Golf club head with impact response modulator

Abstract

Embodiments of a golf club head comprising an Impact Response Modulator disposed in the sole. The Impact Response Modulator comprises a casing with a plurality of casing walls that form an aperture therebetween. One or more portions a high-strength material component, such as a faceplate, a cartridge, or an appendage can form and reinforce one or more portions of the casing, thereby increasing strike face deflection without compromising durability.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a body, a faceplate at least partially forming a strike face, a sole, and a cartridge disposed in the sole, the cartridge formed as a separate component and coupled to both the body and the faceplate;   the cartridge integrally forming at least a portion of an Impact Response Modulator (IRM), the IRM comprising;   a casing including:
 a front wall at least partially formed by the cartridge, the front wall including a front wall front surface, a front wall rear surface, a front wall base, and a front wall top surface; 
 a rear wall at least partially formed by the cartridge, the rear wall including a rear wall front surface, a rear wall rear surface, a rear wall base, and a rear wall top surface; 
 a toe wall; and a heel wall, wherein the front wall, the rear wall, the toe wall, and the heel wall define an aperture; and 
   an insert disposed within the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate forms no portion of the casing. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate comprises a sole return extending rearward from the strike face, and the sole return couples to the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein a juncture between the cartridge and the faceplate is located on the sole. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed of a body material and the cartridge is formed of a cartridge material having a higher yield strength than the body material. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein the cartridge material comprises a cartridge material yield strength greater than 175 ksi. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , further comprising a cartridge strength ratio defined as the ratio of the cartridge material yield strength divided by a body yield strength, wherein the cartridge strength ratio is greater than 1.25. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein the faceplate comprises a faceplate material that is different from the cartridge material. 
     
     
         9 . A golf club head comprising:
 a body, a faceplate at least partially forming a strike face, a sole, and a cartridge distinct from the faceplate and disposed in the sole, the cartridge coupled to both the body and the faceplate;   the cartridge integrally forming at least a portion of an Impact Response Modulator (IRM), the IRM comprising;   a casing entirely integral with the cartridge, the casing including:
 a front wall with a front wall front surface, a front wall rear surface, a front wall base, and a front wall top surface; 
 a rear wall with a rear wall front surface, a rear wall rear surface, a rear wall base, and a rear wall top surface; 
 a toe wall; and 
 a heel wall, wherein the front wall, the rear wall, the toe wall, and the heel wall define an aperture entirely encased by the cartridge; and 
   an insert disposed within the aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the faceplate forms no portion of the casing. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the faceplate comprises a sole return extending rearward from the strike face, and the sole return is coupled to the cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein a juncture between the cartridge and the faceplate is located on the sole. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein a juncture between the cartridge and the faceplate is located on the strike face. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the body is formed of a body material and the cartridge is formed of a cartridge material having a higher yield strength than the body material. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein the cartridge material comprises a cartridge material yield strength greater than 175 ksi. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , further comprising a cartridge strength ratio defined as the ratio of the cartridge material yield strength divided by a body yield strength, wherein the cartridge strength ratio is greater than 1.25. 
     
     
         17 . A golf club head comprising:
 a body, a faceplate at least partially forming a strike face, a sole, and a cartridge formed as a separate component from the faceplate and the body and disposed in the sole, the cartridge coupled to the body;   the cartridge integrally forming at least a portion of an Impact Response Modulator (IRM), the IRM comprising;   a casing including:
 a front wall with a front wall front surface, a front wall rear surface, a front wall base, and a front wall top surface; 
 a rear wall with a rear wall front surface, a rear wall rear surface, a rear wall base, and a rear wall top surface; 
 a toe wall; and 
 a heel wall, wherein the front wall, the rear wall, the toe wall, and the heel wall define an aperture; and 
   an insert disposed within the aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 17 , wherein the cartridge is not coupled directly to the faceplate. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 17 , wherein the casing includes a support segment integral with the cartridge and a core segment integral with the body. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 19 , wherein the support segment forms at least a portion of the front wall and at least a portion of the rear wall.