015 of the cup face 920 and the straight edge 1110 of the hollow body 910 with the straight edge 1115 of the cup face 920. A brazed joint 1000 may couple the hollow body 910 to the cup face 920 together at the arcuate edges 1010 and 1015 and the straight edges 1110 and 1115. The brazed joint 1000 may extend in an arcuate path formed by the arcuate edges 1010 and 1015 but a substantially straight path formed by the straight edges 1110 and 1115.

10034) Alternatively, the crown 940 may include a straight edge at the front end 960 whereas the sole 945 may include an arcuate edge at the front end 960. To couple the hollow body 910 and the cup face 920 together, the top portion 990 may include a straight edge whereas the bottom portion 995 may include an arcuate edge. As a result, the brazed Joint 1000 may extend in an arcuate path formed by the arcuate edges of the crown 940 and the top portion 990 and a substantially straight path formed by the straight edges of the sole 945 and the bottom portion 995. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

J0035J In the example of FIG. 12. a process 1200 may begin with providing the hollow body 110 (FIG. 1) to form the golf club head 100 (block 1210) As noted above, the hollow body 110 may be made of a high-density metal material (e g., steel). The hollow body 110 may include one or more arcuate edges curved in a concave manner relative to the skirt 155 or the back end 165 of the hollow body 110 (e.g., the arcuate edges 210 and/or 410 of FIGs.

2-5). The process 700 may provide the cup face 120 (FIG. I) (block 1220). The cup face may include the surface 180 to impact with a golf ball. The cup face 120 may also include one or more arcuate edges curved in a convex manner relative to the surface 180 (e.g., the arcuate edges 215 and/or 415 of the FIGs. 2-5). The cup face 120 may be made of a relatively light-weight metal material (e.g., titanium).

OO36I Furthcr, the cup face 120 may cover the opening 150 of the hollow body 110 (block 1230). As noted above, the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 may be made of dissimilar metal materials. Accordingly, the hollow body 110 arid the cup face 120 may be coupled together by a brazing process. In particular, the brazing process may form the brazed joint 600 with a filler metal material (e.g., copper) between the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 (block 1240). The brazed joint 600 may extend between the toe end 130 and the heel end 135. In particular, the brazed joint 600 may extend in paths formed by the arcuate edges 210, 215, 410, and 415 (e.g., top and botlom). Further, the brazed joint 600 may also extend in paths formed by the transition edges 230 and 235 between the crown 140, the top portion 190, the hosel transition 175, the surface 180, the sole 145, the skirt 155, and the bottom portion 195 (e.g., sides). The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

j0037J Although the process 1200 may be described above with respect to the golf club head 100, the process 1200 may be applicable to other golf club heads such as the golf club head 900 of FIG. 9. Further, while a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIG. 12, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in FIG. 12 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously.

L0038J While the above examples describe the use of brazing processes to couple the hollow body 110 and the cup face 120 together, the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein may use other suitable bonding and/or fusing techniques and processes.

f0039J Although certain example methods, apparatus, andlor articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto On the contrary, this disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is: I. An apparatus comprising: a hollow body of a

first metal material having a heel end, a toe end, a skirt, a sole, and a crown, at least one of the sole or the crown having an edge curved in a concave manner relative to the skirt, a cup face of a second metal material having a surface to impact a ball; and a brazed joint coupled to the hollow body and the cup face, at least one portion of the bra.zed joint extending in a path along the edge between the heel end and the toe end.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim I, wherein the at least one portion of the brazed joint comprises a bell-shaped configuration, a U-shaped configuration, or a parabolic configuration.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the brazed joint is made of a third metal matenal, the third metal material being at least one of copper or copper alloy.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the brazed joint comprises at least one of a butt joint or a butt-lap joint.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first metal material comprises at least one of stainless steel, aluminum, tungsten, or nickel alloy
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, the second metal material comprises at least one of titanium or titanium alloy
7. An apparatus as defined in claim is associated with at least one of a metal wood-type golf club or a hybrid-type golf club.
8. A club head comprising: a hollow body of a first metal material, the hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a crown, a sole, a skirt extending between the heel end and the toe end, and an opening having at least one concave edge relative to the skirt, and a cup face of a second metal material coupled to the hollow body at the opening, the cup face having a surface to impact a ball, a top portion, and a bottom portion, at least one of the top portion or the bottom portion having a convex edge relative to the surface to bond with the concave edge of the opening.
9. A club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one concave edge is associated with at least one of the crown or the sole.
10. A club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the convex edge comprises at least one of a bell-shaped configuration, a U-shaped configuration, or a parabolic configuration.
11. A club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the hollow body and the cup face are coupled at the opening with a filler of a third metal material by a brazing process, and wherein the third metal material compnses at least one of copper or copper alloy.
12. A club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the first metal material comprises at least one of stainless steel, aluminum, tungsten, or nickel alloy.
13 A club head as defined in claim 8, wherein the second metal material compnses at least one of titanium or titanium alloy.
14. A club head as defined in claim 8 is associated with at least one of a metal wood-type golf club, or a hybrid-type golf club.
A golf club head comprising: a first portion made of a first metal matenal, the first portion having a heel end, a toe end, a front end, a back end, a bottom wall, a top wall, an opening at the front end, and at least one non-linear edge at the front end, the non-linear edge being curved in a concave manner relative to the back end; a second portion made of a second metal material, the second portion having a surface to impact a golf ball and being configured to enclose the first portion at the opening, and an arcuate joint made of a third metal material, the arcuate joint being coupled to the hollow body and the cup face at the front end by a brazing process, the arcuate joint extending along the non-linear edge between the heel end and the toe end.
16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the at least one non-linear edge is associated with at least one of the bottom wall or the lop wall.
17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the arcuate joint comprises at least one of a bell-shaped configuration, a U-shaped configuration, or a parabolic configuration.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the first metal material comprises at least one of stainless steel, aluminum, tungsten, or nickel alloy.
19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the second metal material comprises at least one of titanium or titanium alloy.
20. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the third metal material comprises at least one of copper or copper alloy.