Patent Publication Number: US-11045697-B2

Title: Golf club head with face damping and stress-reduction features

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/797,910, filed on Feb. 21, 2020, and issued on Aug. 11, 2020, as U.S. Pat. No. 10,737,152, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/537,144, filed on Aug. 9, 2019, and issued on Feb. 25, 2020, as U.S. Pat. No. 10,569,146, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/230,942, filed on Dec. 21, 2018, and issued on Sep. 17, 2019, as U.S. Pat. No. 10,413,789, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/026,382, filed on Jul. 3, 2018, and issued on Jan. 8, 2019, as U.S. Pat. No. 10,173,109, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/821,557, filed on Nov. 22, 2017, and issued on Aug. 7, 2018, as U.S. Pat. No. 10,039,965, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a golf club head, and particularly an iron head, with a structure that improves the sound of the striking face after impact with a golf ball at an average player&#39;s swing speed and also reduces stress in the striking face when it rebounds from a high speed impact with a golf ball. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The prior art discloses various golf club heads having vibration damping inserts sandwiched or wedged between the golf club head striking face and another body portion of the club head. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,327 to Biafore discloses an iron with a damping material in a recess proximate a striking face, U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,117 to Gilbert discloses a dampening insert behind a strike face insert in an iron, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,168,437 to Roach et al. discloses an elastomeric insert attached to the back of the striking face of an iron. 
     In these prior art clubs, the damping effect of the insert occurs as soon as the striking face impacts a golf ball, such that the damping insert is compressed between the striking face and some other portion of the golf club head. This process damps vibrations in the striking face, but also reduces the coefficient of restitution (COR) of the face, thereby reducing face performance in exchange for better sound. These prior art structures also do not efficiently reduce stress placed on the face during high impact collisions, which can lead to face breakage. Therefore, there is a need for a vibration damping structure that improves sound and reduces stress placed on the striking face of the golf club head during high-speed impacts without negatively affecting performance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to golf club head with a structure that produces a pleasing sound upon impact, regardless of the swing speed, and that also reduces the stress placed on the face when the golf club head makes impact with a golf ball at high speed. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a face component comprising a striking face, a rear surface, and a piston extending from the rear surface, a body comprising a top section, a bottom section, a heel side, a toe side, and a receptacle, and a front bumper, wherein the receptacle comprises a front chamber, a heel-side wall, a toe-side wall, a rear-side wall, a front-side wall, and a floor, wherein the front-side wall comprises a through-opening, wherein the face component is affixed to the body so that a first portion of the piston extends through the through-opening of the front-side wall, wherein a second portion of the piston is received within the front chamber of the receptacle, wherein the front bumper is disposed at least partially within the front chamber between the front-side wall and the second portion of the piston, and wherein no portion of the receptacle or the front bumper makes direct contact with the rear surface of the face component. 
     In some embodiments, the golf club head may further comprise a rear bumper, the receptacle may comprises a rear chamber defined by the rear-side wall and a divider wall, the divider wall may separate the rear chamber from the front chamber, and the rear bumper may be at least partially disposed with the rear chamber. In a further embodiment, the rear bumper may comprise a body and a protrusion, the divider wall may comprise a divider through-opening in communication with the front chamber, and the protrusion may extend into the divider through-opening. In these embodiments, the rear bumper may reduce stress in the striking face after the striking face impacts a golf ball. In any of these embodiments, the front bumper may damp vibration in the striking face after the striking face impacts a golf ball. 
     In other embodiments, the receptacle may extend from the bottom section of the body towards the top line section. In still other embodiments, the first portion of the piston may be a stem and the second portion of the piston may be a plate member, the stem may comprise a first end connected to the rear surface of the striking face and a second end opposite the first end, the stem may extend approximately perpendicular to the rear surface, the plate member may be connected to the second end of the stem, and the plate member may extend approximately perpendicular to the stem and parallel with the rear surface of the striking face. In any of these embodiments, the face component may be a face cup comprising an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flange may be welded to the top section, and the lower flange may be welded to the bottom section. In these embodiments, each of the body and the face component may be composed of a metal alloy material, and the first bumper may be composed of a graphene material. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is an iron-type golf club head comprising a metal body comprising a top section, a bottom section, a hosel disposed at a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a receptacle, a metal face component comprising a striking face surface, a rear face surface opposite the striking face surface, an upper flange, a lower flange, and a piston extending from the rear face surface, and a rear bumper, wherein the piston comprises a stem and a plate member, wherein the stem comprises a first end connected to the rear face surface and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the stem extends approximately perpendicular to the rear face surface, wherein the plate member is connected to the second end of the stem, wherein the receptacle is at least partially defined by a front-side wall, a rear-side wall, a toe-side wall, a heel-side wall, and a floor, wherein the receptacle comprises a front chamber and a rear chamber separated by a divider wall, wherein the front-side wall comprises a first through-opening, wherein the divider wall comprises a second through-opening so that the front chamber is in communication with the rear chamber, wherein the rear bumper comprises a bumper body and a protrusion, wherein the bumper body is disposed within the rear chamber and the protrusion extends into the second through-opening, wherein the face component is affixed to the body, wherein the stem extends through the first through-opening and the plate member is disposed within the front chamber, and wherein the rear bumper reduces stress in the striking face after the striking face impacts a golf ball. 
     In some embodiments, the iron-type golf club head may further comprise a front bumper composed of a non-metal material, the front bumper may be disposed within the front chamber between the front-side wall and the plate member, and the front bumper may damp vibration in the striking face after the striking face impacts a golf ball. In a further embodiment, when the golf club head is at address, a first gap may be disposed between the plate member and the front bumper and a second gap may be disposed between the plate member and the divider wall. In these embodiments, the front bumper may at least partially encircle the stem. In other embodiments, a front gap may be disposed between the front-side wall of the receptacle and the rear face surface, and no portion of the receptacle may make direct contact with rear face surface during impact with a golf ball. In any of these embodiments, the stem may extend from the rear face surface at a point located below a geometric face center of the rear face surface measured along a vertical Z axis. Also, in any of these embodiments, the rear bumper may be composed of a graphene material. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is an iron-type golf club head comprising a face component comprising a striking face, a rear face surface, and a piston extending from the rear face surface, a body comprising a top section, a bottom section, a heel side, a toe side, and a receptacle, a front bumper, and a rear bumper, wherein the receptacle comprises a heel-side wall, a toe-side wall, a rear-side wall, a front-side wall, and a floor, wherein the front-side wall comprises a through-opening, wherein the face component is affixed to the body so that a first portion of the piston extends through the through-opening of the front-side wall, wherein a second portion of the piston is received within the front chamber of the receptacle, wherein the front bumper is disposed at least partially within the receptacle between the front-side wall and the second portion of the piston, wherein the rear bumper is disposed at least partially within the receptacle between the second portion of the piston and the rear-side wall, wherein the front bumper damps vibration in the striking face after the striking face impacts a golf ball, and wherein the rear bumper reduces stress in the striking face after the striking face impacts a golf ball. 
     In some, further embodiments, each of the front bumper and the rear bumper may be composed of a graphene material. In other embodiments, the first portion of the piston may be a stem and the second portion of the piston may be a plate member, the stem may extend from and approximately perpendicular to the rear face surface, and the plate member may extend from and approximately perpendicular to the stem. In any of these embodiments, a front gap may be disposed between the front-side wall of the receptacle and the rear face surface, a first gap may be disposed between the plate member and the front bumper when the golf club head is at address, a second gap may be disposed between the plate member and the rear bumper when the golf club head is at address, and no portion of the receptacle or the front or rear bumpers may make direct contact with rear face surface during impact with a golf ball. 
     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 rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the golf club head of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1  along lines  3 - 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1  along lines  4 - 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1  along lines  5 - 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the face component of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The golf club head of the present includes a structure designed to reduce the amplitude and duration of the sound made by the striking face after the golf club head impacts a golf ball, known as damping, without impeding the performance of the striking face with respect to ball velocity. The structure also is designed reduce the stress placed upon the striking face when it makes impact with a golf ball at higher speeds. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . The golf club head  10  comprises a body  20  having a top line section  21 , a bottom section  22 , a heel side  23  where a hosel  24  connects with the body  20 , and a toe side  25 , and a face component  30  comprising a striking face  32  with a front striking surface  34 , a rear surface  36  opposite the front striking surface  34 , an upper flange  33  extending from an upper edge  31  of the striking face  32 , and a lower flange  37  extending from a lower edge  35  of the striking face  32 . The striking face  32  has a geometric face center  38  and preferably comprises a variable thickness pattern. When the face component  30  is affixed to the body  20  by welding or otherwise connecting the upper flange  33  to the top line section  21  and the lower flange  37  to the bottom section  22 , the two parts define a hollow, rear-facing cavity  40 . 
     The face component  30  also includes a piston  50  comprising a load transfer member  52 , also referred to herein as a stem, having a first end  51  extending from or affixed to the rear surface  36  of the striking face  32  and a second end  53  affixed to a plate member  54 , which extends perpendicular to the stem  52  and approximately parallel with the rear surface  36  of the striking face  32 . The plate member  54  has a forward facing surface  55  and a rearward facing surface  56 . The piston  50  preferably is integrally manufactured (e.g., cast, formed, forged) with the face component  30  to ensure structural integrity, though it may be formed separately and attached to the face component  30  via welding, gluing, or other processes known in the art. The stem  52  and plate member  54  preferably are integrally formed with one another, but may in alternative embodiments be welded or otherwise affixed to one another. The piston  50  preferably extends from a spot at or below the geometric face center  38  measured along a vertical Z axis, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The body  20  comprises a receptacle  60  that aligns with, and receives, the piston  50 . The receptacle  60 , which preferably is integrally formed with the body  20  so that it extends from the bottom section  22  of the body, comprises a front chamber  62  sized to receive the stem  52  of the piston  50 , a rear chamber  64  sized to receive the plate member  54  of the piston  50 , and a divider wall  66  that partially divides the front and rear chambers  62 ,  64 . The divider wall  66  has a through-opening  67  that connects the front and rear chambers  62 ,  64  so they communicate with one another. The receptacle  60  is defined by heel-side, toe-side, rear-side, and front-side walls  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c ,  61   d  and a floor  63 . The front-side wall  61   d  also includes a through-opening  68  sized to receive the stem  52  of the piston  50 . 
     A first bumper  70  comprising a through-opening or slot  72  sized to receive and at least partially encircle the stem  52  is disposed in the front chamber  62 . A second bumper  80  comprising a body portion  82  and a protrusion  84  extending approximately perpendicular from the body portion  82  is disposed in the rear chamber  64  so that the protrusion  84  extends through the through-opening  67  in the divider wall  66  and at least partially into the front chamber  62 . 
     When the golf club head  10  is fully assembled and in a resting state (e.g., at address), the bumpers  70 ,  80  are in their uncompressed states; a first gap  90  is disposed between the forward facing surface  55  of the piston  50  and the first bumper  70 , and a second gap  95  is disposed between the rearward facing surface  56  and the divider wall  66  and protrusion  84  of the second bumper  80 . Upon impact with a golf ball, the striking face  32 , and thus the piston  50 , moves rearwards, and then flexes forwards. When the striking face  32  flexes forwards, the forward facing surface  55  of the plate member  54  comes into contact with the first bumper  70 , thereby damping the amplitude and duration of the sound made by the face component  30  after the ball has left the striking face  32 . 
     If the golf club head  10  is swung at a high speed by a more powerful or experienced golfer, the striking face  32  will flex further in the rearward direction, such that the piston  50  closes the first gap  90  and the rearward facing surface  56  of the plate member  54  comes into contact with the protrusion  84  of the second bumper  80 . The second bumper  80  presses against the rearward facing surface  56  of the plate member and resists the force of the flexure, thereby supporting the striking face  32  and reducing the likelihood of breakage during a high speed impact. This structure allows for selective stress reduction in the striking face  32  depending on the skill and power of the golfer. 
     The divider wall  66  helps to maintain the gaps  90 ,  95  and retain the bumpers  70 ,  80  within their respective portions of the receptacle  60 . At no point during address, swing, or impact does the receptacle  60  make direct contact with the rear surface  36  of the striking face—a front gap  96  is maintained between the rear surface  36  and the front side wall  61   d  by the piston  50  and bumper  70 ,  70  system. 
     In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, the bumpers  70 ,  80  preferably are composed of a graphene material, though in alternative embodiments they may be composed of an elastic material such as rubber. Each of the body  20  and the face component  30  is composed of one or more metal alloy materials, such as stainless steel or titanium alloy. A medallion or other decorative feature (not shown) may also be affixed to the rear surface  36  of the striking face  32 . 
     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.