Golf club head having a crown with thin regions

Abstract

A golf club head includes a hollow body having a front wall, a crown and a sole. The crown has a thickness dimension measured between its inner and outer surfaces. An outer edge of the crown extends in a generally arcuate path between heel and toe ends of the hollow body. A plurality of thin regions in the crown is arranged in a matrix pattern. The plurality of thin regions includes a first row of thin regions disposed adjacent the outer edge of the crown and a second row of thin regions disposed inwardly of the first row of thin regions. The crown thickness dimension in the plurality of thin regions is reduced when compared with the crown thickness dimension in other regions of the crown.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf equipment and, in particular, to a golf club head having a crown with thin regions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,596 to Noble et al discloses a golf club head including a hollow body with a front wall, a top wall or crown, a bottom wall or sole, and a side wall or skirt. The front wall varies in thickness while the top, bottom and side walls are substantially uniform in thickness.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,723 to Bliss et al discloses a golf club head including a hollow body with a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall as disclosed in the Noble et al patent. The front wall varies in thickness, and a weight member located on the sole lowers the center of gravity of the club head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a golf club head including a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a crown and a sole. The crown extends rearwardly from an upper portion of the front wall, and the sole extends rearwardly from a lower portion of the front wall. The crown has inner surface, an outer surface, a thickness dimension measured between the inner and outer surfaces, and an outer edge extending in a generally arcuate path between the heel and toe ends of the hollow body. A plurality of thin regions in the crown is arranged in a web-shaped pattern. The plurality of thin regions includes a first row of thin regions disposed adjacent the outer edge of the crown and a second row of thin regions disposed inwardly of the first row of thin regions. The crown thickness dimension in the plurality of thin regions is reduced when compared with the crown thickness dimension in other regions of said crown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a golf club head according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf club head of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of a golf club head according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a golf club head 10 comprises a hollow body 12 preferably formed of titanium having a front wall 14 for impacting a golf ball, and a hosel 16 adapted to receive a golf club shaft 17. Hollow body 12 further includes a crown 20, a sole 22 and a skirt 24. The crown 20 extends rearwardly from an upper portion of the front wall 14, and the sole 22 extends rearwardly from a lower portion of the front wall 14. Crown 20 and skirt 24 meet along an outer edge 26 of the crown 20 which, preferably, extends in an arcuate path between a heel end 28 of hollow body 12 and a toe end 30 of hollow body 12. The skirt 24 extends from the crown outer edge 26 toward the sole 22. The crown 20 has a thickness dimension measured between its inner and outer surfaces.

The region surrounding crown outer edge 26 preferably forms an outer perimeter region 32 that smoothly blends crown 20 and skirt 24 together. Outer perimeter region 32 preferably ranges from about 0.700 inch above and about 0.700 inch below the crown outer edge 26, more preferably about 0.350 inch above and about 0.350 inch below the crown outer edge 26, and most preferably about 0.250 inch above and about 0.250 inch below the crown outer edge 26.

Hollow body 12 may be formed by investment casting or it may be assembled from a series of forged pieces that are welded or brazed together. Crown 20 is formed with a plurality of thin regions 34, 35 arranged in a matrix pattern, preferably an arcuate matrix or web-shaped pattern of at least two rows of thinned sections. The plurality of thin regions 34, 35 includes a first row of thin regions 34 disposed adjacent the crown outer edge 26, and a second row of thin regions 35 disposed inwardly of the first row of thin regions 34.

The first row of thin regions 34 is spaced from the crown outer edge 26 to form a substantially arcuate rib 38 that extends along the outer perimeter region 32. In addition, the thin regions 34 and 35 are spaced apart to form substantially linear ribs 40 that are connected to the arcuate rib 38. The first and second rows of thin regions 34,35 are spaced apart to form a substantially arcuate rib 42 disposed radially inward from arcuate rib 38. The arcuate ribs 38, 42 and the linear ribs 40 define the web-shaped pattern in which the thin regions 34, 35 are arranged while maintaining the strength of the crown 20.

The thin regions 34, 35 are formed such that the thickness dimension of the crown 20 in the thin regions 34, 35 is reduced when compared with the thickness dimension of the crown 20 in other regions of the crown 20. The approximate thickness dimension of the thin regions 34, 35 may range from 0.016 to 0.030 inch, or more preferably from 0.018 to 0.028 inch, and most preferably from 0.020 to 0.026 inch. Other regions of the crown 20 have a thickness dimension greater than 0.030 inch.

The web-shaped pattern in which the thin regions 34, 35 are arranged removes approximately 3 grams of unneeded material in the crown 20. The material removed from the crown 20 is preferably redistributed to the sole 22 thereby lowering the center of gravity of the club head 10 approximately 0.020 inch toward the sole 22.

In the embodiment of the golf club head 10 shown in FIG. 4, a third row of thin regions 36 is disposed inwardly of the second row of thin regions 35. A further substantially arcuate rib 44 is disposed radially inward from the arcuate rib 42 between the second and third rows of thin regions 35, 36.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising: a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a crown extending rearwardly from an upper portion of said front wall, and a sole extending rearwardly from a lower portion of said front wall;said crown having an inner surface, an outer surface and a thickness dimension measured between said inner and outer surfaces;a plurality of thin regions in said crown, each of said plurality of thin regions arranged to form a plurality of rows of thin regions, each row of said plurality of rows being separated from an adjacent row by an arcuate rib having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plurality of thin regions, each of said plurality of thin regions in a row further being separated from an adjacent thin region by a substantially linear rib having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plurality of thin regions; andsaid thickness dimension in said plurality of thin regions being reduced when compared with said thickness dimension in other regions of said crown.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein: said thickness dimension in said plurality of thin regions is between 0.016 and 0.030 inch; andsaid thickness dimension of said ribs and in said other regions of said crown is greater than 0.030 inch.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said thickness dimension in said plurality of thin regions is between 0.018 and 0.028 inch.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein said thickness dimension in said plurality of thin regions is between 0.020 and 0.026 inch.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising: said crown also having an outer edge extending in a generally arcuate path between the heel and toe ends of said hollow body; anda skirt extending from the outer edge of said crown toward said sole.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a hosel on said hollow body for receiving a golf club shaft.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein: said plurality of thin regions is arranged in the form of a matrix of thin regions.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein: said crown is formed of a unitary metallic material.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein: said plurality of thin regions comprise depressions formed in a inner surface of said crown.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein: said plurality of rows comprises a first row and a second row, said second row being disposed inward of said first row.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein, said second row has at least two thin regions.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said second row has four thin regions.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said first row has at least two thin regions.

14. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said first row has four thin regions.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein, further comprising: a middle row disposed between said first row and said second row.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein: said middle row has at least two thin regions.

17. A golf club comprising: a golf club head, said golf club head comprising a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a crown extending rearwardly from an upper portion of said first wall, and a sole extending rearwardly from a lower portion of said front wall;said crown having an inner surface, an outer surface and a thickness dimension measured between said inner and outer surfaces;a plurality of thin regions on said crown, each of said plurality of thin regions arranged to form a plurality of rows of thin regions, each row of said plurality of rows being separated from an adjacent row by arcuate rib having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plurality of thin regions, each of said plurality of thin regions in a row further being separated from an adjacent thin region by a substantially linear rib having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plurality of thin regions; anda golf club shaft attached to said golf club head.

18. The golf club of claim 17, wherein, said pluality of rows comprises a first row and a second row, said second row being disposed inward of said first row.

19. The golf club of claim 18, wherein, said second row has at least two thin regions.

20. The golf club of claim 18, wherein said second row has four thin regions.

21. The golf club of claim 18, wherein said first row has at least two thin regions.

22. The golf club of claim 18, wherein said first row has four thin regions.

23. The golf club of claim 18, further comprising: a middle row disposed between said first row and said second row.

24. The golf club of claim 23, wherein: said middle row has at least two thin regions.

25. The golf club of claim 17, wherein: said crown is formed of unitary metallic metal.

26. The golf club of claim 17, wherein: said plurality of thin regions comprise depressions formed in said inner surface of said crown.

27. A golf club head comprising: a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a crown extending rearwardly from an upper portion of said wall, and a sole extending rearwardly from a lower portion of said front wall;said crown being formed of a unitary metallic material having an inner surface, an outer surface and a thickness dimension measured between said inner and outer surfaces;a plurality of thin regions in said crown, each of said plurality of thin regions arranged to form a plurality of rows of thin regions, each row of said plurality of rows being separated from an adjacent row by arcuate rib having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plurality of thin regions, each of said plurality of thin regions in a row further being separated from an adjacent thin region by a substantially linear rib having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plurality of thin regions; andsaid thickness dimension in said plurality of thin regions being reduced when compared with said thickness dimension in other regions of said crown.