Golf club head with ball speed control

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: when a golf club strikes a golf ball, a striking face of the club flexes and then springs forward, accelerating the golf ball off the striking face; while such a design may lead to large flight distances for the golf ball when struck in the center of the face, any off-center strike of the golf ball causes significant losses in flight distance.SOLUTION: A golf club head includes a striking face 118, a periphery portion 101 surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, and a damping element including a first end abutting the striking face. The damping element is installed in the golf club head through an aperture 131 in the toe side of the golf club head.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] For a golfer, the goal is to reduce the total number of swings required to complete a round of golf, and therefore the golfer's total score. To achieve that goal, it is generally desirable for a golfer to hit the ball a consistent distance when struck with the same golf club, and also to have the ball travel a longer distance with some clubs. For example, when a golfer slightly mishits the golf ball, the golfer does not want the golf ball to travel a significantly different distance. At the same time, the golfer also does not want the overall distance to be significantly reduced each time the golfer strikes the ball, even when the golfer strikes the ball on the "sweet spot" of the golf club. In addition, it is also desirable for the golf club head to produce a sound that is pleasant to the golfer when it strikes the golf ball. Summary of the Invention

[0002] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a peripheral portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a top line opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the top line and from the heel side to the toe side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel being located on the heel side; a cavity formed between the peripheral portion and the striking face; an opening extending into the cavity through the toe side; a support pad in the cavity attached to the back portion; and a damping element positioned between the support pad and the rear surface of the striking face.

[0003] In some aspects, techniques described herein relate to a method of manufacturing a golf club head, including: providing a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; providing a peripheral portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a top line opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the top line and from the heel side to the toe side, wherein a cavity is formed between the peripheral portion and the striking face; providing a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel being located on the heel side; providing an opening extending through the toe side and into the cavity; and inserting a damping element into the cavity through the opening.

[0004] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following figures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a golf club head according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the golf club head of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates a front perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 with the toe section removed. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the toe of the golf club head of FIG. 1 with the toe portion removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 with the striking face removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of the striking face. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The technology described herein contemplates an iron-type golf club head incorporating a damping element to promote more uniform ball speed across the striking face of the golf club head. Traditional thin-faced iron-type golf clubs typically generate non-uniform launch velocities across the striking face due to increased elastic compliance at the geometric center of the striking face. For example, when a golf club strikes a golf ball, the striking face of the club flexes and then bounces forward, accelerating the golf ball away from the striking face. While such a design can result in a long flight distance for a golf ball when struck at the center of the face, off-center strikes on either side of the golf ball cause a significant loss of flight distance. In comparison, an extremely thick face results in a more uniform ball flight regardless of the location of impact, but also causes a significant loss of launch velocity. The technology incorporates a damping element between the back portion of a hollow iron and the rear surface of the striking face. The inclusion of a damping element may improve launch velocity uniformity across the striking face while reducing the magnitude of launch velocity for hits at the center of the face. The compression and / or material of the damping element may be selected to achieve a desired deflection of the striking face depending on the particular swing type and golfer's needs.

[0007] 1-9 illustrate a golf club head 100 having a damping element 125 positioned rearward of the striking face 118. FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 4 illustrates a front perspective view of the golf club head 100 with the toe portion removed. FIG. 5 illustrates a toe side view of the golf club head 100 with the toe portion removed. FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of the golf club head 100 with the striking face 118 removed. FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of the striking face 118. FIG. 8 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 9 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of the golf club head 100.

[0008] The golf club head 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 is an iron-type golf club head having a hollow body structure and includes a peripheral portion 101 surrounding a striking face 118 and extending rearward therefrom. The peripheral portion 101 includes a sole 105, a top line 107 opposite the sole 105, a heel side 104, and a toe side 106 opposite the heel side 104. The peripheral portion 101 also includes a back portion 112 extending from the sole 105 to the top line 107 and from the heel side 104 to the toe side 106. The golf club head 100 includes a hosel 109 located on the heel side 104 that is configured to receive a shaft (not shown). A cavity 120 is formed between the peripheral portion 101 and the striking face 118. The striking face 118 can be formed separately and welded to the peripheral portion 101. In other embodiments, the striking face 118 may be integrally formed with the peripheral portion 101 .

[0009] The golf club head 100 further includes a damping element 125 positioned within the cavity 120. The damping element 125 has a front portion that contacts the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. A rear portion of the damping element 125 contacts a support pad 132. The support pad 132 is attached to the back portion 112 of the golf club head 100. The support pad 132 includes a raised lip 133 that protrudes toward the striking face 118, which is important for properly orienting the damping element 125 on the support pad 132 during assembly when visual inspection is ambiguous. The raised lip 133 has a shape that complements the shape of the rear portion of the damping element 125 to prevent the damping element 125 from sliding or otherwise moving out of position once installed. In a preferred embodiment, the raised lip 133 has an arcuate shape to complement the rounded rear portion of the damping element 125. In addition to the raised lip 133, the damping element 125 is generally held in place due to compression of the damping element 125 between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The damping element 125 is configured to be installed in a set position during assembly and remain in that position. The support pad 132 and raised lip 133 help ensure that the damping element 125 is installed consistently and that the damping element 125 properly and consistently engages with the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 for optimal performance. Epoxy may be used to further secure the damping element 125 to the support pad 132 and / or the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The epoxy may also provide acoustic damping for desired sound characteristics.

[0010] The damping element 125 may have a generally frustoconical shape. In other embodiments, the damping element 125 may have a cylindrical, hemispherical, cubical, or prismatic shape. The support pad 132 is formed to substantially match the shape of the rear portion of the damping element 125. The support pad 132 may be welded or otherwise attached to the back portion 112, or the support pad 132 may be formed as part of the back portion 112 during a casting or forging process. The back portion 112 may also be machined to include the support pad 132. The support pad 132 is oriented substantially parallel to the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The support pad 132 does not contact the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 at its maximum deflection. The support pad 132 itself may be made of the same material (such as steel) as the back portion 112. The support pad 132 may also be made of titanium, aluminum, a composite material, or a ceramic material.

[0011] The peripheral portion 101 includes an opening 131 on the toe side 106 to allow for installation of the damping element 125 within the cavity 120. This is important to allow for positioning the damping element 125 between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 after the striking face 118 is welded or otherwise attached to the peripheral portion 101. In one embodiment in which the striking face 118 is welded to the peripheral portion 101, installing the damping element 125 after the striking face 118 is welded protects the damping element 125 from the adverse effects of heat that the damping element 125 would experience if installed before the welding process. In another embodiment in which the striking face 118 is integrally formed with the peripheral portion 101, installing the damping element 125 through the opening 131 provides a minimally invasive assembly without requiring a larger access opening and more complex finishing steps to enclose the cavity 120. The opening 131 is sized to allow the damping element 125 to slide through the opening 131 and be positioned between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. In one embodiment, the opening 131 has a maximum height in the sole-to-top line direction, which is approximately equal to the maximum height of the damping element 125, and the opening 131 has a maximum width in the front-to-rear direction, which is approximately equal to the maximum width of the damping element 125. A raised lip 133 helps guide the damping element 125 into its proper position. Once the damping element 125 is installed, a cap 136 covers the opening 131 to prevent unwanted debris and moisture from entering the cavity 120. The cap 136 may be attached using an adhesive. Alternatively, the cap 136 may be attached by welding, preferably pulse welding. Pulse welding the cap 136 to the outside of the opening 131 involves welding smaller sections of the weld path in multiple passes. This is important to allow the golf club head 100 to cool between weld passes to prevent excessive heat exposure to the damping element 125. Preferably, the opening 131 is sized just large enough to allow the damping element 125 to pass through during assembly.The relatively small size of the opening 131 provides a minimum heat exposure time for the damping element 125 when the cap 136 is welded to the outside of the opening 131. Additionally, the location of the opening 131 on the toe side 106 of the peripheral portion 101 provides a maximum separation distance from heat exposure for the damping element 125 when the cap 136 is welded to the outside of the opening 131.

[0012] In a preferred method of manufacturing the golf club head 100, the striking face portion 118 is welded to or integrally formed with the peripheral portion 101. The damping element 125 is then inserted into the cavity 120 through an opening 131 located on the toe side 106 of the peripheral portion 101. The damping element 125 is positioned between a support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. A raised lip 133 assists in locating the proper positioning of the damping element 125 and, once properly seated, helps prevent undesired movement of the damping element 125. A cap 136 is then welded or adhered to the peripheral portion 101 to cover the opening 131 and enclose the cavity 120.

[0013] In a conventional thin-face golf club, a hit at the geometric center of the striking face exhibits the greatest displacement of the striking face and therefore the greatest ball speed. By locating the damping element 125 closer to the geometric center of the striking face 118, deflection of the striking face 118 at that point is reduced, and therefore ball speed is reduced. However, portions of the striking face 118 not backed by the damping element 125 continue to deflect into the cavity 120 and contribute to the speed of the golf ball. In this manner, a more even distribution of ball speed resulting from a ball strike across the striking face 118 from the heel side 104 to the toe side 106 may be achieved.

[0014] The elasticity of the damping element 125 affects the deflection of the striking face 118. For example, a material with a lower elastic modulus allows more deflection of the striking face 118, providing a higher maximum ball speed but less uniformity of the ball speed. In contrast, a material with a higher elastic modulus prevents more deflection of the striking face 118, providing a lower maximum ball speed but more uniformity of the ball speed. For some applications, a range of elastic modulus for the damping element 125 from about 4 MPa to about 15 GPa may be used. For other applications, a range of elastic modulus for the damping element 125 from about 15 to about 40 GPa may be used. To achieve the goal of the carry distance of off-center shots being closer to the carry distance of center shots, the material for the damping element 125 may have an elastic modulus of about 40 GPa or greater, more preferably about 70 GPa or greater. The material for the damping element 125 may be a polymer, preferably silicone, to achieve a lower modulus of elasticity for faster ball speeds, or a metal such as aluminum, steel, or titanium to achieve a higher modulus of elasticity for more consistent carry distance across the striking face 118. Maximum ball speed for impact at the center is reduced when the damping element 125 has a higher modulus of elasticity, but speed retention across the striking face 118 is improved. This is desirable for golfers who want more consistent carry distance from hits across the striking face 118 rather than maximizing overall carry distance.

[0015] The damping element 125 has a free thickness and an installed thickness measured in the front-to-back direction. In some embodiments, the free thickness and installed thickness of the damping element 125 can be substantially the same, resulting in little or no preload of the damping element 125 against the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. In other embodiments, the installed thickness can be less than the free thickness, creating a preload force on the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. This preload force can alter the coefficient of restitution of the striking face 118. In additional embodiments, multiple versions of the damping element 125 may be available with different free thicknesses to achieve a particular coefficient of restitution. Alternatively, the material of the damping element 125 can be modified to change its stiffness, thereby altering the coefficient of restitution of the golf club head.

[0016] The greater compression of the damping element 125 against the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 further limits the deflection of the striking face 118. As a result, the greater limiting of deflection causes a more uniform ball speed across the striking face 118. However, the limiting of deflection also reduces the maximum ball speed from the center of the striking face 118. To achieve a golf club head 100 that generates greater maximum distance but does not require a uniform ball speed across the striking face 118, the initial compression of the damping element 125 can be reduced, or a damping element 125 with a lower modulus of elasticity can be used. In contrast, to achieve a golf club head 100 with a more uniform ball speed across the striking face 118, the initial compression of the damping element 125 can be increased, or a damping element 125 with a higher modulus of elasticity can be used. This adjustability is important for meeting various specific performance needs for different individuals.

[0017] The inclusion of the damping element 125 in the golf club head 100 provides durability benefits to the striking face 118 by reducing the stress values ​​exhibited by the striking face 118 upon impact with a golf ball. Without the damping element 125, von Mises stress levels are high, indicating that the striking face 118 may be prone to failure and / or premature deterioration. These von Mises stress values ​​are lower with the damping element 125, indicating a more durable golf club head 100 that is less likely to fail.

[0018] Another goal of the damping element 125 described herein is to dissipate energy in the golf club head after striking a golf ball. As the striking face 118 and other portions of the golf club head vibrate, the damping element 125 in contact with those surfaces can dissipate energy. This can change the sound produced by the golf club head 100 by reducing the loudness and / or duration of the sound produced when the golf club head 100 strikes a golf ball.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the peripheral portion 101 is configured to receive a first weight member 111a positioned proximate the toe side 106 and a second weight member 111b positioned proximate the heel side 104. The first weight member 111a has an angled upper surface 111a1 such that the first weight member 111a has a maximum height in the sole-to-topline direction at its most toe-proximal point and a minimum height in the sole-to-topline direction at its most heel-proximal point. This shape of the first weight member 111a allows for increased weight concentration toward the toe and sole for higher moment of inertia and forgiveness. The second weight member 111b has an angled upper surface 111b1 such that the second weight member 111b has a maximum height in the sole-to-topline direction at its most heel-proximal point and a minimum height in the sole-to-topline direction at its most toe-proximal point. This shape of the second weight member 111b allows for increased heel- and sole-facing weight concentration for higher moment of inertia and forgiveness.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the striking face 118 has a thickness that varies from the front surface 117 to the rear surface 119 to further promote more uniform ball speed across the striking face 118 of the golf club head 100. The striking face 118 includes a thickened portion 122 that at least partially overlaps a vertical plane perpendicular to the ground and passes through the center of the face of the golf club head 100 when in the address position. The thickened portion 122 is preferably 1.6 mm to 2.6 mm thick, more preferably 1.8 mm to 2.4 mm thick, and most preferably 1.9 mm to 2.2 mm thick. The striking face 118 also includes a thinned portion 123 that at least partially surrounds the thickened portion 122. The thinned portion 123 is preferably 1.1 mm to 2.1 mm thick, more preferably 1.35 mm to 1.85 mm thick, and most preferably 1.5 mm to 1.7 mm thick. The thickness of the striking face 118 may gradually taper from the thickened portion 122 to the thinned portion 123, which may be located around the periphery of the striking face 118. The thickened portion 122 is preferably 10% to 50% thicker than the thinned portion 123, more preferably 20% to 40% thicker than the thinned portion 123, and most preferably 25% to 35% thicker than the thinned portion 123. These thicknesses and relative dimensions are important for maintaining consistent ball speeds across the striking face 118 and for controlling the stresses experienced by the striking face 118. The front surface of the damping element 125 engages the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 at the thickened portion 122.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, the back portion 112 of the golf club head 100 may include a pocket 113 to allow a back weight 115 to be inserted into the pocket 113 from the rear of the golf club head 100. The back weight 115 allows the swing weight of the golf club head 100 to be customized based on player preference. The back weight 115 may be selected from multiple different masses having the same shape and volume to achieve a specific swing weight at a later stage of club head production. This allows for greater flexibility in customizing the golf club head 100. The back weight 115 may be secured within the pocket 113 by welding or adhesive bonding to prevent undesired removal once the appropriate rear weight 115 is selected. In another embodiment, the back weight 115 may be removably secured within the pocket 113 by clamping or threaded engagement to allow for greater interchangeability of the back weight 115.

[0022] Other than in the working examples, or unless otherwise expressly specified, all numerical ranges, amounts, values, and percentages may be read as if preceded by the word "about," even if the term "about" does not explicitly appear in conjunction with the value, amount, or range. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and claims are approximations that may be modified depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of at least the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0023] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values ​​set forth in any specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. However, any numerical value inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0024] Although particular embodiments and aspects have been described herein, and particular examples have been provided, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those particular embodiments and examples. Those skilled in the art will recognize other embodiments or improvements that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, particular structures, acts, or mediums are disclosed as exemplary embodiments only. The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims and any equivalents therein.

Claims

1. In the golf club head, a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a peripheral portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a top line opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the top line and from the heel side to the toe side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel being located on the heel side; a cavity formed between the peripheral portion and the striking face; an opening extending through the toe side and into the cavity; a support pad within the cavity attached to the back portion; a damping element positioned between the support pad and the rear surface of the striking face.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a cap covering the opening.

3. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the support pad is parallel to the striking face.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the support pad includes a raised lip that protrudes toward the striking face.

5. 5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the raised lip has an arcuate shape.

6. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the damping element has an elastic modulus of 4 MPa to 15 GPa.

7. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the damping element has an elastic modulus of 15 GPa to 40 GPa.

8. further comprising a first weight member and a second weight member; the first weight member is positioned adjacent to the toe side; the first weight member has an angled upper surface, a maximum height in a sole-to-top line direction at a point closest to the toe, and a minimum height in the sole-to-top line direction at a point closest to the heel; the second weight member is positioned adjacent to the heel side; 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight member has an angled upper surface, a maximum height in the sole-to-top line direction at a point closest to the heel, and a minimum height in the sole-to-top line direction at a point closest to the toe.

9. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the opening has a maximum height in the sole-to-top line direction that is approximately equal to a maximum height of the damping element in the sole-to-top line direction.

10. 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the opening has a maximum width in the front-to-back direction that is approximately equal to a maximum width of the damping element in the front-to-back direction.

Images