US20170182381A1 - Golf Club Head With Structural Columns - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf club head having multiple structural columns is disclosed herein. A body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown or return section, and defines a hollow interior. Each of the structural columns extends from the crown or return section to the sole section within the hollow interior to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The structural columns are all located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and are spaced a distance of 0.500 to 2.00 inch from one another within the hollow interior.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The Present Application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/279,188 filed on Sep. 28, 2016, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/847,227 filed on Sep. 8, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,677, issued on Nov. 8, 2016, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/285,479 filed on May 22, 2014, and issued on Dec. 15, 2015, as U.S. Pat. No. 9,211,451, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/788,173 filed on Mar. 7, 2013, and issued on Jan. 6, 2015, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,926,448, and also is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/794,578 filed on Jul. 8, 2015, and also is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/788,326 filed on Jun. 30, 2015, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/755,068, filed on Jun. 30, 2015, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/498,843 filed on Sep. 26, 2014, and issued on Feb. 16, 2016, as U.S. Pat. No. 9,259,627, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/173,615 filed on Feb. 5, 2014, and issued on Nov. 10, 2015, as U.S. Pat. No. 9,180,349, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/898,956 filed on Nov. 1, 2013, now expired, and which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/039,102 filed on Sep. 27, 2013, and issued on Sep. 16, 2014, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,834,294, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/797,404 filed on Mar. 12, 2013, now abandoned, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/665,203 filed on Jun. 27, 2012, now expired, and 61/684,079 filed on Aug. 16, 2012, now expired, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with stress-reducing features connecting a crown portion with a sole portion via a hollow interior and disposed proximate a striking face section.
• Description of the Related Art
• The prior art discloses various golf club heads having interior structures. For example, Kosmatka, U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,547 for a Golf Club Head With an Internal Striking Plate Brace, discloses a golf club head with a brace to limit the deflection of the striking plate, Yabu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,038 for a Golf Club Head And Method of Making The Same, discloses a golf club head with a sound bar, Galloway, U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,493 for a Multiple Material Golf Club Head, discloses a golf club head with a composite aft body having an interior sound component extending upward from a sole section of a metal face component, Seluga et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,834,294 for a Golf Club Head With Center Of Gravity Adjustability, discloses a golf club head with a tube having a mass for adjusting the CG of a golf club head, and Dawson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,900,070 for a Weighted Golf Club Head discloses a golf club head with an interior weight lip extending from the sole towards the face. However, the prior art fails to disclose an interior structure that increases ball speed through reducing stress in the striking face section at impact, with a minimal increase in mass to the golf club head.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The golf club head comprises interior structures connecting a crown section to a sole section to reduce the stress in a striking face section during impact with a golf ball. In some embodiments, the interior structures are hollow tubes or solid rods composed of a titanium alloy.
• One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a cast metal body. The cast metal body comprises a toe structural connector, a heel structural connector, a striking face section, a crown return portion and a sole section. The toe structural connector comprises a body with a crown end, a sole end, a forward surface, a rearward surface, a heel surface and a toe surface. The heel structural connector comprises a body with a crown end, a sole end, a forward surface, a rearward surface, a heel surface and a toe surface. The striking face section has an exterior surface, an interior surface, an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter. The crown return portion extends rearward from the upper perimeter of the striking face section. The sole section portion extends rearward from the lower perimeter of the striking face section. The crown end of the toe structural connector is connected to the crown return portion. The crown end of the heel structural connector is connected to the crown return portion. The sole end of the toe structural connector is connected to the sole section. The sole end of the heel structural connector is connected to the sole section. A contact surface area between the crown return portion and both of the crown end of the toe structural connector and the crown end of the heel structural connector ranges from 1% to 5% of the surface area of the crown return portion. The toe structural connector and the heel structural connector attenuate movement of the crown return portion and the sole section when the striking face section impacts a golf ball.
• In some embodiments, each of the structural columns comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a solid rod and a hollow tube. In another, further embodiment, each of the structural columns is a solid rod composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium alloy and steel. In an alternative embodiment, each of the structural columns is located no more than 0.25 inch from the rear face surface along the vertical plane extending through the face center perpendicular to the striking face section.
• Another aspect of the current invention is golf club head comprising a metal body comprising a striking face section, a sole section extending from a lower edge of the striking face section, and a return section extending from an upper edge of the striking face section, the return section and sole section defining an upper opening, and the striking face section, sole section, and return section defining a hollow body interior, and first and second structural columns disposed within the hollow body interior and extending from the return section to the sole section, wherein each of the first and second structural columns is a solid metal rod, wherein no portion of either the first or second structural columns makes contact with the striking face section, wherein the golf club head satisfies the equation V_ballnorm≧0.0356x+140.82, and wherein
• $V_{\mathrm{ballnorm}}=\frac{m_hV_{\mathrm{inh}}+m_hV_{\mathrm{inh}}\left[\begin{array}{c}\frac{V_{\mathrm{cr}}}{V_{\mathrm{cin}}}\left(1+\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)+\frac{m_b}{m_c}+\\ \frac{V_{\mathrm{br}}}{V_{\mathrm{bin}}}\left(1+\frac{m_b}{m_p}\right)+\frac{m_b}{m_p}-0.822\end{array}\right]}{m_h+m_b}.$
• In a further embodiment, the golf club head may comprise a crown insert that may be permanently affixed to the body to close the upper opening. In some embodiments, the crown insert may be composed of a carbon composite material, and each of the first and second stiffening members may be integrally cast with the body.
• Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a metal body comprising a striking face section, a sole section extending from a lower edge of the striking face section, a return section extending from an upper edge of the striking face section, and an aft end opposite the striking face section, the return section and sole section defining an upper opening, and the striking face section, sole section, and return section defining a hollow body interior, first and second structural columns disposed within the hollow body interior and extending from the return section to the sole section, and a carbon composite crown insert permanently affixed to the body to close the upper opening, wherein each of the first and second structural columns is located closer to the striking face section than to the aft end within the hollow body interior, wherein the golf club head has a volume of 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters, wherein the golf club head satisfies the equation V_ballnorm≧0.0356x+141.19, and wherein
• $V_{\mathrm{ballnorm}}=\frac{m_hV_{\mathrm{inh}}+m_hV_{\mathrm{inh}}\left[\begin{array}{c}\frac{V_{\mathrm{cr}}}{V_{\mathrm{cin}}}\left(1+\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)+\frac{m_b}{m_c}+\\ \frac{V_{\mathrm{br}}}{V_{\mathrm{bin}}}\left(1+\frac{m_b}{m_p}\right)+\frac{m_b}{m_p}-0.822\end{array}\right]}{m_h+m_b}.$
• In some embodiments, the first structural connector comprises an upper end proximate the return section and a lower end proximate the sole section, the upper end is spaced a first distance from the striking face section, and the lower end is spaced a second distance from the striking face section that is greater than the first distance. In a further embodiment, the first distance is 0.120 inch to 0.150 inch, and the second distance is 0.180 inch to 0.210 inch. In another embodiment, each of the first and second structural columns has a length of 1.00 inch to 2.50 inches, the first structural connector extends approximately parallel with the second structural connector, and the first structural connector is spaced a distance of 0.75 inch to 1.50 inch from the second structural connector.
• Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features, and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of the preferred embodiment of a golf club head with structural columns.
• FIG. 2 is a sole elevational view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 1 along lines3-3.
• FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 1 along lines3-3 illustrating the surfaces of the structural columns.
• FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 1 along lines3-3 illustrating part of an imaginary cube encompassing the structural columns.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 3 along lines4-4.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 3 along line5-5.
• FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 3 along line5-5.
• FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 3 along line5-5 illustrating part of an imaginary cube encompassing the structural columns.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 3 along line6-6.
• FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the golf club head shown inFIG. 1 with its crown insert and sole cover piece removed.
• FIG. 8 is a sole perspective view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 7.
• FIG. 9 is a flow chart describing how to calculate the normalized ball speed of a golf club head, including the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 10 is a top plan view of an exemplary calibration plate used to calculate normalized ball speed of a golf club head.
• FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the calibration plate shown inFIG. 10 along lines11-11.
• FIG. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between normalized ball speed (y-axis) and Characteristic Time (μs) (x-axis) of prior art golf club heads and the golf club head described herein.
• FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a golf club head.
• FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a golf club head.
• FIG. 14A is a top plan view of a golf club head with an imaginary rectangle encompassing the structural columns.
• FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a golf club head.
• FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of a golf club head.
• FIG. 17 is an isolated internal view of a golf club head.
• FIG. 18 is an isolated internal view of an intersection of the structural columns and a return section of a golf club head.
• FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of a golf club head with structural columns with a face removed to illustrate the interior of the golf club head.
• FIG. 20 is an isolated top perspective view of the structural columns encompassed by an imaginary cube.
• FIG. 21 is an isolated top plan view of the structural columns encompassed by an imaginary cube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• A preferred embodiment of thegolf club head10 with structural columns is shown inFIGS. 1-8. Thegolf club head10 preferably includes abody20 having astriking face section30 with aface center34, areturn section32 extending rearwards away from anupper edge31 of thestriking face section30,sole section22 extending rearwards away from alower edge33 of thestriking face section30, ahosel24 for engaging a shaft, aheel end23, atoe end25, anupper opening26, ahollow interior27, and anaft end28. Acrown section40 is comprised of thereturn section32 and acrown insert42 that is placed over theupper opening26 to enclose thehollow interior27. Thebody20 also includes threecutouts70,72,74 in acenter area21 of thesole section22, which are closed by acover piece80 having a density that is lower than the density of the material used to make thebody20. Each of thecrown section40 and coverpiece80 preferably is composed of a carbon composite material, while thebody20 is composed of a metal material such as titanium alloy or steel.
• Within thehollow interior27, twostructural columns50,52 extend from thesole section22 upward to thereturn section32 approximately parallel with therear surface36 of thestriking face section30 and with each other. In an alternative embodiment, thestructural columns50,52 extend to thecrown insert42 instead; what is important is that thestructural columns50,52 connect thecrown section40 to thesole section22 proximate thestriking face section30, without making contact with any portion of thestriking face section30, even when thestriking face section30 impacts a golf ball. Thestructural columns50,52 must, in any event, be closer to thestriking face section30 than to theaft end28 of thebody20.
• As shown inFIG. 3, the preferred embodiment has twostructural columns50,52, each of which is a solid rod composed of a lightweight, strong metal material such as titanium alloy or steel, though in an alternative embodiment thestructural columns50,52 each may be a hollow tube or other hollow structure made of a strong lightweight metal or a composite material. In another embodiment, thegolf club head10 may include both the solid rod and hollow types ofstructural columns50. Thestructural columns50,52 preferably are co-cast with thebody20 using a wax molding process, though in alternative embodiments may be added after thebody20 is manufactured and secured to thebody20 via welding, brazing, solder, or adhesive, and/or mechanically.
• In the preferred embodiment, each of thestructural columns50,52 has a diameter of 0.050 inch to 0.200 inch and a length of 1 to 2.5 inches. Thestructural columns50,52 are both preferably located within 1 inch of therear surface36 of thestriking face section30 measured along avertical plane60 extending through theface center34 perpendicular to thestriking face section30. No portion of anystructural columns50,52 should be located outside of this 1-inch range; in fact, it is more preferable for eachstructural connector50,52 to be located even closer to therear surface36 of thestriking face section30. In the preferred embodiment, the structural columns are spaced 0.136 inch to 0.210 inch from therear surface36, with theupper end50a,52aof eachstructural connector50,52 spaced a distance D₁that is slightly closer to therear surface36 than the spacing D₂of thelower end50b,52b. In the preferred embodiment, D₁ranges from 0.120 inch to 0.150 inch, while D₂ranges from 0.180 inch to 0.210 inch. Thestructural columns50,52 are also spaced from one another by a distance D₃of 0.500 to 2.00 inch, more preferably approximately 0.75 to 1.50 inch, and most preferably approximately 1.00 inch. This positioning of thestructural columns50,52 optimizes the normalized ball speed relationship to Characteristic Time (CT), as measured in μs by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) CT test.
• Normalized ball speed removes the variable effect of a golf club head's mass and loft, and the construction of a particular golf ball, from testing the speed of a golf ball upon impact with any given golf club head, including thegolf club head10 of the present invention; in other words, it allows an apples-to-apples comparison of golf club head performance. Normalized ball speed can be determined for a golf club head using the following steps, which are also outlined in the flow chart ofFIG. 9.
• First, provide a titanium 6-4calibration plate90 with a mass of approximately 190 grams, a diameter D₄of approximately 4 inches, a minimum thickness T₁of approximately 0.100-0.150 inch, and a maximum thickness T₂of approximately 0.200-0.400 inch, as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, and strike thecenter92 of the calibration plate with a test golf ball moving at approximately 109 mph (step100). Measure the return velocity V_brof the ball (step110). Then, strike the same test golf ball, again traveling at approximately 109 mph, with thecenter34 of thestriking face section30 of thegolf club head10 being assessed (step120), and measure the rebound velocity V_crof the test golf ball (step130). Next, measure and record the mass of the plate m_p, golf ball m_b, golf club head10 m_c, measured head test ball in velocity (109 mph target) V_an, measured plate test ball in velocity (109 mph target) V_bin, measured head test ball return velocity V_cr, and measured plate test ball return velocity V_br(step140). Finally, calculate the normalized ball speed (V ballnorm) using the following equation (step150):
• $V_{\mathrm{ballnorm}}=\frac{m_hV_{\mathrm{inh}}+m_hV_{\mathrm{inh}}\left[\begin{array}{c}\frac{V_{\mathrm{cr}}}{V_{\mathrm{cin}}}\left(1+\frac{m_b}{m_c}\right)+\frac{m_b}{m_c}+\\ \frac{V_{\mathrm{br}}}{V_{\mathrm{bin}}}\left(1+\frac{m_b}{m_p}\right)+\frac{m_b}{m_p}-0.822\end{array}\right]}{m_h+m_b}$
• In this equation, V_inhis 100 and m_his 200.
• Thegolf club head10 of the present invention has a V_ballnorm≧0.0356x+140.82, and more preferably a V_ballnorm≧0.0356x+141.19. The positioning of thestructural columns50,52 allow thegolf club head10 to satisfy this equation; as shown inFIG. 12, prior art golf club heads, which do not include the structural connector structure, fall well short of this performance metric.
• In addition to optimizing the normalized ball speed of thegolf club head10, locating thestiffening members50,52 within the region of thegolf club head10 defined above has the greatest stress-reducing effect on thegolf club head10. If any of thestructural columns50,52 are placed more than 1 inch away from therear surface36 of thestriking face section30, they will not have a noticeable effect on the stress placed on thestriking face section30 when thegolf club head10 is in use, and will use discretionary mass without providing a significant performance benefit.
• FIGS. 13-19 illustrate thecontact surface area55aand55bbetween each of the structural connecting50 and52 and thereturn section32 of thebody20 of thegolf club head10. Thecast metal body20 preferably comprises a toestructural connector52, a heelstructural connector50, astriking face section30, acrown return portion32 and asole section22.
• In one embodiment, shown inFIGS. 3A and 19, the toestructural connector52 comprises a body with acrown end52a, asole end52b, aforward surface52c(shown inFIG. 19), arearward surface52d, aheel surface52fand atoe surface52e. The heelstructural connector50 comprises a body with acrown end50a, asole end50b, aforward surface50c(shown inFIG. 19), arearward surface50d, aheel surface50fand atoe surface50e. In this embodiment, each of the heelstructural connector50 and the toestructural connector52 has a radius of curvature preferably ranging from 0.02 inch to 0.1 inch, more preferably from 0.025 inch to 0.05 inch, and most preferably 0.0395 inch. Thestriking face section30 has an exterior surface30a, aninterior surface36, anupper perimeter31 and alower perimeter33. Thecrown return portion32 extends rearward from theupper perimeter31 of thestriking face section30 preferably approximately 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches, more preferably 0.6 inch to 1.0 inch, and most preferably approximately 0.725 inch. Thesole section22 portion extends rearward from thelower perimeter33 of thestriking face section30. Thecrown end52aof the toestructural connector52 is connected to thecrown return portion32. Thecrown end50aof the heelstructural connector50 is connected to thecrown return portion32. Thesole end52bof the toestructural connector52 is connected to thesole section22. Thesole end50aof the heelstructural connector50 is connected to thesole section22.
• Acontact surface area57a,57bbetween thecrown return portion32 and both of the crown end52aof the toestructural connector52 and the crown end50aof the heelstructural connector50aranges from 1% to 5% of the surface area of thecrown return portion32. The surface area of the crown return portion ranges from 2.5 square inches to 4.0 square inches. Thecontact surface area55abetween thecrown return portion32 and the crown end52aof the toestructural connector52 preferably ranges from 0.02 square inches to 0.1 square inch, more preferably from 0.035 square inch to 0.075 square inch, and most preferably is 0.045 square inch. As shown inFIG. 18, thecontact surface area55bbetween thecrown return portion32 and the crown end50aof the heelstructural connector50 preferably ranges from 0.02 square inches to 0.1 square inch, more preferably from 0.035 square inch to 0.075 square inch, and most preferably is 0.045 square inch. As shown inFIG. 17, thecontact surface area57abetween thesole section22 and thesole end52bof the toestructural connector52 preferably ranges from 0.015 square inches to 0.1 square inch, more preferably from 0.025 square inch to 0.05 square inch, and most preferably is 0.03 square inch. Thecontact surface area57bbetween thesole section22 and thesole end50bof the heelstructural connector50 preferably ranges from 0.015 square inches to 0.1 square inch, more preferably from 0.025 square inch to 0.05 square inch, and most preferably is 0.03 square inch.
• The toestructural connector52 and the heelstructural connector50 preferably attenuate movement of thecrown return portion32 and thesole section22 when thestriking face section30 impacts a golf ball.
• The toestructural connector52 and the heelstructural connector50 each preferably have a length from thesole end50b,52bto the crown end50a,52aranging from 1 inch to 2.5 inches. As shown inFIG. 3A, theheel surface52fof the toestructural connector52 is a distance ranging from 0.75 inch to 1.5 inches from thetoe surface50eof the heelstructural connector50. Acontact area55a,55b, between thecrown return portion32 and each of the toestructural connector52 and the heelstructural connector50 preferably ranges from 0.02 square inches to 0.04 square inches.
• As shown inFIG. 5A, theforward surface50cand52cof each of the toestructural connector52 and the heelstructural connector50 is at least 0.120 inch rearward from theinterior surface36 of thestriking face section30 and therearward surface50d,52dof each of the toestructural column52 and the heelstructural column50 is no more than 1.0 inch rearward from theinterior surface36 of thestriking face section30.
• When thegolf club head10 is designed as a driver, it preferably has an external volume from 200 cubic centimeters to 600 cubic centimeters, more preferably from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters, and most preferably from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters, with a most preferred volume of 460 cubic centimeters. In the preferred embodiment, thegolf club head10 has an external volume of approximately 450 cc to 460 cc.
• When thegolf club head10 is designed as a driver, it preferably has an internal volume from 300 cubic centimeters to 420 cubic centimeters, more preferably from 380 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters, and most preferably an internal volume of 391 cubic centimeters. The toestructural column52 and the heelstructural column50 preferably have a combined volume from 0.5 cc to 4.0 cc, more preferably from 1.cc to 2.5 cc, and most preferably 1.5 cc. The toestructural column52 and the heelstructural column50 preferably occupy from 0.1% to 1.0% of the internal volume of thegolf cub head10, more preferably from 0.25% to 0.5% of the internal volume of thegolf cub head10, and most preferably 0.3% of the internal volume of thegolf cub head10.
• The external volume of thegolf club head10 also varies between fairway woods (preferably ranging from 3-woods to eleven woods) with smaller volumes than drivers. When designed as a driver, thegolf club head10 preferably has a mass of no more than 215 grams, and most preferably a mass of 180 to 215 grams; when designed as a fairway wood, thegolf club head10 preferably has a mass of 135 grams to 200 grams, and preferably from 140 grams to 165 grams.
• As shown inFIGS. 3b,5B and14A, in a preferred embodiment, the heelstructural column50 is preferably a distance from theheel end23 ranging from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. The toestructural column52 is preferably a distance from thetoe end25 ranging from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. Theforward surface50c,52cof each of the toestructural column52 and the heelstructural column50 is at least 0.120 inch rearward from theinterior surface36 of thestriking face section30. Therearward surface50d,52dof each of the toestructural column52 and the heelstructural column50 is at least 3.5 inches forward from theaft end28.
• In an alternative embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 20-21, wherein each of a plurality of structural columns is positioned within an imaginary cube defined by crown return portion, the sole section, a distance of 1.5 inches from theheel end23 of the metal body, a distance of 1.5 inches from thetoe end25 of the metal body, a distance of 3.5 inches from theaft end28 of the metal body, and a distance of 0.120 inch rearward from the interior surface of the striking face section.
• In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, thestriking face section30 preferably has a varying thickness such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,960, for a Golf Club Head With Variable Face Thickness, which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference. Other alternative embodiments of the thickness of thestriking face section30 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,666, for a Golf Club Striking Plate With Variable Thickness, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,603, for a Contoured Golf Club Face and U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,234, for a Golf Club Striking Plate Having Elliptical Regions Of Thickness, all of which are owned by Callaway Golf Company and which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, thestriking face section30 may have a uniform thickness.
• In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, thebody20 is preferably cast from molten metal in a method such as the well-known lost-wax casting method. The metal for casting is preferably titanium or a titanium alloy such as 6-4 titanium alloy, alpha-beta titanium alloy or beta titanium alloy for forging, and 6-4 titanium for casting. Alternatively, thebody20 is composed of 17-4 steel alloy. Additional methods for manufacturing thebody20 include forming thebody20 from a flat sheet of metal, super-plastic forming the body from a flat sheet of metal, machining thebody20 from a solid block of metal, electrochemical milling thebody20 from a forged pre-form, casting the body using centrifugal casting, casting thebody20 using levitation casting, and like manufacturing methods.
• In other embodiments, thegolf club head10 may have a multi-material composition such as any of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,976, 6,332,847, 6,386,990, 6,406,378, 6,440,008, 6,471,604, 6,491,592, 6,527,650, 6,565,452, 6,575,845, 6,478,692, 6,582,323, 6,508,978, 6,592,466, 6,602,149, 6,607,452, 6,612,398, 6,663,504, 6,669,578, 6,739,982, 6,758,763, 6,860,824, 6,994,637, 7,025,692, 7,070,517, 7,112,148, 7,118,493, 7,121,957, 7,125,344, 7,128,661, 7,163,470, 7,226,366, 7,252,600, 7,258,631, 7,314,418, 7,320,646, 7,387,577, 7,396,296, 7,402,112, 7,407,448, 7,413,520, 7,431,667, 7,438,647, 7,455,598, 7,476,161, 7,491,134, 7,497,787, 7,549,935, 7,578,751, 7,717,807, 7,749,096, and 7,749,097, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein.
• From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.

Claims (18)

We claim as our invention the following:

1. A golf club head comprising:

a metal body comprising

a toe structural column comprising a body with a crown end, a sole end, a forward surface, a rearward surface, a heel surface and a toe surface,

a heel structural column comprising a body with a crown end, a sole end, a forward surface, a rearward surface, a heel surface and a toe surface,

a striking face section having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter,

a crown return portion extending rearward from the upper perimeter of the striking face section, and

a sole section portion extending rearward from the lower perimeter of the striking face section;

a crown portion composed of a carbon composite material;

wherein the crown end of the toe structural column is connected to the crown return portion, the crown end of the heel structural column is connected to the crown return portion, the sole end of the toe structural column is connected to the sole section, and the sole end of the heel structural column is connected to the sole section;

wherein the heel structural column is a distance from a heel end of the metal body ranging from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches, wherein the toe structural column is a distance from a toe end of the metal body ranging from 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches, wherein the forward surface of each of the toe structural column and the heel structural column is at least 0.120 inch rearward from the interior surface of the striking face section, wherein the rearward surface of each of the toe structural column and the heel structural column is at least 3.5 inches forward from an aft end of the metal body;

wherein the toe structural column and the heel structural column attenuate movement of the crown return portion and the sole section when the striking face section impacts a golf ball.

2. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the toe structural column and the heel structural column each have a length from the sole end to the crown end ranging from 1 inch to 2.5 inches.

3. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the heel surface of the toe structural column is a distance ranging from 0.75 inch to 1.5 inches from the toe surface of the heel structural column.

4. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the golf club head has an external volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters.

5. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the metal body is composed of a titanium alloy.

6. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 185 grams to 215 grams.

7. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the metal body is composed of an iron alloy.

8. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the sole section comprises a plurality of cutouts covered with a plurality of cover pieces, each of the plurality of cover pieces composed of a carbon composite material.

9. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein a contact area between the crown return portion and each of the toe structural column and the heel structural column ranges from 0.02 square inches to 0.04 square inches.

10. The golf club head according toclaim 1 wherein the body of each of the toe structural column and the heel structural column is hollow.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a metal body comprising

a plurality of structural columns, each structural column comprising a body with a crown end, a sole end, a forward arc surface, a rearward arc surface, a heel arc surface and a toe arc surface,

a striking face section having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter,

a crown return portion extending rearward from the upper perimeter of the striking face section, and

a sole section portion extending rearward from the lower perimeter of the striking face section;

a crown body attached to the crown return portion, the crown body composed of a carbon composite material;

wherein the crown end of each of the plurality of structural columns is connected to the crown return portion, and the sole end of each of the plurality of structural columns is connected to the sole section;

wherein each of the plurality of structural columns is positioned within an imaginary cube defined by crown return portion, the sole section, a distance of 1.5 inches from a heel end of the metal body, a distance of 1.5 inches from a toe end of the metal body, a distance of 3.5 inches from an aft end of the metal body, and a distance of 0.120 inch rearward from the interior surface of the striking face section.

12. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters.

13. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein the metal body is composed of a titanium alloy.

14. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 185 grams to 215 grams.

15. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein the body of each of the plurality of structural columns is hollow.

16. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein the sole section comprises a plurality of cutouts covered with a plurality of cover pieces, each of the plurality of cover pieces composed of a carbon composite material.

17. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein a contact area between the crown return portion and each of the plurality of structural columns ranges from 0.002 square inches to 0.03 square inches.

18. The golf club head according toclaim 11 wherein the metal body is composed of an iron alloy.

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