Iron type golf club head and set

• US 10,398,950 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Honea, Justin, Kendall, John, Neeley, Matthew Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stanczak, Matthew B
• Application Number:
  US15/794,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20180056148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

An iron-type golf club head and set having multi-material construction including a carbon steel alloy body and a thin high strength alloy face. A passageway extends from a closed void behind the face, and is accessible from an exterior of the body. The passageway establishes a passageway axis, and at least a portion of the passageway axis intersects the face at an axis-to-face intersection point. The set includes close control of the opening/closing moment of inertia and Ycg distance between club heads.

Claims

1. A set of iron-type golf club heads, comprising:

a) a first iron-type golf club head having a first loft of 30 degrees or less, a first heel portion, a first toe portion, a first top line portion, a first sole portion, a first leading edge, and a first trailing edge, wherein the first iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a first body formed of a first body material and having a first hosel, a first face opening, and a first face support ledge, wherein;

(a) the first face support ledge has a first support ledge width separating a first support ledge inner perimeter from a first support ledge outer perimeter, and a first support ledge setback;

(b) the first hosel has a first bore and a first bore center that defines a first shaft axis which intersects with a horizontal ground plane to define a first origin point and defines a first shaft axis plane; and

(c) the first body material is a carbon steel alloy;

ii) a first face formed of a first face material that is different from the first body material and configured to be rigidly supported by the first body face opening having a first face perimeter, a first face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a first face striking surface, and a first face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the first face rear surface contacts the first face support ledge thereby defining a first supported face portion having a first supported face area;

(b) a portion of the first face rear surface does not contact the first face support ledge thereby defining a first closed void extending in a first void plane substantially parallel to the first face, a first unsupported face portion having a first unsupported face area, wherein the sum of the first supported face area and the first unsupported face area is a first total face area;

(c) a first passageway from the first closed void and accessible from an exterior of the first body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the first passageway establishes a first passageway axis and a first passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the first loft, and at least a portion of the first passageway axis intersects the first face at a first axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the first shaft axis plane;

(d) the first face material is a precipitation-hardened stainless steel alloy; and

(e) at least one of the first passageway and the first closed void contain a first elastomer;

iii) wherein the first iron-type golf club head has a first center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the first top line portion of the first iron-type golf club head from the first origin point a first distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the first origin point toward the first toe portion of the first iron-type golf club head a first distance Xcg;

(c) a first distance Zcg from the first origin toward the first trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the first Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the first Xcg distance;

(d) wherein the first iron-type golf club head has a first opening/closing moment of inertia about a first vertical axis through the first center of gravity; and

(e) wherein the elevation of the first axis-to-face intersection point is less than 60% of the first distance Ycg;

b) a second iron-type golf club head having a second loft of at least 31 degrees, a second heel portion, a second toe portion, a second top line portion, a second sole portion, a second leading edge, and a second trailing edge, wherein the second iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a second body formed of a second body material and having a second hosel, a second face opening, and a second face support ledge, wherein;

(a) the second face support ledge has a second support ledge width separating a second support ledge inner perimeter from a second support ledge outer perimeter, and a second support ledge setback;

(b) the second hosel has a second bore and a second bore center that defines a second shaft axis which intersects with the horizontal ground plane to define a second origin point and defines a second shaft axis plane; and

(c) the second body material is a carbon steel alloy;

ii) a second face formed of a second face material that is different from the second body material and configured to be rigidly supported by the second body face opening having a second face perimeter, a second face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a second face striking surface, and a second face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the second face rear surface contacts the second face support ledge thereby defining a second supported face portion having a second supported face area;

(b) a portion of the second face rear surface does not contact the second face support ledge thereby defining a second closed void extending in a second void plane substantially parallel to the second face, a second unsupported face portion having a second unsupported face area, wherein the sum of the second supported face area and the second unsupported face area is a second total face area;

(c) a second passageway from the second closed void and accessible from an exterior of the second body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the second passageway establishes a second passageway axis and a second passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the second loft, and at least a portion of the second passageway axis intersects the second face at a second axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the second shaft axis plane;

(d) the second face material is a precipitation-hardened stainless steel alloy; and

(e) at least one of the second passageway and the second closed void contain a second elastomer;

iii) wherein the second iron-type golf club head has a second center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the second top line portion of the second iron-type golf club head from the second origin point a second distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the second origin point toward the second toe portion of the second iron-type golf club head a second distance Xcg;

(c) a second distance Zcg from the second origin toward the second trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the second Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the second Xcg distance;

(d) wherein the second iron-type golf club head has a second opening/closing moment of inertia about a second vertical axis through the second center of gravity; and

(e) wherein the elevation of the second axis-to-face intersection point is less than 60% of the second distance Ycg;

c) wherein the second opening/closing moment of inertia is within 20% of the first opening/closing moment of inertia, and the second distance Ycg is within 10% of the first distance Ycg.

2. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 1, wherein the first unsupported face area is at least 70% of the first total face area.

3. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 2, wherein the first unsupported face area is at least 80% of the first total face area.

4. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 3, wherein the first body further includes a plurality of first body weight elements secured to the exterior of the first body, at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements having a first weight density greater than a first body density of the first body material, and the second body further includes a plurality of second body weight elements secured to the exterior of the second body, at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements having a second weight density greater than a second body density of the second body material.

5. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 4, wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements is in communication with the first closed void, and a portion of at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements is in communication with the second closed void.

6. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 5, wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements is in contact with the first elastomer, and a portion of at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements is in contact with the second elastomer.

7. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements is cylindrical with a density of at least 2.7 g/cc, and at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements is cylindrical with a density of at least 2.7 g/cc.

8. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 7, wherein the second unsupported face area is less than 50% of the second total face area.

9. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 8, wherein the first unsupported face area has a first unsupported face portion centroid and the second unsupported face area has a second unsupported face portion centroid, wherein the elevation above the horizontal ground plane at least one of the first unsupported face portion centroid and the second unsupported face portion centroid is less than the first Ycg distance.

10. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 1, the first passageway extends from the first sole portion to the first closed void, and the second passageway extends from the second sole portion to the second closed void.

11. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 1, wherein the first passageway is a first sole channel having a first channel leading edge, a first channel trailing edge, a first channel width, a first channel length, a first channel depth, a first channel leading edge setback, and a first channel axis establishing a channel angle from the vertical, and the second passageway is a second sole channel having a second channel leading edge, a second channel trailing edge, a second channel width, a second channel length, a second channel depth, a second channel leading edge setback, and a second channel axis establishing a channel angle from the vertical, wherein the first channel angle is at least 50% of the first loft, and the second channel angle is at least 50% of the second loft, and wherein the first channel length is greater than the first Xcg distance, the first channel angle is at least 50% of the first loft throughout at least 50% of the first channel length, and the second channel length is greater than the second Xcg distance, the second channel angle is at least 50% of the second loft throughout at least 50% of the second channel length.

12. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 1, wherein a second unsupported face portion centroid of the second unsupported face area is at an elevation above the horizontal ground plane that is less than the second distance Ycg, and a first unsupported face portion centroid of the first unsupported face area is at an elevation above the horizontal ground plane that is greater than the first distance Ycg.

13. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 1, wherein a first horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the first center of gravity, the first closed void is located between the first center of gravity and the first face, with no portion of the first closed void within the first horizontal section extending behind the first center of gravity, and a second horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the second center of gravity, the second closed void is located between the second center of gravity and the second face, with no portion of the second closed void within the second horizontal section extending behind the second center of gravity.

14. A set of iron-type golf club heads, comprising:

a) a first iron-type golf club head having a first loft of 30 degrees or less, a first heel portion, a first toe portion, a first top line portion, a first sole portion, a first leading edge, and a first trailing edge, wherein the first iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a first body formed of a first body material and having a first hosel, a first face opening, and a first face support ledge, wherein;

(a) the first face support ledge has a first support ledge width separating a first support ledge inner perimeter from a first support ledge outer perimeter, and a first support ledge setback; and

(b) the first hosel has a first bore and a first bore center that defines a first shaft axis which intersects with a horizontal ground plane to define a first origin point and defines a first shaft axis plane; and

ii) a first face formed of a first face material that is different from the first body material and configured to be rigidly supported by the first body face opening having a first face perimeter, a first face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a first face striking surface, and a first face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the first face rear surface contacts the first face support ledge thereby defining a first supported face portion having a first supported face area;

(b) a portion of the first face rear surface does not contact the first face support ledge thereby defining a first closed void extending in a first void plane substantially parallel to the first face, a first unsupported face portion having a first unsupported face area, wherein the sum of the first supported face area and the first unsupported face area is a first total face area;

(c) a first passageway from the first closed void and accessible from an exterior of the first body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the first passageway establishes a first passageway axis and a first passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the first loft, and at least a portion of the first passageway axis intersects the first face at a first axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the first shaft axis plane;

(d) the first face material has a yield strength greater than the first body material; and

(e) at least one of the first passageway and the first closed void contain a first elastomer;

iii) wherein the first iron-type golf club head has a first center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the first top line portion of the first iron-type golf club head from the first origin point a first distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the first origin point toward the first toe portion of the first iron-type golf club head a first distance Xcg;

(c) a first distance Zcg from the first origin toward the first trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the first Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the first Xcg distance; and

(d) wherein the first iron-type golf club head has a first opening/closing moment of inertia about a first vertical axis through the first center of gravity;

b) a second iron-type golf club head having a second loft of at least 40 degrees, a second heel portion, a second toe portion, a second top line portion, a second sole portion, a second leading edge, and a second trailing edge, wherein the second iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a second body formed of a second body material and having a second hosel, a second face opening, and a second face support ledge, wherein;

(a) the second face support ledge has a second support ledge width separating a second support ledge inner perimeter from a second support ledge outer perimeter, and a second support ledge setback; and

(b) the second hosel has a second bore and a second bore center that defines a second shaft axis which intersects with the horizontal ground plane to define a second origin point and defines a second shaft axis plane;

ii) a second face formed of a second face material that is different from the second body material and configured to be rigidly supported by the second body face opening having a second face perimeter, a second face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a second face striking surface, and a second face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the second face rear surface contacts the second face support ledge thereby defining a second supported face portion having a second supported face area;

(b) a portion of the second face rear surface does not contact the second face support ledge thereby defining a second closed void extending in a second void plane substantially parallel to the second face, a second unsupported face portion having a second unsupported face area, wherein the sum of the second supported face area and the second unsupported face area is a second total face area;

(c) a second passageway from the second closed void and accessible from an exterior of the second body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the second passageway establishes a second passageway axis and a second passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the second loft, and at least a portion of the second passageway axis intersects the second face at a second axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the second shaft axis plane;

(d) the second face material has a yield strength greater than the second body material; and

e) at least one of the second passageway and the second closed void contain a second elastomer;

iii) wherein the second iron-type golf club head has a second center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the second top line portion of the second iron-type golf club head from the second origin point a second distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the second origin point toward the second toe portion of the second iron-type golf club head a second distance Xcg;

(c) a second distance Zcg from the second origin toward the second trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the second Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the second Xcg distance; and

(d) wherein the second iron-type golf club head has a second opening/closing moment of inertia about a second vertical axis through the second center of gravity; and

c) a third iron-type golf club head having a third loft of 27-40 degrees, a third heel portion, a third toe portion, a third top line portion, a third sole portion, a third leading edge, and a third trailing edge, wherein the third iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a third body formed of a third body material and having a third hosel, a third face opening, and a third face support ledge, wherein;

(a) the third face support ledge has a third support ledge width separating a third support ledge inner perimeter from a third support ledge outer perimeter, and a third support ledge setback; and

(b) the third hosel has a third bore and a third bore center that defines a third shaft axis which intersects with the horizontal ground plane to define a third origin point and defines a third shaft axis plane;

ii) a third face formed of a third face material that is different from the third body material and configured to be received within the third body face opening having a third face perimeter, a third face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a third face striking surface, and a third face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the third face rear surface contacts the third face support ledge thereby defining a third supported face portion having a third supported face area; and

(b) a portion of the third face rear surface does not contact the third face support ledge thereby defining a third closed void extending in a third void plane substantially parallel to the third face, a third unsupported face portion having a third unsupported face area, wherein the sum of the third supported face area and the third unsupported face area is a third total face area, wherein the third unsupported face area is less than the first unsupported face area, and the third unsupported face area is greater than the second unsupported face area;

(c) a third passageway from the third closed void and accessible from an exterior of the third body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the third passageway establishes a third passageway axis and a third passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the third loft, and at least a portion of the third passageway axis intersects the third face at a third axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the third shaft axis plane;

(d) the third face material has a yield strength greater than the third body material; and

(e) at least one of the third passageway and the third closed void contain a third elastomer;

iii) wherein the third iron-type golf club head has a third center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the third top line portion of the third iron-type golf club head from the third origin point a third distance Ycg, wherein the third distance Ycg is within 5% of the first distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the third origin point toward the third toe portion of the third iron-type golf club head a third distance Xcg;

(c) a third distance Zcg from the third origin toward the third trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the third Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the third Xcg distance; and

(d) wherein the third iron-type golf club head has a third opening/closing moment of inertia about a third vertical axis through the third center of gravity;

d) wherein the second opening/closing moment of inertia is within 20% of the first opening/closing moment of inertia, the third opening/closing moment of inertia is within 20% of the first opening/closing moment of inertia, the second Ycg distance is within 10% of the first Ycg distance, and the third Ycg distance is within 10% of the first Ycg distance; and

e) wherein at least one of the following is true;

i) in a first horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the first center of gravity, the first closed void is located between the first center of gravity and the first face, with no portion of the first closed void within the first horizontal section extending behind the first center of gravity;

ii) in a second horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the second center of gravity, the second closed void is located between the second center of gravity and the second face, with no portion of the second closed void within the second horizontal section extending behind the second center of gravity; and

iii) in a third horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the third center of gravity, the third closed void is located between the third center of gravity and the third face, with no portion of the third closed void within the third horizontal section extending behind the third center of gravity.

15. A set of iron-type golf club heads, comprising:

a) a first iron-type golf club head having a first loft of 30 degrees or less, a first heel portion, a first toe portion, a first top line portion, a first sole portion, a first leading edge, and a first trailing edge, wherein the first iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a first body formed of a first body material and having a first hosel and a first face opening, wherein the first hosel has a first bore and a first bore center that defines a first shaft axis which intersects with a horizontal ground plane to define a first origin point and defines a first shaft axis plane;

ii) a first face formed of a first face material that is different from the first body material and secured within the first face opening, a first face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a first face striking surface, and a first face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the first face rear surface defines a first closed void extending in a first void plane substantially parallel to the first face;

(b) a first passageway from the first closed void and accessible from an exterior of the first body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the first passageway establishes a first passageway axis and a first passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the first loft, and at least a portion of the first passageway axis intersects the first face at a first axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the first shaft axis plane; and

(c) at least one of the first passageway and the first closed void contain a first elastomer;

iii) wherein the first iron-type golf club head has a first center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the first top line portion of the first iron-type golf club head from the first origin point a first distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the first origin point toward the first toe portion of the first iron-type golf club head a first distance Xcg;

(c) a first distance Zcg from the first origin toward the first trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the first Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the first Xcg distance;

(d) wherein the first iron-type golf club head has a first opening/closing moment of inertia about a first vertical axis through the first center of gravity; and

(e) wherein the elevation of the first axis-to-face intersection point is less than the first distance Ycg;

b) a second iron-type golf club head having a second loft of at least 31 degrees, a second heel portion, a second toe portion, a second top line portion, a second sole portion, a second leading edge, and a second trailing edge, wherein the second iron-type golf club head includes;

i) a second body formed of a second body material and having a second hosel and a second face opening, wherein the second hosel has a second bore and a second bore center that defines a second shaft axis which intersects with a horizontal ground plane to define a second origin point and defines a second shaft axis plane;

ii) a second face formed of a second face material that is different from the second body material and secured within the second face opening, a second face thickness no greater than 2.0 mm, a second face striking surface, and a second face rear surface, wherein;

(a) a portion of the second face rear surface defines a second closed void extending in a second void plane substantially parallel to the second face;

(b) a second passageway from the second closed void and accessible from an exterior of the second body, wherein each vertical cross-section through the second passageway establishes a second passageway axis and a second passageway angle from vertical that is at least 50% of the second loft, and at least a portion of the second passageway axis intersects the second face at a second axis-to-face intersection point and intersects the second shaft axis plane; and

(c) at least one of the second passageway and the second closed void contain a second elastomer;

iii) wherein the second iron-type golf club head has a second center of gravity located;

(a) vertically toward the second top line portion of the second iron-type golf club head from the second origin point a second distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the second origin point toward the second toe portion of the second iron-type golf club head a second distance Xcg;

(c) a second distance Zcg from the second origin toward the second trailing edge in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure the second Ycg distance and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure the second Xcg distance;

(d) wherein the second iron-type golf club head has a second opening/closing moment of inertia about a second vertical axis through the second center of gravity; and

(e) wherein the elevation of the second axis-to-face intersection point is less than the second distance Ycg; and

c) wherein the second opening/closing moment of inertia is within 20% of the first opening/closing moment of inertia, and the second distance Ycg is within 10% of the first distance Ycg.

16. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 15, wherein the elevation of at least one of the first axis-to-face intersection point and the second axis-to-face intersection point is less than 60% of the first distance Ycg.

17. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 16, wherein the first body further includes a plurality of first body weight elements secured to the exterior of the first body, at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements having a first weight density greater than a first body density of the first body material, and the second body further includes a plurality of second body weight elements secured to the exterior of the second body, at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements having a second weight density greater than a second body density of the second body material.

18. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 17, wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements is in communication with the first closed void, and a portion of at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements is in communication with the second closed void.

19. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 18, wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of first body weight elements is in contact with the first elastomer, and a portion of at least one of the plurality of second body weight elements is in contact with the second elastomer.

20. The set of iron-type golf club heads of claim 19, wherein at least one of the following is true:

(i) in a first horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the first center of gravity, the first closed void is located between the first center of gravity and the first face, with no portion of the first closed void within the first horizontal section extending behind the first center of gravity; and

(ii) in a second horizontal section parallel to the horizontal ground plane and passing through the second center of gravity, the second closed void is located between the second center of gravity and the second face, with no portion of the second closed void within the second horizontal section extending behind the second center of gravity.