Patent Grant
8747252
This invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads, including “wood-type” golf clubs and golf club heads, e.g., for drivers, fairway woods, “wood-type” hybrid or utility clubs, or the like. Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for making such golf club heads that include extreme rearward and/or low weighting characteristics.
Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of different genders and dramatically different ages and/or skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, in team formats, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, together with the increased availability of golf programming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well known golf superstars, at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recent years, both in the United States and across the world.
Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.” Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and in recent years, the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are available, with balls designed to complement specific swing speeds and/or other player characteristics or preferences, e.g., with some balls designed to fly farther and/or straighter; some designed to provide higher or flatter trajectories; some designed to provide more spin, control, and/or feel (particularly around the greens); some designed for faster or slower swing speeds; etc. A host of swing and/or teaching aids also are available on the market that promise to help lower one's golf scores.
Being the sole instrument that sets a golf ball in motion during play, golf clubs also have been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen dramatic changes and improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements and/or characteristics of the golf club and characteristics of a golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, ball spin rates, etc.).
Despite recent technological advances, “wood-type” golf clubs, particularly the driver and long irons (e.g., 1-4 irons), can be very difficult for some players to hit consistently well. Accordingly, additional technological advances that improve a player's ability to get a golf ball airborne; increase distance, direction, and/or control; and/or otherwise improve the playability of wood-type golf clubs, particularly the driver, would be welcome in the golf world.
The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention and various aspects of it. This summary is not overview and context for the more detailed description that follows.
In general, some example aspects of this invention relate to wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads (such as drivers, fairway woods, “wood-type” utility or hybrid clubs, and the like). Golf club heads and golf clubs in accordance with at least some examples of this invention include club head structures having: (a) a club head body member defining an interior chamber, the club head body member including a ball striking face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion; (b) a weight system engaged with the club head body member and provided at a perimeter portion of the club head body member at a location rearward of the ball striking face portion; and (c) a connection system extending from or through the weight system in a direction toward and at least partially through the interior chamber and toward the ball striking face portion of the club head body member. In some examples, the connection system will extend from or through the weight system and engage the weight system with a rear surface of the ball striking face portion of the club head body member.
At least some example club head structures in accordance with this invention will include one or more damping members at least partially located within the interior chamber defined by the club head body member. The damping member(s) (which may alter the sound and/or otherwise attenuate a vibrational response of the club head when a golf ball is struck) may extend between the ball striking face portion and the weight system. In at least some examples according to this invention, the damping member(s), may constitute a foam material that is compressed within the interior chamber of the club head body member (e.g., between the weighting system and the rear surface of the ball striking face portion). If desired, the weight system may directly engage the damping member, e.g., it may be at least partially embedded in the damping member, it may fit into a slot, groove, or chamber formed in the damping member, it may extend at least partially around a periphery of the damping member (e.g., along the sides and/or rear periphery, etc.), etc. The weight system also may be located inside or outside the interior chamber defined by the club head body.
Methods of making golf club head structures in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may include, for example: (a) providing a wood-type golf club head body member including a ball striking face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion, wherein the club head body member, at least in part, defines an interior chamber; and (b) engaging a weight system with a perimeter portion of the club head body member at a location rearward of the ball striking face portion, wherein the weight system is engaged with the club head body member via a connection system that extends from or through the weight system in a direction toward and at least partially through the interior chamber and toward the ball striking face portion. If desired, in accordance with at least some example structures according to this invention, a damping member may be provided within the interior chamber defined by the club head body member.
Such club head structures may be incorporated into an overall golf club structure and/or used as a golf club in any desired manner, including in conventional manners that are known and used in the art.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following detailed description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In the following description of various example structures in accordance with the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example golf club heads and golf club structures in accordance with the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts and structures may be utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “rear,” “side,” “underside,” “overhead,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.
A. General Description of Golf Club Heads and Golf Clubs According to Examples of the Invention
In general, as described above, aspects of this invention relate to wood-type golf club heads, golf clubs, and the like (such as drivers or fairway woods, “wood-type” utility or hybrid clubs, and/or the like), as well as to methods of making and using such clubs and club heads. Wood-type golf club heads in accordance with at least some examples of this invention include: (a) a club head body member defining an interior chamber, the club head body member including a ball striking face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion; (b) a weight system engaged with the club head body member and provided at a perimeter portion of the club head body member at a location rearward of the ball striking face portion; and (c) a connection system extending from or through the weight system in a direction toward and at least partially through the interior chamber and toward the ball striking face portion of the club head body member. The weight system may comprise one or more separate weight members that are engaged with the rear perimeter of the club head body member, optionally with the exterior of the club head body member. In some examples, the connection system will extend from or through the weight system and engage the weight system with a rear surface of the ball striking face portion of the club head body member.
At least some example club head structures in accordance with this invention will include one or more damping members at least partially located within the interior chamber defined by the club head body member. The damping member(s) (which may alter the sound and/or otherwise attenuate a vibrational response of the club head when a golf ball is struck) may extend at least partially between the ball striking face portion and the weight system. In at least some examples according to this invention, the damping member(s) may constitute a foam or other material that is compressed within the interior chamber of the club head body member (e.g., between the weighting system and the rear surface of the ball striking face portion). The damping member(s) also may be engaged with at least some portion of the connection system (e.g., one or more bolts or other mechanical fastener elements forming at least part of the securing system may extend through an opening provided in the damping member(s)).
The club head body member may take on a variety of different forms, shapes, and/or sizes without departing from this invention. For example, the club head may be made of a one piece construction or from a multi-piece construction. Multi-piece constructions also may take on a variety of different forms without departing from this invention, including, for example, multi-piece constructions that include one or more of the following: a ball striking face member (optionally with a ball striking plate integrally formed with a face element (such as a cup face member)); a crown member (e.g., made from a lightweight material, such as carbon fiber or other composite materials, basalt fiber reinforced materials, etc.); a sole member; a sole plate (e.g., made from a durable and/or a relatively dense material (as compared to the crown member), such as a metal material like titanium, steel, aluminum, or other metals or alloys); an aft body member (e.g., including at least some portions of a crown portion, a ribbon portion or other body portion, and/or a sole portion); a ribbon member; etc.
Golf club heads in accordance with examples of this invention may include still additional features, if desired, including features that are known and used in the art. For example, the weighting system may be permanently mounted to the club head body member, e.g., on an interior or exterior of the club head body, extending from the exterior to the interior of the club head body (e.g., through a weight port), etc. As yet additional examples, if desired, the weighting system may include weight member(s) that are movably and/or removably mounted with respect to the club head body member, e.g., using structures and techniques that are known and used in the art (e.g., by screw or other mechanical connector attachments, by sliding attachments, etc.). Advantageously, in accordance with at least some examples of this invention, the weighting system will include weight members located at or proximate to a rear of the club head body member, optionally with weighting features provided toward the rear toe, the rear heel, and/or the rear sole portions of the club head. If desired, at least some portions of the weighting system may be selectively movable and/or removable from the club head body member and/or mountable in a variety of different positions and/or arrangements, e.g., to allow customization, interchange, replacement, and/or club-fitting (e.g., to provide a draw biased club, to provide a fade biased club, to provide a high trajectory biased club, to provide a low trajectory biased club, to provide a club to help compensate for undesired ball flights or swing flaws (e.g., to help correct hooks, slices, etc., to help get balls airborne, to help prevent ballooning ball flights, etc.), to provide a club having a high moment of inertia (e.g., high Izz), etc.).
The club head body member may be made from a wide variety of materials and parts without departing from this invention, including in conventional ways, from conventional materials and parts, as are known and used in the art. In some more specific examples, the club head base member may be made from one or more of: metal materials (e.g., metal alloys, such as alloys containing steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum, beryllium, etc.); composite materials (e.g., carbon fiber composites, basalt fiber composites, etc., for a crown portion, a skirt portion, a sole portion, an aft body portion, a ball striking face portion, etc.); polymeric materials; etc.
Additional aspects of this invention relate to golf club structures that include golf club heads, e.g., of the types described above (such as wood-type golf clubs including drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid or utility clubs, etc.). In addition to club head structures of the types described above, golf clubs according to at least some examples of this invention may include one or more of: (a) a shaft member engaged with the club head body (e.g., with the ball striking face member, the club head body member, or both); (b) a grip member engaged with the shaft, and/or (c) a handle member engaged with the club head and/or the shaft. These additional elements of the golf club structure may be included in the overall club structure in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including in conventional manners that are known and used in the art (e.g., the shaft may be engaged via an external hosel member, via an internal hosel member, through an opening provided in the club head, via adhesives, via mechanical connectors (e.g., threads, retaining elements, etc.), etc.). Additionally, these additional elements of the golf club structure may be made from conventional materials, in conventional constructions, e.g., as are known and used in the art. If desired, any desired part(s) of the club head body may be formed to include a hosel element, or if desired, a hosel element of some type may be engaged with one or more of the ball striking face member and/or the body member (e.g., interior, exterior, or both, with respect to the overall club head structure).
B. General Description of Example Methods of Making and/or Using Golf Club Heads and Golf Clubs According to the Invention
Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods of making golf club heads and/or golf club structures in accordance with this invention (e.g., of the various types described above). Such methods may include, for example: (a) providing a wood-type golf club head body member (e.g., by manufacturing it, by assembling it, by obtaining it from a third party source, etc.) including a ball striking face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion, wherein the club head body member, at least in part, defines an interior chamber; and (b) engaging a weight system with a perimeter portion of the club head body member at a location rearward of the ball striking face portion, wherein the weight system is engaged with the club head body member via a connection system that extends from or through the weight system in a direction toward and at least partially through the interior chamber and toward the ball striking face portion. If desired, in accordance with at least some example structures according to this invention, a damping member may be provided within the interior chamber defined by the club head body member. In at least some examples of this invention, the connection system will extend from or through the weight system (and optionally through the damping member) and engage (e.g., fasten to) a rear side of the ball striking face portion.
The various parts of the club head structure may have any one and/or combination of the various more specific parts, structural features, and/or structural arrangements described above.
Golf clubs according to at least some examples of this invention may be produced by engaging a shaft member and/or handle member with the club head body (e.g., of the types described above). This may be accomplished in any desired manner, including in conventional manners that are well known and used in the art (e.g., via cements or adhesives, via mechanical connectors, etc.). Additionally, if desired, a grip element may be engaged with the shaft or handle member, e.g., in any desired manner, including in manners that are well known and used in the art (e.g., via cements or adhesives, via mechanical connectors, etc.). Golf club heads and golf clubs in accordance with this invention may be used in conventional ways as also are known in the art. Additionally, if desired, the shaft member may be connected to the head and/or to the grip member in releasable manners, as are known and used in the art.
Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.
C. Specific Examples of the Invention
A grip member 108 or other handle element may be provided on and/or integrally formed with the shaft 106. Any desired materials may be used for the grip member 108, such as rubber based materials (synthetic or natural); polymer based materials (including cord or other fabric or textile containing polymers); leather; cork; etc. The grip member 108 or other handle element may be engaged with or formed as part of the shaft 106 in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including through the use of adhesives or cements, mechanical connectors (e.g., threaded connections, releasable mechanical connections, etc.), or the like. In at least some example structures according to this invention, the grip member 108 will be made of conventional materials as are known and used in the art, and it will be attached to the shaft member 106 in conventional manners as are known and used in the art.
The club head 102 may be made from any desired materials, numbers of parts, and/or constructions without departing from this invention. In this illustrated example, the club head 102 includes a ball striking face member 110 engaged with a club head body member 112. A weight system 114 is engaged with the club head body member 112. In this illustrated example, the weight system 114 comprises a single weight member that extends along a portion of the rear periphery of the club head body member 112. The weight system 114 may take on a variety of different forms, as will be described in more detail below in conjunction with other illustrated example structures according to this invention.
The ball striking face member 110 of this example structure is a multi-piece construction. While it may take on a variety of different forms, sizes, shapes, and/or materials, in this illustrated example, the ball striking face member 110 includes a ball striking face portion 110a engaged with a cup face element 110b (e.g., by welding or other fusing technique) that includes a face perimeter portion 110c and a return portion 110d. The ball striking face member 110 may be made from conventional materials as are known and used in the art, such as steel, titanium alloys, and the like. As shown in
The club head structure further includes a weight system provided along at least a portion of its rear periphery. In this illustrated example structure, the weight system includes a single weight element 220 that extends along and forms an exterior most surface of the club head structure. The weight element 220 may be made, in whole or in part, from any desired material, such as heavy metal or metal alloy materials (e.g., lead or tungsten, alloys of lead or tungsten, steel or other alloys with lead or tungsten contained therein and/or with lead or tungsten containing inserts, etc.), weight containing polymeric materials (e.g., lead or tungsten doped or containing plastics), etc. The weight element 220 also may include a conventional club head body member (e.g., made from conventional materials) with separate weight elements engaged therewith. In addition to extending along the rear periphery, this illustrated example weight element 220 also extends along the exterior toe and heel sides of the club head structure. If desired, rather than leaving a gap between its ends and the face member 200, the ends of the weight element 220 may extend up to and optionally engage the toe and heel edges of the face member 200 (e.g., engage the return portion 206, if any). While shown exterior in this example structure, if desired, in some example structures according to this invention, the weight system 220 may be located within an interior chamber defined by the overall club head body.
Weight systems in accordance with the invention may have other arrangements without departing from this invention. For example, if desired, the weight system may directly engage the damping member such that the weight system may be at least partially embedded in or contained by the damping member, such that the weight system may fit into a slot, groove, or chamber formed in the damping member, such that the weight system may extend at least partially around a periphery of the damping member (e.g., along the sides and/or rear periphery, etc.), etc. The weight system also may be located inside or outside the interior chamber defined by the club head body without departing from this invention.
Any desired types of connection between the connection elements 222a and 222b with the support structures 212a and 212b, respectively, are possible without departing from this invention. For example, support structures 212a and 212b may include threads or other mechanical fastener element structures that engage with corresponding threads or other structures on connection elements 222a and 222b, respectively (the weight element 220 may include openings through which screws or bolts corresponding to connection elements 222a and 222b extend). As additional examples, if desired, the connection elements and support structures may be engaged via adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, brazing, or other fusing techniques.
While a variety of connection locations and arrangements are possible without departing from this invention, a direct connection between the weight element 220 and the ball striking face 202 is advantageous because this allows direct transfer of energy and momentum from the movement of the weight element 220 to the ball striking face 202. Moreover, the connection elements 222a and 222b support the ball striking face 202 and prevent excessive “trampoline” effect (and may allow for control of the club head's coefficient of restitution, if desired). The weight element 220 and the connection system may be constructed to be angled somewhat with respect to the horizontal direction (when the club head is in an address position) so that the weight element is positioned low and the overall center of gravity of the club head is located as far downward and rearward as possible (which features typically assist golfers in getting the ball airborne). Alternatively, if desired, the connection elements 222a and 222b may extend in a generally horizontal direction when the club head is at its ball address position.
The weight element 220 and the face member 200 of this illustrated example further include ledge elements 220a and 200a, respectively. The ledge elements 200a and 220a may be lowered somewhat with respect to the remainder of the member. In this illustrated example structure, ledge elements 200a and 220a provide a support area for receiving a crown member 230, as shown in
The crown member 230 may be made from any desired material without departing from this invention. Advantageously, in accordance with at least some examples of this invention, the crown member 230 will be constructed from a lightweight material, such as a lightweight metal material (e.g., aluminum, titanium, magnesium, or beryllium, and/or alloys including these metals), lightweight polymeric materials, carbon fiber composite materials, and/or other materials, including materials that are conventionally known and used in the art. The crown portion 230 may be fixed to the face member 200 and/or the weight element 220 in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including through the use of mechanical fasteners or connectors, adhesives, cements, welding, brazing, soldering, or other fusing techniques, etc.
Although not shown in
The weight element 220 need not be balanced and/or consistently sized and shaped throughout its peripheral length. Rather, if desired, the weight element 220 may be sized, shaped, and/or otherwise weighted so as to provide more weight toward the heel end or the toe end and/or toward the crown and/or sole portions of the overall club head structure. These features may be used to selectively place the weight at strategic locations in the club head structure, e.g., to affect ball flight or spin characteristics, to bias the club for specific types of ball flights (e.g., high flight bias, low flight bias, hook bias, draw bias, etc.), to control moment of inertia and/or center of gravity characteristics, and/or to help compensate for user's swing faults. As some more specific examples, selectively providing or concentrating weight in weight element 220 low (toward the sole) in a club head structure generally will help propel the ball on a higher trajectory and generally will help players get a ball airborne; selectively providing or concentrating weight in weight element 220 higher in a club head structure (e.g., more toward the crown) generally will help propel the ball lower, with a more boring flight path (which can help golf shots better cut through the wind); selectively providing or concentrating weight in weight element 220 outward in each direction away from the club head's front toward the rear will generally help increase the moment of inertia of the club head about the vertical axis at the club head's center of gravity (e.g., Izz) (which feature can help user's better propel the ball straight (e.g., this feature reduces club head twisting during off center (heel or toe) hits)); selectively providing or concentrating weight in weight element 220 toward the club head heel as opposed to its toe will help bias the club to propel the ball with more of a “draw” flight path (i.e., right-to-left for right handed players) and can help chronic slicers compensate for swing flaws (and thereby have a better chance of avoiding a slice); and selectively providing or concentrating weight in weight element 220 toward the club head toe as opposed to its heel will help bias the club to propel the ball with more of a “fade” flight path (i.e., left-to-right for right handed players) and can help chronic hookers compensate for swing flaws (and thereby have a better chance of avoiding a hook). Multiple weight elements 220 of the same size and shape (and/or portions of the overall weight element 220) may be made available (e.g., to users, club fitters, etc.) to allow users to quickly and easily customize and bias the club for specific ball flight characteristics (e.g., by removing connection elements 222a and 222b and exchanging one weight element 220 (or a portion thereof) for another with different characteristics).
The damping system 302 may have a wide variety of characteristics without departing from this invention. In this illustrated example structure, the damping system 302 includes two separate damping elements 302a and 302b that fit around the support structures 212a and 212b and/or the connection elements 222a and 222b (support structures 212a and 212b and connection elements 222a and 222b fit through openings 304 provided in the damping elements 302a and 302b, in this example). Alternatively, if desired, damping system 302 may be flexible enough so as to simply fit or wrap around the support structures 212a and 212b and/or the connection elements 222a and 222b. While the damping system 302 may take up any desired portion of the volume of the interior chamber of the club head structure without departing from this invention (and may have any desired overall size(s) and/or shape(s)), in this illustrated example, the damping elements 302a and 302b extend all or substantially all of the distance between the weight element 220 and the rear surface of the ball striking plate member 202.
The damping elements 302a and 302b may be made from a variety of materials without departing from this invention. For example, if desired, the damping elements 302a and 302b may be made from lightweight polyurethane foam or other similar material. The damping elements 302a and 302b optionally may be compressed between the weight element 220 (or other portion of the club head body) and the face member 200 when the connection system 222a and 222b is engaged with the support structures 212a and 212b. As another example, if desired, the damping element may be injected into the interior chamber of the club head body after the club head is assembled (e.g., as a polymer foam or other material), e.g., through the club head's hosel opening or other opening. Other suitable materials for the damping system 302 include, but are not limited to, textiles, rubbers, ethylvinylacetates, fluid filled bladders (such as air bladders, etc.), and the like.
The club head face member, the body portions of the club head (e.g., the crown portion, the sole portion, intermediate body members (such as U-shaped bands or ribbons of material extending from the toe to the heel of the club and at least partially defining the sides and/or rear perimeter of the club head), etc.), the weighting system, and/or the connection system may have a wide variety of different sizes, shapes, constructions, and/or properties without departing from this invention. Various examples of these alternatives are illustrated in
Other arrangements of parts are possible without departing from this invention. For example, if desired, the damping member(s) 302a and 302b may include threads or other structures that allow the weight member 220 and/or the connection elements 222a and 222b to be directly secured thereto without the need for the weight member 220 and/or the connection elements 222a and 222b to directly engage the face member 200. As another example, if desired, structures may be provided to allow the weight member 220 and/or the damping member(s) 302 to be engaged with a portion of the club head body other than (or in addition to) the face member 200, such as to the crown portion, the sole portion, the aft body portion, etc. Other constructions and/or arrangements of parts are possible without departing from this invention.
The sole member 524 may be included as part of the weight system 520 in any desired manner without departing from this invention. For example, the sole member 524 may be integrally formed as part of the weight element 522 as a unitary, one piece construction (e.g., during molding, casting, forging, or other production process for the weight system 520). As another example, if desired, the sole member 524 may be separately formed from the weight element 522 and then attached thereto at an appropriate time in the weight system and/or club construction process. The sole member 524 and weight element 522 may be engaged with one another in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including by mechanical fasteners or connectors, adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, brazing, other fusing techniques, or the like, including in conventional manners as are known and used in the art. Also, the sole member 524 may be made from the same or different materials from that of the weight element 522 without departing from this invention.
Another example club head structure 600 in accordance with this invention is illustrated in
The sole member 602 may be included as part of the face member 200 in any desired manner without departing from this invention. For example, the sole member 602 may be integrally formed as part of the face member 200 as a unitary, one piece construction (e.g., during molding, casting, forging, or other production process for the face member 200, such as an extension of the side and/or sole based return portion 206). As another example, if desired, the sole member 602 may be separately formed from the face member 200 and then attached thereto at an appropriate time in the face member 200 and/or overall club construction process. The sole member 602 and face member 200 may be engaged with one another in any desired manner without departing from this invention, including by mechanical fasteners or connectors, adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, brazing, other fusing techniques, or the like, including in conventional manners as are known and used in the art. Also, the sole member 602 may be made from the same or different materials from that of the face member 200 without departing from this invention.
Also, in this illustrated example structure 700, the damping member 710 includes multiple independent damping elements 712a and 712b, each of which accommodates multiple connection elements 702 and multiple support elements 704. Of course, many variations in the damping member structure 710 and its relationship with the club head body, the connection system, and/or the weighting system are possible without departing from this invention, including, for example, one or more of the variations described above in conjunction with
Another example club head structure 800 is illustrated in
The weight elements 822a and 822b may be the same, mirror images, or different from one another without departing from this invention. In some example structures, the heel weight element 822b may be different from the toe weight element 822a, e.g., in size, weight, structure, etc., to allow the club head to be biased for specific ball flight conditions, as described above.
If desired, one or more weight elements making up a portion of the weighting system in various example structure according to this invention may be mounted in weight ports provided in or on an exterior surface of the golf club head body member, optionally in a removable manner (e.g., using threaded connection elements that engage threaded support elements provided at or near the rear face of the ball striking face). In this manner, users, club fitters, or the like can freely select the weights (optionally of different masses) to place at desired locations on the club head to better fit the club head's weighting characteristics to the user's swing and/or desired ball flight characteristics). Other weighting techniques (e.g., permanently mounted weight elements, movable weight elements, and/or removable weight elements) may be used, individually or in combination, without departing from this invention, including conventional weighting techniques and structures as are known and used in the art. If desired, the connection elements (e.g., 222a, 222b, and 702) may serve as at least a portion of the weighting system.
Features of this invention may be used for producing a wide variety of wood-type golf club head structures. While wood type hybrid club structures generally have been described above in detail and illustrated in the attached drawings, other types of club head structures that may be produced in accordance with at least some examples of this invention include: drivers, fairway woods (e.g., 2 through 13 woods), putters, chipping type clubs, and the like.
The driver or other club heads may have any size and/or dimensional characteristics without departing from this invention, including conventional size and/or dimensional characteristics for wood-type and other golf clubs and golf club heads as are known and used in the art. When used to make driver or other wood type golf club structures, golf club heads in accordance with at least some examples of this invention may have an overall club head breadth B dimension (maximum front face to rear dimension) of at least 4.2 inches, at least 4.4 inches, at least 4.5 inches, at least 4.6 inches, or even or at least 4.8 inches. Club head body structures in accordance with this invention further may have an overall club head length dimension L (maximum heel to toe dimension) of at least 4.5 inches, at least 4.7 inches, or even at least 4.8 inches. The club head shape and/or structure may be controlled such that the overall club head body size is 500 cm3 or less, 470 cm3 or less, or even 460 cm3 or less. In at least some examples, the overall club head body size or volume will be at least 350 cc, at least 400 cc, at least 420 cc, or even at least 450 cc. Loft angles for drivers may range, for example, from 6.5° to 16.0°. Such clubs may have a conventional “pear-like” overall shape, a more modern “square” or “rectangular” shape, or any other desired shape.
When used in producing hybrid type golf clubs, the clubs also may have any desired sizes and/or dimensional characteristics, including conventional size and/or dimensional characteristics as are known and used in the art. Typical loft angles for hybrid type clubs in accordance with at least some examples of this invention will range from 15° to 30°; typical lie angles will range from 55° to 65°; and typical overall club lengths will range from 36 to 42 inches, although other dimensions are possible without departing from this invention. Such clubs may have a conventional “pear-like” overall shape, a more modern “square” or “rectangular” shape, or any other desired shape.
Many modifications to the overall club head structures and/or the overall golf club structures may be made without departing from this invention. For example, many modifications may be made to the part or parts making up the club head structure, to the materials used in making the club head structure, to the manner in which the club head structure is joined together, etc. Also, many modifications may be made to the thickness, weight, shape, size, and/or other physical characteristics of the part or parts making up the overall golf club structure, etc.
While the invention has been described in detail in terms of specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/442,207 filed on Apr. 9, 2012 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/841,478 filed on Jul. 22, 2010 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,167,739 on May 1, 2012 which is a continuation of U.S. patent Application Ser. No. 12/031,322 filed on Feb. 14, 2008 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,785,212 on Aug. 31, 2010. These applications are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13442207 | Apr 2012 | US |
| Child | 13722528 | US | |
| Parent | 12841478 | Jul 2010 | US |
| Child | 13442207 | US | |
| Parent | 12031322 | Feb 2008 | US |
| Child | 12841478 | US |
