Multi-material golf club head

Abstract

A multi-material iron type golf club head is disclosed. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention may have a metallic portion and a lightweight portion, wherein the entirety of the striking face is made out of a metallic material while a majority of the chassis is made out of a lightweight material that serves to reduce the overall weight of the golf club head. The lightweight material, in addition to reducing the overall weight of the golf club head, may be comprised of an interior face support to at least partially support the metallic striking face portion to improve the performance and feel of the golf club head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a metallic portion further comprising a hosel, a heel portion, a topline portion, a sole portion, and a striking face; wherein said metallic portion creates an opening near a toe side of said metallic portion;   a lightweight portion slidably engages said opening near said toe side of said metallic portion further comprising;
 a lightweight face plate placed near said striking face comprising an internal face support, and 
 a lightweight face support placed rearward of said lightweight face plate comprising an exposed toe portion, a topline support, and a sole support, 
   wherein said metallic portion conceals said internal face support, said topline support, and said sole support, and   wherein said exposed toe portion of said lightweight portion is exposed externally and forms an external portion of said golf club head.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said striking face has a thickness of between about between about 1.0 mm and about 1.5 mm, and said internal face support has a thickness of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said striking face has a thickness of between about 1.1 mm and about 1.4 mm and said internal face support has a thickness of between about 0.9 mm and about 1.1 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein said striking face has a thickness of between about 1.2 mm and about 1.4 mm and said internal face support has a thickness of about 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.0 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 3.0 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 1.75 g/cc and about 7.0 g/cc. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.3 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 2.5 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 1.5 g/cc and about 7.3 g/cc. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.6 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 2.0 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 1.2 g/cc and about 7.6 g/cc. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said lightweight face support provides structural support for said lightweight face plate around a rear perimeter of said lightweight face plate. 
     
     
         10 . A golf club head comprising:
 a metallic portion further comprising a hosel, a heel portion, a topline portion, a sole portion, and a striking face; wherein said metallic portion creates an opening near a toe side of said metallic portion;   a lightweight portion slidably engages said opening near said toe side of said metallic portion further comprising;
 a lightweight face plate placed near said striking face comprising an internal face support, and 
 a lightweight face support placed rearward of said lightweight face plate comprising an exposed toe portion, a topline support, and a sole support, 
   a heel weight located at a bottom heel portion of said golf club head; and   a toe weight located at a bottom toe portion of said golf club head,   wherein said heel weight is retained in said golf club head by said metallic portion, and said toe weight is retained in said golf club head by said lightweight portion, and   wherein said lightweight face support provides structural support for said lightweight face plate around a rear perimeter of said lightweight face plate.   
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said topline support provides structural integrity for said topline portion, said sole portion provides structural integrity for said sole portion, and said internal face support provides structural integrity for said striking face. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said topline portion wraps around said topline support and said sole portion wraps around said sole support. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.0 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 3.0 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 1.75 g/cc and about 7.0 g/cc. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.3 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 2.5 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 1.5 g/cc and about 7.3 g/cc. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.6 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 2.0 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 1.2 g/cc and about 7.6 g/cc. 
     
     
         16 . A golf club head comprising:
 a metallic portion further comprising a hosel, a heel portion, a topline portion, a sole portion, and a striking face; wherein said metallic portion creates an opening near a toe side of said metallic portion;   a lightweight portion slidably engages said opening near said toe side of said metallic portion further comprising;
 a lightweight face plate placed near said striking face comprising an internal face support, and 
 a lightweight face support placed rearward of said lightweight face plate comprising an exposed toe portion, a topline support, and a sole support, 
   wherein said lightweight face support provides structural support for said lightweight face plate around a rear perimeter of said lightweight face plate.   
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein said metallic portion is made out of steel material having a density greater than about 7.0 g/cc, said lightweight face plate is made out of a composite material having a density of less than about 3.0 g/cc, and wherein said lightweight face support is made out of a lightweight material having a density between about 3.0 g/cc and about 7.0 g/cc. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 17 , wherein said striking face has a thickness of between about between about 1.0 mm and about 1.5 mm, and said internal face support has a thickness of between about 0.5 mm and about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , wherein said topline support provides structural integrity for said topline portion, said sole portion provides structural integrity for said sole portion, and said internal face support provides structural integrity for said striking face.