IP Library Granted Patent US 10,155,143
Granted Patent B2
US 10,155,143 · App. 15/831,038 · Granted Dec 18, 2018

Golf club head

Inventors: Bret H. Wahl (Escondido, CA); Marni D. Ines (San Marcos, CA)
Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
A63B53/047A63B53/04A63B53/0475A63B60/00A63B60/54A63B69/3635A63B53/0466A63B53/0487A63B2053/042A63B2053/045A63B2053/0408A63B2053/0416A63B2053/0454A63B2053/0458A63B2053/0491A63B2053/0495A63B2209/00A63B2209/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,155,143
App. No.
15/831,038
Granted
Dec 18, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cavity back iron type club head includes a striking plate having a substantially planar striking surface and a rear surface defining a thickness therebetween. The rear surface defines a striking plate rear cavity region. A perimeter support is coupled to a peripheral portion of the striking plate. The surface area of the striking surface is related to the club head loft angle by the equation SSA≥14.4(L)+2875, where SSA is the surface area of the striking surface in units of square-millimeters and L is the club head loft angle in units of degrees.

Claims (61)

1. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a first piece defining at least a portion of an iron-type face, the first piece having a rear surface and a striking surface, wherein the distance between the rear surface and the striking surface defining a first piece thickness and the first piece thickness is less than or equal to 2.2 mm;

a second piece including a hosel, a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a sole bar, and a rear cavity, wherein the rear cavity is surrounded by the heel portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, and the top-line portion, wherein the second piece defining a front opening configured to receive the first piece and the first piece is welded to the second piece;

three or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface;

wherein the three or more metal weights being formed of a material having a density greater than the density of the first piece and the first piece comprising a steel alloy;

wherein the rear cavity is at least partially defined by a bottom cavity surface, a rear cavity surface, a heel side surface, and a toe side surface;

wherein an elastomer material is received within the rear cavity, the elastomer material at least partially fills the rear cavity, and at least a portion of the elastomer material contacts the rear cavity surface, the bottom cavity surface, and contacts the rear surface of the first piece at least at a heel side of the first piece and a toe side of the first piece;

wherein the rear surface of the first piece having an area ranging from about 1500 mm 2 to about 3000 mm 2 ;

wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 10 GPa;

wherein the first piece is comprised of a first material and the second piece is comprised of a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different steel alloys each having a modulus of elasticity greater than 150 GPa;

wherein the elastomer material has a front to back dimension that is greater than the first piece thickness;

wherein at least a portion of the sole bar has an underside surface and the elastomer material extends underneath the underside surface of the sole bar.

2. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a carbon steel and the first material comprises a high strength steel having a modulus of elasticity greater than 200 GPa.

3. The iron-type golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the three or more metal weights comprising a tungsten alloy.

4. The iron-type golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 5 GPa.

5. The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the elastomer material is a thermoplastic.

6. The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the iron-type golf club head is a hollow iron type club head.

7. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising four or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface.

8. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising five or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface.

9. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer material provides vibration dampening.

10. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the iron-type golf club head is a cavity back iron type club head.

11. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer material contacts at least one of three or more metal weights.

12. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises 8620 carbon steel.

13. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a first piece defining at least a portion of an iron-type face, the first piece having a rear surface and a striking surface, wherein the distance between the rear surface and the striking surface defining a first piece thickness and the first piece thickness is less than or equal to 2.2 mm;

a second piece including a hosel, a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a sole bar, and a rear cavity, wherein the rear cavity is surrounded by the heel portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, and the top-line portion, wherein the second piece defining a front opening configured to receive the first piece and the first piece is welded to the second piece;

one or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface;

wherein the one or more metal weights being formed of a material having a density greater than the density of the first piece and the first piece comprising a steel alloy;

wherein the rear cavity is formed in proximity to the sole portion, and the rear cavity is at least partially defined by a bottom cavity surface, a rear cavity surface, a heel side surface, and a toe side surface;

wherein an elastomer material is received within the rear cavity, the elastomer material at least partially fills the rear cavity, and at least a portion of the elastomer material contacts the rear cavity surface and the bottom cavity surface, and contacts the rear surface of the first piece at least at a heel side of the first piece and a toe side of the first piece;

wherein the rear surface of the first piece having an area ranging from about 1500 mm 2 to about 3000 mm 2 ;

wherein the elastomer material provides vibration dampening and has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 25 GPa;

wherein the first piece is comprised of a first material and the second piece is comprised of a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different steel alloys each having a modulus of elasticity greater than 150 GPa;

wherein at least a portion of the sole bar has a recessed portion that extends rearwardly from the rear cavity;

wherein the elastomer material has an extension that extends from the rear cavity rearwardly into the recessed portion of the sole bar.

14. The iron-type golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 10 GPa.

15. The iron-type golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the elastomer material is a thermoplastic.

16. The iron-type golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 5 GPa.

17. The iron-type golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the iron-type golf club head is a hollow iron type club head.

18. The iron-type golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the elastomer material is a thermoset.

19. The iron-type golf club head of claim 13 , further comprising two or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface;

wherein the two or more metal weights being formed of a material having a density greater than the density of the first piece.

20. The iron-type golf club head of claim 13 , further comprising three or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface;

wherein the three or more metal weights being formed of a material having a density greater than the density of the first piece.

21. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a striking plate defining at least a portion of an iron-type face, the striking plate having a substantially planar striking surface and a rear surface defining a thickness therebetween, the rear surface defining a striking plate rear cavity region;

a head body including a hosel, a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a sole bar, and a rear cavity, wherein the rear cavity is surrounded by the heel portion, the sole portion, the toe portion, and the top-line portion, wherein the head body defining a front opening configured to receive the striking plate and the striking plate is welded to the head body;

three or more cylindrically shaped metal weights positioned proximate the sole bar and below a geometric center of the striking surface;

wherein the three or more metal weights being formed of a material having a density greater than the density of the striking plate and the striking plate comprising a steel alloy;

wherein the rear cavity is formed in proximity to the sole portion, and the rear cavity is at least partially defined by a bottom cavity surface, a rear cavity surface, a heel side surface, and a toe side surface;

wherein an elastomer material is received within the rear cavity, the elastomer material at least partially fills the rear cavity, and at least a portion of the elastomer material contacts the rear cavity surface and the bottom cavity surface, and contacts the rear surface of the striking plate at least at a heel side of the striking plate and a toe side of the striking plate;

wherein an unsupported striking plate area is defined as the portion of the striking plate rear cavity region lacking a backing support structure having a modulus of elasticity greater than about 25 GPa;

wherein the striking plate having a thickness less than or equal to 2.2 mm, and the unsupported striking plate area ranging from about 1500 mm 2 to about 3000 mm 2 ;

wherein the elastomer material provides vibration dampening and has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 10 GPa;

wherein the striking plate is comprised of a first material and the head body is comprised of a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different steel alloys each having a modulus of elasticity greater than 150 GPa;

wherein the first material is a high strength steel alloy having a modulus of elasticity greater than 200 GPa and the second material comprises a carbon steel;

wherein the elastomer material has a front to back dimension that is greater than the thickness of the striking plate;

wherein at least a portion of the sole bar extends over-top of the elastomer material.

22. The iron-type golf club head of claim 21 , wherein the elastomer material has a modulus of elasticity between 0.001 GPa and 5 GPa.

23. The iron-type golf club head of claim 22 , wherein the steel alloy comprises 8620 carbon steel.

24. The iron-type golf club head of claim 21 , wherein the iron-type golf club head is a hollow iron type club head.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: KOOKMIN BANK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058978/0211 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: KOOKMIN BANK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058983/0516 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058962/0415 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058963/0671 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KOOKMIN BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057293/0207 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KOOKMIN BANK, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 057300/0058 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14538614 · Nov 11, 2014
Continuation 13971786 · Aug 20, 2013
Continuation 11877580 · Oct 23, 2007
Related Publication 20180085643A1 · Mar 29, 2018
Cited By (3)
US 12,251,606 US 12,403,362 US 12,594,470