Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6524194
-
Patent Number
6,524,194
-
Date Filed
Thursday, January 18, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 25, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 473 324
- 473 349
- 473 345
- 473 346
- 473 305
- 473 306
- 473 307
- 473 308
- 473 309
- 473 310
- 473 311
- 473 312
- 473 313
- 473 314
- 473 315
- 473 316
- 473 245
- 473 246
- 473 248
- 473 291
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft is provided. The head includes a first portion that forms an integral face and neck, with the neck having a keyed section. A second portion of the club head provides a body with a crown region and a sole region, the crown region including a keyway. A third portion is also provided in the form of a hosel tube with a top end being configured and dimensioned to receive the shaft. The hosel tube is received in the neck and fixed thereto. The first portion is fixed to the body to form a cavity, with the keyed section mating with the keyway.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a golf club head construction. More particularly, the invention is related to a three-piece golf club head construction including a stamped or forged face and neck, a cast body, and a hosel tube adapted to be received in the neck.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The design and manufacture of metal wood golf clubs requires careful attention to club head construction. Among the many factors that must be considered are materials selection, materials treatment, structural integrity, and overall geometrical design. Club heads are typically formed from stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium, and are cast, stamped as by forming sheet metal with pressure, forged, or a combination of any two or more of those processes. The club heads may be formed from multiple pieces that are welded together to form a hollow head, as is often the case of club heads designed with either sole plates or crown plates. The multi-piece constructions facilitate access to the cavity formed within the club head, thereby permitting the attachment of various other components to the head such as internal weights and the club shaft. In addition, due to difficulties in manufacturing one-piece club heads to high dimensional tolerances, the use of multi-piece constructions allows the manufacture of a club head to a tight set of standards.
Various multi-piece club head constructions are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,240 to Igarashi discloses a metal wood club head fabricated from cast sections. The head is fabricated in two half-sections, each formed by a casting technique, with the sections being joined by welding together facing edges of the sections along a parting line.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,224 to Zeider discloses a golf club head and method of manufacture. The club head has a sole plate formed integrally with a heel, toe, and back wall, and has open front and upper faces across which a face plate and crown plate, respectively, are welded. The base, face plate, and crown plate are all stamped sheet metal parts. A hosel tube projects upwardly at a desired lie angle from the base through an opening in the crown plate.
Another club head construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,217 to Tsuchiya et al. The club head is formed in three pieces including a face section, a crown section, and a sole section. The pieces are united with a separate hosel.
Despite these developments, there exists a need for an improved golf club head construction. In particular, there is a need for a golf club head that can be formed from several components that may be fixed together. More particularly, there is a need for a golf club head with a thin, stamped or forged face with a neck portion that receives a hosel tube for providing enhanced structural integrity to the club head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft. The head includes a first portion forming a face and neck. The neck has a keyed section. The head also includes a second portion forming a body with a crown region and a sole region, the crown region including a keyway. In addition, the head includes a third portion forming a hosel tube that has a top end which is configured and dimensioned for receiving the shaft, as well as a bottom end. The hosel tube is received in the neck and fixed thereto, and the first portion is fixed to the body to form a cavity. The keyed section mates with the keyway. The first portion may be forged or stamped and the second portion may be cast, or both the first and second portions may be cast.
In one embodiment, the sole region includes a hole therein, with the hole being configured and dimensioned to receive the hosel tube. The hosel tube has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a shoulder portion extending therebetween. When fully inserted in the neck of the first portion, the shoulder portion abuts the top surface of the neck. The hosel tube has an upper portion with an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of its lower portion, and may further include a top end and a bottom end, with the bottom end being disposed generally coplanar with the sole region adjacent the hole. The hosel tube has a central axis and the lie angle of the club head is between about 40° and about 70° with respect to the central axis. The second portion may include more than one piece secured together.
The hosel tube may be coupled directly to both the neck of the first portion and the sole region of the second portion, as by welding. The hosel tube may be provided with a through-bore or a blind bore.
The face of the golf club head has an exterior surface and an interior surface, and the interior surface is provided with a centrally thickened region formed thereon and having a thickness of between about 0.06 inch and 0.18 inch. The regions of the face adjacent the centrally thickened region may also be provided with a thickness of between about 0.06 inch and 0.12 inch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred features of the present invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view of a golf club head of the present invention;
FIG. 2
shows an exploded view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
shows a side view of the hosel tube of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3A
shows a side, cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the hosel tube of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 3B
shows a top, partial cross-sectional view of the hosel tube of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 4
shows a bottom view of the face and neck portion of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 5
shows a front view of the face of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
shows a cross-sectional view of the golf club head taken along line VI—VI of
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
shows a front, partial cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 8
shows a cross-sectional view of the face and body of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 9
shows a side view of the golf club head of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 10
shows a top, partial cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 11
shows a bottom, partial cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 12
shows a perspective view of the golf club head of FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1-11
, a golf club head construction according to the present development is shown. With reference to
FIGS. 1-2
, golf club head
20
includes a first portion
22
with integral face
24
and neck
26
, a second portion forming a body
28
, and a hosel tube
30
. Face
24
has a exterior, ball-striking surface
32
and an interior surface
34
. Exterior surface
32
preferably has grooving
36
. Neck
26
extends from face
24
and includes a keyed portion
36
and a through-bore
38
. First portion
22
is adapted to be attached to body
28
. Preferably, body
28
includes a crown region
40
, a sole region
42
, and a keyway
44
. A hole
46
may also be provided in sole region
42
, the purpose of which will be explained shortly. When first portion
22
and body
28
are fixed to each other, as by welding, keyed portion
36
of neck
26
mates with keyway
44
of body
28
. Preferably, keyed portion
36
and keyway
44
each include straight portions that mate together, although other geometries may be used. An inner cavity
48
also is formed in body
28
and enclosed when first portion
22
is fixed thereto. Cavity
48
may be empty, or alternatively may be filled with a foam or other low specific gravity material. Hosel tube
30
includes a bore
50
therein for receiving a golf club shaft. Preferably, first portion
22
is stamped or forged, while body
28
is cast. In an alternate embodiment, first portion
22
and body portion
28
are both cast. Also, in another alternate embodiment, body
28
may be formed of more than one piece, as for example by having separate portions for the skirt, crown, and sole. Preferably, hosel tube
30
is machined from titanium tubing.
Golf club head
20
is preferably formed of metal such as titanium. In the preferred embodiment, first portion
22
is forged from a high strength forging titanium alloy such as 10-2-3 (Ti-10% V-2% Fe-3% Al) or 15-3-3-3 (Ti-15% V-3% Cr-3% Sn-3% Al), or stamped from as-rolled sheet stock. Alternatively, first portion
22
may be formed. Body
28
may be produced from a different titanium alloy from that of face
16
, preferably by casting a 6-4 alloy (Ti-6% Al-4% V). In alternate embodiments, other forging and casting alloys may be used such as stainless steel and aluminum. By forming first portion
22
by stamping or forging, first portion
22
may be thin yet still have sufficient strength to withstand repeated impact with a golf ball without failure. In turn, by forming face
24
as thin as possible while still meeting the desired mechanical performance standards, weight may be redistributed to other parts of club head
20
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, hosel tube
30
includes a generally cylindrical upper portion
54
with an outer diameter D
1
, a generally cylindrical lower portion
56
with an outer diameter D
2
, and a shoulder portion
58
therebetween Preferably, outer diameter D
1
is larger than outer diameter D
2
. Outer diameter D
2
is sized to be accommodated in through-bore
38
of neck
26
, while outer diameter D
1
is sized to closely match the dimensions of the top periphery
60
of neck
26
. Thus, when hosel tube
30
is fully inserted into through-bore
38
, shoulder portion
58
rests on top surface
62
of neck
26
, and bottom edge
63
of hosel tube
30
is received in hole
46
in the sole region
42
of body
28
. Once positioned in hole
46
, hosel tube
30
is welded are otherwise fixed thereto. Preferably the overall length HL of hosel tube
30
is between about 3.5 inches and 3.8 inches, and more preferably 3.65 inches.
Hosel tube
30
is disposed about a central axis SHA. In the preferred embodiment, bottom edge
63
of hosel tube
30
is disposed at an angle θ
1
, with respect to central axis SHA. The club also has a lie angle θ
2
, which is the angle formed between the club's shaft axis, coinciding with central axis SHA of hosel tube
30
, and the bottom of the club head. Preferably, lie angle θ
2
is between about 40° and about 70°. Preferably, angle θ
1
is about lie angle θ
2
minus the curvature of the sole, and more preferably, angle θ
1
is between about 20° and about 50°.
As shown in
FIGS. 3A and 3B
, upper portion
54
of hosel tube
30
preferably includes an uppermost internal rim portion
55
with a diameter D
3
that is greater than the diameter D
4
of the remainder of upper portion
54
. In the preferred embodiment, outer diameter D
1
of hosel tube
30
is between about 0.47 inch and about 0.50 inch, and outer diameter D
2
is between about 0.39 inch and 0.41 inch. Diameter D
3
of internal rim portion
55
is between about 0.37 inch and about 0.43 inch, while diameter D
4
is between about 0.32 inch and 0.36 inch. Internal rim portion
55
preferably has a rim height HR of between about 0.10 inch and about 0.16 inch, and more preferably about 0.13 inch. Preferably, in regions other than internal rim portion
55
, the wall thickness of hosel tube
30
is greater than or equal to about 0.05 inch.
Referring to
FIGS. 4-6
, face
24
of first portion
22
preferably has bulge and roll radii R
1
and R
2
, respectively, of about 10.5 inches each. In the preferred embodiment, face
24
has variable thicknesses. Preferably, a centrally thickened region
64
is provided, and may be generally in the shape of an ellipse. Cross-section VI—VI of face
24
is shown in FIG.
6
. Thickened region
64
preferably is provided with a thickness T
1
of between about 0.06 inch and 0.18 inch, and adjacent to thickened region
64
, face
24
preferably has a thickness T
2
between about 0.06 inch and 0.12 inch. Outer regions
66
of face
24
preferably have a thickness T
3
between about 0.06 inch and 0.18 inch. Thickness T
1
is greater than thickness T
2
. In an alternate embodiment, face
22
has a constant thickness.
As shown in
FIG. 7
, in the preferred embodiment hosel tube
30
preferably extends to hole
46
in sole region
42
of body
28
. Preferably, hosel tube
30
includes a bore
50
that extends from top face
61
to bottom edge
63
. The provision of a through-bore
50
permits the weight of hosel tube
30
to be minimized, yet still providing the needed structural integrity for the attachment of a club shaft to the head. In alternate embodiments, hosel tube
30
is provided with a blind bore that extends at least within part of upper portion
54
from top face
61
.
Advantageously, the center of gravity
70
of club head
20
is located such that club head
20
is balanced and has desirable feel and performance. Club head
20
has a toe
72
, a heel
74
, and a lowermost point
76
. When bottom edge
63
of hosel tube
30
is in hole
46
and flush with sole region
42
, bottom edge
63
has a center point
78
, at the center of hosel tube
30
, which is spaced a horizontal distance L
1
from toe
72
. In one embodiment, horizontal distance L
1
is between about 0.8 inch and about 1.1 inch. In addition, center of gravity
70
is disposed behind face
24
, and closer heel
74
than toe
72
.
Turning to
FIG. 8
, body
28
preferably forms a shell of variable thickness. In particular, the thickness T
4
in crown region
40
is greater than the thickness T
5
in sole region
42
. In addition, the rear
80
of body
28
may be greater in thickness than either crown region
40
or sole region
42
. A vent hole
82
may also be provided in sole region
42
to permit venting during welding of portions of club head
20
. In addition, vent hole
82
may be used for access to cavity
48
, as may be necessary for the delivery of foam or other filler material thereto. In the preferred embodiment, vent hole
82
includes a lip portion
84
. Vent hole
82
preferably creates an opening with an internal diameter of between about 0.10 inch and 0.40 inch, and more preferably about 0.25 inch. Preferably, lip
84
provides a portion of sole region
42
with an increased thickness T
6
of between about 0.1 inch and 0.2 inch, and more preferably about 0.15 inch. An additional lip
85
may be provided on body
28
for abutting face
24
, which preferably follows the variable thickness profile shown in FIG.
6
.
With particular reference to
FIGS. 9-10
, a backweight
86
is shown. Preferably, backweight
86
is located in the heel-to-toe, horizontal direction as close to face center point
88
as possible, as shown by the alignment of face center point
88
, located at the frontmost portion of the club face, and midpoint
90
of backweight
86
. In addition, the maximum length L
2
of backweight
86
preferably is between about 2.2 inches and about 2.5 inches, while the maximum width L
3
of backweight
86
preferably is between about 0.4 inch and about 0.6 inch. Backweight
86
is installed at an angle of about 4° to about 6° open to face
24
, as generally represented by alignment line WGT which passes through points
92
,
94
that are located at the maximum linear separation on backweight
86
. In one embodiment, backweight
86
extends no lower than a vertical distance L
4
of about 0.25 inch from the rearmost point of club head
20
.
As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
, the face progression FP is the distance from the shaft axis SHA to the farthest front portion of club face
22
at its center point
88
. The face progression FP is preferably between about 0.6 inch and 0.8 inch, and more preferably about 0.7 inch. The overall width W of club head
20
is the distance from the frontmost portion of club face
24
to the rearmost point of club head
20
. Preferably, width W is between about 3.3 inches and about 3.9 inches, and more preferably about 3.6 inches.
In the preferred embodiment, club head
20
has an overall crown height CH, as measured from the highest point of crown region
40
to the lowest point of sole region
42
, of between about 2.0 inches and 2.4 inches, and more preferably about 2.2 inches. The loft θ
2
of club head
20
, defined as the angle of face
24
to a line VER perpendicular to the sole of the club on line HOR, preferably is between about 7° and about 10° , and more preferably is about 8.5°.
As shown in
FIG. 11
, depressions
98
,
100
may also be provided in sole region
42
. Preferably, depressions
98
,
100
are between about 0.6 inch and about 0.8 inch deep, and more preferably about 0.7 inch deep.
The provision of a hosel tube
30
that is received in a first portion
22
, including integral face
24
and neck
26
, provides a club head
20
with good mechanical integrity and concomitant strength. Advantageously, stresses generated by a golf ball impact with face
24
are borne, in part, by hosel tube
30
. Furthermore, the extension of hosel tube
30
to sole region
42
of body
28
provides enhanced mechanical integrity to golf club head
20
.
With reference to
FIG. 12
, body
28
may be provided with one or more windows
102
to provide access to cavity
48
during manufacture of golf club head
20
. In particular, in order to permit welding or other securement of hosel tube
30
to body
28
and/or first portion
22
, windows
102
are preferably provided in general proximity to hole
46
near the location of securement of first portion
22
to body
28
. Opposing holes may be provided near the toe
72
and heel
74
to allow access to cavity
48
from opposite directions.
While various descriptions of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that the various features can be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the specifically preferred embodiments depicted herein.
Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. For example, in an alternate embodiment, hosel tube
30
may only extend to a point intermediate crown region
40
and sole region
42
. Hosel tube
30
may be received by a protrusion extending from sole region
42
toward neck
26
, or extending from a region of body
28
that also is intermediate crown region
40
and sole region
42
. An elongate, planar, internal rib may be provided on body
28
, intermediate crown region
40
and sole region
42
, and hosel tube
30
may be received thereon. In addition, hosel tube
30
used in the present invention need not be a circular, cylindrical geometry, but instead may conform to other arcuate cross-sections such as oval shapes, and may be rectangular or other straight-sided geometries as well. Furthermore, although the embodiment described herein does not include a separate crown plate or sole plate, one or both may be provided for use with the present invention. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, the head comprising;a first portion forming a face and neck with the neck including a keyed section; a second portion forming a body with a crown region and a sole region, the crown region including a keyway; and a third portion forming a hosel tube having a top end being configured and dimensioned for receiving the shaft, and a bottom end, wherein the hosel tube is received in the neck and fixed thereto, and the first portion is fixed to the body to form a cavity, with the keyed section mating with the keyway, and wherein the sole region includes a hole therein, the hole being configured and dimensioned to receive the hosel tube.
- 2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first portion is forged or stamped and the second portion is cast.
- 3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are cast.
- 4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the hosel tube has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a shoulder portion extending therebetween, the shoulder portion abutting a top surface of the neck of the first portion.
- 5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the outer diameter of the upper portion is greater than the outer diameter of the lower portion.
- 6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the hosel tube further includes a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being disposed generally coplanar with the sole region adjacent the hole.
- 7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the hosel tube has a central axis and the lie angle of the club head is between about 40° and about 70° with respect to the central axis.
- 8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises more than one piece secured together.
- 9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the hosel tube is coupled directly to the neck of the first portion and the sole region of the second portion.
- 10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the hosel tube is welded to the neck and sole region.
- 11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the hosel tube has a through-bore.
- 12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the hosel tube has a blind bore.
- 13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face has an exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surface having a centrally thickened region formed thereon.
- 14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the centrally thickened region has a thickness of between about 0.06 inch and 0.18 inch.
- 15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the regions of the face adjacent the centrally thickened region have a thickness of between about 0.06 inch and 0.12 inch.
- 16. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the second portion further includes a window.
- 17. A golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft, the head comprising;a first portion forming a face and neck with the neck including a keyed section; a second portion forming a body with a crown region and a sole region, the crown region including a keyway; and a third portion forming a hosel tube having a top end being configured and dimensioned for receiving the shaft, and a bottom end, wherein the hosel tube is received in the neck and fixed thereto, and the first portion is fixed to the body to form a cavity, with the keyed section mating with the keyway, and wherein the hosel tube has a through-bore.
- 18. The golf club of claim 17, wherein the first portion is forged or stamped and the second portion is cast.
- 19. The golf club of claim 17, wherein the second portion comprises more than one piece secured together.
- 20. The golf club of claim 17, wherein the hosel tube is coupled directly to the neck of the first portion and the sole region of the second portion.
US Referenced Citations (33)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
09-168613 |
Jun 1997 |
JP |