Patent Publication Number: US-6338683-B1

Title: Striking plate for a golf club head

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,695, filed on Dec. 3, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,588, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/120,433, filed on Jul. 22, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,432, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/735,601, filed on Oct. 23, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,084. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a striking plate having a more circular aspect ratio. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When a golf club head strikes a golf ball, large impacts are produced that load the club head face and the golf ball. Most of the energy is transferred from the head to the golf ball, however, some energy is lost as a result of the collision. The golf ball is typically composed of polymer cover materials (such as ionomers) surrounding a rubber-like core. These softer polymer materials having damping (loss) properties that are strain and strain rate dependent which are on the order of 10-100 times larger than the damping properties of a metallic club face. Thus, during impact most of the energy is lost as a result of the high stresses and deformations of the golf ball (0.001 to 0.20 inches), as opposed to the small deformations of the metallic club face (0.025 to 0.050 inches). A more efficient energy transfer from the club head to the golf ball could lead to greater flight distances of the golf ball. 
     The generally accepted approach has been to increase the stiffness of the club head face to reduce metal or club head deformations. However, this leads to greater deformations in the golf ball, and thus increases in the energy transfer problem. 
     Some have recognized the problem and disclosed possible solutions. An example is Campau, U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,965, for a Method Of Making Iron Golf Clubs With Flexible Impact Surface, which discloses a club having a flexible and resilient face plate with a slot to allow for the flexing of the face plate. The face plate of Campau is composed of a ferrous material, such as stainless steel, and has a thickness in the range of 0.1 inches to 0.125 inches. 
     Another example is Eggiman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,261, for a Golf Club Head With Elastically Deforming Face And Back Plates, which discloses the use of a plurality of plates that act in concert to create a spring-like effect on a golf ball during impact. A fluid is disposed between at least two of the plates to act as a viscous coupler. 
     Yet another example is Jepson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,474, for a golf Club With A Polyurethane Insert. Jepson discloses that the polyurethane insert has a hardness between 40 and 75 shore D. 
     Still another example is Inamori, U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,023, for a Golf Club Head With Ceramic Face Plate, which discloses using a face plate composed of a ceramic material having a high energy transfer coefficient, although ceramics are usually harder materials. Chen et al., U.S Pat. No. 5,743,813 for a Golf Club Head, discloses using multiple layers in the face to absorb the shock of the golf ball. One of the materials is a non-metal material. 
     Lu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,814, for a Hollow Club Head With Deflecting Insert Face Plate, discloses a reinforcing element composed of a plastic or aluminum alloy that allows for minor deflecting of the face plate which has a thickness ranging from 0.01 to 0.30 inches for a variety of materials including stainless steel, titanium, KEVLAR®, and the like. Yet another Campau invention, U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,248, for a Golf Club Having Insert Capable Of Elastic Flexing, discloses a wood club composed of wood with a metal insert. 
     Although the prior art has disclosed many variations of golf club heads, the prior art has failed to provide a golf club head having a striking plate that increases the coefficient of restitution through increasing the depth of the striking plate. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a golf club head that is capable of imparting a very high coefficient of restitution. The present invention is able to accomplish this by using a striking plate having an increased depth, and a predetermined stiffness. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head with a striking plate that has an aspect ratio in excess of 0.575. The striking plate also has a depth within a certain range, and a width within a certain range. This allows the striking plate to have a greater deflection during impact with a golf ball thereby allowing for a greater transfer of energy to the golf ball. This energy transfer results in a golf club having a high coefficient of restitution. The coefficient of restitution is measured under test conditions, such as those specified by the USGA. The standard USGA conditions for measuring the coefficient of restitution is set forth in the  USGA Procedure for Measuring the Velocity Ratio of a Club Head for Conformance to Rule  4-1 e, Appendix II Revision I , Aug. 4, 1998  and Revision  0, Jul. 6, 1998, available from the USGA. 
     Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a golf club of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the golf club head of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an isolated view of a striking plate for a golf club head of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 2 along line  4 — 4 . 
     FIG. 5 is an isolated view of the striking plate of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is an isolated view of a striking plate of the prior art. 
     FIG. 7 is an isolated view of an alternative embodiment of a striking plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a front plan view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is an isolated view of an alternative embodiment of a striking plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an isolated view of an alternative embodiment of a striking plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an isolated view of an alternative embodiment of a striking plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of a golf club head of the present invention immediately prior to impact with a golf ball. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of a golf club head of the present invention during impact with a golf ball. 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of a golf club head of the present invention immediately after impact with a golf ball. 
     FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a golf club head of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15A is a representation of a striking plate simply supported to illustrate one extreme of striking plate deflection during impact with a golf ball. 
     FIG. 15B is a representation of a striking plate fixedly supported to illustrate the other extreme of striking plate deflection during impact with a golf ball. 
     FIG. 16 is a representation of a striking plate to demonstrate the possible increases in depth relative to a fixed width. 
     FIG. 17 is a representation of a striking plate to demonstrate a golf ball&#39;s impact force with the striking plate. 
     FIG. 18 is a graph of aspect ratio versus face dimensions. 
     FIG. 19 is a graph of uniform face weight versus face dimensions. 
     FIG. 20 is a graph of face stiffness versus face dimensions. 
     FIG. 21 is a graph of uniform face thickness versus face dimensions. 
     FIG. 22 is a graph of figure of merit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed at a golf club head having a striking plate that is thin and has a high coefficient of restitution thereby enabling for greater distance of a golf ball hit with the golf club head of the present invention. The coefficient of restitution (also referred to herein as “COR”) is determined by the following equation:        e   =         v   2     -     v   1           U   1     -     U   2                         
     wherein U 1  is the club head velocity prior to impact; U 2  is the golf ball velocity prior to impact which is zero; ν 1  is the club head velocity just after separation of the golf ball from the face of the club head; ν 2  is the golf ball velocity just after separation of the golf ball from the face of the club head; and e is the coefficient of restitution between the golf ball and the club face. The values of e are limited between zero and 1.0 for systems with no energy addition. The coefficient of restitution, e, for a material such as a soft clay or putty would be near zero, while for a perfectly elastic material, where no energy is lost as a result of deformation, the value of e would be 1.0. The present invention provides a club head having a striking plate or face with a coefficient of restitution approaching 0.9, as measured under conventional test conditions. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a golf club is generally designated  20 . The golf club  20  has a club head  22  that is engaged with a shaft  24 . A ferrule  26  encircles the shaft  24  at an aperture  27  to a hosel  29 . The club head  22  has a body  28  and a striking plate  32 . The striking plate  32  has a plurality of scorelines  34  thereon. The striking plate  32  generally extends from a heel end  36  of the club head  22  to a toe end  38  of the club head  22 . The body  28  has a crown  40  and a sole  42 . As shown in FIG. 4, the body  28  has a hollow interior  44 . Positioned inside the hollow interior  44  is the hosel  29 . 
     The striking plate  32  is generally composed of a single piece of metal, and is preferably composed of a forged metal material. More preferably, the forged metal material is a forged titanium material. However, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the face member may be composed of other materials such as steels, vitreous metals, ceramics, composites, carbon, carbon fibers and other fibrous materials without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The striking plate  32  has a plurality of scorelines  34  thereon. The striking plate  32  may be cast with the body  28 , or it may be welded to the body  28 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the striking plate  32  is composed of a vitreous metal such as iron-boron, nickel-copper, nickel-zirconium, nickel-phosphorous, and the like. These vitreous metals allow for the striking plate  32  to have a thickness as thin as 0.055 inches. Yet in further alternative embodiments, the striking plate  32  is composed of ceramics, composites or other metals. Additionally, the thinnest regions of the striking plate  32  may be as low as 0.010 inches allowing for greater compliance and thus a higher coefficient of restitution. 
     The striking plate  32  of the present invention has a larger aspect ratio than striking plates of the prior art. The aspect ratio as used herein is defined as the depth, “D”, of the striking plate  32  divided by the width, “W”, of the striking plate, as shown in FIG.  3 . The width, W, is measured between the farthest limits of the striking plate  32  from the heel end  36  to the toe end  38 . The measured width, W, does not include any portion of the body  28  that may be on the front of the club head  22  but not part of the striking plate  32 . The depth, D, is measured from between the farthest limits of the striking plate  32  from the crown  40  to the sole  42 . As with the width, W, the depth, D, does not include any portion of the body  28  that may be on the front of the club head  22  but not part of the striking plate  32 . 
     In one embodiment, the width W is 3.35 inches and the depth D is 2.0 inches giving an aspect ratio of 0.6. In conventional golf club heads, the aspect ratio is usually much lower than 0.6. For example, the original GREAT BIG BERTHA® driver had an aspect ratio of approximately 0.525 for its striking plate. The striking plate  32  of the present invention has an aspect ratio that is greater than 0.575. The aspect ratio of the present invention preferably ranges from 0.575 to 0.8, and is most preferably from 0.6 to 0.7. The aspect ratio of the striking plate  32  will be described in greater detail below. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 , the thickness, “T”, of the striking plate  32  may be uniform or it may be contoured as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,432 for a Contoured Golf Club Face, which relevant parts are hereby incorporated by reference. However, unlike the striking plate  32 ′ of the prior art (as shown in FIG.  6 ), the striking plate  32  has a thickness, T, that is thinner providing for greater deflection of the striking plate  32  during impact with a golf ball. In a contoured striking plate  32 ″, the thickness varies from a first thickness T 1  to at least second thickness T 2 . The thickness, T, of the striking plate  32  in relation to the aspect ratio will be described in greater detail below. 
     A golf club head  22 ′ is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the striking plate  32   a  has a much more circular aspect ratio. In this embodiment, the aspect ratio is approximately 0.8. FIGS. 9-10 illustrate various types of striking plates  32   b ,  32   c  and  32   d , respectively, that may be utilized with the present invention. The striking plate  32   b  of FIG. 9 has a traditional or conventional shape. The striking plate  32   c  of FIG. 10 has a non-conventional oval shape with symmetry about an imaginary central axis through point  47 . The striking plate  32   d  of FIG. 11 has an inverted shape from the conventional shape of FIG.  9 . Although several shapes of striking plates have been illustrated, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that striking plates having other shapes are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIGS. 12-14, the flexibility of the striking plate  32  allows for a greater coefficient of restitution thereby increasing the performance of the golf club  20 . At FIG. 12, the striking plate  26  is immediately prior to striking a golf ball  140 . At FIG. 13, the striking plate  26  is engaging the golf ball  140 , and deformation of the golf ball  140  and striking plate  26  is illustrated. The striking plate  26  is allowed to deflect about the golf ball  140  thereby lessening the deformation of the golf ball  140  relative to prior art. The golf ball  140  is also engaged with the striking plate  26  for a longer period of time due to the deflection of the striking plate. This longer engagement period leads to a greater transfer of energy from the golf club to the golf ball thereby increasing the coefficient of restitution. At FIG. 14, the golf ball  140  has just been launched from the striking plate  26 . 
     FIG. 15 illustrates the striking plate  32  and the plurality of scorelines  34 . Each of the plurality of scorelines  34  may act as a stress concentrator during impact with a golf ball. Like other striking plates of the prior art, the striking plate  32  of the present invention is positioned between the crown  40  and sole  42 . During impact with a golf ball, the striking plate  32  will deflect depending upon the connection to the crown  40  and the sole  42 . FIGS. 15 a  and  15   b  illustrate the extremes of such connection, and thus every golf club striking plate that is connected to the crown and the sole should fall within these two extremes. FIG. 15A illustrates a striking plate  32   e  that is simply supported on two beams  51   a  and  5   b . Such a simple support structure will allow each edge of the striking plate  32   e  to rotate during impact with a golf ball  140  and deflect as shown by dashed lines  32   e ′. However, each edge of the striking plate  32   e  is fixed from translation. At the other extreme is the striking plate  32   f  of FIG. 15 b , which is essentially clamped between beams  51   c  and  51   d . Depending upon the speed at impact with a golf ball, the fixed striking plate  32   f  will deflect as shown by dashed lines  32   f ′. However, each edge of the striking plate  32   f  is fixed from translating and rotating. The striking plates  32  of the present invention are closer to the simple support structure than to the fixed structure. 
     FIG. 16 illustrates possible elliptical shapes  57 ,  59 ,  61 ,  63  and  65  that a striking plate  32   g  may have by increasing the depth, D, along the y-axis while holding the width, W, constant. The half-width distance “a” (a=W/2) is usually constant for most golf clubs, however, the half-depth distance, “b” (b=D/2), has been limited to relatively small values. The present invention increases b relative to the prior art to create a striking plate  32  with a more circular aspect ratio. The aspect ratio, α=b/a, varies between zero and one, with one being a circle. The present invention, as mentioned previously, has a striking plate  32  with an aspect ratio of at least 0.575. The striking plate  32  of the present invention is able to achieve greater flexibility and thus improve energy transfer to the golf ball during impact by increasing the aspect ratio of the striking plate  32 . 
     The mass of the striking plate  32  linearly increases as the aspect ratio increases as set forth in the following equation: mass=ρΠTa 2 α wherein T is the thickness of the striking plate  32 , a is the half-width of the striking plate  32 , and a is the aspect ratio. Thus, the striking plate  32  should be thinner as the aspect ratio increases in order to avoid a heavy golf club. 
     FIG. 17 illustrates the force against a striking plate  32  during impact with a golf ball. During impact with a golf ball, a uniform load, as shown by circle  99 , will be applied to the striking plate  32 , as shown by force lines  101 . The force circle  99  has a radius of r o , which ranges between 0.3 and 0.60 inches. Typical impacts of a driver with a golf ball will result in a force, F, ranging from 1500 to 2500 pounds per square inch. The force of impact is given by the equation:        F   =       ∫   0     2      π              ∫   0     r   o            qr           r             θ                           
     where q is the pressure distribution over the impact area. The displacement of the simple support structure of FIG. 15A is given by the following equation: 
     Δ=Fa 2 /ET 3 [α 2 (0.76−0.18α)] wherein E is the Young&#39;s Modulus for the material of the striking plate  32 . The displacement of the fixed support structure of FIG. 15B is given by the following equation: Δ=Fa 2 /ET 3 [α 2 (0.326−0.104α)] wherein E is the Young&#39;s Modulus for the material of the striking plate  32 . To increase the displacement, Δ, of the striking plate  32  during impact for a given golf ball impact load, F, one may increase a, reduce E, decrease T or increase α. Modifying T or α will have the greatest effect on the displacement, however, T is controlled by the materials as described below. 
     The effective stiffness at the center of the striking plate  32  is given by the equation: 
     K eff =F center /Δ center =ET 3 /α 2 [1/a 2 (0.76−0.18α)] for the simple structure, and K eff =F center /Δ center =ET 3 /α 2 [1/a 2 (0.326−0.104α)] for the fixed structure. Therefore, to decrease stiffness, one should reduce T, increase a, use a material with a lower E, or increase α. Thus, the stiffness of the striking plate  32  is altered by increasing the aspect ratio thereby by allowing for greater deflection of the striking plate during impact with a golf ball. 
     The stress at the center of the striking plate  32  during impact with a golf ball is given by the equations: σ=3F*/2ΠT 2 [( 1+ν)ln(b/r   o )+ν(6.57−2.57α)] for the simple support structure and σ=3F*/2πT 2 [(1+ν){ln(2b/r o )-0.317 α-0.376}] for the fixed support structure, where (ν) is the Poisson ratio of the striking plate  32  material. Solving for the minimum required thickness gives the following equations:          T   =           3        F   *         2                 π                   σ   yield              [         (     1   +   ν     )        ln                   (     b     r   o       )       +     ν        (     6.57   -     2.57                 α       )         ]           ,                   
     for the simply-supported case and          T   =           3        F   *         2                 π                   σ   yield              [         (     1   +   ν     )        ln                   (     b     r   o       )       +     ν        (     6.57   -     2.57                 α       )         ]           ,                   
     for the fixed edge support case, where (σ yield ) is the strength of the striking plate  32  material, F* is the effective impact force that includes the effects of design safety factors and scoreline stress concentration factors and ranges between 2000 and 15,000 pounds for the striking plate  32  of the present invention. 
     The half-width, a, is between 1.25 and 2.0 inches for the striking plate  32  of the present invention. The aspect ratio, α, is between 0.575 and 1.0 for the striking plate  32  of the present invention. Other values for materials of the striking plate  32  are set forth in Table One. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE One 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 E 
                   
                  σ 
                 ρ 
               
               
                   
                 Material 
                 10 6 lb/in 2   
                 ν 
                 10 3 lb/in 2   
                 lb/in 3   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Stainless Steel 
                 29 
                 0.27 
                 150 
                    0.28 
               
               
                   
                 Titanium(6-4) 
                 16.5 
                 0.31 
                 115 
                 0.16 
               
               
                   
                 Aluminum 
                 10 
                 0.333 
                 73 
                 0.101 
               
               
                   
                 Maraging Steel 
                 28.4 
                 0.3 
                 280 
                 0.28 
               
               
                   
                 Liquid Metal 
                 13.3 
                 0.3 
                 260 
                 0.22 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     FIGS. 18-22 demonstrates the features of the striking plate  32  of the present invention in light of prior art. The boxes on the graphs represent the prior art, and where these prior art golf club striking plates are positioned in relation to each other and the striking plate  32  of the present invention. Persimmon is a persimmon wood golf club of the prior art. “GBB” is a GREAT BIG BERTHA® driver available from Callaway Golf, “BBB” is a BIGGEST BIG BERTHA® driver available from Callaway Golf, “Orlimar” is a Tri-Force driver from Orlimar Golf, Scud and Marumen represent drivers from these Japanese companies. 
     FIG. 18 illustrates the aspect ratio of the striking plate versus the face dimensions of the striking plate. Lines  200 - 204  represent aspect ratio lines. The prior art golf club striking plates lie below an aspect ratio line of 0.575. The striking plates  32  of the present lie at or above an aspect ratio line of 0.575. 
     FIG. 19 illustrates the weight or mass of a uniform thickness striking plate  32  versus the face dimensions. Lines  220 - 231  are lines of equal weight. Generally, the striking plate of the present invention has a weight that is within lines  222  and  228 , or in other terms, between 35 grams and 70 grams. 
     FIG. 20 illustrates the face stiffness versus the face dimensions. Lines  240 - 245  represent lines of equal stiffness. The striking plate  32  of the present invention has a face stiffness between lines  244  and  245 . 
     FIG. 21 illustrates face thickness and scorelines versus face dimensions. Lines  250 - 255  represent equal lines of face thickness. The striking plate  32  has a thickness in the range of 0.135 inches and 0.145 inches. 
     FIG. 22 illustrates figure of merit which is face stiffness, and face weight versus the face dimensions. Lines  260 - 263  represent lines of equal merit. The present invention has a figure of merit in excess of  40 . 
     Thus, using aspect ratio, stiffness, material properties, and the like, a golf club head of the present invention is designed to have greater deflection which results in a greater transfer of energy to a golf ball during impact thereby increasing the coefficient of restitution of the golf club head, and allowing for the golf ball to travel further. 
     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.