Golf club head having a composite crown

Abstract

A golf club head having a high COR that is durable and has desirable acoustic qualities. The club head includes a body portion, a striking face and a crown forming a hollow cavity of at least 150 cc in volume. The body portion defines a front opening and an upper opening, and it includes a sole and a side section that extends rearward of the front opening. The striking plate is secured to the body portion, enclosing the front opening. While partially assembled, final weighting and/or other attachment of other members to the inner surface of the club head can be preformed, as desired. The crown is secured to the body portion, enclosing the upper opening. A surface veil may also be provided about a junction of the crown and body. The crown has a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm. The density of the crown is less than the density of the body portion. At least one of the striking plate and the crown is attached to the second portion by adhesive bonding, and the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body portion defining an upper opening and having a front, a sole, and a side section, the side section extending rearward of the front and having toe, rear, and heel regions, the body portion having a density of at least about 4 g/cc, the upper opening being located in a central section of a top portion of the body portion and comprising at least 25% of the total area of the top portion;   an supporting surface extending along the periphery of and defining the upper opening;   a striking plate connected to the body portion; and   a crown supported by and secured to the supporting surface, thereby enclosing the upper opening, a first portion of the crown being sized to sit on the supporting surface such that the first portion overlaps at least a portion of the supporting surface, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion, the crown incorporating composite material and having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm;   wherein the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and a volume of at least 150 cc.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the upper opening is defined in the top portion only. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting surface is located on an annular lip. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein a shoulder is arranged adjacent to at least a front portion of the annular lip. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the crown is sized to abut and cover the annular lip of the body portion such that a side edge of the first portion is proximate to the shoulder, thereby forming the junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the volume is at least 350 cc. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the upper opening comprises at least 60% of the total area of the top portion of the body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the upper opening comprises at least 75% of the total area of the top portion of the body portion. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the striking plate is attached to the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein each of the body portion, the striking plate, and the crown are formed of different materials. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a body portion defining an upper opening and having a front, a sole, and a side section, the side section extending rearward of the front and having toe, rear, and heel regions, the body portion having a density of at least about 4 g/cc, the upper opening being located in a central section of a top portion of the body portion and comprising at least 25% of the total area of the top portion;   an supporting surface extending along the periphery of and defining the upper opening, the supporting surface extending along the top portion only;   a striking plate connected to the body portion; and   a crown supported by and secured to the supporting surface, thereby enclosing the upper opening, a first portion of the crown being sized to sit on the supporting surface such that the first portion overlaps at least a portion of the supporting surface, thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion, the crown incorporating composite material and having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm;   wherein the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80 and a volume of at least 150 cc.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the supporting surface is located on an annular lip. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein a shoulder is arranged adjacent to at least a front portion of the annular lip. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the crown is sized to abut and cover the annular lip of the body portion such that a side edge of the first portion is proximate to the shoulder, thereby forming the junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the crown portion is adhesively secured to the body portion using one of two part epoxy and DP460NS adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the volume is at least 350 cc. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the upper opening comprises at least 60% of the total area of the top portion of the body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the upper opening comprises at least 75% of the total area of the top portion of the body portion. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the striking plate is attached to the body portion and wherein each of the body portion, the striking plate, and the crown are formed of different materials and wherein a collective mass of the body portion, the striking plate, and the crown are reduced at least 15% compared to a mass of a body portion, a striking plate, and a crown of the same dimensions formed of the same titanium. 
     
     
         20 . A golf club head comprising:
 a body including a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, and a sole portion, an upper edge being defined between the front portion and the top portion, the top portion including a supporting surface defining an upper opening in the top portion only;   a crown secured to the top portion and covering the upper opening and the supporting surface, a first portion of the crown being sized to abut the supporting surface such that the first portion overlaps the supporting surface and is joined to the supporting surface by adhesive thereby forming a junction between the first portion of the crown and the body portion, the crown incorporating composite material and having a density between 1 g/cc and 2 g/cc, the crown having a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm; and   a shoulder extending adjacent to at least a frontward portion of the supporting surface, the shoulder being a distance (D1) of at least 7 mm rearward from the upper edge.