Appeal No. 2003-1610 Page 5
Application No. 09/715,128
between. The trampoline plate deflects in a direction toward the stopper plate and
rebounds in a direction away from the stopper plate when impacting a golf ball. The
stopper plate arrests the deflection of the trampoline plate when striking a golf ball with
a first impact velocity. The trampoline plate deflects freely when striking the golf ball
with a second impact velocity. The second impact velocity is lower than the first impact
velocity.
Chou teaches (column 2, line 66, to column 4, line 27) that:
The invention allows the mechanical properties of the striking face of a
golf club to be controlled and varied. In an exemplary embodiment, control of the
striking face is varied so that it does not violate the USGA maximum launch
velocity. An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described using the
USGA requirement.
Use of the invention provides a coefficient of restitution of 0.83 to the golf
club when impacting a ball at 160 ft/sec, hence satisfying current USGA
regulations. With a lower impact velocity, however, which is consistent with a
nonprofessional player, the club head provides a coefficient of restitution that is
higher than that of a conventional club head and higher than 0.83. The invention
includes a club head that has two plates separated by a gap space, as shown in
FIG. 1. As shown, trampoline plate 16 is disposed at the hitting or striking side of
a golf club head. The body of the golf club head is generally identified as 10 and
has a hosel 12 projecting upwardly from the top wall of the club head in a
conventional manner. The trampoline plate 16 has a striking surface for hitting a
golf ball 20. As will be described more fully, the thickness, shape and resiliency
of trampoline plate 16 may be varied, depending on use of the club and on the
resiliency and hardness of its material.
Disposed rearwardly of trampoline plate 16 is stopper plate 14.
Trampoline plate 16 and stopper plate 14 are separated by gap 18. Stopper
plate 14 is stiff and arrests the deflection of the trampoline plate. In this manner,
the club head may provide a coefficient of restitution of 0.83 when impacting a
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