Multi-material golf club

Abstract

A golf club including a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club includes a golf club head that is constructed multiple materials and includes a body member, a mass member, and an interface that allows the mass member to be coupled to the body member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
 a body member including a hosel and a face, the body member constructed of a first material that includes a base element,   a mass member constructed of a second material that includes a base element, wherein the specific gravity of the second material is greater than the specific gravity of the first material, and   an interface interposed between the body member and the mass member and constructed of a third material that is an alloy of the base element of the second material, wherein the interface is metallurgically bonded to the mass member and coupled to the body member.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity of the third material is less than the specific gravity of the second material. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third materials are different tungsten alloys. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first and third materials are weldable materials, and wherein the first and second materials are not weldable materials. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club head comprises a plurality of mass members and a plurality of interfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein at least one mass member and at least one interface are disposed on a low toe portion of the body member. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein at least one mass member and at least one interface are disposed on a low heel portion of the body member. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the mass member and the interface are elongate. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein the mass member includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness that is different than the first thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein the mass member includes a toe portion, a heel portion and a central portion, and the thickness of the central portion is less than the thickness of the toe portion and the thickness of the heel portion. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the interface is elongate and forms a portion of the sole surface of the golf club head. 
     
     
         12 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
 a body member including a hosel and a face, the body member constructed of a first material that includes a base element; and   an elongate weight member including a mass member and an interface, wherein the mass member is constructed of a second material that includes a base element, wherein the specific gravity of the second material is greater than the specific gravity of the first material, wherein the interface is clad to the mass member and constructed of a third material that is an alloy of the base element of the second material.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the third material has a specific gravity that is less than the specific gravity of the second material. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the second and third materials are different tungsten alloys. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the first and third materials are weldable, and wherein the first and second materials are not weldable. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the interface is welded to the body member.