Metal wood golf club head

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/180,406, filed on Jul. 13, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,377,860, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates generally to a metallic hollow golf club head, and specifically, to the placement of secondary weights.

Golf club “metal woods”, were originally manufactured primarily by casting of durable metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, beryllium copper, etc. into a unitary structure comprising of a metal body, face and hosel. As technology progressed it became more desirable to strengthen the face of the club, and usually this was achieved by using a titanium material.

With a high percentage of amateur golfers constantly searching for more distance on their drives, the golf industry has responded by providing golf clubs specifically designed to increase distance. The head sizes have increased, which allows for the club to possess a higher moment of inertia, and this translates to a greater ability to resist twisting on off-center hits. As a wood head becomes larger, its center of gravity will be moved back away from the face and further toward the toe resulting in hits flying higher and to the right than expected (for right-handed golfers). Reducing the lofts of the larger head clubs can compensate for this. Also the larger heads, because the center of gravity is moved further away from hosel axis, can cause these clubs to remain open on contact, thereby inducing a “slice” effect (in the case of a right-handed golfer the ball deviates to the right). Offsetting the head and incorporating a hook face angle can help compensate for this by “squaring” the face at impact, but often more is required to eliminate the “slice” tendency. The present invention provides such a solution.

Another technological breakthrough in recent years towards providing the average golfer with more distance is to make larger head clubs, while keeping the weight constant or even lighter, by casting consistently thinner shell thickness and going to lighter materials such as titanium, magnesium and composites. Also the faces of the clubs have been steadily becoming extremely thin, wherein the thinner face will maximize what is known as the COR (Coefficient of Restitution). The more a face rebounds upon impact, the more energy that may be imparted to the ball, thereby increasing distance.

The prior art teaches methods to enhance the weight distribution of metal woods to help reduce the club from being open on contact with the ball. Usually, this is accomplished by the addition of weights to the body casting itself or strategically adding a weight element at some point in the club. Many efforts have been made to incorporate weight elements into the metal wood head. They are usually placed at specific locations, which will have a positive influence on the flight of the ball or to overcome a particular golfer's shortcomings. As previously stated, a major problem area of the higher handicap golfer is the tendency to “slice” which besides deviating the ball to the right, also imparts a greater spin to the ball which reduces overall distance. To reduce this tendency, the present patent teaches the placing of weight elements directly into the club head. The placement of weight elements is designed so that the spin of the ball will be reduced, and also a “draw” (a right to left ball flight for a right-handed golfer) will be facilitated into the ball flight. This ball flight pattern is also designed to help the distance challenged golfer because a lower spinning ball will generally roll a greater distance after hitting the ground than it would roll with a higher spin. The present invention provides such a golf club.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a metal wood golf club head is provided which includes a substantially hollow club head having a metal front face welded to it, a sole plate, a crown portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and secondary weights in a location back from the front face portion. A center point on the sole plate defines the lowest point on the club head and it is located directly below the center of gravity of the club head when the club head is at about a 59° lie. The center of gravity of the secondary weights are positioned a pre-determined distance from the center point. Each center of gravity is at least 0.5 inch rearward of the center point; at least 0.75 inch from the center point toward the heel for the heel weight; at least 0.75 inch for the toe weight; and a maximum 0.25 inch above the center point, whereby the weights interface with the club head at a generally concave region so that each of the secondary weights bulges outwards of the natural contour of the club head.

One embodiment provides a method of positioning the secondary weights by reference to a point wherein the centerline of the hosel intersects the sole plate. This distance is then measured from the back surface of the front face at the midpoint of the front face to determine an intersection point. The secondary weights are each at least 1.50 inches rearward of the intersection point, at least 0.75 inch toward either the heel or the toe, and a maximum of 0.25 inch above the center point with the club head at about a 59° lie.

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the club head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the club head of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a heel elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a bottom schematic view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view thereof.

In FIGS. 1-5 , there is provided a substantially hollow golf club head 10 . The head 10 includes a crown portion 12 , a sole plate 14 , a heel portion 16 , a toe portion 18 , a skirt portion 20 connecting the heel portion 16 to the toe portion 18 , a front face 22 and a hosel 24 that extends from the heel portion 16 . The club head 10 can be formed from sheets welded together or cast, preferably from a titanium alloy. The crown portion 12 can be made from such materials as carbon fiber composite, polypropylene, Kevlar, magnesium, or a thermoplastic. Hosel 24 includes a bore defining a centerline axis C/L.

As best depicted in FIG. 5 , the club head 10 of the present invention has a center of gravity (G) located at an extremely rearward and low position. The center of gravity (G) being created by the location of two secondary weights, a toe secondary weight 26 , and a heel secondary weight 28 which are both partially outside the traditional look of a club head. As shown in FIGS. 1-5 , the locations of the two secondary weight elements 26 , 28 are established by the relationship of their distances from established points of contact. When the club head is at a lie angle ø of 59°, the lowest contact point of the sole plate 14 is at a center point (C) directly beneath the center of gravity (G).

One method of establishing the locations of the secondary weights 26 , 28 is discussed herein. As shown in FIG. 4 , the center line C/L of hosel 24 intersects the sole plate 14 at a distance (D) from the rear surface of the front face 22 . When extending a substantially parallel line B-B (maintaining the distance (D), an intersection point (P) is made with a line A-A that is perpendicular to and extends rearward from the midpoint of the front face 22 . The line A-A extends through the middle of the club head 10 and passes directly beneath the club head center of gravity (G). The center of gravity (CIG) of each secondary weight 26 , 28 is: at a distance W which is at least 1.50 inches rearward of the intersection point (P); a distance Z which is a maximum of 0.25 inch above the lowest point of contact which is the center point (C) of the sole plate 14 ; and, each secondary weight is at least 0.75 inch away from line A-A in opposing directions which is a distance Y 2 towards the toe for the toe secondary weight 26 and a distance Y 1 towards the heel for the heel secondary weight 28 .

The locations of the secondary weights 26 , 28 may also be determined for the present invention by measuring from the center point (C). From center point (C) the center of gravity of each secondary weight 26 , 28 is: a distance X which is at least 0.50 inch rearward along line A-A; the distance Z which is a maximum of 0.25 inch above the center point (C); and they are each a minimum of 0.75 inch away from line A-A in opposing directions which is towards the toe for the toe secondary weight 26 and towards the heel for the heel secondary weight 28 . Thus each secondary weight 26 , 28 is a minimum of 0.90 inch from the center point (C).

The secondary weights 26 , 28 , can be selected from a plurality of weights designed to make specific adjustments to the head weight. They can be welded into place or attached by a bonding agent. The weights 26 , 28 , can be formed from typically heavy weight inserts such as steel, nickel or tungsten. The body of the club head 10 is preferably formed from titanium and the crown portion 12 made from a lightweight material such as carbon fiber composite, polypropylene, Kevlar, thermoplastic, magnesium, or some other suitable lightweight material. The volume of the club head 10 ranges from 350 cc to 460 cc. The secondary weights 26 , 28 , range in weight from 10 grams to 35 grams. It is well known that by varying parameters such as shaft flex points, weights and stiffness, face angles, and club lofts, it is possible to accommodate a wide spectrum of golfers. But, the present invention addresses the most important launch consideration which is to optimize the club head's mass properties (center of gravity and moment of inertia) by creating a center of gravity that is low, rearward and wide of center. The club head 10 of the present invention encompasses areas of the club head that are not typically utilized for weighting since they adversely alter the traditional look of a club head. The design of this club head 10 allows for a portion of the secondary weights 26 , 28 , to bulge outside the normal contour of the club head.

While various descriptions of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that the various features of each embodiment can be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the specifically preferred embodiments depicted herein. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.