GOLF CLUB WITH A STRIKING FACE HAVING IMPROVED CHARACTERISTIC TIME VALUES

Abstract

A ball striking face for a golf driver, fairway wood and hybrid type golf club head having a central impact area with a average thickness and additional multiple distinct areas outside the central impact area with other average face thicknesses for the improved transfer of energy to a golf ball for additional distance without any additional effort by the golfer. The striking face provides a transfer of energy at the central impact area which does not exceed CT values of 257 u sec. and an improved transfer of energy in one or more areas outside the central impact area that provides CT values greater than 257 u sec. but not greater than 275 u sec. when tested with the United States Golf Association's CT test protocol.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf clubs and in particular to drivers, fairway woods and hybrids having an improved club head, striking face configuration.

The Characteristic Time, hereinafter CT, has been commonly known as measuring the “spring-like” or “trampoline” effect of a driver, fairway wood or hybrid face or more formally as a measurement of the Coefficient of Restitution of those faces. The CT is recognized in terms of micro seconds and will be referred to hereinafter as u sec.

A wide variety of club head configurations, weighting structures, and striking face features have been proposed and presented to the golfing marketplace to achieve increased performance with these clubs.

However, the focus on increasing the spring-like or trampoline effect for the club face has been in terms of making the center or near center of the face having the highest CT. This is because tour professionals hit the center or very near center of the face. Another reason the CT is the highest in the center of the face is a byproduct of historical manufacturing construction.

Although most drivers have titanium faces, most other conventional metal wood type golf clubs and hybrid golf clubs are made with steel faces because of lower material and manufacturing costs. The clubs with steel faces provide little spring-like or trampoline effect as compared to similar clubs with titanium faces. In addition, various attempts have been made, as represented in prior art patents, to improve the striking face configuration of golf clubs for better performance.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,659,884, 6,659,885, 7,131,912, 7,273,421 and 7,481,717 to Knuth are directed to golf club heads having an improved face configuration using different thicknesses and parabolic shaped sections to improve performance across the face.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,830,084, and 6,368,234 assigned to Callaway and U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,596 assigned to Ping, among others, are directed to metal wood golf clubs having a striking face with various thicknesses.

The United States Golf Association, USGA, is the governing body of golf in the United States and publishes the Rules of Golf that includes equipment standards in order that golf clubs are deemed conforming. Non-conforming clubs may not be used in all professional and most non-professional tournaments or for golfers to obtain and maintain a USGA handicap index.

One of the USGA rules relating to equipment limits the transfer of energy to a golf ball due to the spring-like or trampoline effect of the striking face of a golf club. This rule seeks a limit on this effect to restrict the distance that golf clubs are able to hit a golf ball in order to preserve the challenges of existing golf courses. The limit is embodied in their former Coefficient of Restitution, COR, rule which is a measurement of the energy transfer in a collision of two objects. The USGA established a COR limit of 0.830 on driver, fairway wood and hybrid golf club faces, which means that if more than 83% of the energy is transferred in the collision of the driver head with a golf ball, the club head would be deemed non-conforming with the USGA rules.

In the early 2000s the USGA established the Characteristic Time, CT, test to determine whether a golf club head conformed to or exceeded the COR limitation. The CT test includes positioning the head so a pendulum arm with a sensor strikes the face at a variety of locations at the center and off-center. The speed of the pendulum as it bounces off the face determines the CT value. It was determined a CT measurement of 257 microseconds, 257 u sec, corresponds to a COR of 0.830 and this established the CT limit for anywhere on the face. Any driver, fairway wood or hybrid golf that had a CT measurement in excess of 257 u sec anywhere on the face was non-conforming under the USGA rules.

Recently the USGA amended the CT rule to identify an area it called the Impact Area as having a width of 42.67 mm or 1.68 inches in the center of the face of a driver, fairway wood and hybrid and a height from the crown down to the sole with the exception of 6.35 mm within the sole and crown excluded. Refer to FIG. 1 of the drawings to view an example of the Impact Area of a driver face. The remaining face area to the right and left of the Impact Area is defined herein as the “Outside the Impact Area.” The USGA CT rule further states the prior CT limit of 257 u sec applies only inside the Impact Area and permits the CT to be up to 275 u sec in the Outside the Impact Area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a driver, fairway wood and hybrid club having an improved striking face design used with these clubs in an improved club face characteristic time, CT. These clubs are the first to use a face that is 257 u sec or less in the entire Impact Area but has areas that are greater than 257 u sec in the Outside Impact Area but are not over 275 u sec anywhere in that area.

The club heads of the present invention are formed with a titanium or a titanium alloy striking face that produces a higher CT than conventional steel face clubs in the Impact Area up to 257 u sec. The club face of the present invention also produces a CT in the Outside the Impact Area that exceeds 257 u sec and the absence of any CT over 275 u sec. The CT values of the present invention are accomplished as a result of different zones of variable thickness in the faces as identified below.

It will be appreciated that there are different zones of height, width and thickness for the driver, fairway woods and hybrids. The reason is the preferable widths, heights and thicknesses of each of these clubs are different and those differences can affect the spring-like or trampoline effect of those faces because a larger face, by virtue of its greater size will have a higher CT for the same thickness in the relatively same location.

It will be further appreciated that the same object of the invention could be achieved if areas identified below in the Impact Area or the Outside the Impact Area have one uniform thickness or multiple thicknesses and one or more different shapes of uniform or variable thicknesses, including the absence of a rectangular shape. The average thicknesses of the areas described below have been found to achieve the object of the present invention even if one or more different shapes are used that overlap part or all of the areas described below. As a result, a golf ball struck with the club achieves less loss of energy off the club face when the ball is struck on areas both within the Impact Area and Outside the Impact Area but within the USGA allowable limit.

The benefit of this design creates CT values between 250 and 257 u sec in the center and other areas in the Impact Area and CT values between 257 and 275 u sec in the Outside the Impact Area where there is typically a larger loss of energy as a result of an off-center, miss-hit of the golf ball against the striking face of the club head that results in loss of both distance and accuracy.

It will be appreciated the improved striking faces of the present invention may be used with drivers having a variety of different lofts that are typically within a range of 8 to 13 degrees, fairway woods having lofts that are typically within a range of 13 to 21 degrees and metal hybrid golf clubs that have lofts typically between 15 and 26 degrees.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a metal golf club that has areas of CT values at or near the USGA limits in the Impact Area and CT values higher than 257 u sec and approaching 275 u sec in the Outside Impact Area.

This and other objects will be appreciated with reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the striking face of a golf driver in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the striking face of a fairway wood in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the striking face of a hybrid in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the drawings illustrate a driver golf club head 100 in accordance with the present invention. The club head 100 includes a hose 102 for connection to a conventional shaft and upper grip (not shown). The club head 100 includes a frontal ball striking face 104 made with and/or secured to a club head body 106 having an upper crown 108, bottom sole 109 and sides 110.

The striking face 104 preferably in the present embodiment is wide and extends between the toe 112 and heel 113 of the club head 100 with CT values up to the USGA's 257 u sec limit in the Impact Area 115 and greater than 257 u sec and approaching the 275 u sec limit in the Outside Impact Areas 116 and 117.

FIG. 1 shows a driver golf club with a frontal ball striking face 104. The driver has an area that is located an equal distance from the crown and the sole and is 4.267 cm wide and 2.4 cm in height in the Impact Area 115 with an average thickness between 2.8 and 3.4 mm. The combined thickness of the areas above and below the central part of the Impact Area 115 can have the same, thicker or thinner average thickness. Preferably, these areas will have an average thickness less than 2.8 mm to increase the CT in those areas. The areas immediately to the right and left of the Impact Area in the Outside Impact Area 116 and 117 are equal distance from the crown and the sole and are 2.4 cm high and 1.3 cm wide. These areas have an average thickness between 2.2 and 2.6 mm. The remaining heel and toe areas in can have the same, thicker or thinner average dimension. Preferably, these areas will have an average thickness less than 2.2 mm to increase the CT in those areas.

FIG. 2 shows a fairway wood type golf club with a frontal ball striking face 204. The central part of the fairway wood 215 has an area located an equal distance from the crown and the sole in the Impact Area and is 2.0 cm high and 4.267 cm wide 215 with an average thickness between 2.1 and 2.5 mm. The combined thickness of the areas above and below this central area can have the same, thicker or thinner average thickness, preferably an average thickness of 2.1 mm or less to increase the CT in those areas. The areas immediately right and left of the Impact Area 216 and 217 are located an equal distance between the crown and the sole and are 2.0 cm high and 0.7 cm wide with an average thickness between 1.3 mm and 1.9 mm. The remaining heel and toe areas can have the same, thicker or thinner average thickness dimension. Preferably these areas will have an average thickness less than 1.3 mm to increase the CT in those areas.

FIG. 3 shows a hybrid type golf club with a frontal ball striking face 304. The central part of the Impact Area 315 is 2.0 cm high and 4.267 cm wide. The hybrid type golf club has an area located an equal distance from the crown and the sole in the Impact Area and is 2.0 cm high, 4.267 cm wide 315 and has an average thickness between 2.2 and 2.6 mm. The combined thickness of the areas above and below this central area can have the same, thicker or thinner average thickness, but preferably an average thickness of 2.2 mm or less to increase the CT in those areas. The areas immediately right and left of the Impact Area in the Outside the Impact Area 315 and 316 are located an equal distance from the crown and sole; and are 2.0 cm high and 0.7 cm wide. These areas have an average thickness between 1.6 mm and 2.0 mm. The remaining heel and toe areas can have the same, thicker or thinner average thickness dimension. Preferably these areas will have an average thickness less than 1.6 mm to increase the CT in those areas.

It will be appreciated that the above example of a preferred embodiment and the thicknesses disclosed are not limiting but may be altered in keeping within the concept of the invention.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A ball striking face characterized for use with a driver type metal wood golf head having a ball striking face, an upper crown, heel, toe, and a bottom sole;

said striking face having a central impact area with an average thickness between approximately 2.8 mm and approximately 3.4 mm;

said striking face being further defined by an additional area located adjacent to the toe side of said impact area and an additional area located adjacent to the heel side of said central impact area; said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area having an average thickness between approximately 2.2 mm and approximately 2.6 mm;

said striking face having remaining areas outside said central impact area and outside said additional areas adjacent to and on either side of said central impact area;

and, said striking face being further defined by said central impact area having a characteristic time, CT, value no greater than 257 u sec. and by one or more of the areas outside said central impact area having CT values greater than 257 u sec. but not greater than 275 u sec.

25. The ball striking face of claim 24 wherein said central impact area is approximately 4.3 cm wide and approximately 2.4 cm high and said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area are approximately 1.3 cm wide and approximately 2.4 cm high.

26. The striking face of claim 25 wherein said central impact area and said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area are rectangular.

27. The striking face of claim 24 wherein said central impact area is located on said face at an equal distance from said upper crown and said bottom sole.

28. The striking face of claim 24 wherein said two additional adjacent areas located on either side of said central impact are located at an equal distance from said upper crown and said bottom sole.

29. The striking face of claim 24 being further defined by remaining areas between said central impact area and said upper crown and between said impact area and said bottom sole having an average thickness that is the same, thicker, or thinner than the average thickness of said central impact area.

30. The striking face of claim 24 being further defined by said all remaining areas to said heel side and to said toe side of said central impact area and said additional adjacent areas located on either side of said central impact area; said remaining areas each having an average thickness the same, thicker, or thinner thickness than the average thickness of said two additional adjacent areas on either side of the central impact area.

31. A ball striking face characterized for use with a fairway type metal wood golf head having a ball striking face, an upper crown, heel, toe, and a bottom sole;

said striking face having a central impact area with an average thickness between approximately 2.1 mm and approximately 2.5 mm,

said striking face being further defined by an additional area located adjacent to the toe side of said impact area and an additional area located adjacent to the heel side of said central impact area; said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area having an average thickness between approximately 1.3 mm and approximately 1.9 mm;

said striking face having remaining areas outside said central impact area and outside said additional areas adjacent to and on either side of said central impact area;

and, said striking face being further defined by said central impact area having a characteristic time, CT, value no greater than 257 u sec. and by one or more of the areas outside said central impact area having CT values greater than 257 u sec. but not greater than 275 u sec.

32. The ball striking face of claim 31 wherein said central impact area is approximately 4.3 cm wide and approximately 2.0 cm high and said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area are approximately 0.7 cm wide and approximately 2.0 cm high.

33. The striking face of claim 32 wherein said central impact area and said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area are rectangular.

34. The striking face of claim 31 wherein said central impact area is located on said face at an equal distance from said upper crown and said bottom sole.

35. The striking face of claim 31 wherein said two additional adjacent areas located on either side of said central impact are located at an equal distance from said upper crown and said bottom sole.

36. The striking face of claim 31 being further defined by remaining areas between said central impact area and said upper crown and between said impact area and said bottom sole having an average thickness that is the same, thicker, or thinner than the average thickness of said central impact area.

37. The striking face of claim 31 being further defined by said all remaining areas to said heel side and to said toe side of said central impact area and said additional adjacent areas located on either side of said central impact area; said remaining areas each having an average thickness the same, thicker, or thinner thickness than the average thickness of said two additional adjacent areas on either side of the central impact area.

38. A ball striking face characterized for use with a hybrid type metal wood golf head having a ball striking face, an upper crown, heel, toe, and a bottom sole;

said striking face having a central impact area with an average thickness between approximately 2.2 mm and approximately 2.6 mm;

said striking face being further defined by an additional area located adjacent to the toe side of said impact area and an additional area located adjacent to the heel side of said central impact area; said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area having an average thickness between approximately 1.6 mm and approximately 2.0 mm;

said striking face having remaining areas outside said central impact area and said additional areas adjacent to and on either side of said central impact area;

and, said striking face being further defined by said central impact area having a characteristic time, CT, value no greater than 257 u sec. and by one or more of the areas outside said central impact area having CT values greater than 257 u sec. but not greater than 275 u sec.

39. The ball striking face of claim 38 wherein said central impact area is approximately 4.3 cm wide and approximately 2.0 cm high and said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area are approximately 0.7 cm wide and approximately 1.6 cm high.

40. The striking face of claim 39 wherein said central impact area and said additional adjacent areas on either side of said central impact area are rectangular.

41. The striking face of claim 38 wherein said central impact area is located on said face at an equal distance from said upper crown and said bottom sole.

42. The striking face of claim 38 wherein said two additional adjacent areas located on either side of said central impact are located at an equal distance from said upper crown and said bottom sole.

43. The striking face of claim 38 being further defined by remaining areas between said central impact area and said upper crown and between said impact area and said bottom sole having an average thickness that is the same, thicker, or thinner than the average thickness between approximately 2.1 and approximately 2.5 mm.

44. The striking face of claim 38 being further defined by said all remaining areas to said heel side and to said toe side of said central impact area and said additional adjacent areas located on either side of said central impact area; said remaining areas each having an average thickness the same, thicker, or thinner thickness than the average thickness of said two additional adjacent areas on either side of the central impact area.