Abstract:
A hybrid golf club face comprising: a surface having a metallic outer surface with an elastomeric core supported internally by a backing plate in which the shape placement and durometer of the elastomer is configured in such a way to provide a specific hitting characteristic.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention is directed to the field of golf clubs. In particular, the present invention discloses metalwoods and irons utilizing an elastomer interface with a durometer between 10 Shore “A” and 85 Shore “D” and a density of 0.5 to 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter sandwiched between a metal striking plate and a backing plate in order to achieve or alter a preset coefficient of restitution while reducing undesirable vibrations.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION—PRIOR ART  
       [0005]     The Coefficient of Restitution, or “COR,” relates to the energy transfer that occurs when one object collides with another. In terms of golf clubs, COR is directly related to the speed of a golf ball as it rebounds from a clubface. Generally, a club with a higher COR will generate greater ball velocity, equaling more distance.  
         [0006]     COR is expressed as a percentage. To measure a club&#39;s COR, balls are fired at a clubface at a fixed speed, known as initial speed. The speed at which the balls rebound is known as rebound speed. The COR is generally equal to the rebound speed divided by the initial speed. For example, if the initial speed is 100 mph, and the rebound speed is 81 mph, the COR would be approximately 0.810. The Rules of Golf maintained by the USGA limits the COR on driving clubs to 0.830.  
         [0007]     In terms of distance, a player with a swing speed from 100 to 120 mph should gain about two yards for every one point increase in COR. Players with slower swing speeds will generally gain less yardage.  
         [0008]     Maximizing the area of 0.830 COR and remaining within the constraints set forth by the USGA has long been the principal goal of golf club manufacturers. Golf head manufacturers and developers have long since had to contend with the appropriate mix of materials and constructions to maximize the 0.830 COR zone.  
         [0000]     Golf club heads have been constructed from a wide variety of materials over the years. A number of patents have issued in the area of golf clubs.  
         [0009]     While there have been previous attempts at maximizing the 0.830 COR zone on golf club faces, those solutions have been directed to decreasing the face material thickness around the perimeter and increasing the face material thickness in the higher stress center region of the golf club face, including the use of variable face thickness and cone technologies. Those technologies do not allow the face reflex at impact to be precisely tuned.  
         [0010]     There is a long felt need for a golf club head which can maximize a club&#39;s 0.830 COR zone at the legal limit.  
         [0011]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal wood golf club head which incorporates the use of elastomeric materials to control the flex of the golf club face at impact.  
         [0012]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head in which the use of elastomers reduce the negative feel of a mis-hit shot with iron golf clubs.  
         [0013]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head in which the COR can be varied and tuned.  
         [0014]     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description as follows.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     In accordance with the invention, a hybrid metal wood golf club face comprising: an interior face area backing plate with an elastomeric material which is attached through molding directly or secondarily bonding to the surface of the backing plate covered by the metallic striking plate that&#39;s interior surface completely contacts the elastomer.  
         [0016]     In a further embodiment, a hybrid metal wood golf club face comprising: an interior face area backing plate with an elastomeric material which is attached through molding directly or secondarily bonding to the surface of the backing plate covered by the metallic striking plate that&#39;s interior surface partially contacts the elastomer.  
         [0017]     In still a further embodiment, a hybrid metal wood golf club face comprising: an interior face area backing plate with an elastomeric material which is attached through molding directly or secondarily bonding to the surface of the backing plate covered by the metallic striking plate that&#39;s interior surface does not contact the elastomer while not in use.  
         [0018]     In yet another embodiment, a hybrid iron golf club face comprising: an interior face area backing plate with an elastomeric material which is attached through molding directly or secondarily bonding to the surface of the backing plate covered by the metallic striking plate that&#39;s interior surface completely contacts the elastomer.  
         [0019]     In yet a further embodiment, a hybrid iron golf club face comprising: an interior face area backing plate with an elastomeric material which is attached through molding directly or secondarily bonding to the surface of the backing plate covered by the metallic striking plate that&#39;s interior surface partially contacts the elastomer.  
         [0020]     In yet a further embodiment, a hybrid iron golf club face comprising: an interior face area backing plate with an elastomeric material which is attached through molding directly or secondarily bonding to the surface of the backing plate covered by the metallic striking plate that&#39;s interior surface does not contact the elastomer while not in use. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one of the metal wood embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of the metal wood assembly.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another of the metal wood embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of the metal wood assembly.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another of the metal wood embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the metal wood assembly.  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the face insert embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is a cross section of the face insert assembly.  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of yet another face insert embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0035]      FIG. 15  is a cross section of the face insert assembly.  
         [0036]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of yet another face insert embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 17  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0038]      FIG. 18  is a cross section of the face insert assembly.  
         [0039]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the formed face co-molded iron embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0040]      FIG. 20  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0041]      FIG. 21  is a cross section of the co-molded iron assembly.  
         [0042]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the formed face co-molded metal wood embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 23  is a cross section of the components in exploded form.  
         [0044]      FIG. 24  is a cross section of the formed face co-molded metal wood assembly. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0045]     The present invention is described with reference to the enclosed detailed embodiment, wherein the same numbers are used. In particular, the present invention is directed to improved golf clubs, which incorporate an elastomer material such as urethane. The elastomer can be cast or molded directly to the components, or precured and secondarily bonded during assembly.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention comprises a hybrid golf club face  3  comprising an elastomer insert  2  that partially contacts the inner surface of the face  3 , and a backing plate body assembly  1  that supports the elastomer  2  insert.  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the face  3 , the elastomer insert  2  and the body with the backing plate  1 .  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the face  3 , the elastomer insert  2  and the body with the backing plate  1 .  
         [0049]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the present invention comprises a hybrid golf club face  3  comprising an elastomer insert  4  that contacts the striking area of the inner surface of the face  3 , and a backing plate body assembly  1  that supports the elastomer  4  insert.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the face  3 , the elastomer insert  4  and the body with the backing plate  1 .  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the face  3 , the elastomer insert  4  and the body with the backing plate  1 .  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the present invention comprises a hybrid golf club face  3  comprising an elastomer insert  5  that does not contact the striking area of the inner surface of the face  3  at rest, and a backing plate body assembly  1  that supports the elastomer  5  insert.  
         [0053]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the face  3 , the elastomer insert  5  and the body with the backing plate  1 .  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the face  3 , the elastomer insert  5  and the body with the backing plate  1 .  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the present invention comprises a hybrid golf club face insert assembly comprising a metallic striking plate  6 , an elastomer insert  8  that partially contacts the inner surface of the striking plate  6 , and a backing plate  7  that supports the elastomer  8  insert.  
         [0056]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the striking plate  6 , the elastomer insert  8  and the backing plate  7 .  
         [0057]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the striking plate  6 , the elastomer insert  8  and the backing plate  7 .  
         [0058]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the present invention comprises a hybrid golf club face insert assembly comprising a metallic striking plate  6 , an elastomer insert  9  that does not contact the inner surface of the striking plate  6  at rest, and a backing plate  7  that supports the elastomer  9  insert.  
         [0059]     Referring to  FIG. 14 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the striking plate  6 , the elastomer insert  9  and the backing plate  7 .  
         [0060]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the striking plate  6 , the elastomer insert  9  and the backing plate  7 .  
         [0061]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , the present invention comprises a hybrid golf club face insert assembly comprising a metallic striking plate  6 , an elastomer insert  10  that contacts the striking area of the inner surface of the striking plate  6 . A backing plate  7  that supports the elastomer  8  insert.  
         [0062]     Referring to  FIG. 17 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the striking plate  6 , the elastomer insert  10  and the backing plate  7 .  
         [0063]     Referring to  FIG. 18 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the striking plate  6 , the elastomer insert  10  and the backing plate  7 .  
         [0064]     Referring to  FIG. 19 , the present invention comprises a hybrid iron golf club co-molded assembly comprising a formed metallic striking plate  11 , an elastomer compound  13 , and a main structure  12 .  
         [0065]     Referring to  FIG. 20 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the formed metallic striking plate  11 , the elastomer compound  13  and the main structure  12 .  
         [0066]     Referring to  FIG. 21 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the formed metallic striking plate  11 , the elastomer compound  13  and the main structure  12 .  
         [0067]     Referring to  FIG. 22 , the present invention comprises a hybrid metal wood golf club co-molded assembly comprising a formed metallic striking plate  14 , an elastomer compound  16 , and a main structure  15 .  
         [0068]     Referring to  FIG. 23 , this is a cross section of an exploded view of the formed metallic striking plate  14 , the elastomer compound  16  and the main structure  15 .  
         [0069]     Referring to  FIG. 24 , this is a cross section of an assembled view of the formed metallic striking plate  14 , the elastomer compound  16  and the main structure  15 .  
         [0070]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 24 , the elastomeric material of the invention can be assembled into the club head and or face in a variety of shapes and configurations using a variety of methods and durometers to achieve the desired effect. The critical elements are that the elastomer is placed at a position with the proper physical properties to maximize the spot having a COR at 0.830 COR and or create a pleasant feel that is desired in clubs. The elastomeric material can have a plurality of thicknesses, can have a plurality of hardnesses and can be placed in multiple locations.