Modified golf club face flexure system

Abstract

A high impact golf club head with a face wall surrounded by a perimeter wall. After initial ball impact this face wall deflects and impacts a separate light weight open cellular structure that supports the face wall as it deflects and minimizes face wall failure. Maximum ball exit speed from the club head is achieved from club face deflection near the maximum at which the face wall reaches its permanent elastic deformation. The face has a first modulus of elasticity determined by the face itself and after the face deflects a predetermined value, the face modulus is significantly increased by the cellular structure parallel to and closely spaced behind the face wall. The face wall impacts the cellular structure at a swing speed near the top of the swing speed range for that particular club.

1 . A golf club head, comprising: a club head body having a face wall with a ball striking surface and a rear surface, a perimeter wall surrounding the face wall and attached to the perimeter of the face wall, and a unit cellular structure formed separately from the face wall positioned immediately behind and either engaging or closely spaced from the rear surface of the face wall.  
     
     
         2 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unit cellular structure is generally planar and has a forward surface in engagement with the rear surface of the face wall.  
     
     
         3 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unit cellular structure is generally planar and has a forward surface spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of the face wall less than 0.100 inches.  
     
     
         4 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unit cellular structure is open over 60 percent of the area of the unit cellular structure.  
     
     
         5 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unit cellular structure includes a plurality of open cells surrounded by other open cells.  
     
     
         6 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unit cellular structure includes a plurality of ribs intersected by another plurality of ribs with open spaced between the ribs.  
     
     
         7 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the unit cellular structure includes a plurality of ribs with open spaces between the ribs, at least some of the ribs having a “T” shaped cross section defined by a first bar portion and a second bar portion integral with the first bar portion at approximately the center of the first bar portion and perpendicular thereto, said second bar portion facing forwardly toward the rear surface of the face wall.  
     
     
         8 . A golf club head, comprising: a club head body having a face wall with a ball striking surface and a rear surface, a perimeter wall surrounding the face wall and attached to the perimeter of the face wall, and a unit cellular structure in the club head body for reinforcing the face wall and minimizing face wall failure under ball impact including a generally planar cellular structure formed separately from the face wall positioned behind and either in engagement or near the rear surface of the face wall, said cellular structure having a forward surface either in engagement with or spaced closely enough from the rear surface of the face wall so the rear surface of the face wall will engage and be supported by the cellular structure at club head speeds under 110 mph.  
     
     
         9 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the unit cellular structure is generally planar and has a forward surface in engagement with the rear surface of the face wall.  
     
     
         10 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the unit cellular structure is generally planar and has a forward surface spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of the face wall less than 0.100 inches.  
     
     
         11 . A golf club head as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the unit cellular structure includes a plurality of ribs intersected by another plurality of ribs with open spaced between the ribs.  
     
     
         12 . A golf club head, comprising: a club head body having a face wall with a ball striking surface and a rear surface, a perimeter wall surrounding the face wall and attached to the perimeter of the face wall, and a unit cellular structure in the club head body for reinforcing the face wall and minimizing face wall failure under ball impact including a generally planar cellular structure formed separately from the face wall positioned behind and either in engagement or near the rear surface of the face wall, said cellular structure having a forward surface either in engagement with or spaced closely enough from the rear surface of the face wall so the rear surface of the face wall will engage and be supported by the cellular structure at club head speeds under 110 mph., said cellular structure also including a plurality of ribs intersected by another plurality of ribs with open spaces between the ribs, and at least some of the ribs having a “T” shaped cross section defined by a first bar portion and a second bar portion integral with the first bar portion at approximately the center of the first bar portion and perpendicular thereto, said second bar portion facing forwardly toward the rear surface of the face wall.