Golf club head with heterogeneous face insert with and without perimeter weighting and weight band
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-08
AI Technical Summary
Golf club heads struggle to maintain accuracy and distance due to off-center hits, which cause undesired spin and distance loss, as existing designs fail to effectively manage club face alignment and material density distribution.
A golf club head design featuring a zirconia strike face plate with a cavity in the main body, surrounded by a higher-density perimeter material and optionally a weight band, providing improved stability and forgiveness through enhanced material density contrast and distribution.
The design enhances ball flight accuracy, power, and forgiveness by stabilizing the club head on impact, increasing launch speed and distance, even on off-center hits, through the use of zirconia and higher-density materials.
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Abstract
Description
GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH HETEROGENEOUS FACE INSERT WITH AND WITHOUT PERIMETER WEIGHTING AND WEIGHT BANDRELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 470,687 filed June 2, 2023, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 470,674 filed June 2, 2023, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURETechnical field
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of golf club heads and, more particularly, to iron, driver, fairway wood and / or hybrid golf club heads having face inserts of materials heterogeneous with respect to other portions of the golf club head and / or perimeter weighting.Background
[0003] Despite recent technological improvements to golf equipment, golf remains a difficult game to play at an expert level. For a golfball to reliably fly along a desired path and in the desired direction, a golf club face must meet the golf ball aligned as desired with the desired club face path. Moreover, the golf club face must meet the golf ball at or close to a desired location on the club head face to reliably fly along the desired path, in the desired direction, and for a desired distance. Off-center hits may tend to “twist” the club face when it contacts the ball, thereby sending the ball in an undesired direction, imparting undesired hook or slice spin, and / or robbing the shot of distance. Club face / ball contact that deviates from the desired contact and / or is located away from the club face’s desired ball contact location, even by a relatively minor amount, also can launch the golfball in the wrong direction, often with undesired hook or slice spin, and / or can rob the shot of distance. The distance and direction of ball flight can also be significantly affected by the spin imparted to the ball by the impact with the club head. Various golf club heads have been designed to improve a golfer's accuracy by assisting the golfer in squaring the club head face at impact with a golfball.
[0004] The golf club heads of the present disclosure are provided to address the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior ball striking devices of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] In a preferred aspect, the present disclosure comprises a golf club head, comprising: a main body having a front side; a strike face plate, wherein the strike face plate is disposed in a cavity defined by the front side of the main body, and wherein the strike face plate comprises a zirconia material having a hardness in the range of HV 1,100 - 1,300.
[0006] In another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the strike face plate is held in the cavity by nickel paste or silver paste.
[0007] In yet another preferred aspect, the golf club head of the present disclosure further comprises a perimeter around or covered by the strike face plate comprising a second material of greater density than a first material making up main body.
[0008] In another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the main body comprises a first material having a density between about 7,500 kg / m3to about 8,000 kg / m3and the perimeter comprises a second material having a density between about 15,000 kg / m3to about 22,000 kg / m3.
[0009] In yet another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the perimeter is inserted into the main body around the strike face plate or underneath the strike face plate and is not visible on the front side of the main body.
[0010] In yet a further preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the perimeter is disposed on an outer surface of the front side of the main body around the strike face plate and is visible on the front side of the main body.
[0011] In another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the strike face plate is installed in and surrounded in the cavity by graphite and / or resin.
[0012] In yet another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the strike face plate is disposed in and surrounded by a graphite cartridge, wherein the strike face plate in the graphite cartridge is installed or secured on or in the front side of the main body.
[0013] In another preferred aspect, the golf club head of the present disclosure further comprises a weight band disposed around a perimeter of main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body, in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the strike face plate; wherein the weight band comprises a second material of greater density than a first material making up main body.
[0014] In another preferred aspect, the present disclosure comprises a golf club head, comprising: a main body having a front side; and a weight band disposed around a perimeter of main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body, in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the front side; wherein the weight band comprises a second material of greater density than a first material making up main body.
[0015] In yet another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the weight band is inserted into the main body and is not visible on an outside surface of the main body.
[0016] In a further preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the weight band is disposed on an outer surface of the main body, including on a crown and a sole of main body, and is visible on the main body including the crown and sole.
[0017] In yet another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the weight band runs continuously around the perimeter of the main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body.
[0018] In another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the weight band runs intermittently around the perimeter of the main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body.
[0019] In yet another preferred aspect of a golf club head of the present disclosure, the second material of the weight band runs partially around the perimeter of the main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body.Brief Description of the Drawings
[0020] For the present disclosure to be easily understood and readily practiced, the present disclosure will now be described for purposes of illustration and not limitation in connection with the following figures, wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a preferred driver golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of another preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of yet another preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows front and side elevational views of another preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 8 shows front and side elevational views of another preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 9 shows front and side elevational views of another preferred iron golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 10 shows side elevational views of another preferred driver golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 11 shows side elevational views of another preferred driver golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of another preferred driver golf club head of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the driver golf club head of FIG. 12;
[0034] FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of another preferred driver golf club head of the present disclosure; and
[0035] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of another preferred driver golf club head of the present disclosure.Detailed Description
[0036] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0037] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 - 2, a golf club head 10 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure comprises main body 12, strike face plate 14, hosel 16, leading edge 18, top line 20 and sole 22. Preferably, main body 12 forms in a front side 13 thereof a fitting cavity or recess 11. Strike face plate 14 and fitting cavity preferably may be trapezoidal in shape as shown in FIG. 1. In different applications, strike face plate 14 and fitting cavity 11 can be of differing shapes such as rectangular, swallow-tail, dovetail shape, hexagonal, oval, irregular or other shapes. Fitting cavity 11 preferably has means for retaining strike face plate 14 within fitting cavity 11. Preferably, strike face plate 14 is bonded to main body 12 within fitting cavity 11 using nickel paste or silver paste in a vacuum brazing process. Also, preferably, strike face plate 14 may define areas of bulge, roll and / or areas of varying face thicknesses.
[0038] Preferably, striking face plate 14 is made of for example Zirconia, also known as zirconium dioxide (ZrOz). Zircon is a mineral which is a co-product from the mining and processing of ancient heavy mineral sand deposits. If s also referred to as zirconium silicate and has the chemical composition ZrSiCU. Zirconia can be produced by melting Zircon at very high temperatures, typically above 2,600° C, in an electric arc furnace to form molten zirconia, also known as zirconium oxide (ZrO2). Zirconium, another derivative of zircon, is the chemical element Zr in the Periodic Table and takes the form of a silvery grey metal. It is typically produced by the reduction of the chemical zirconium oxychloride (ZOC), where the ZOC itself is produced by a complex process of chemical disassociation of zircon (zirconium silicate). Preferably, striking face plate 14 is made by mixing acrylic resin with Zirconia powder in order to form the desired shape of striking face plate 14 which may or may not include bulge and / or roll (bulge is the curvature of the clubface from the heel to the toe while roll is the curvature of the face from the crown of the club to the sole). The green striking face plate 14 is then sintered in a furnace attemperatures of 1200° C ± 50° C where the resin is burned off leaving a striking face plate 14 of early hundred percent Zirconia.
[0039] In a preferred embodiment, main body 12 of golf club head 10 is formed from a metal (e.g., steel), a metal alloy (e.g., an alloy of titanium, an alloy of aluminum, and / or an alloy of magnesium), a composite material, such as a graphitic composite, a ceramic material, or any combination thereof. In one specific preferred example, golf club head 10 includes main body 12 that is formed primarily from steel and a strike face plate 14 that is formed primarily from zirconia (zirconium dioxide). Also, the zirconia (zirconium dioxide) material used in strike face plate 14 preferably has a hardness in the range in the range of HV 1,100 - 1,300. Such material for strike face plate 14 provides a very hard-hitting surface with a hardness close to that of sapphire, which is second in hardness to diamond, to generate increased ball compression, much higher launch speed and greater distance with golf club drivers, fairway woods / metals, "utility clubs" and "hybrid clubs" that combine elements of both woods and irons into their design to accentuate the better qualities of each and irons, especially long irons.
[0040] FIGS. 3-6 show additional preferred embodiments of a golf club head 30 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure comprises main body 32, strike face plate 34, hosel 36, leading edge 37, top line 38 and sole 39. Preferably, main body 32 forms in a front side 33 thereof a fitting cavity or recess 31, which is of for example a trapezoidal shape. In different applications, fitting cavity 31 can be of differing shapes such as rectangular, swallow-tail, dovetail shape or others. Fitting cavity 31 preferably has means for retaining strike face plate 34 within fitting cavity 31. Additionally, a perimeter 40 of main body 32 around strike face plate 34 preferably has been milled out or removed by other means or originally formed with main body 32. Perimeter 40 instead comprises a perimeter material 41 of greater density than that making up main body 32 to stabilize golf club head 30 on all types of golf ball impacts and to increase power, accuracy and forgiveness on off-center hits, while producing a higher ball flight. The densities of materials of potential use in club head 30 are mild steel 7,850 kg / m3, stainless steel 7,982 kg / m3, titanium 4,520 kg / m3and tungsten 19,450 kg / m3and tungsten alloys ranging in density from about 15,000 kg / m3to about 22,000 kg / m3.
[0041] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the higher density material 41 of perimeter 40 is preferably inserted into the main body 12 along perimeter 40 on the inside of strike face plate 34 where it is not visible or it may be attached on the outer surface of front side 33 around strikeface plate 34 to provide distinctive look to golf club head 30. In any embodiment of golf club head 30, the higher density material 41 of perimeter 40 may run continuously, intermittently or partially around or underneath strike face plate 34 on the outside or inside of the front side 33 of club head 30. In addition, the higher density material 41 of perimeter 40 may comprise round, triangle or quadrilateral shaped bar or sintered metal powder material comprising one or more of tungsten, tungsten alloys and other high density materials. Here again, strike face plate 34 is preferably formed primarily from zirconia (zirconium dioxide). Also, the zirconia (zirconium dioxide) material used in strike face plate 34 preferably has a hardness in the range in the range of HV 1 , 100 - 1,300.
[0042] Golf club head 30 with perimeter 40 of higher density material 41 is particularly suited for golf club irons and especially long irons.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11, golf club head 10 preferably comprising main body 12 which is typically made of steel or titanium and a strike face plate 14 that has been encased in a graphite cartridge 50, preferably before the cartridge 50 is attached to the main body 12 using resin such as acrylic resin. In this embodiment, virtually the entire front side 13 of club head 10 comprises graphite cartridge 50 surrounding strike face plate 14 as shown in FIG. 8. In this preferred embodiment strike face plate 14 is preferably formed primarily from zirconia (zirconium dioxide). Also, the zirconia (zirconium dioxide) material used in strike face plate 34 preferably has a hardness in the range in the range of HV 1,100 - 1,300.
[0044] FIGS. 9 - 10 show another preferred embodiment golf club head 10 that preferably comprises main body 12 which is typically made of steel or titanium and a strike face plate 14 that has been installed into fitting cavity 11 using graphite and resin (such as acrylic resin) components 52. In this preferred embodiment strike face plate 14 is preferably formed primarily from zirconia (zirconium dioxide). Also, the zirconia (zirconium dioxide) material used in strike face plate 34 preferably has a hardness in the range in the range of HV 1,100 — 1,300.
[0045] In a preferred embodiment, main body 32 of golf club head 30 is formed from a metal (e.g., steel), a metal alloy (e.g., an alloy of steel, an alloy of titanium, an alloy of aluminum, and / or an alloy of magnesium), a composite material, such as a graphitic composite, a ceramic material, or any combination thereof. In one specific preferred example, golf club head 30 includes main body 32 that is formed primarily from an alloy of steel or titanium, a perimeter material 41 madeprimarily of tungsten and a strike face plate 34 that is formed primarily from zirconia (zirconium dioxide).
[0046] With reference to FIGS. 12-14, golf club head 10 comprises a weight band 70 that is preferably disposed on or in main body 12 or integrally formed with main body 12 such as by 3D printing. As shown in FIGS. 12-13, weight band 70 preferably runs around the outer perimeter of main body 12 in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to strike face plate 14. Weight band 70 preferably comprises a material 71 of greater density than that making up main body 12 to stabilize golf club head 10 on all types of golfball impacts and to increase power, accuracy and forgiveness on off-center hits, while producing a higher ball flight. The densities of materials of potential use in club head 10 are mild steel 7,850 kg / m3, stainless steel 7,982 kg / m3, titanium 4,520 kg / m3and tungsten 19,450 kg / m3and tungsten alloys ranging in density from about 15,000 kg / m3to about 22,000 kg / m3. '
[0047] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the higher density material 71 of weight band 70 is preferably inserted into the main body 12 where it is not visible or it may be disposed on the surfaces of crown 24 and sole 22 to provide distinctive look to golf club head 10. In any embodiment of golf club head 10, the higher density material 71 of weight band 70 may run continuously, intermittently or partially around a perimeter of main body 12. In addition, the higher density material 71 of weight band 70 may comprise round, triangle or quadrilateral shaped bar or sintered metal powder material.
[0048] Golf club head 10 with higher density material 71 of weight band 70 disposed in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to strike face plate 14 is particularly suited for golf club drivers, fairway woods, utility clubs and hybrids.
[0049] In a preferred embodiment, main body 12 of golf club head 10 is formed from a metal (e.g., steel), a metal alloy (e.g., an alloy of titanium, an alloy of aluminum, and / or an alloy of magnesium), a composite material, such as a graphitic composite, a ceramic material, or any combination thereof.
[0050] In one specific example, golf club head 10 includes main body 12 that is formed from an alloy of titanium, a weight band 70 comprising material 71 made of tungsten or an alloy of tungsten and a strike face plate 14 that is formed from zirconia (zirconium dioxide). Preferably, main body 12 comprises a first material having a density between about 7,500 kg / m3to about8,000 kg / m3and the perimeter 40 and / or weight band 70 comprising material 71 comprises a second material having a density between about 15,000 kg / m3to about 22,000 kg / m3.
[0051] While the figures herein show a golf driver or iron club head, the golf club head of the present disclosure additionally may comprise a fairway wood, hybrid, wedge or a putter.
[0052] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
[0053] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf club head, comprising: a main body having a front side; a strike face plate, wherein the strike face plate is disposed in a cavity defined by the front side of the main body, and wherein the strike face plate comprises a zirconia material having a hardness in the range of HV 1,100 - 1,300.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the strike face plate is held in the cavity by nickel paste or silver paste.
3. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a perimeter around or covered by the strike face plate comprising a second material of greater density than a first material making up main body.
4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the main body comprises a first material having a density between about 7,500 kg / m3to about 8,000 kg / m3and the perimeter comprises a second material having a density between about 15,000 kg / m3to about 22,000 kg / m3.
5. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the second material of the perimeter is inserted into the main body around the strike face plate or underneath the strike face plate and is not visible on the front side of the main body.
6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the second material of the perimeter is disposed on an outer surface of the front side of the main body around the strike face plate and is visible on the front side of the main body.
7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the strike face plate is installed in and surrounded in the cavity by graphite and / or resin.
8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the strike face plate is disposed in and surrounded by a graphite cartridge, wherein the strike face plate in the graphite cartridge is installed or secured on or in the front side of the main body.
9. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a weight band disposed around a perimeter of main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body, in a planeparallel or substantially parallel to the strike face plate; wherein the weight band comprises a second material of greater density than a first material making up main body.
10. A golf club head, comprising: a main body having a front side; and a weight band disposed around a perimeter of main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body, in a plane parallel or substantially parallel to the front side; wherein the weight band comprises a second material of greater density than a first material making up main body.
11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second material of the weight band is inserted into the main body and is not visible on an outside surface of the main body.
12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second material of the weight band is disposed on an outer surface of the main body, including on a crown and a sole of main body, and is visible on the main body including the crown and sole.
13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second material of the weight band runs continuously around the perimeter of the main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body.
14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second material of the weight band runs intermittently around the perimeter of the main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body.
15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the second material of the weight band runs partially around the perimeter of the main body, either on an outside surface of or inside the main body.