The disclosure below may be subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the documents containing this disclosure, as they appear in the Patent and Trademark Office records, but otherwise reserves all applicable copyrights.
It is generally known to those skilled in the art of golf club making that an increased moment of inertia (MOI) of a golf club head is associated with improved performance on off-center shots. Greater club-head MOI may be achieved by increasing the projected area of the head onto the ground plane (i.e., “footprint”), most commonly associated with an increase in head volume. However, rules promulgated by the United States Golf Association (USGA) contain provisions regulating volume and other parameters of the golf club head. In view of these considerations, manufacturers have attempted to maximize the projected area of the golf club head without exceeding existing USGA limitations by offering club heads having non-traditional shapes. However, acceptance of such shapes by golfers has been limited. Additionally, some non-traditional designs have been associated with undesirable acoustic characteristics.
The present invention, in one or more aspects thereof, may advantageously comprise a golf club head that, while conforming to USGA regulations, delivers an increased projected area and a greater moment of inertia, maintains a traditional shape, and provides a favorable dynamic-excitation response.
In an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the golf club head, when oriented in a reference position, includes a bottom portion, a top portion opposite the bottom portion, and a striking face having a face center. The top portion has an exterior surface. The golf club head also includes a forwardmost point, a rearwardmost point opposite the forwardmost point, a hosel having an imaginary centerline, and an imaginary vertical hosel plane containing the imaginary centerline. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the imaginary vertical hosel plane, the exterior surface of the top portion includes a path comprising a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface of the top portion. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A two-dimensional space is bounded by the first point, the second point, the path, and the imaginary infinite straight line. A maximum distance, measured perpendicular to the imaginary straight line, between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion, is no greater than 0.70 mm, and a distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm. Preferably, the imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the imaginary hosel plane passes through the face center.
In an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the golf club head, when oriented in a reference position, includes a striking face having a face center and a center apex, a bottom portion, and a top portion opposite the bottom portion. The top portion has an exterior surface. The golf club head also includes a forwardmost point, a rearwardmost point opposite the forwardmost point, a hosel having an imaginary centerline, and an imaginary vertical hosel plane containing the imaginary centerline. An overall length Lo of the golf club head corresponds to a shortest distance between a first imaginary vertical plane, parallel to the imaginary vertical hosel plane and passing through the forwardmost point of the club head, and a second imaginary vertical plane, parallel to the hosel plane and passing through the rearwardmost point. In a third imaginary vertical plane, perpendicular to the imaginary vertical hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface of the top portion includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface of the top portion. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. D1 is a distance between the first point and the second point. A two-dimensional space is bounded by the first point, the second point, the path, and the imaginary infinite straight line. A distance D2 between the center apex and the first point of the segment of the imaginary straight line is such that D2/Lo is no less than 0.10. Dmax is a maximum distance, measured perpendicular to the imaginary straight line, between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion. Dmax/D1 is no greater than 0.023.
In an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the golf club head, when oriented in a reference position, includes a striking face having a face center and a center apex, a bottom portion, and a top portion opposite the bottom portion. The top portion has an exterior surface. The golf club head also includes a forwardmost point, a rearwardmost point opposite the forwardmost point, a hosel having an imaginary centerline, and an imaginary vertical hosel plane containing the imaginary centerline. In an imaginary vertical plane, perpendicular to the imaginary vertical hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface of the top portion includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface of the top portion. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A two-dimensional space is bounded by the first point, the second point, the path, and the imaginary infinite straight line. D1 is a distance between the first point and the second point. D2 is a distance between the center apex and the first point. Dmax is a maximum distance, measured perpendicular to the imaginary straight line, between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion. Dmax/D1 is no greater than 0.023 and D1/D2 is no greater than 3.0.
In an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the golf club head, when oriented in a reference position, includes a bottom portion, a top portion opposite the bottom portion, and a striking face having a face center. The top portion has an exterior surface and a maximum height Hmax. The golf club head also includes a forwardmost point, a rearwardmost point opposite the forwardmost point, a hosel having an imaginary centerline, and an imaginary vertical hosel plane containing the imaginary centerline. The rearwardmost point of the head has a height Hrear such that Hrear/Hmax is no greater than 0.30. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the imaginary vertical hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface of the top portion includes a path having a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface of the top portion. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. D1 is a distance between the first point and the second point. A two-dimensional space is bounded by the first point, the second point, the path, and the imaginary infinite straight line. Dmax is a maximum distance, measured perpendicular to the imaginary straight line, between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion. Dmax/D1 is no greater than 0.035.
In an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the golf club head, when oriented in a reference position, includes a bottom portion, a top portion opposite the bottom portion, and a striking face having a face center. The top portion has an exterior surface. The golf club head also includes a forwardmost point, a rearwardmost point opposite the forwardmost point, a hosel having an imaginary centerline, an imaginary vertical hosel plane containing the imaginary centerline, and a fully recessed region consisting of all points on the exterior surface of the top portion located such that every imaginary infinite straight line that passes through any one of such points also penetrates the exterior surface of the top portion. The fully recessed region has an associated volume no greater than 0.1 cc, the associated volume consisting of all spatial points above the top portion of the club head located such that every imaginary infinite straight line that passes through any one of such spatial points also penetrates the exterior surface of the top portion. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the imaginary vertical hosel plane and passing through the face center, the exterior surface of the top portion includes a path comprising a first point and a second point rearward of the first point. An imaginary infinite straight line passes through the first point and the second point, but does not penetrate the exterior surface of the top portion. A segment of the imaginary straight line is delimited by the first point and the second point. A two-dimensional space is bounded by the first point, the second point, the path, and the imaginary infinite straight line. A maximum distance, measured perpendicular to the imaginary straight line, between the segment and the exterior surface of the top portion is no greater than 0.90 mm. A distance between the first point and the second point is no less than 22 mm.
In an embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present invention, the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head which, when oriented in a reference position, displays the following characteristics. The golf club head includes a striking face having a face center and a center apex, a bottom portion, and a top portion opposite the bottom portion. The top portion includes an exterior surface. The golf club head also includes a forwardmost point, a rearwardmost point opposite the forwardmost point, a hosel having an imaginary centerline, and an imaginary vertical hosel plane containing the imaginary centerline. A volume of the club head is no less than 150 cc. In an imaginary vertical plane perpendicular to the imaginary vertical hosel plane, the exterior surface of the top portion includes a continuous straight segment bounded by a first endpoint and a second endpoint rearward of the first endpoint. An imaginary infinite straight line is collinear with the segment, but does not penetrate the exterior surface of the top portion.
These and other features and advantages of the golf club head according to the invention in its various aspects, as provided by one or more of the various examples described in detail below, will become apparent after consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention, in one or more aspects thereof, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:
For purposes of illustration, these figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. In all the figures, same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.
Representative examples of one or more novel and nonobvious aspects and features of the golf club head according to the present invention, disclosed below, are not intended to be limiting in any manner. Furthermore, the various aspects and features of the present invention may be used alone or in a variety of novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations with one another.
In one or more aspects of the present invention, and as depicted by way of example in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring once again to
Referring again to
Referring to
The location of the face center 116 is determined as follows. The template 156 is initially applied to the striking face 102 so that the aperture 162 is approximately in the middle of the striking face 102 and the heel-toe axis 158 is generally parallel to an imaginary horizontal line 164. The template 156 is then translated in the heel-toe direction along the striking face 102 until the heel and the toe measurements along the axis 158 at the opposite edges of the striking face 102 have the same absolute value. Once the template 156 is centered with respect to the striking face 102 in the heel-toe direction, the template 156 is translated in the top-bottom direction along the striking face 102 until the measurements along the axis 160 at the opposite edges of the striking face 102 have the same absolute value. The above sequence is repeated until the absolute value of the heel measurement along axis 158 is equal to that of the toe measurement and the absolute value of the bottom measurement along axis 160 is equal to that of the top measurement. A point is then marked on the front surface through the aperture 162 to designate the face center 116.
A locating template, such as the template 156, is referenced in the United States Golf Association's Procedure for Measuring the Flexibility of a Golf Clubhead (Revision 2.0, Mar. 25, 2005) and is available from the USGA.
Referring now to
Referring to
A maximum distance, Dmax, measured perpendicular to the imaginary straight line 120 between the segment 123 and the path 121, is less than or equal to 0.90 mm, preferably less than or equal to 0.80 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 0.70 mm, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.61 mm, yet more preferably less than or equal to 0.52 mm, and still more preferably less than or equal to 0.45 mm. Also, Dmax is preferably greater than or equal to 0.20 mm and more preferably greater than or equal to 0.30 mm. Limiting Dmax as disclosed above delivers a golf club head having enhanced MOI, a favorable dynamic-excitation response at impact with the ball, and a traditional shape when viewed at address by the player.
According to one or more aspects of the invention, a golf club head 100 has an adjusted volume greater than or equal to about 150 cc, more preferably greater than or equal to about 250 cc, even more preferably greater than or equal to about 320 cc, yet more preferably between about 400 and about 460 cc and, and still more preferably between about 420 and about 460 cc. The “adjusted volume” of a golf club head, as used herein, refers to the sum of the actual volume of the club head and the volume associated with any fully recessed region of the exterior surface of the top portion of the golf club head. The “volume associated with any fully recessed region,” as used herein, refers to a volume consisting of all spatial points above the exterior surface 114a of the top portion 104 such that every imaginary infinite straight line that passes through any of such spatial points also penetrates the exterior surface 114a of the top portion 104. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a fully recessed region may be continuous or discontinuous (i.e., comprising a plurality of discrete sub-regions).
Referring to
Referring again to
The distances Dmax, D1, and D2 are related to each other as follows. Dmax/D1 less than or equal to 0.035, preferably less than or equal to 0.030, more preferably less than or equal to 0.023, even more preferably less than or equal to 0.020, yet more preferably less than or equal to 0.018, still more preferably between 0.005 and 0.018, and yet still more preferably between 0.010 and 0.018.
D1/D2 is preferably less than or equal to 3.0, more preferably less than or equal to 2.5, still more preferably less than or equal to 2.0, and yet more preferably less than or equal to 1.5.
In one or more aspects of the present invention, Dmax, D1, and D2 are particularly interrelated not only with each other, but also with the overall length Lo. Specifically, D2/Lo is preferably greater than or equal to 0.10, more preferably greater than or equal to 0.20, still more preferably greater than or equal to 0.30, and yet more preferably greater than or equal to 0.40. Based on practical considerations, D2/Lo is between 0.50 and 0.90 and preferably between 0.60 and 0.80. Delimiting Dmax, D1, D2, and Lo as described above promotes, among other advantages, the ability to maintain the club head's traditional shape when viewed at address by the golfer, thus promoting the player's confidence in the equipment.
Referring again to
Referring again to
Referring to
Referring again to
In one or more aspects of the present invention, as shown in
The fully-recessed region 230 consists of all points on the exterior surface 214a of the top portion 204 located such that every imaginary infinite straight line that passes through any one of such points also penetrates the exterior surface 214a of the top portion 204. The fully-recessed region 230 has an associated volume 232 (see, e.g.,
Referring to
Referring to
In one or more aspects of the present invention, referring to
The fully-recessed region 330 has a surface area similar to the surface area of the fully-recessed region 230 shown in
Referring specifically to
Referring again to
In one or more aspects of the present invention, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
Referring again to
Referring to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the present invention has been described in association with presently preferred aspects thereof, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims.
This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 13/682,203 filed Nov. 20, 2012, which is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 12/910,241 filed Oct. 22, 2010 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,337,323 issued Dec. 25, 2012). The prior applications, including the specifications, drawings and abstracts are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140113744 A1 | Apr 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13682203 | Nov 2012 | US |
Child | 14142374 | US | |
Parent | 12910241 | Oct 2010 | US |
Child | 13682203 | US |