US 6,162,133 · Granted 2000-12-19
The One-Piece Golf Club Head That Changed Driver Design
This patent describes a golf club head made from a single solid piece of material, instead of bolting separate parts together. Inside, metal ribs reinforce the face so it can be thinner and springier, and a removable cap snaps on to seal an opening in the side.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a golf club head built as one unified body with an integrated crown, sole, face, and side wall, reinforced internally by vertical ribs that connect all four surfaces. Also protected is the snap-fit or interference-fit cap that seals an opening in the side wall. What's protected here is the specific structural arrangement—how those ribs support the face plate and how the cap attaches without traditional fasteners.
Why it matters
One-piece construction was a significant shift in club manufacturing because it allows engineers to make the face thinner and more flexible while keeping the head rigid overall. This design reduced manufacturing complexity compared to multi-part assembly, potentially lowered costs, and gave designers more control over how the club performs. The internal ribbing system became a common template in modern driver heads.
Real-world use
When you swing a modern driver or fairway wood, the solid construction and internal bracing you're holding represents this design philosophy—a seamless head with a removable weight port or access cap on the back or side.
Original USPTO abstract
A golf club head is formed with a unitary, one-piece body including a top crown, sole plate, face plate and side skirt. The side skirt includes an opening, and a cap is configured to cover the opening. Preferably, the cap is connected to the side skirt by a snap fit or interference fit. The interior portion of the golf club head preferably includes a reinforcement structure which supports the face plate. Desirably, the reinforcement structure includes three vertical ribs which are connected to the top crown, face plate and sole plate to form part of the one-piece body.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,162,133
- Filing date
- 1997-11-03
- Grant date
- 2000-12-19
- Assignee
- Peterson; Lane
- Inventor(s)
- PETERSON; LANE
- CPC class
- A63B53/04
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