Golf club face insert

Abstract

A face insert for a golf club head, preferably a putter head, is disclosed herein. The face insert comprises a pair of stacked plates, each with a plurality of hinge features. The hinge features of the lower plate extend through openings in the upper plate so that the plates are locked together, and the edge surfaces of the hinge features combine to create a striking surface that increases topspin of a golf ball.

Claims

1. A golf club face insert comprising: a first striking plate comprising a first base portion, a first plurality of hinge features extending at a first angle from the first base portion, and a first plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes; and a second striking plate comprising a second base portion, a second plurality of hinge features extending at a second angle from the second base portion, and a second plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes, wherein the first striking plate is stacked on the second striking plate so that at least a portion of the first base portion makes contact with at least a portion of the second base portion, so that each through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes at least partially overlaps a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes, and so that each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features extends through a through-hole of the plurality of first through-holes, and wherein at least a portion of each hinge feature of the first and the second pluralities of hinge features is exposed.

2. The golf club face insert of claim 1, further comprising a backing portion, wherein the backing portion contacts a rear surface of the first base portion.

3. The golf club face insert of claim 2, wherein the backing portion is affixed to and covers at least a portion of the first base portion and the second base portion.

4. The golf club face insert of claim 1, wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features comprises a first tab portion with a first upper surface, a first lower surface, and a first connecting surface, wherein the first connecting surface is approximately parallel with the first base portion, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features comprises a second tab portion with a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a second connecting surface, wherein the second connecting surface is approximately parallel with the second base portion.

5. The golf club face insert of claim 4, wherein the first connecting surface is approximately parallel with the second connecting surface.

6. The golf club face insert of claim 5, wherein each of the first and the second connecting surfaces aligns with one another to create an approximately planar striking surface.

7. The golf club face insert of claim 4, wherein each of the first and the second tab portions has an approximately trapezoidal shape.

8. The golf club face insert of claim 4, wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features extends at a first angle of 45-90° from the first base portion, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features extends at a second angle of 45-90° from the second base portion.

9. The golf club face insert of claim 8, wherein the first angle is equivalent to the second angle.

10. The golf club face insert of claim 8, wherein each of the first and the second angles is 54-57°.

11. The golf club face insert of claim 4, wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features comprises a notch extending into the first upper surface of the first tab portion at an intersection between the first tab portion and the first base portion.

12. The golf club face insert of claim 4, wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features comprises a second notch extending into the second upper surface of the tab portion at an intersection between the second tab portion and the second base portion.

13. A golf club face insert comprising: first metal striking plate comprising a first base portion, a first plurality of hinge features extending at a first angle from the first base portion, and a first plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes; a second metal striking plate comprising a second base portion, a second plurality of hinge features extending at a second angle from the second base portion, and a second plurality of through-holes, and wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features is disposed proximate to, and extends partially over, a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes; and a polymeric backing portion, wherein the first striking plate is stacked on the second striking plate so that at least a portion of the first base portion makes contact with at least a portion of the second base portion, so that each through-hole of the first plurality of through-holes overlaps a through-hole of the second plurality of through-holes, and so that each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features extends through a through-hole of the plurality of first through-holes, wherein each hinge feature of the first plurality of hinge features comprises a first tab portion with a first upper surface, a first lower surface, and a first connecting surface, wherein the first connecting surface is approximately parallel with the first base portion, wherein each hinge feature of the second plurality of hinge features comprises a second tab portion with a second upper surface, a second lower surface, and a second connecting surface, wherein the second connecting surface is approximately parallel with the second base portion, wherein each of the first and second connecting surfaces aligns with one another to create an approximately planar striking surface, and wherein each of the first and second connecting surfaces of the plurality of the first and the second hinge features is exposed.

14. The golf club face insert of claim 13, wherein the backing portion is affixed to and covers both the first base portion and the second base portion.

15. The golf club face insert of claim 14, wherein the backing portion is composed of a urethane material.

16. The golf club face insert of claim 13, wherein each hinge feature of the first and the second pluralities of hinge features is vertically spaced from adjacent hinge features by 0.005 inch to 0.010 inch, and is horizontally spaced from adjacent hinge features by 0.025 inch to 0.075 inch.

17. The golf club face insert of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second tab portions has a length of 0.025 inch to 0.100 inch, a width at least 1.5 times the length, and a thickness of 0.010 inch to 0.040 inch.

18. The golf club face insert of claim 13, wherein each of the first base portion and the second base portion has a thickness of 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch.

19. The golf club face insert of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the backing portion is flush with each of the first and the second connecting surfaces.

20. The golf club face insert of claim 13, wherein each of the first and the second tab portions has an approximately trapezoidal shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the putter of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the face insert shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of the face insert shown in FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the interlocking striking plates shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the striking plates shown in FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the lower striking plate shown in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the upper striking plate shown in FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 along lines 9-9.

(10) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 along lines 10-10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) Each embodiment of the present invention is directed to a face insert 100 for a golf club head, preferably a putter head 10, which provides consistent ball speed and improved spin across the striking surface. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary putter head 10. The putter head 10 preferably comprises a hosel 15, a face 20 with a recess 22 sized to receive the face insert 100 of the present invention, a heel side 30, a toe side 35, a sole portion 40, a top portion 45, and a rear portion 50 opposite the face 20. A coordinate system is defined by a vertical z-axis extending from the sole portion 40 to the top portion 45 through the geometric center 25 of the face 20, a y-axis extending in a heel-to-toe direction parallel with the face 20 perpendicular to the z-axis, and an x-axis extending perpendicular to both the y- and z-axes from the face 20 to rear portion 50.

(12) The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-10. In this embodiment, the face insert 100 comprises three parts: a backing portion 110, a first striking plate 120 comprising a first planar base portion 122 with a first plurality of through-holes 124 and a first plurality of hinge features 130, and a second striking plate 150 comprising a second planar base portion 152 with a second plurality of through-holes 154 and a second plurality of hinge features 160.

(13) As shown in the Figures, and particularly FIGS. 6-8, each hinge feature 130, 160 comprises a trapezoidal tab portion 132, 162 that is connected to, and extends at an angle α1 of 45-90° (most preferably approximately 54-57°) away from, its respective base portion 122, 152. Each tab portion 132 includes an upper surface 133, 163, a lower surface 135, 165, and a connecting surface 137, 167 that extends approximately parallel with the base portion 122, 152. Each connecting surface 137, 167 has an area of approximately 0.002-0.004 square inches. Each hinge feature 130, 160 also includes a groove or notch 136, 166 extending into the upper surface 133, 163 of the tab portion 132, 162 at the intersection between the tab portion 132, 162 and the base portion 122, 152 to facilitate movement of the hinge feature 130, 160. As shown in the Figures, each tab portion 132, 162 preferably extends partially over a through-hole 124, 154.

(14) Each tab portion 132, 162 has a top-to-bottom (z-axis) length L.sub.1 ranging from 0.025 to 0.100 inch, and more preferably approximately 0.070 inch, a heel-to-toe (y-axis) width W.sub.1 that is greater than L.sub.1, and more preferably at least 1.5 times L.sub.1, most preferably approximately 0.182 inch, and a thickness T.sub.1 of 0.010 to 0.040 inch, more preferably approximately 0.020 inch. The base portion 122, 152 of each striking plate 120, 150 preferably has a thickness T.sub.2 of 0.005 inch to 0.030 inch, more preferably approximately 0.011 inch.

(15) As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 9, the first striking plate 120 is stacked on top of the second striking plate 150 so that each hinge feature 160 of the second striking plate 150 extends through a through hole 124 in the first striking plate 120, and so that most, if not all, of the hinge features 160 of the second striking plate 150 line up with a hinge feature 130 of the first striking plate 120. When stacked like this, each hinge feature 130, 160 is vertically spaced from neighboring hinge features by 0.005-0.010 inch, and horizontally by 0.025 to 0.075 inch. The connecting surfaces 137, 167 of the hinge features 130, 160 thereby combine to provide a striking surface that can make contact with a golf ball. The through holes 124, 154 of the first and second striking plates 120, 150 at least partially align when the plates 120, 150 are properly stacked so that the material forming the backing portion 110 can be injected molded or otherwise added to and around the plates 120, 150. Preferably, the material of the backing portion 110 is flush with the connecting surfaces 137, 167 of the hinge features when the face insert 100 is fully assembled.

(16) When contacted by a golf ball, the tab portions 132, 162 are compressed downwards towards the base portion 122, 152, and provide the face insert 100 with additional elasticity, improving the topspin imparted to the golf ball compared with prior art inserts. The notches 136, 166 improve the bending properties of the tab portions 132, 162, allowing them to flex inwards and outwards more easily.

(17) Several samples of the preferred embodiment shown in the Figures were placed in Odyssey #1 putters, all with 3° loft and 70° lie, and were tested using a putter robot at 3.50+/−0.05 mph under laboratory conditions. The resulting impact ratio, launch angle (°), and ball roll (rpm) data were compared against data collected under the same conditions from control putters having all of the same features as the test putters except for their face inserts, which were Odyssey White Hot inserts. As shown in Table 1, the inventive face insert reduced the impact ratio (or smash factor) of the putter by an average of 0.025, increased launch angle by an average of 0.20°, and added an average of 8.9 rpm to topspin.

(18) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Launch Ball Roll Impact Ratio Angle [°] [rpm] Std. Std. Std. Insert Average Dev. Average Dev. Average Dev. White Hot Sample 1 1.59 0   2.38 0.79 22.6 7.4 White Hot Sample 2 1.61 0.01 4.02 0.29 30.0 3.1 Stacked Microhinge 1.56 0   2.26 0.65 32.3 7.9 Sample 1 Stacked Microhinge 1.56 0.01 2.57 0.47 35.1 8.1 Sample 2 Stacked Microhinge 1.58 0.01 3.99 0.44 38.1 3.7 Sample 3 Stacked Microhinge 1.59 0.01 4.4  0.51 35.0 0.3 Sample 4

(19) Each striking plate 120, 150 preferably is composed of a metal alloy material such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, or aluminum alloy, though it may be composed of a rigid polymer material in alternative embodiments. When the striking plates 120, 150 are composed of one or more metal alloys, the hinge features 130, 160 and through-holes 124, 164 may be stamped, chemical etched, machined, and/or otherwise added to the respective striking plate 120, 150 by any means known to a person skilled in the art. The backing portion 110 preferably is composed of a polymer such as urethane, and preferably is co-molded or injection molded onto the striking plates 120, 150 so that the polymer material can flow over portions of the striking plates 120, 150, specifically the base portions 122, 152 and into the through-holes 124, 164 underneath the tab portions 132, 162. In alternative embodiments, however, the backing portion 110 may be permanently attached to one or both of the striking plates 120, 150 with an adhesive.

(20) Though each of the face insert 100 embodiments disclosed herein are shown in connection with a putter head 10, these embodiments may be used with any other golf club head, including drivers, fairway woods, irons, wedges, and hybrids.

(21) 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.