Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-10-09
Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S345000, C473S346000, C473S349000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299547
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. 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 an internal brace for limiting the deflection of the face at high impact speeds.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a golf club head strikes a golf ball, large impacts are produced that load the club head face and the golf ball. Most of the energy is transferred from the head to the golf ball, however, some energy is lost as a result of the collision. The golf ball is typically composed of polymer cover materials (such as ionomers) surrounding a rubber-like core. These softer polymer materials having damping (loss) properties that are strain and strain rate dependent which are on the order of 10-100 times larger than the damping properties of a metallic club face. Thus, during impact most of the energy is lost as a result of the high stresses and deformations of the golf ball (0.001 to 0.20 inches), as opposed to the small deformations of the metallic club face (0.025 to 0.050 inches). A more efficient energy transfer from the club head to the golf ball could lead to greater flight distances of the golf ball.
The generally accepted approach has been to increase the stiffness of the club head face to reduce metal or club head deformations. However, this leads to greater deformations in the golf ball, and thus increases in the energy transfer problem.
Some have recognized the problem and disclosed possible solutions. An example is Campau, U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,965, for a Method Of Making Iron Golf Clubs With Flexible Impact Surface, which discloses a club having a flexible and resilient face plate with a slot to allow for the flexing of the face plate. The face plate of Campau is composed of a ferrous material, such as stainless steel, and has a thickness in the range of 0.1 inches to 0.125 inches.
Another example is Eggiman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,261, for a Golf Club Head With Elastically Deforming Face And Back Plates, which discloses the use of a plurality of plates that act in concert to create a spring-like effect on a golf ball during impact. A fluid is disposed between at least two of the plates to act as a viscous coupler.
Yet another example is Jepson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,474, for a golf Club With A Polyurethane Insert. Jepson discloses that the polyurethane insert has a hardness between 40 and 75 shore D.
Still another example is Inamori, U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,023, for a Golf Club Head With Ceramic Face Plate, which discloses using a face plate composed of a ceramic material having a high energy transfer coefficient, although ceramics are usually harder materials. Chen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,813 for a Golf Club Head, discloses using multiple layers in the face to absorb the shock of the golf ball. One of the materials is a non-metal material.
Yet another Campau invention, U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,248, for a Golf Club Having Insert Capable Of Elastic Flexing, discloses a wood club composed of wood with a metal insert.
Lu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,814, for a Hollow Club Head With Deflecting Insert Face Plate discloses a golf club head that has a reinforcing element positioned behind the face plate within an interior of a club head body that is filled with a polyurethane foam. A gap is maintained between the face plate and a support plate of the reinforcing element of the Lu invention. During impact with a golf ball, the face plate deflects until it engages the support plate whereupon the face plate is suddenly stopped and the full transfer of energy is made for the first time from the club head to the ball. The Lu invention has the face plate engage the support on every impact with a golf ball in order to reduce hooking and slicing.
The Rules of Golf, established and interpreted by the United States Golf Association (“USGA”) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews, set forth certain requirements for a golf club head. The requirements for a golf club head are found in Rule 4 and Appendix II. A complete description of the Rules of Golf are available on the USGA web page at www.usga.org. Although the Rules of Golf do not expressly state specific parameters for a golf club face, Rule 4-1e prohibits the face from having the effect at impact of a spring with a golf ball. In 1998, the USGA adopted a test procedure pursuant to Rule 4-1e which measures club face COR. This USGA test procedure, as well as procedures like it, may be used to measure club face COR.
Although the prior art has disclosed many variations of golf club heads, the prior art has failed to provide a golf club head that manipulates the coefficient of restitution depending on the impact speed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a golf club head that is capable of imparting a very high coefficient of restitution for low swing speed golfers while imparting a high, yet lower, coefficient of restitution for high swing speed golfers. The present invention is able to accomplish this by using a striking plate composed of a thin material with a brace positioned behind the striking plate.
One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head having a body having a hollow interior, a striking plate and a brace. The striking plate has an exterior surface, an interior surface and a thickness in the range of 0.010 inches to 0.250 inches. The brace is disposed in the hollow interior of the body at least 0.010 inches from the interior surface of the striking plate. The brace is either fixed in a set position, or the brace is adjustable to modify its position in relation to the striking plate. The inward deflection of the striking plate is restricted by the brace. At an impact speed greater than 110 miles per hour, the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution less than 0.83 while at speed lower than 110 mile per hour the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.83. The coefficient of restitution is measured under test conditions, such as those specified by the USGA. The standard USGA conditions for measuring the coefficient of restitution is set forth in the USGA Procedure for Measuring the Velocity Ratio of a Club Head for Conformance to Rule 4-1e, Appendix II. Revision I, Aug. 4, 1998 and Revision 0, Jul. 6, 1998, available from the USGA.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head having means for imparting a coefficient of restitution less than 0.83 at a first impact speed and imparting a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.83 at an impact speed lower than the first impact speed. The golf club head also has a striking plate that has an exterior surface, an interior surface and a thickness in the range of 0.010 inches to 0.250 inches. The imparting means may be a brace disposed within a body of the golf club head. The imparting means also strengthens the striking plate during high speed impacts to prevent failure.
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35955 (1998-11-01), Lu
patent: 3937474 (1976-02-01), Jepson et al.
patent: 3975023 (1976-08-01), Inamori
patent: 3989248 (1976-11-01), Campau
patent: 4252262 (1981-02-01), Igarashi
patent: 4326716 (1982-04-01), Lacoste
patent: 4398965 (1983-08-01), Campau
patent: 4498672 (1985-02-01), Bulla
patent: 4824110 (1989-04-01), Kobayashi
patent: 4826172 (1989-05-01), Antonious
patent: 5000454 (1991-03-01), Soda
patent: 5026056 (1991-06-01), McNally et al.
patent: 5067715 (1991-11-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 5106094 (1992-04-01), Desbiolles
patent: 5141230 (1992-08-01), Antonious
patent: 5180166 (1993-01-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 5242167 (1993-09-01), Antonious
patent: 5255918 (1993-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 52616
Callaway Golf Company
Catania Michael A.
Passaniti Sebastiano
LandOfFree
Golf club head with an internal striking plate brace does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Golf club head with an internal striking plate brace, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Golf club head with an internal striking plate brace will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2601307