Golf club head or other ball striking device with discrete regions of different density
View Patent ↗Ball striking devices may include: (a) a sole member; (b) at least one intermediate body member; (c) a crown member; and (d) a face member. The materials making up the sole member, the intermediate body member(s), and the crown member may be selected so that the densities of the materials generally increase as one moves in a direction from the sole member toward the crown member. Such devices may be formed as golf club heads and/or golf clubs (such as “wood-type” golf clubs and golf club heads).
1. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:
a sole member made, at least in part, from a first material having a first density, wherein the first material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a steel material, a titanium alloy, and a polymeric material;
a first intermediate body member made, at least in part, from a second material having a second density, wherein the second density is less than the first density, and wherein the second material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, and a polymeric material;
a crown member made, at least in part, from a third material having a third density, wherein the third density is less than the second density, and wherein the third material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a carbon fiber composite material, a glass fiber composite material, a titanium alloy material, and a polymeric material, and wherein the first intermediate body member is located between the sole member and the crown member; and
a face member, wherein the sole member, the first intermediate body member, and the crown member connect to the face member;
wherein the golf club head has a hollow interior.
2. A golf club head according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second intermediate body member located between the first intermediate body member and the crown member.
3. A golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the face member is integrally formed with at least a portion of the sole member.
4. A golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the face member is made, at least in part, from a titanium alloy.
5. A golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a titanium alloy.
6. A golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein a major portion of the sole member is made from the first material, a major portion of the first intermediate body member is made from the second material, and a major portion of the crown member is made from the third material.
7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first material has a front portion located adjacent to the face member and a rear portion located opposite the front portion and adjacent to a rear of the golf club head, the front portion having a density less than the rear portion.
8. A golf club, comprising:
a hollow, wood-type club head including: (a) a sole member made, at least in part, from a first material having a first density, wherein the first material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a steel material, a titanium alloy, and a polymeric material; (b) a first intermediate body member made, at least in part, from a second material having a second density, wherein the second density is less than the first density, and wherein the second material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, and a polymeric material; (c) a crown member made, at least in part, from a third material having a third density, wherein the third density is less than the second density, and wherein the third material includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a carbon fiber composite material, a glass fiber composite material, a titanium alloy material, and a polymeric material, and wherein the first intermediate body member is located between the sole member and the crown member; and (d) a face member, wherein the sole member, the first intermediate body member, and the crown member connect to the face member; and
a shaft extending from the club head.
9. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein the club head further includes a second intermediate body member located between the first intermediate body member and the crown member.
10. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein the face member is integrally formed with at least a portion of the sole member.
11. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein the face member is made, at least in part, from a titanium alloy.
12. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein the first material includes a titanium alloy.
13. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein the shaft includes a graphite based material.
14. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein the shaft includes a steel material.
15. A golf club according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a grip element attached to the shaft.
16. A golf club according to claim 8 , wherein a major portion of the sole member is made from the first material, a major portion of the first intermediate body member is made from the second material, and a major portion of the crown member is made from the third material.
17. The golf club of claim 8 , wherein the first material has a front portion located adjacent to the face member and a rear portion located opposite the front portion and adjacent to a rear of the golf club head, the front portion having a density less than the rear portion.