Patent Grant
11890512
The present disclosure relates to golf clubs having golf club heads with a high density thin outer layer. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to wood-type golf club heads, iron-type golf club heads, wedge-type golf club heads, and putter-type golf club heads.
Golf club heads may include wood-type club heads (e.g., drivers and fairway woods), iron-type club heads (e.g., irons and wedges), and putter-type club heads. Golf club head designs vary and generally aim to optimize head center of gravity position and increase club head moment of inertia. The head center of gravity position affects performance characteristics of the golf club including direction, trajectory, distance, and spin of the golf ball. Increased club head moment of inertia increases the consistency of ball trajectory and direction for off-center hits. Many golf club heads are designed to optimize head center of gravity position and increase club head moment of inertia by using weighting ports or inserts. These designs may require complicated manufacturing and assembly processes and do not easily allow for optimization of head center of gravity position with precision. In addition, use of weighting ports can affect the overall aerodynamics of the club head. Therefore, there is a need in the art for the ability to distribute weight of golf club heads more precisely to optimize center of gravity positions and increase club head moment of inertia.
For illustrative purposes, the drawings described above may not represent actual scaling of the size of the coating or plurality of coatings relative to the club head size. For example, the coating thickness to club head thickness ratio may be shown as larger in the drawings than the actual coating thickness to club head thickness ratio per the dimensions disclosed within the detailed description.
Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
In the embodiments described below, a high density thin outer layer of material or coating is applied to a golf club head. By distributing a high density thin outer layer of material over a portion or the entire golf club head, the weight distribution of the golf club head can be controlled. This strategic placement of high density coating materials on the golf club head maximize distribution of the weight to the outermost perimeter of the club away from the center of gravity thereby maximizing the ability to increase the moment of inertia. The coating of high density material may be at any thickness or depth, but is suitable for very thin layers between 0.10 inches to as thin as 0.00001 inches. The coating of high density material can be applied to a surface of the club head by vapor deposition, plasma spray, plating, or spotting. Therefore, greater precision can be achieved for particular weight placement on the golf club head at a desired depth or thickness using a variable set of metal alloy materials. Being able to control these variables using high density materials can be used to optimize the head center of gravity and maximize the club head moment of inertia to achieve desired performance characteristics of the club head.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
Discretionary weight, as described herein, refers to a portion of the total weight of the club head that can be positioned to optimize performance without impacting the structural integrity of the club head.
Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The body 14 of the club head 100 comprises a body material having a body material density. The body material may be any suitable material including titanium, stainless steel, tungsten, aluminum, other metals, composites, metal alloys, or any other material. In some embodiments, the body 14 of the club head 100 comprises different materials having different densities. For example, the crown 18 may comprise a crown material having a crown material density and the sole 24 may comprise a sole material having a sole material density, wherein the sole material and sole material density are different than the crown material and crown material density, respectively. In this example, the crown material density may be greater than the sole material density, or the crown material density may be less than the sole material density. In embodiments where the body 14 comprises different materials having different densities, the densities of each body material may be averaged to represent the body material density.
The strike face 10 of the club head 100 comprises a strike face material having a strike face material density. The strike face material may be any suitable material including titanium, stainless steel, tungsten, aluminum, other metals, composites, metal alloys, or any other material. In other embodiments, the strike face 10 may comprise different materials having different densities. When the strike face 10 comprises different materials having different densities, the densities of each strike face material may be averaged to represent the strike face material density.
The body material may be the same as the strike face material, or the body material may be different than the strike face material. Further, the body material density may be the same as the strike face material density, or the body material density may be different than the strike face material density. For example, the strike face material density may be higher than the body material density, or the strike face material density may be lower than the body material density. The club head 100 may further include a coating or plurality of coatings 50, as described in further detail in the embodiments of
In some embodiments, the club head 100 can include one coating 50 comprising a coating material having a coating material density (e.g. the embodiments of the club head illustrated
In many embodiments, the coating 50 has a surface area, a weight, and a thickness 56 defining a thickness profile. The surface area of the coating 50 defines a perimeter 62 (illustrated in
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In the illustrated embodiment, the coating 50 is positioned on the outer surface 42 of the club head 400. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the coating 50 covers or is positioned over a portion of the outer surface 42 of the club head 400. Specifically, the coating 50 covers or is positioned over the strike face 10 of the club head 400. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 is approximately constant. For example, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 on the strike face 10 near the heel 28, the toe 34, the crown 18, or the sole 24 is approximately the same. Further, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 tapers or decreases near the edges of the coating 50. For example, the thickness of the coating 50 tapers or decreases near the periphery of the strike face 10.
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Further, the embodiments of the club head having one or more coatings 50 (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) described herein are not limited by number of discrete coating portions. For example, in other embodiments, each of the plurality of coatings 50 can have any number of discrete portions such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or any other number of discrete portions.
Further, the embodiments of the club head having the coating or plurality of coatings 50 (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) described herein are not limited by number of coatings. For example, in other embodiments, the one or more coatings 50 can include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or any other number of coatings.
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In embodiments of the club head 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300 having a plurality of coatings 50 including a first coating 501 and a second coating 502, the first thickness 561 of the first coating 501 can have the same thickness profile as the second thickness 562 of the second coating 502, or the first thickness 561 of the first coating 501 can have a different thickness profile than the second thickness 562 of the second coating 502.
In many embodiments (e.g. club head 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300), the surface area of the coating 50 may range from approximately 0-70 square inches (in2). For example, the surface area of the coating 50 may be approximately 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 in2. The surface area of the coating may cover any percentage (i.e. 0%-100%) of the club head surface area. For example, the surface area may cover approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% of the surface area of the club head 100.
As described above, the surface area of the coating 50 can comprise a single, discrete portion, such as, for example when the coating 50 covers the entire club head (e.g. club head 200) or when the coating 50 covers at least a portion of the crown 18, the sole 24, the heel 28, the toe 34, the back end 38, or the strike face 10 (e.g. club head 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1100, 1300, 1400). Conversely, the surface area of the coating 50 can comprise a plurality of discrete portions when the coating 50 includes more than one portion (e.g. club head 700, 900, 1200). For example, the surface area of the coating 50 comprises a plurality of discrete portions when the coating 50 includes a first portion that covers at least a portion of the crown 18 and a second portion that covers at least a portion of the sole 24 (e.g. club head 900). When the coating 50 is divided into a plurality of portions, the sum of the surface areas of each portion define the surface area of the coating 50. In these or other embodiments, the surface area of the coating 50 may range from approximately 0-70 in2. For example, the surface area of the coating 50 may be approximately 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 in2. Further, the surface area of the coating 50 may cover any percentage (i.e. 0%-100%) of the club head surface area. For example, the surface area of the coating 50 may cover approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% of the surface area of the club head.
As described above,
Further, in these or other embodiments, the second surface area of the second coating 502 may range from approximately 0-70 square inches (in2). For example, the second surface area of the second coating 502 may be approximately 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 in2. For example, the second surface area of the second coating 502 may be approximately 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 in2. Further, the second surface area of the second coating 502 may cover any percentage (i.e. 0%-100%) of the club head surface area. For example, the second surface area of the second coating 502 may cover approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100% of the surface area of the club head. Further still, in these or other embodiments, the first surface area of the first coating 501 can be the same as the second surface area of the second coating 502, or the first surface area of the first coating 501 can be different than the second surface area of the second coating 502.
Referring to Table 1 below, the coating material can be any material capable of being applied to the club head (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) in a thin layer between 0.10 inches and 0.00001 inches in thickness or depth 56. The coating material can be a particular metal alloy having a coating material density. The density of the coating material can be between 100 g/in3 to 400 g/in3. For example, the coating material density may be 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, 380, 390, or 400 g/in3. In many embodiments, the coating material density is greater than at least one of the body material density or the strike face material density. For example, in some embodiments, the coating material density is greater than the body material density. For further example, in some embodiments, the coating material density is greater than the strike face material density. For further example, in some embodiments, the coating material density is greater than both the body material density and the strike face material density.
The density of the coating material applied to the body 14 of the club head (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) can be 1.0 times, 1.25 times, 1.50 times, 2.0 times, 2.25 times, 2.50 times, 2.75 times, 3.0 times or higher than the body material density. The density of the coating material applied to the strike face 10 of the club head (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) can be 1.0 times, 1.25 times, 1.50 times, 2.0 times, 2.25 times, 2.50 times, 2.75 times, 3.0 times or higher than the strike face material density. Further referring to Table 1, the coating material may be beryllium based alloy, a copper based alloy, a palladium based alloy, a tungsten based alloy, a rhenium based alloy, a cobalt based alloy, a rhodium based alloy, a ruthenium based alloy, a molybdenum based alloy, a nickel based alloy, an iron based alloy, or cadium based alloy. The coating material may be a pure-based metal such as pure beryllium, pure copper, pure palladium, pure tungsten, pure rhenium, pure cobalt, pure rhodium, pure ruthenium, pure molybdenum, pure nickel, pure iron, or pure cadium. Table 1 illustrates exemplary coating materials and their densities. The coating material may be any alloy including, but not limited to, cobalt, beryllium, copper alloy, a tungsten carbide alloy, or a tungsten, rhenium alloy.
The thickness 56 of the coating 50 applied to the body 14 of the club head (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) can range from approximately 0.00001-0.10 inches to add approximately 1-25 grams, 1-20 grams, 1-15 grams, or 1-10 grams of discretionary weight to the club head 100. The thickness 56 of the coating 50 can be approximately 0.00001 inches (0.254 μm), 0.000025 inches (0.635 μm), 0.00005 inches (1.27 μm), 0.000075 inches (1.905 μm), 0.0001 inches (2.54 μm), 0.00025 inches (6.35 μm), 0.0005 inches (12.7 μm), 0.00075 inches (19.05 μm), 0.001 inches (25.4 μm), 0.0025 inches (63.5 μm), 0.005 inches (127 μm), 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm), 0.01 inches (254 μm), 0.025 inches (635 μm), 0.05 inches (1270 μm), 0.075 inches (1905 μm), or 0.10 inches (2540 μm). The thickness 56 of the coating 50 can range from approximately 0.00001 inches (0.254 μm) to 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm), 000025 inches (0.635 μm) to 0.075 inches (1905 μm), 0.00075 inches (1.905 μm) to 0.05 inches (1270 μm), 0.001 inches (25.4 μm) to 0.025 inches (635 μm), 0.0025 inches (63.5 μm) to 0.01 inches (254 μm), or 0.005 inches (127 μm) to 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm). The thickness 56 of the coating 50 may add approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 grams of discretionary weight to the club head 100.
In embodiments of the club head 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300 having a plurality of coatings 50 including a first coating 501 and a second coating 502. The first coating 501 can have the same or a different thickness than the second coating 502. The first thickness 561 of the first coating 501 may range from approximately 0.00001-0.10 inches to add approximately 1-25 grams, 1-20 grams, 1-15 grams, or 1-10 grams of discretionary weight to the club head 200. For example, the first thickness 561 of the first coating 501 can be approximately 0.00001 inches (0.254 μm), 0.000025 inches (0.635 μm), 0.00005 inches (1.27 μm), 0.000075 inches (1.905 μm), 0.0001 inches (2.54 μm), 0.00025 inches (6.35 μm), 0.0005 inches (12.7 μm), 0.00075 inches (19.05 μm), 0.001 inches (25.4 μm), 0.0025 inches (63.5 μm), 0.005 inches (127 μm), 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm), 0.01 inches (254 μm), 0.025 inches (635 μm), 0.05 inches (1270 μm), 0.075 inches (1905 μm), or 0.10 inches (2540 μm). The thickness 56 of the first coating 501 can range from approximately 0.00001 inches (0.254 μm) to 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm), 000025 inches (0.635 μm) to 0.075 inches (1905 μm), 0.00075 inches (1.905 μm) to 0.05 inches (1270 μm), 0.001 inches (25.4 μm) to 0.025 inches (635 μm), 0.0025 inches (63.5 μm) to 0.01 inches (254 μm), or 0.005 inches (127 μm) to 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm). For further example, the first coating 501 may add approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 grams of discretionary weight to the club head.
Further, the second thickness 562 of the second coating 502 may range from approximately 0.00001-0.10 inches to add approximately 1-25 grams, 1-20 grams, 1-15 grams, or 1-10 grams of discretionary weight to the club head 200. For example, the second thickness 562 of the second coating 502 may be approximately 0.00001 inches (0.254 μm), 0.000025 inches (0.635 μm), 0.00005 inches (1.27 μm), 0.000075 inches (1.905 μm), 0.0001 inches (2.54 μm), 0.00025 inches (6.35 μm), 0.0005 inches (12.7 μm), 0.00075 inches (19.05 μm), 0.001 inches (25.4 μm), 0.0025 inches (63.5 μm), 0.005 inches (127 μm), 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm), 0.01 inches (254 μm), 0.025 inches (635 μm), 0.05 inches (1270 μm), 0.075 inches (1905 μm), or 0.10 inches (2540 μm). The thickness 56 of the second coating 502 can range from approximately 0.00001 inches (0.254 μm) to 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm), 000025 inches (0.635 μm) to 0.075 inches (1905 μm), 0.00075 inches (1.905 μm) to 0.05 inches (1270 μm), 0.001 inches (25.4 μm) to 0.025 inches (635 μm), 0.0025 inches (63.5 μm) to 0.01 inches (254 μm), or 0.005 inches (127 μm) to 0.0075 inches (190.5 μm). For further example, the second coating 502 may add approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 grams of discretionary weight to the club head. Additional layers including a third coating 503, fourth coating 504, or fifth coating 505 can have similar thicknesses and relationships to the other coating layers as the first 501 and second coating 502. In these or other embodiments, the first coating 501 and the second coating 502 may be applied to the club head (e.g. club head 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300) such that the first weight of first coating 501 and the second weight of the second coating 502 together add a desired discretionary weight of the club head. The total weight of the coating or plurality of coatings 50 (e.g. sum of the first weight and the second weight) can range from approximately 1-25 grams, 1-20 grams, 1-15 grams, or 1-10 grams. For example, the sum of the first weight and the second weight can be approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 grams.
In many embodiments, the coating or plurality of coatings 50, as described herein, may be used to position discretionary weight to achieve specific head center of gravity positions. For example, the coating 50 may be applied to the club head (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) at the back end 38 to shift the center of gravity of the club head toward the back end 38. For further example, the coating 50 may be applied to the club head 100, 200 on the sole 24 to shift the center of gravity toward the sole 24. Further still, the coating 50 may be applied to the back end 38 and the sole 24 of the club head to shift the head center of gravity toward the back end 38 and the sole 24. While the examples described herein illustrate the coating 50 positioned to shift the head center of gravity toward the back end 38 and/or the sole 24 of the club head, the coating 50 may be positioned anywhere on the club head to shift the center of gravity in any direction, including toward the crown 18, toward the sole 24, toward the heel 28, toward the toe 34, toward the strike face 10, toward the back end 38, towards at least a portion of the hosel 40, or in any combination of the described directions of the club head to optimize the performance characteristics of the club head. The ability to apply the coating 50 uniformly over the club head or in specific portions of the club head at a micro level allows for precise control of the head center of gravity position.
In many embodiments, the center of gravity of the of club head having coating 50 (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300), can shift by up to approximately 0.05 inches, 0.15 inches, 0.25 inches, 0.35 inches, 0.45 inches, 0.55 inches, 0.65 inches, 0.75 inches, or up to 85 inches in a direction toward the heel 28, toward the toe 34, toward the sole 24, toward the crown 18, toward the strike face 10, toward the back end 38, or any combination of the described directions, compared to a similar club head without a coating.
In many embodiments, the coating 50, as described herein, can also increase the moment of inertia of the club head about an x-axis extending through the center of gravity from the heel 28 to the toe 34, and/or about the y-axis extending through the center of gravity from the crown 18 to the sole 24. In general, club head moment of inertia increases as weight or mass is distributed farther from the head center of gravity. Applying the coating 50 as described herein, allows for positioning of discretionary weight at increased or maximized distances from the head center of gravity. Therefore, the coating 50 of the club head (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) may be used to increase and/or maximize the moment of inertia of the club head. Increasing the moment of inertia of the club head results in increased consistency in ball direction, trajectory, and distance. Therefore, off-center hits will behave more similarly to on-center hits for the club head having the coating 50.
In many embodiments, the moment of inertia about the x-axis of the club head having the coating 50 (e.g. club head 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300) can be increased by up to approximately 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, or 20%, compared to a similar club head without a coating. In other embodiments, the moment of inertia about the x-axis of the club head having the coating 50 can be increased by approximately 1% to 9%, 2.5% to 5%, 5% to 10%, 5% to 15%, or 10% to 20%, compared to a similar club head without a coating. In many embodiments, the moment of inertia about the y-axis of the club head 100, 200 having the coating 50 can be increased by up to approximately 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%, or 20%. In other embodiments, the moment of inertia about the y-axis of the club head having the coating 50 can be increased by approximately 1% to 11%, 2.5% to 5%, 5% to 10%, 5% to 15%, or 10% to 20% compared to a similar club head without a coating.
Referring to Tables 2-4 below, the coating material, in combination with the surface area and thickness 56, may be designed to add a desired discretionary weight to the club head (e.g. club head 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300). For example, Table 2 illustrates exemplary coatings 50 having varying coating material densities, position on the club head (related to surface area), and thicknesses 56 required to add 1 gram of discretionary weight to the club head. For a further example, Table 3 illustrates exemplary coatings 50 having varying coating material densities, positions on the club head (related to surface area), and coating thicknesses 56 required to add 5 grams of discretionary weight to the club head. For a further example, Table 4 illustrates exemplary coatings 50 having varying coating material densities, positions on the club head (related to surface area), and thicknesses 56 required to add 10 grams of discretionary weight to the club head. While the examples illustrated in Tables 2-4 provide exemplary discretionary weights, coating materials, positions, and thicknesses 56 of the coating 50, the same principles apply to add any amount of discretionary weight to the club head, such as, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 grams of discretionary weight. For instance, to add 20 grams of weight to the club head, a tungsten carbide coating, having a density of 256.13, requires a coating thickness of 0.00154 inches across the entire body, 0.0134 inches across the face, 0.00170 across the body, 0.00435 across the crown, 0.00435 across the skirt/sole, or 0.01956 across a portion of the sole over a sole weight. Further, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 may be varied for any coating position to adjust the relationship between the coating thickness 56 and coating material, position, and/or discretionary weight.
As illustrated in Tables 2-4, the coating 50 having a lower coating material density will require a greater thickness 56 than the coating 50 having a higher coating material density to add the same discretionary weight over the same surface area to the club head. Similarly, the coating 50 having a higher material coating density will require less thickness 56 than the coating 50 having a lower coating material density to add the same discretionary weight over the same surface area to the club head. In general, the coating material density, thickness 56, and/or surface area of the coating 50 may be increased to increase the amount of discretionary weight added to the club head by the coating 50. Similarly, the coating material density, thickness 56, and/or surface area of the coating 50 may be decreased to decrease the amount of discretionary weight added to the club head by the coating 50.
Referring to Tables 2-4, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 may range from approximately 0.00001-0.10 inches to add approximately 1-25 grams, 1-20 grams, 1-15 grams, or 1-10 grams of discretionary weight to the club head 100. For example, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 may be approximately 0.00001, 0.000025, 0.00005, 0.000075, 0.0001, 0.00025, 0.0005, 0.00075, 0.001, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, or 0.10 inches. For further example, the thickness 56 of the coating 50 may add approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 grams of discretionary weight to the club head 100.
In other embodiments, the club head 2400 similar to the club heads described above (e.g. 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, or 2300), comprises of a plurality of coatings 50 including a first coating 501 and a second coating 502. The club head in this exemplary embodiment further comprises a surface roughness 68.
The surface roughness 68 of the club head 2400 is formed onto the outer surface 42 of the club head 2400. The surface roughness can be formed on at least a portion of the crown 18, the sole 24, the heel 28, the toe 34, the back end 38, the strike face 10, the hosel 40, or any combination thereof on the outer surface 42 of the club head. For example, the surface roughness 68 is formed on the sole 24 near the back end 38, and equidistant from the toe 34 and the heel 28 of the cub head. In other examples, the surface roughness 68 is formed in the sole 18 near the back end 38 closer to the heel 28, or closer to the toe 34 of the club head.
The surface roughness 68 of the club head 2400 comprises a depth downward into the outer surface 42, wherein the depth ranges between 25 micro inches to 100 micro inches, 25 micro inches to 40 micro inches, 40 micro inches to 55 micro inches, 55 micro inches to 70 micro inches, 70 micro inches to 85 micro inches, or 85 micro inches to 100 micro inches. For example, the depth of the surface roughness can be 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 micro inches.
As described above in
In some embodiments, the material of the first coating 501 is a primer. The primer can be an oil alkyd primer, a latex primer, or an organic/inorganic zinc primer such as zinc chromate, zinc rich epoxy, urethane zinc, or any other kind of material that can be applied to the body 14 of the club head. In other embodiments, the material of the first coating 501 is a non-primer such as a beryllium based alloy, a copper based alloy, a palladium based alloy, a tungsten based alloy, a rhenium based alloy, a cobalt based alloy, a rhodium based alloy, a ruthenium based alloy, a molybdenum based alloy, a nickel based alloy, an iron based alloy, or cadium based alloy. In other embodiments still, the material of the first coating 501 can be a pure-based metal such as pure beryllium, pure copper, pure palladium, pure tungsten, pure rhenium, pure cobalt, pure rhodium, pure ruthenium, pure molybdenum, pure nickel, pure iron, or pure cadium.
As described above in
In some embodiments, the material of the second coating 502 can be any material that can be applied to a club head. The material of the second coating 502 can be a beryllium based alloy, a copper based alloy, a palladium based alloy, a tungsten based alloy, a rhenium based alloy, a cobalt based alloy, a rhodium based alloy, a ruthenium based alloy, a molybdenum based alloy, a nickel based alloy, an iron based alloy, or cadium based alloy. In other embodiments, the material of the second coating 502 can be a pure-based metal such as pure beryllium, pure copper, pure palladium, pure tungsten, pure rhenium, pure cobalt, pure rhodium, pure ruthenium, pure molybdenum, pure nickel, pure iron, or pure cadium.
The first coating 501 comprises a density, and the second coating 502 comprises a density. The density of the first coating 501 can be different from the density of the second coating 502. In some embodiments, the density of the first coating 501 is less than the density of the second coating 502, while in other embodiments, the density of the first coating 501 is greater than the density of the second coating 502. Still, in other embodiment, the density of the first coating 501 can be the same as the density of the second coating 502.
In many embodiments, the plurality of coatings 50, as described above may be used to position discretionary weight to achieve specific head center of gravity positions. Adjusting the center of gravity can affect the MOI of the club head, as well as the spin and trajectory of the ball. For example, a lower center of gravity near the back end 38, and near the toe 34 can decrease the spin of the ball while maintain a trajectory similar to a club head 2400 having higher loft.
In one example, the plurality of coatings 50 can be applied to the sole 24 near the back end 38 to shift the center of gravity toward the sole 24 and the back end 38 of the club head. Further upon this example, the plurality of coatings 50 can be applied more near the toe 34 to shift the center of gravity toward the toe 34 of the club head. In some embodiments, the center of gravity of the club head 2400 can shift from 0.2 inches to 0.48 inches toward the sole 24 of the club head, from 0.01 inches to 0.26 inches toward the back end 38 of the club head, and from 0.005 inches to 0.065 inches toward the toe 34. For example, the center of gravity can shift toward the sole 24 by 0.02 inches, 0.05 inches, 0.10 inches, 0.15 inches, 0.20 inches, 0.25 inches, 0.30 inches, 0.35 inches, 0.40 inches, 0.45 inches, or 0.48 inches; while the center of gravity can further shift toward the back end 38 by 0.01 inches, 0.03 inches, 0.06 inches, 0.09 inches, 0.12 inches, 0.15 inches, 0.18 inches, 0.21 inches, or 0.26 inches; while the center of gravity can further still shift toward the toe 34 by 0.005 inches, 0.010 inches, 0.015 inches, 0.020 inches, 0.025 inches, 0.030 inches, 0.035 inches, 0.040 inches, 0.045 inches, 0.050 inches, 0.055 inches, 0.060 inches, and 0.065 inches compared to a club head 2400 with no coating.
In one example, the plurality of coatings 50 can be applied to a portion of the sole near the heel or a portion of the sole near the toe. In another example, the plurality of coatings 50 can be applied to both a portion of the sole near the heel and a portion of the sole near the toe, as illustrated in
In other embodiments of the club heads 1200 and 1300 with the plurality of coatings 50, the center of gravity of the club head 1200 or club head 1300 can shift from 0.005 inches to 0.25 inches toward the strike face 10 of the club head and 0.005 inches to 0.095 inches toward the heel 28. For example, the center of gravity can shift toward the strike face 10 by 0.005 inches, 0.01 inches, 0.03 inches, 0.06 inches, 0.09 inches, or 0.095 inches; while the center of gravity can further shift toward the heel 28 by 0.005 inches, 0.01 inches, 0.02 inches, 0.03 inches, 0.04 inches, 0.05 inches, 0.06 inches, 0.07 inches, 0.08 inches, 0.09 inches, or 0.095 inches, compared to a club head 1200 or 1300 with no coating.
In many embodiments the plurality of coatings 50 can increase the moment of inertia about the x-axis extending through the center of gravity from the heel 28 to the toe 34, and/or about the y-axis extending through the center of gravity from the crown 18 to the sole 24. Increasing the moment of inertia of the club head 2400 can increase the consistency of ball direction, trajectory, and distance. Therefore, the club head 2400 is more forgiving for off-center shots.
In one example, the plurality of coatings 50 can be applied to the sole 24 near the back end 38, and more near the toe 34 to increase the moment of inertia about the x-axis by 7.5% to 11.0% and increase the moment of inertia about the y-axis by 2.5% to 5.5%. For example, the moment of inertia about the x-axis can increase by 7.5%, 7.8%, 8.1%, 8.4%, 8.7%, 9.0%, 9.3%, 9.6%, 9.9%, 10.2%, 10.5%, 10.8%, or 11.0%; while the moment of inertia about the y-axis by 2.5%, 2.8%, 3.1%, 3.4%, 3.7%, 4.0%, 4.3%, 4.6%, 4.9%, 5.2%, or 5.5%, compared to a similar club head 2400 with no coating.
The plurality of coatings 50 can further affect the statistical area of the club head. The statistical area of the club head 2400 is the area in which the ball lands consecutively with the same swing conditions (i.e. the swing, the stance, environmental conditions). The smaller the statistical area of the club head, the more consistent the shots in where they land. More consistent shots allow for a player to better gauge the landing and distance of the ball. In some embodiments, the plurality of coatings 50 applied onto the surface roughness can decrease the statistical area of the ball flight ranging from 10% to 24%. For example, the statistical area of the ball flight can be 10%, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18%, 20%, 22% or 24%, compared to a similar club head 2400 without a plurality of coatings 50.
The plurality of coatings 50 further affects the spin rate of the ball. A high ball spin rate increases the chance the ball will roll backwards upon landing, thus losing distance. Likewise, the lower the ball spin rate, the lower the chance the ball will roll backwards, but instead roll forward, thus increasing distance. The plurality of coatings 50 applied to the club head 2400 decreases the spin rate of the ball by 190 rpm to 230 rpm, while maintaining the same launch angle as a similar club head 2400 without any coating. For example, the plurality of coatings 50 can decrease the ball spin rate by 190 rpm, 195 rpm, 200 rpm, 205 rpm, 210 rpm, 215 rpm, 220 rpm, 225 rpm, or 230 rpm, compared to a similar club head 2400 without any coating.
The methods of manufacturing and providing a club head club head of
The method of manufacturing club head of
In the illustrated embodiments, the club heads (e.g. club head 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400) are shown as a wood-type club head. However, the club head may be any type of club head including a wood-type club head (e.g., driver or fairway wood), an iron-type club head (e.g., iron or wedge), or a putter-type club head. Further, the embodiments described herein illustrate the club head having the coating on the outer surface 42 of the club head. In other embodiments, the coating may be applied to the inner surface 46 of the club head to achieve similar results.
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According to a test that compared three control heads to three heads of the first exemplary embodiment and to three heads of the second exemplary embodiment, the center of gravity of the club head was shifted further toward the toe 34, lower toward the sole 24, and further toward the back end 38. Table 5 below shows the averages of the CG locations as measured with an x-coordinate axis extending positively from the center of mass towards the heel of the club head and parallel to the ground plane, a y-coordinate axis extending positively from the center of the sole towards the crown and perpendicular to the ground plane, and a z-coordinate axis extending positively rearward from the club strike face and parallel to the ground plane. The results show that, on average, the added weight of the first and second coating 501 and 502 of the first exemplary embodiment at the distinct rear location shifted the center of gravity of the club head by approximately 0.020 inches toward the toe 34, approximately 0.140 inches toward the sole 24, and approximately 0.076 inches toward the back end 38, compared to a similar club head 1100 with no coating. This shift in the center of gravity improves performance characteristics of the golf club. The test results also showed that, on average, the added weight of the first coating 501 of the second exemplary embodiment, at the distinct rear location, shifted the center of gravity of the club head by approximately 0.034 inches toward the toe 34, approximately 0.047 inches toward the sole 24, and approximately 0.080 inches toward the back end 38. Testing shows that this shift in the center of gravity increased the carry yard distance by 0.9 yards, as expected from the center of gravity data.
The spin rate was shown to decrease by 6.7% for the second exemplary embodiment. The second exemplary embodiment showed a spin rate of 2983 rpms as compared to a spin rate of 3198 rpms for the control club. The lower spin rate reduces unwanted roll once the ball lands on the ground, which results in a player hitting more accurate shots. The statistical area, representing the area within which test shots land, for the second exemplary embodiment, covers around 1009 square yards, which is 14.5% less area than is covered by a similar control club. The statistical area for a similar control club head covers around 1180 square yards. This test shows that a first coating on a portion of the sole 24 near the rear increases the performance precision of a golf club head, allowing a player to hit more consistent shots.
Replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
As the rules to golf may change from time to time (e.g., new regulations may be adopted or old rules may be eliminated or modified by golf standard organizations and/or governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), etc.), golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be conforming or non-conforming to the rules of golf at any particular time. Accordingly, golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be advertised, offered for sale, and/or sold as conforming or non-conforming golf equipment. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
While the above examples may be described in connection with a driver-type golf club, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of golf club such as a fairway wood-type golf club, a hybrid-type golf club, an iron-type golf club, a wedge-type golf club, or a putter-type golf club. Alternatively, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable other type of sports equipment such as a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a fishing pole, a ski pole, etc.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/103,729, filed Nov. 24, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/544,766 filed Aug. 19, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/872,733 filed Jan. 16, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,427,010 issued Oct. 1, 2019, which claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/447,226, filed on Jan. 17, 2017, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/159,623, filed May 19, 2016, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/163,888, filed May 19, 2015, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17103729 | Nov 2020 | US |
| Child | 17550992 | US | |
| Parent | 16544766 | Aug 2019 | US |
| Child | 17103729 | US | |
| Parent | 15872733 | Jan 2018 | US |
| Child | 16544766 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15159623 | May 2016 | US |
| Child | 15872733 | US |
