Double-wall iron with composite inner wall

Abstract

A golf club head includes a golf club head body, a striking face, and an inner wall supporting the striking face. A ledge extends from a body into the interior of the golf club head body, and the inner wall is disposed within a gap between the striking face and the ledge. A rear surface of the inner wall is supported by a portion of the golf club head body, and a rear surface of the striking face is in contact with a portion of the inner wall. The inner wall may be inserted into the golf club head through an opening defined in the toe portion of the golf club head or the rear portion of the golf club head.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a golf club head body, said golf club head body comprising:
 a striking face; 
 a toe portion; 
 a heel portion opposite said toe portion; 
 a sole portion; 
 a topline portion opposite said sole portion; and 
 a ledge extending toward an interior of said golf club head body from said sole portion, 
 wherein said ledge is spaced apart from a rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap therebetween; 
   an inner wall comprising at least one of a composite material, fiberglass, and carbon fiber, wherein said inner wall is in contact with at least a portion of said rear surface of said striking face, and at least a portion of said inner wall is disposed in said gap; and   a perimeter support member interposed between said inner wall and said ledge.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member completely fill said gap. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said perimeter support member comprises at least one of a resin, an epoxy, and a chopped fiber. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein a release agent is interposed between said striking face and said inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises a heel wall extending from said sole portion to said topline portion proximate said heel portion. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member abut said heel wall. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein an upper portion of said heel wall proximate said topline portion has a first depth, a lower portion of said heel wall proximate said sole portion has a second depth, and a central portion of said heel wall between said upper portion and said lower portion has a third depth,
 wherein said third depth is less than said first depth and said second depth.   
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said third depth is about equal to a thickness of said inner wall, and
 wherein said first depth and said second depth are about equal to a combined thickness of said inner wall, said perimeter support member, and said ledge.   
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises a rear opening defined in a rear portion of said golf club head body opposite said striking face, and
 wherein said rear opening is adapted to receive said inner wall therethrough.   
     
     
         10 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face; and   a golf club head body comprising:
 a contact rim at least partially supporting said striking face, wherein said striking face is secured to said golf club head body proximate said contact rim along at least a sole portion and a topline portion of said golf club head body; 
 an inner wall comprising at least one of a composite material, fiberglass, and carbon fiber; and 
 an opening defined in said golf club head body and adapted to receive said inner wall therethrough, 
   wherein a rear surface of said inner wall is supported by said golf club head body and reinforces said striking face, and at least a portion of a front surface of said inner wall is in contact with a rear surface of said striking face,   wherein said inner wall has a thickness,   wherein said opening is a toe opening defined in a toe portion of said golf club head body,   wherein said toe opening has a width that is greater than said thickness of said inner wall so as to accommodate insertion of said inner wall through said opening, and   wherein said golf club head further comprises a toe cap adapted to capture and retain said inner wall by enclosing said toe opening.   
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises:
 a ledge extending from said contact rim toward an interior of said golf club head body along said sole portion of said golf club head body,   wherein said ledge is spaced from said rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap that is completely filled by said inner wall, and   wherein said ledge supports a perimeter edge of said inner wall along said sole portion so as to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises:
 a ledge extending from said contact rim toward an interior of said golf club head body along a sole portion of said golf club head body, said ledge spaced from said rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap; and   a perimeter support member, comprising at least one of a resin, an epoxy, and a chopped fiber, interposed between said inner wall and said ledge proximate said sole portion,   wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member completely fill said gap so as to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said golf club head body further comprises:
 a ledge extending from said contact rim toward an interior of said golf club head body along said sole portion, said toe portion, and said topline portion of said golf club head body, said ledge spaced from said rear surface of said striking face so as to define a gap therebetween; and   a perimeter support member, comprising at least one of a resin, an epoxy, and a chopped fiber, interposed between said inner wall and said ledge proximate said topline portion, said toe portion, and said sole portion,   wherein said inner wall and said perimeter support member completely fill said gap so as to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a support arm that extends from a back portion of said golf club head body; and   a deformable member interposed between said support arm and said inner wall,   wherein said support arm applies a compressive force through said deformable member and said inner wall to said striking face to mechanically lock said inner wall in place.   
     
     
         15 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face;   a golf club head body comprising:
 a heel portion, 
 a toe portion opposite said heel portion, 
 a sole portion, 
 a topline portion opposite said sole portion, and 
 a back portion opposite said striking face, 
   an inner wall having a front surface in contact with a rear surface of said striking face; and   a deformable member disposed between said inner wall and said back portion of said golf club head body.   
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a support arm that extends from said back portion of said golf club head body,   wherein said support arm applies a compressive force through said deformable member and said inner wall to said striking face.   
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein said inner wall is formed out of a composite type material, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 17 , wherein said deformable member is formed of a polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , wherein a toe opening is defined in said toe portion of said golf club head body,
 wherein said toe opening has a width that is greater than a thickness of said inner wall so as to accommodate insertion of said inner wall through said toe opening.   
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a toe cap adapted to capture and retain said inner wall within said golf club head body by enclosing said toe opening.