Wood type head for a golf club

Abstract

A golf club head of the metal wood type is provided, wherein the club head includes at least one and preferably multiple regions of reduced wall thickness. In a preferred form, the regions of reduced wall thickness are formed in the sole plate of the club head. These regions of reduced thickness resonate or vibrate upon club head impact with a golf ball to dissipate energy while also providing a distinctive audible output. As a result, transmission of vibrational energy from the club head to the associated club shaft is significantly reduced.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf club head, comprising: 
 a metal head formed from assembled metal components to define, when assembled, a hollow enclosed head construction including a sole plate, a front face, a rear face, a heel segment, a toe segment, and a cap plate;    at least one of said sole plate, front face, rear face, heel segment, toe segment, and cap plate having at least one region of reduced wall thickness formed therein to define at least one acoustic diaphragm for converting shock energy upon impact of said front face with golf ball to acoustic energy for transmission from said club head in the form of sound.    
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said at least one of said sole plate, front face, rear face, heel segment, toe segment, and cap plate having said at least one region of reduced wall thickness formed therein comprises a metal casting having a wall thickness of at least about 0.045-0.050 inch, and further wherein said at least one acoustic diaphragm has a wall thickness of about 0.020 inch.  
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said at least one acoustic diaphragm has a wall thickness of about 50% of the wall thickness of the surrounding portion of said club head.  
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness is formed in said sole plate.  
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4  wherein said sole plate comprises a metal casting.  
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally hemispherical dome element.  
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally planar membrane.  
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness.  
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 8  wherein each of said plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness has a diametric size on the order of about 1 inch.  
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9  wherein each of said plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally hemispherical dome element.  
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 9  wherein each of said plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally planar membrane.  
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said assembled metal components comprise abase member including said sole plate joined to said front and rear faces and to said heel and toe segments, and a second member comprising said cap plate.  
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said assembled metal components comprise a first member including said cap plate joined to said front and rear faces and to said heel and toe segments, and a second member comprising said sole plate.  
     
     
         14 . A golf club head, comprising: 
 a metal head formed from assembled metal castings to define, when assembled, a hollow enclosed head construction including a sole plate, a front face, a rear face, a heel segment, a toe segment, and a cap plate;    each of said sole plate, front face, rear face, heel segment, toe segment, and cap plate having an as-cast thickness of at least about 0.045-0.050 inch;    at least one of said sole plate, front face, rear face, heel segment, toe segment, and cap plate having at least one region of reduced wall thickness of about 0.020 inch formed therein to define at least one acoustic diaphragm for converting shock energy upon impact of said front face with golf ball to acoustic energy for transmission from said club head in the form of sound.    
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14  wherein said at least one acoustic diaphragm has a wall thickness of about 50% of the wall thickness of the surrounding portion of said club head.  
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 14  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness is formed in said sole plate.  
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 14  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally hemispherical dome element.  
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 14  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally planar membrane.  
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 14  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness.  
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 19  wherein each of said plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness has a diametric size on the order of about 1 inch.  
     
     
         21 . The golf club head of  claim 20  wherein each of said plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally hemispherical dome element.  
     
     
         22 . The golf club head of  claim 20  wherein each of said plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness comprises a generally planar membrane.  
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a metal wood type golf club head, said method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a metal head from assembled metal components to define, when assembled, a hollow enclosed head construction including a sole plate, a front face, a rear face, a heel segment, a toe segment, and a cap plate, and wherein at least one of said sole plate, front face, rear face, heel segment, toe segment, and cap plate is formed as a metal casting; and    reducing the wall thickness in at least one region of the metal casting to define at least one acoustic diaphragm for converting shock energy upon impact of said front face with a golf ball to acoustic energy for transmission from said club head in the form of sound.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the metal casting is formed with a wall thickness of at least about 0.045-0.050 inch, and further wherein said at least one acoustic diaphragm is formed with a wall thickness of about 0.020 inch.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said at least one acoustic diaphragm is formed with a wall thickness of about 50% of the wall thickness of the surrounding metal casting.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness is formed in the sole plate.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness is formed as a generally hemispherical dome element.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said at least one region of reduced wall thickness is formed as a generally planar membrane.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said wall thickness reducing step comprises forming a plurality of regions of reduced wall thickness to define a plurality of acoustic diaphragms.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein each of the plurality of acoustic diaphragms is formed to have a diametric size on the order of about 1 inch.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein each of the plurality of acoustic diaphragms is formed as a generally hemispherical dome element.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein each of the plurality of acoustic diaphragms is formed as a generally planar membrane.