CG height adjustability by conformal crown weighting

Abstract

A golf club head comprising a crown with an edge support structure and a flexible, conformal weight sized to fit within the edge support structure is disclosed herein. The edge support structure preferably is disposed on an internal surface of the crown so that the conformal weight is invisible when the golf club head is viewed at address. The conformal weight can be removed to adjust the vertical center of gravity of the club head, and preferably is oriented in a front-to-back direction along the club head's X-axis. The conformal weight preferably is composed of a high-density polymeric material with a specific gravity ranging from 1.8 to 4.2.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising: a face component comprising a face component contact surface; a sole; a crown; and a flexible weight comprising a first front edge, a width, a length, a rear edge, and at least one cutout, wherein the flexible weight comprises a polymer having a specific gravity value of 1.8 to 4.2, wherein at least one of the sole and the crown comprises a second front edge, an aft edge, and an edge support structure, wherein the flexible weight is retained within the edge support structure, wherein a damping layer is disposed between the flexible weight and an interior surface of the crown or the sole, and wherein the length of the flexible weight is greater than the width of the flexible weight.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first front edge abuts one of the second front edge and the face component contact surface when the weight is fully engaged within the edge support structure.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the crown and the sole comprises at least one weight port.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the crown and the sole is composed of composite and comprises a doubly curved shallow shell structure.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight is aligned with a golf club head X-axis when the flexible weight is engaged with the edge support structure.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge support structure is integrally formed with at least one of the crown and the sole.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising an aft opening in communication with the edge support structure, wherein the aft opening is sized to receive the flexible weight.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge support structure is selected from the group consisting of internal rails, an internal enclosed support structure, and external rails.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the edge support structure is internal rails, and wherein at least one of the sole and the crown comprises an opening disposed over the internal rails to form an external channel.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight front edge has shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, tapered, and rounded.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight comprises a plurality of cutouts.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein each of the cutouts is disposed at an edge of the flexible weight.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight has an initial un-deformed shape comprising a curvature that matches a curvature of the crown or the sole.

14. A golf club head comprising: a face component comprising a face component contact surface; a sole comprising a sole aft edge, an internal surface, and an edge support structure disposed on the internal surface; a weight composed of a polymeric material; and a fastener, wherein the edge support structure is integrally formed with the sole, wherein the weight comprises a rectangular shape, wherein the weight is removably retained within the edge support structure, and wherein the weight is compressed between the fastener and the face component contact surface.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the weight is hidden from view when it is fully engaged with the edge support structure.

16. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the weight comprises a plurality of weight protrusions.

17. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the weight comprises a thick-edged cross-sectional shape.

18. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the weight comprises a plurality of cutouts.

19. The golf club head of claim 14, further comprising a damping layer disposed between the flexible weight and an interior surface of the sole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a position of a conformal weight within a golf club head.

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of a crown of a golf club head illustrating an orientation of a conformal weight and a local shell coordinate system.

(3) FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate cross-sectional configurations of different conformal weight installation sections on a crown of a golf club head.

(4) FIGS. 4A-4C illustrates multiple crowns of golf clubs with varying weight concealment ranging from fully hidden, aft section exposed and full exposed.

(5) FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate multiple configuration and construction options for a flexible conformal weight for a golf club head.

(6) FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate multiple cross-section options for a flexible conformal weight for a golf club head.

(7) FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate multiple alternatives for a flexible conformal weight for a golf club head.

(8) FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate cross-sectional configurations of multiple types of fasteners that can be used to secure the flexible conformal weight to the golf club head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) As shown in FIG. 1, the design approach described here is based on the construction used in Callaway Golf Company's RAZR Fit driver head 10, characterized by a composite crown 20 adhesively bonded to a cast Titanium body 30, which comprises a face 32, a sole 34, and sometimes a ribbon 36. This particular construction approach permits the crown 20 configuration to be adapted to the hidden conformal weighting system 100 described herein with minimal impact to weight and function. However, this weighting system 100 may be used with other constructions including all Titanium, all composite and composite body with metal face cup. It is also intended to work in conjunction with at least one adjustable weight port on the sole of the driver head 10. Shifting weight between the crown weighting system 100 described herein and a port located on the sole 34 allows for control of center of gravity height. In the most general case the sole 34 weighting technique will be different than the crown 20.

(10) In the primary configuration, shown in FIG. 1, the crown 20 is a doubly curved composite shallow shell structure adhesively bonded to the body 30 at its perimeter 35. The weight 40 is termed conformal in that it closely follows the crown 20 shape to maximize its height and effect on vertical center of gravity position. The conformal weight 40 preferably is oriented front to back and aligned close to the head X-axis, as shown in FIG. 2. However, the conformal weight 40 can be angled with respect to the head X-axis to accommodate performance or alignment needs without significant reduction in performance.

(11) To hold the conformal weight 40, the internal surface 25 of the crown 20 is modified by the addition of edge support structures 50, oriented fore and aft and aligned essentially parallel to the head Y-axis. These support structures 50 may be integrally molded from the crown 20 parent material or be secondarily bonded to the crown 20. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 3A, the crown 20 comprises internal edge rails 52 which hold the conformal weight 40 in place. In an alternative embodiment, the crown 20 comprises an internal enclosed support structure 54, which completely sandwiches the conformal weight 40 between the support structure 54 and the internal surface 25 of the crown 20 as shown in FIG. 3B. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3C, the crown 20 is formed with an external channel 60 oriented fore and aft with internal edge rails 56 at the lateral edges of the channel 60 to hold the weights in place. In this approach, the conformal crown weight 40 is visually apparent, but its visual effects are minimized by finishing the conformal weight 40 in a manner identical to the surrounding crown 20. Alternatively, the conformal weight's 40 geometry and cosmetics can be intentionally configured in a manner to make it an alignment aid at address. In yet another embodiment, external edge rails 58 are formed with or added to the crown 20 as shown in FIG. 3D. A benefit of these edge support structures 50 is that they increase stiffness of the crown 20 to counteract the mass effect of the conformal weights 40, thus mitigating effects on vibrational behavior. In this manner the edge supports 50 serve two functional roles; stiffener and weight guide.

(12) The conformal weights 40 of the present invention preferably are inserted into or removed from the crown 20 via an opening 70 at the aft edge 22 of the crown 20 or, in an alternative embodiment, via an aft section of the ribbon portion of the body (not shown). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the opening 70 extends the entire length of the crown 20 along the X-axis, thus forming an external channel 60. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, the opening 70 extends approximately one third of the length of the crown 20 along the X-axis, while in FIG. 4C, the opening 70 is located entirely at the aft edge 22 of the crown 20.

(13) The conformal weights 40 of the present invention preferably are thin flexible elements sized to fit within the edge support structure 50 and to follow the curvature of the crown 20. In the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 5A, the conformal weight 40 is a flexible strip of material having a consistent length L, width W, and depth D. In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5B, the conformal weight 40 is a flexible strip of material having attached weight protrusions 42. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5C, the conformal weight 40 is segmented such that it does not have a consistent depth D. In yet another embodiment, the conformal weight 40 is laminated so that it has a variable depth D.

(14) A range of weight values for the conformal weights 40 of the present invention can be achieved using loaded polymers or a polymer substrate with attached weights. High density polymers with sufficient bending flexibility exist with specific gravity values ranging from 1.8 to 4.2. Another approach is to use segmented conformal weights 40 with flexible connectors. It is also possible to attach conformal weights 40 to a flexible substrate or laminate highly loaded polymer layers to a flexible substrate. Mass distribution within the flexible weight does not have to be evenly distributed. In fact, it is beneficial to concentrate weight near the forward half of the conformal weight 40 to maximize its effect on center of gravity height. The conformal weight 40 also need not be flat, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Instead, in the preferred embodiment, the initial un-deformed shape of the conformal weight 40 includes a slight curvature that is similar to the crown 20 contour to reduce insertion contact forces and the resulting friction. In yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6D, the conformal weight 40 may have a thick-edged cross-sectional shape. In general, the cross-sectional shape of the conformal weight 40 must provide sufficient volume while maintaining flexibility to permit easy insertion and removal.

(15) The conformal weights 40 of the present invention preferably are inserted via the aft opening 70 and move along the edge support structures 50 until the conformal weights 40 engage with a contact surface 80 disposed proximate at the forward edge of the crown 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A-4C. This allows the high loads caused by impact to be taken in bearing and transferred directly to the crown 20 structure of the face cup, if one is used. In one embodiment, the shape of the conformal weight 40 is a simple rectangle, as shown in FIG. 7. In the preferred embodiment, the front edge 45 of the conformal weight 40 is modified with a taper, as shown in FIG. 7B, to improve engagement and alignment of the conformal weight 40 at the contact surface 80. In an alternative embodiment, the front edge 45 of the conformal weight is modified with a rounded section, as shown in FIG. 7C. Reducing weight and increasing flexibility of the conformal weight 40 is accomplished by including cutouts 46 in the center of the conformal weight 40 or along its edge 43. Minimizing vibration and buzz of the conformal weights 40 can be achieved by adding snubbers or a damping layer 110 between the weight and crown surface, but these elements must be carefully designed to avoid adding unnecessarily to the force required to insert or remove the conformal weight 40.

(16) A fastener 90 at the aft edge 22 of the crown 20 or on the aft ribbon section as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8A, 8B, and 8C is used to secure the conformal weight 40 for play. The fastener 90 ideally preloads the conformal weight 40 in compression to minimize vibration and ensure proper load transfer at impact. This is possible because the predominant load at impact is taken in compression by the front edge 45 of the conformal weight 40 near the face 32. Out of plane and lateral loads are absorbed by the edge support structures 50. The fastener 90 also serves as a swingweight adjustment weight, if needed, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C. In these Figures, the fastener 90 is a weight screw that moves mass towards the rear end of the golf club head 10, on the crown 20 or the ribbon 36. As shown in these Figures, the weight screw fastener 90 extends through openings (not shown) in the conformal weight 40, the crown 20, and the body 30 to secure these structures together. A washer 92 can be affixed to the threads of the weight screw fastener 90 to prevent it from moving, or the body 30 may comprise a threaded port (not shown) to engage the weight screw fastener 90. Alternatively, or in addition to the fastener 90 as shown in FIG. 8B, a snap fit or clip restraint fastener 95 can be used at the aft end 48 of the conformal weight 40.

(17) The approaches detailed herein are well suited to a composite crown due to its extremely low structural weight. The composite may be a discontinuous short or long fiber molded composite or a laminated composite. It is also possible to utilize aluminum, magnesium or titanium alloy.

(18) Varying the amount of weight in the crown may have an effect on driver sound at impact. A relatively flexible conformal weight 40 will mass load the crown 20, thus affecting vibration modes with significant crown 20 participation. This effect can be mitigated by the use of stiff edge support structures 50 and matching the stiffness of the conformal weight system 100 to the local crown 20 structure.

(19) In alternative embodiments, the conformal weighting configurations, including the edge support structures and weights, disclosed herein are used in connection with a composite sole 34 of the golf club head 10 instead of the crown 20, and/or a ribbon 36.

(20) 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.