| Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stressRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, HeadGolf club heads with inserts under compressive stress description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060009306, Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/575,966, filed Jun. 2, 2004, herein incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to golf club heads, such as putter heads, with inserts that are under compressive stress, as well as methods for making such golf club heads. In preferred embodiments, the inserts are composed of low density material, such as granite, in order to help maximize the moment of inertia (MOI) of the golf club head. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Forgiving performance is a major objective of most modem putter designers, especially those targeting non-professional players. Even if a club head is delivered square to the target line at impact, a golf ball may lose both distance and accuracy (e.g., go off line) if the ball is not struck precisely on an axis in front of the putter planar center of mass. The degree of distance loss and mis-direction from a particular miss-hit is related to the putter planar moment of inertia (MOI). This is determined by the clubhead or putterhead planar moment of inertia and the position of the shaft in the putterhead which shaft weight and the shaft's own axial moment of inertia contributes to the putter MOI. The higher the MOI, the less the distance loss and angular misdirection for a given miss-hit. What is needed, therefore, are methods for making golf club heads, such as putter heads, that help maximize the MOI in order to make golf club more forgiving. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present invention provides golf club heads, such as putter heads, with inserts that are under compressive stress, as well as methods for making such golf club heads. In preferred embodiments, the inserts are composed of low density material, such as granite, in order to help maximize the moment of inertia (MOI) of the golf club head. [0005] In some embodiments, the present invention provides an article comprising a golf club head (or other sports club head), wherein the golf club head comprises: i) a body component comprising an insert recess, and ii) an insert component seated in the insert recess, wherein the insert component is under compressive stress. In other embodiments, the present invention provides an article comprising a golf club head, wherein the golf club head comprises: i) a body component comprising an insert recess, and ii) an insert component seated in the insert recess, wherein the body component is under tensile stress. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides an article comprising a golf club head, wherein the golf club head comprises an insert component, and wherein the insert component is under compressive stress. In certain embodiments, the insert components is not as wide as the insert recess, or is the same width as the insert recess, or is wider that the insert recess. [0006] In particular embodiments, the present invention provides methods of making a golf club head (or other sports club head) comprising; a) providing; i) a body component comprising an insert recess; and ii) an insert component, and b) heating the body component; and c) generating a golf club head by seating the insert component in the insert recess of the body component such that the insert component is under compressive stress (and/or the body component is under tensile stress) upon cooling of the body component. In additional embodiments, the present invention provides methods of making a golf club head comprising; a) providing; i) a body component comprising an insert recess; and ii) an insert component, and b) cooling the insert component; and c) generating a golf club head by seating the insert component in the insert recess of the body component such that the insert component is under compressive stress (and/or the body component is under tensile stress) upon warming of the insert component (e.g. allowing the insert component to come back to room temperature). [0007] In some embodiments, in step a) of the method, the insert component is wider that the insert recess (but is otherwise configured to be seated in the insert recess) when both the body component and insert component are at about room temperature. In certain embodiments, in step a) of the method, the insert component is between 0.004 and 0.05 inches wider (or between 0.00001 and 0.005 inches wider) than the insert recess when both the body component and insert component are at room temperature. In other embodiments, in step a) of the method, the insert component is between 0.005 and 0.03 inches wider than the insert recess when both the body component and insert component are at room temperature. In particular embodiments, the insert component is between 0.008 and 0.02 inches wider than the insert recess when both the body component and insert component are at room temperature. In further embodiments, the insert component is between 0.005 and 0.07 inches wider (or between 0.001 and 0.01, or between 0.00001 and 0.005 inches wider) than the insert recess when both the body component and insert component are at room temperature. In some embodiments, the insert component is less than 0.010 inches wider (or less than 0.009 inches wider) than the insert recess when the body component and insert component are at room temperature. In other embodiments, the insert component is wider than the insert recess when both the body component and insert component are at room temperature. [0008] In some embodiments, the present invention provides systems comprising; a) a body component comprising an insert recess, and b) an insert component, wherein the insert component is between 0.004 and 0.02 inches wider than the insert recess (but is otherwise configured to be seated in the insert recess) when the body component and insert component are both at room temperature. In certain embodiments, the insert recess is configured to accept the insert component while at an elevated temperature (e.g. 250, 350, 450, 500, 750, 1000, 1250 degrees Fahrenheit) such that a golf club head could be generated. [0009] In particular embodiments, the present invention provides systems comprising; a) an insert component, and b) a body component comprising an insert recess, wherein the insert recess, while at room temperature, is too small to accept the insert component, and wherein the insert recess, while at an elevated temperature (e.g. 250, 350, 450, 500, 750, 1000, or 1250 degrees Fahrenheit), is configured to accept the insert component such that a golf club head is generated. [0010] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the insert component has a density of less than 5.5 grams/cm.sup.3 or less than 4.5 grams/cm.sup.3 or less than 4.0 grams/cm.sup.3. In some embodiments, the insert component has a density of less than 3.0 grams/cm.sup.3. In other embodiments, the insert component has a density between 5.0 and 1.5 grams/cm.sup.3, or between 2.0-3.0 grams/cm.sup.3 (e.g. about 2.75 grams/cm.sup.3). [0011] In particular embodiments, the insert component has a hardness of at least 4.0 on Mohs hardness scale. In some embodiments, the insert component has a hardness of at least 5.0 on Mohs hardness scale. In particular embodiments, the insert component has a hardness of at least 6.0 on Mohs hardness scale. [0012] In additional embodiments, the golf club head is configured for putting a golf ball. In some embodiments, the golf club head is attached to a golf shaft. In certain embodiments, the golf club head has a Moment of Inertia (MOI) about the shaft axis of at least 25.0 oz-in.sup.2 or at least 40.0 oz-in.sup.2. In further embodiments, the golf club head has a Moment of Inertia (MOI) about the shaft axis of at least 45.0 oz-in.sup.2, 50.0 oz-in.sup.2, 55.0 oz-in.sup.2, 60.0 oz-in.sup.2, 62.0 oz-in.sup.2, 64.0 oz-in.sup.2, or 66.0 oz-in.sup.2. In some embodiments, the golf club head has a Moment of Inertia (MOI) about the shaft axis of between 40.0 oz-in.sup.2 and 66.0 oz-in.sup.2 or between 60.0 oz-in.sup.2 and 66.0 oz-in.sup.2. [0013] In certain embodiments, the golf club head is configured for chipping or pitching a golf ball (e.g. the golf club head form part of a gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, pitching wedge, 9-iron, or similar types of clubs). In further embodiments, the golf club head is configured for driving a golf ball over 50 yards or over 100 yards (e.g. the golf club head is part of a 9-iron, 8-iron, 7-iron, 6-iron, 5-iron, 4-iron, 3-iron, 2-iron, 1-iron, 9 wood, 8 wood, 7 wood, 6 wood, 5 wood, 4 wood, 3 wood, 2 wood, or driver). [0014] In some embodiments, the insert component comprises stone, glass, or ceramic. In certain embodiments, the insert component comprises plastic (e.g. plastic composite, thermoplasic, plastic with high hardness, etc.). In preferred embodiments, the stone comprises granite or marble. In certain embodiments, the body component further comprises a hosel. In certain embodiments, a golf shaft is inserted into the hosel. In other embodiments, the golf club head comprises a counterweight. [0015] In additional embodiments, the compressive stress is exerted by at least a portion of the body component. In further embodiments, at least a portion of the body component is under tensile stress. In some embodiments, the tensile stress is exerted by the insert component. In other embodiments, there is no bonding material (e.g. epoxy) between the insert recess and the insert component. In preferred embodiments, the insert component is in direct contact over its length with the insert recess. [0016] In some embodiments, the present invention provides an article comprising a golf club head (or other sports club head), wherein the golf club head comprises: i) a body component comprising an insert recess, and ii) an insert component seated in the insert recess, wherein the insert component is under compressive stress is composed of a low crystalline quartz granite (e.g. the low crystalline quart granite contain less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 3%, or less than 1% crystalline quartz). In certain embodiments, the low crystalline quartz granite contains between 0-10% crystalline quartz, between 0-5% crystalline quartz, or between 0-1% crystalline quartz). Preferably, the low crystalline quartz granite has a high modulus of elasticity, a uniform fine texture, and/or tight porosity (e.g. any combination of characteristics that make the low crystalline quartz granite insert component resistant to water absorption and warping from humidity). For example, in some embodiments, the low crystalline quartz granite is black granite obtained from Standridge Granite Corp. (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.). In certain embodiments, the low crystalline quartz granite insert component is under compressive stress. In other embodiments, the low crystalline quartz granite insert component is not under compressive stress (e.g. adhesive is used to secure the insert component into the insert recess). DEFINITIONS [0017] To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a number of terms and phrases are defined below: [0018] As used herein "compressive stress" refers to the stress applied to materials resulting in their compaction (decrease of volume). When a material is subjected to compressive stress then this material is under compression. [0019] As used herein "tensile stress" refers to the stress state leading to expansion (volume and/or length of a material tends to increase). [0020] As used herein, the term "hosel" refers to the socket or neck in the head of a golf club into which a shaft is inserted. Examples of hosels are shown as part 40 in FIGS. 1-2. Continue reading about Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress... Full patent description for Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Putter heads Next Patent Application: Round putter Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf club heads with inserts under compressive stress patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.32567 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
