Patent Application
20080070719
As shown in the
The main body 22 preferably weighs from 275 grams to 400 grams, more preferably from 300 grams to 350 grams, even more preferably from 315 grams to 335 grams and most preferably 328 grams.
The main body 22 preferably has a striking face 24, a crown section 28, a sole section 30 and an optionally a hosel 26 for attachment of a shaft thereto. A heel end 32 is opposite a toe end 34, and an aft-end 36 is opposite the striking face 24. The club head 20 also has a weight body 25 and an isolation layer 27 disposed between the weight body 25 and the main body 22.
Alternatively, the main body 22 is specifically weighted to provide a specific center of gravity for the golf club 20. The main body 22 preferably ranges from 200 grams to 250 grams. In an alternative embodiment, the main body 22 has a hollow interior, not shown, to lessen the weight of the main body 22. In yet another alternative embodiment, the hollow interior of the main body 22 is filled with a foam.
The weight body 25 is preferably composed of a tungsten alloy material, however, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the weight body may be composed of any high density material. The preferred tungsten alloy material is 90% tungsten, 7% nickel and 3% iron. The density of the weight body 50 ranges from 10 grams per cubic centimeter (“g/cc”) to 20 g/cc, and is most preferably 17 g/cc. The weight body 25 preferably weighs from 50 grams to 125 grams. Alternatively, the weight body is composed of a tungsten alloy such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,004,853 for a High Density Alloy For Improved Mass Properties In An Article, which is assigned to Callaway Golf Company of Carlsbad, Calif., and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The isolation layer 27 is preferably composed of a thermoplastic material, most preferably a thermoplastic polyurethane. The thickness of the isolation layer 27 varies from 0.020 inch to 0.100 inch, and is most preferably 0.035 inch. The function of the isolation layer 27 is to minimize the combination of the impact vibration frequency patterns of the main body 22 and the weight body 25. A more detailed explanation of the isolation layer 27 and the weight body 25 is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,931 for a Bi-Material Golf Club Head Having An Isolation Layer, which is assigned to Callaway Golf Company, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The isolation layer 27 and the weight body 25 are preferably attached to the main body 22 by a plurality of screws that are threaded through holes in the club head 20. The golf club head 20 is preferably assembled by first positioning the isolation layer 27 between the weight body 25 and the main body 22. A first alignment pin 110a is inserted through the first main body alignment hole in the golf club head 20, a first isolation layer alignment hole and a first weight body alignment hole. A second alignment pin 110b is inserted through the second main body alignment hole in the golf club head 20, a second isolation layer alignment hole and a second weight body alignment hole, not shown. The placement of the alignment pins 110a-b ensures that the peripheral edges of the main body 34, the isolation layer 27 and the weight body 25 are properly alignment before permanent attachment of the isolation layer 27 and weight body 25 to the main body 22. To secure the components together, a first screw 120a is threaded through the holes and alignment pin 110a. A second screw 120b is threaded through the holes and alignment pin 110b. The screws 120a and 120b permanently fix the isolation layer 27 and the weight body 25 to the main body 22.
The striking face 24 preferably has a central area 40 and a periphery region 42. A perimeter 44 of the central area 40 generally defines a boundary between the central area 40 and the periphery region 42. The periphery region is preferably composed of a heel portion 42a, a toe portion 42b, a central crown portion 42c and a central sole portion 42d. As best shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the first plurality of milled lines 46 is a plurality of parallel horizontal lines 46, and the second plurality of milled lines 48 is a plurality of parallel curved vertical lines 48. Alternatively, the first plurality of milled lines 46 is a plurality of milled parallel vertical lines and the second plurality of milled lines 48 is a plurality of milled parallel horizontal lines. Alternatively, the first plurality of milled lines 46 is a plurality of milled parallel horizontal lines and the second plurality of milled lines 48 is a plurality of milled curved lines. Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other combinations may be used for the first plurality of milled lines 46 and the second plurality of milled lines 48 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
As shown in
The striking face 24 preferably has a total area that ranges from 2.5 square inches to 5.0 square inches. The central area 40 preferably has an area that ranges from 0.25 square inch to 2.5 square inches, and more preferably from 0.25 square inch to 1.0 square inch. The central area 40 preferably ranges from 20% to 60% of the total surface area of the striking face 24 with the entirety of the striking face 24 composed of the periphery region 42.
The putter-head 20 alternatively has an alignment means on a crown section 28. One such alignment means is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,600, entitled Putter Head, assigned to Callaway Golf Company, which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference. Alternative alignment means are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798, entitled Golf Club And Head Including Alignment Indicators, assigned to Callaway Golf Company, which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.
