WO1999011329A2

WO1999011329A2 - Improved golf club head

Info

Publication number: WO1999011329A2
Application number: PCT/US1998/018613
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Cesario; Gary V. Adams; Mark C. Myrhum
Original assignee: Mchenry Metals Golf Corp.
Priority date: 1997-09-05
Filing date: 1998-09-04
Publication date: 1999-03-11
Also published as: AU9224198A; WO1999011329A3

Abstract

An improved golf club head (10) comprises a head body (12) and a region (40) in the head body (12) having greater density than at least some of the remainder of the head body (12), for providing peripheral weighting. A striking structure (45a) is composed of hard material and comprises an inner (48a) and an outer section (46a) having varying radii of curvature with appropriate thickness and loft.

Description

IMPROVED GOLF CLUB HEAD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains and relates to

and improvements therein.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR .ART

In recent years the game of golf has experienced an enormous increase in popularity, both as a spectator sport and as recreation. This phenomenon has been accompanied by distinct improvements in gol -related technology, particularly with respect to golf clubs . These have been improved by the use of advanced "space-age" materials which provide a harder surface for striking the ball and by reconfiguration of the club head itself. Such reconfiguration has had the purpose of producing a more "forgiving" club head, by means of positioning the center of gravity rearwardly away from the striking surface thereby reducing the torque resulting from off-center striking of the ball.

Thus, heads of golf club woods have become increasingly perimeter-weighted to achieve the objective of the forgiving club head. As a result the size and volume of heads, particularly of woods, has substantially increased. This increase has proceeded to the point where woods are becoming cumbersome, awkward to use and difficult to employ in particular lies, including the tee position.

In addition, various different materials and configurations for the club head striking structure have been employed with varying degrees of success but generally with a philosophy of "one size fits all" whereby the proficiency of the striker is not taken fully into account.

Therefore, there has been a felt but unfulfilled need for a golf club wood head which provides a hard striking surface suited to the proficiency of the golfer and with a configuration which provides a forgiving club improving the performance of the golfer with relative compactness of the club.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved golf club wood head comprises a head body and region in the head body having greater density than at least some of the reminder of the head body, for providing peripheral weighting. A striking structure is composed of hard material and comprises an inner and outer section having varying radii of curvature with appropriately differing thickness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a top view of a golf club head in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a golf club head in accordance with the invention partially disassembled to show the interior of the club head;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a golf club head in accordance with the invention, partially dissembled;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a golf club head in accordance with the invention depicting an alternative embodiment thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view depicting a striking structure of a club head in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 7 is a front view of a club head in accordance with the invention showing the striking structure removed; and Fig. 8 depicts somewhat simplified representations of profiles of a striking structure of a golf club in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the drawings, a golf club head 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a head body 12 with a skirt region 13, heel region 14 and a toe region 16. Attached to club head 10 is a hosel 20 for affixation to a shaft (not shown) .

Referring now also to Figs.2-4, inclusive, a region 24 of greater density than the remainder of club head 10 is in the form of a recessed weighting member comprising an insert 26. Insert 26 is depicted as a curved, band-like member disposed within a recess 28 in club body 12. As depicted, insert 26 extends in recess 28 in club head 12 from a point on the heel side of a mid-line of the longitudinal dimension of club head 12 generally symmetrically around the periphery of club head 12. Recess 28 in which insert 26 is disposed is depicted in the present embodiment as substantially at a mid-point between an upper surface 30 and a lower surface 32 of club head 10. In particular applications of the invention the region of greater density provided by insert 26 within recess 28 may be disposed at different positions of the club head 12. Such positions include transversely across upper surface 30 of club head 12 or across lower surface 32 of club head 12, or in an intermediate position, as well as higher or lower in the lateral positioning depicted in the embodiment under discussion.

As best seen in Fig. 3 insert 26 is secured to club head 12 by screws 34 and an epoxy chemical bond or other conventional means. This prevents loosening and vibration of insert 26 upon the severe stresses arising from striking a golf ball with club head 12. Insert 26 defines screwholes 33 and is press-fitted into recess 28 in alignment with screw holes 35 defined in club head 10.

Insert 26 is composed of material denser than the surrounding material in club head 12. It has been found that desirable materials to be used for the insert 26 comprise one or more of the following in combination or individually: copper, tungsten, brass, lead, steel, and titanium, as well as alloys thereof. The insert 26 may be manufactured by any of the following methods: casting, forging, milling, powder metal, and metal injection molding.

In addition to providing peripheral weighting, employment of regions of greater density as discussed and depicted herein provides for enhanced flexibility of golf club design and in particular for tailoring the configuration and weighting of clubs to conform to the different levels of proficiency of users of golf clubs. It is well known that the more proficient the golfer, the greater the tendency to strike the ball squarely and thus the less the need to provide substantial peripheral weighting for the purpose of moving rearwardly the center of gravity of the club head. Thus, for relatively proficient ball strikers, inserts 26 in accordance with the invention may be placed somewhat closer to the club face than for less proficient ball strikers.

In particular applications and embodiments of the invention, the structure of the region of greater density depicted and described above as curved , ring-like insert, may be of a different shape (less curved, or more curved, with lesser or greater length and angular extent, or of different construction) . As depicted in Fig. 5, a region of increased density 40 comprises a plurality of rivet-like plugs or separate inserts 42. Inserts 42 are held within a plurality of holes 44 in recess 47 in club head 12, recess 47 being placed similarly to recess 26 depicted and described hereinabove. In the same manner as for insert 26, plugs 42 are composed of relatively dense material and are secured by press fitting and then by their respective screws (not shown) affixed to club head 10. As with the embodiment depicted and described above, the region of increased density 40 may be oriented and dimensioned as appropriate for the particular application for which the club head is to be employed.

Turning now to Figs 6-8, inclusive, club heads 10 include striking structures 45a, 45b and 45c at an anterior region thereof between heel 14 and toe 16. Striking structure 45a comprises an exterior plate 46a for contacting the ball and an interior plate 48a. Similarly structure 45b comprises interior plate 46b and interior plate 48b; and structure 45c comprises exterior plate 46c and interior plate 48c.

The differences in the striking structures 45a,45b,45c are in the respective exterior plates and interior plates particular shapes and relationships as related to lofts for the particular striking structure. Unless otherwise stated, matters stated herein for structure 45a apply to structures 45b, 45c.

Exterior plate 46a (which makes actual contact with the ball and includes score lines 49) is secured to club head 10 at an anterior periphery of rim 51 by such means as press fitting, welding, screws or other conventional means (not shown) . In similar manner, plate 48a is fastened to the interior of rim 51 behind plate 46a. In accordance with the invention, differing configurations of striking structures may be employed in combination with different lofts (inclination of the striking structure with the horizontal) to accommodate golfers of various levels of proficiency.

Striking structure 45a with a loft of 10.5° comprises exterior plate 46a with a radius of curvature of twelve (12) inches with a curved interior plate 48a configured to provide a minimum distance between surfaces 46a, 48a of substantially 0.095 inch occurring at substantially the midpoint of exterior plate 46a. It is known that for the golfer of lesser proficiency, a thinner striking face with a greater loft (i.e., an upward inclination to facilitate rendering the golf ball air- borne) is a more favorable configuration.

A combination of loft and striking structure is provided for ball strikers of intermediate level of proficiency, whereby the loft is 9.5° and the minimum distance between exterior plate 46b and interior plate 48b is substantially 0.105 inch. The radius of curvature of exterior plate 46b is substantially equal to twelve (12) inches .

A combination of loft and striking structure is provided for stronger ball strikers, namely 7.5° loft and 0.115 inch minimum distance between exterior plate 46c and interior plate 48c. Exterior plate 46σ has a radius of curvature of substantially eleven (11) inches. In all of the foregoing examples, the thickness of outer perimeter or edges of each insert is shown as substantially 0.125 inch. This is for example only and may be varied without departing from the invention.

Accordingly, by suitable adjustment of the characteristics of the weighting inserts and of the configuration of the striking structure, golf club heads can be provided to match proficiency levels of the users thereof.

Therefore, the invention provides a golf club head having relative compactness with desirable peripheral weighting together with an improved striking structure, conformable to the needs of the player.

Particular embodiments of the invention are depicted and described hereinabove. The invention is defined by the claims to be submitted subsequently according to law, and to be interpreted in light of the specification and drawings.

JR:le:1825001

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claim 1. An improved golf club head comprising:

A head body including, a heel region and a toe region, said head body including a region having greater density than at least a portion of the remainder of said head body.

Claim 2. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is generally symmetrically disposed with respect to the periphery of said head body, to provide peripheral weighting.

Claim 3. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said head body has an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the region of greater density is substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to said upper surface and said lower surface.

Claim 4. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density comprises a weighting member.

Claim 5. Invention as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said weighting member is at least partially composed of material denser than the material in at least a portion of the remainder of head body.

Claim 6. The invention as set forth in Claim 5 wherein said weighting member is securable to said head body by mechanical means.

Claim 7. The invention as set forth in Claim 5 wherein said waiting member is securable to said head body by an adhesive such as epoxy.

Claim 8. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is disposed closer to the toe of said head body than to the heel of said head body.

Claim 9. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is disposed closer to the heel of said head body than to the toe thereof.

Claim 10. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is disposed substantially mid-way between said toe region and said heel region of said head body.

Claim 11. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said region of greater density is generally ellipsoidial in configuration.

Claim 12. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said region of greater density is substantially toroidal in configuration.

Claim 13. The invention as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said weighting member comprises at least one plug member.

Claim 14. The invention as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said weighting member comprises a plurality of plug members.

Claim 15. The invention as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said weighting member is composed of material selected from at least one of the following: copper, tungsten brass, lead, steel, titanium, and alloys thereof.

Claim 16. The invention as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said weighting member is manufactured by any of the following methods: casting, forging, milling, power metal, and metal injection molding.

Claim 17. The invention as set forth in Claim 4 further including a striking structure for striking a golf ball, said striking structure composing an exterior member for contacting a golf ball and an interior member disposed inwardly of said exterior member, the distance between said exterior member and said interior member being selected to provide desired ball striking characteristics.

Claim 18. The invention as set forth in Claim 17 wherein said exterior member has a loft selected to provide desired ball striking characteristics.

Claim 19. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is disposed substantially transversely to a long dimension of said head body.

Claim 20. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is disposed substantially parallel to a long dimension of said head body.

Claim 21. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density is at least partially arcuate in form.

Claim 22. The invention as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said region of greater density has greater density than substantially all the remainder of said head body.

Claim 23. An improved golf club head comprising:

A head body including a striking structure attached thereto, said striking structure including an exterior member for contacting a golf ball and an interior member displaced from said exterior member to provide desired striking characteristics.

Claim 24. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said exterior member has a loft to provide desired striking characteristics.

Claim 25. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein the minimum distance between said exterior member and said interior member is substantially in the range of 0.095 inch to O.115 inch.

Claim 26. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein the loft of said exterior member is substantially within the range of 10.5┬░ to 7.5 ┬░.

Claim 27. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said exterior member is at least partially arcuate in shape.

Claim 28. The invention as set forth in claim 27 wherein said exterior member has a radius of curvature in the range eleven (11) inches to twelve (12) inches.

Claim 29. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said loft and said distance between said exterior member and said interior member are selected to provide desired striking characteristics for a less proficient ball striker.

Claim 30. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said loft and said distance between said exterior member and said interior member are selected to provide desired striking characteristics for an intermediate level ball striker.

Claim 31. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said loft and said distance between said exterior member and said interior member are selected to provide desired striking characteristics for proficient ball striker.

Claim 32. The invention as set forth in Claim 29 wherein said head body further includes a region having greater density than at least a portion of the remainder of said club body.

Claim 33. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said loft of said exterior member is substantially equal to 10.5┬░

Claim 34. The invention as set forth in Claim 33 wherein the minimum distance between said exterior member and said interior member is substantially equal to 0.095 inch.

Claim 35. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein the loft of said exterior member is substantially equal to 9.5┬░.

Claim 36. The invention as set forth in Claim 35 wherein the minimum distance between said exterior member and said interior member is substantially equal to 0J05 inch.

Claim 37. The invention as set forth in Claim 23 wherein the loft of said exterior member is substantially equal to 7.5┬░.

Claim 38. The invention as set forth in Claim 37 wherein the minimum distance between said exterior member and said interior member is substantially equal to 0.115 inch.