Reinforced golf club head having sandwich construction

Abstract

A golf club head having a cavity back arrangement and a sandwich construction is disclosed. The club head contains a thin strike face, a metal back flange and a light weight insert located between the strike face and the back flange to provide structural support to the strike face. The insert is in contact with at least a portion of the strike face and is made from light weight materials including magnesium and titanium. The club head is constructed to move the center of gravity lower and toward the back of the club head and to increase the moment of inertia. The insert provides the necessary support with adversely affecting either the center of gravity or the moment of inertia.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 640,536, which was filed Aug. 13, 2003.TECHNICAL AREA [0002] The present invention relates to golf clubs having sandwich construction and in particular to golf clubs having a thin face strengthened by a light weight insert. BACKGROUND [0003] Individual golf club heads in a set typically increase progressively in strike face surface area and weight as the clubs progress from the long irons to the short irons. Therefore, the club heads of the long irons have a smaller strike face surface area than the short irons and are typically more difficult for the average golfer to hit consistently well. For conventional club heads, this arises at least in part due to the smaller sweet spot of the corresponding smaller strike face. [0004] To help the average golfer consistently hit the sweet spot on a club head, many golf clubs have heads with so-called cavity back constructi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed to a golf club construction that utilizes materials to their strength and weight benefits. The benefits are manifested in a thin face golf club that is strengthened via a sandwich style construction. The golf club's MOI and CG positions are optimized compared to conventional golf clubs.

[0008] A golf club head in accordance with the present invention has an open structure behind the club strike face caused by an undercut, back flange or hollow construction. This open structure is filled with a light weight material formed as an insert. A metal back flange of the club holds the light weight insert in place. This sandwich structure, metal strike face—light weight reinforcing insert—metal back, is strong enough to withstand repeated golf ball impacts. The strike face portion is generally thinner than conventional golf clubs, and the insert disposed in the cavity behind the strike face provides structural support. The insert material has low density but high impact strength. In addition to being used to provide light weight, reinforced golf clubs, including irons and drivers, the present invention can be used in putters, as well as other equipment such as baseball bats.

[0009] The present invention uses multiple materials to synergistically reinforce a thin face, increasing the MOI and moving the CG into a more desirable location. The strike face, which must withstand repeated impacts, is designed to a certain minimum strength. The strike face, with no back support, generally needs some thickness to prevent permanent deformation. However, the face can be made thinner when combined with a light weight support. Thinning the strike face affords discretionary weight that can be moved toward the back and lower in the club head. The light weight insert materials may have relatively low abrasion resistance or hardness, but sufficient as load bearing members behind a durable metal strike face.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, the club heads of the long irons have a smaller strike face surface area than the short irons and are typically more difficult for the average golfer to hit consistently well.

One challenge for the golf club designer when maximizing the size of the club head is to maintain a desirable and effective overall weight of the golf club.

For example, if the club head of a three iron is increased in size and weight, the club may become difficult for the average golfer to swing properly.

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