GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS

• US 20070298903A1
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Boyd, Robert, Stites, John T.
• Application Number:
  US11/425,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body having a breadth to length ratio of at least 0.9, optionally a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and a diagonal dimension of at least 75% of a theoretical maximum diagonal dimension (as measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head body and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension). In some examples, the diagonal dimension may be at least 80%, 85%, or even 90% of the theoretical maximum diagonal dimension. Additionally or alternatively, if desired, at least one horizontal cross section of the club head body will enclose or encompass an area of at least 0.8×BL, at least 0.85×BL, at least 0.9×BL, or even at least 0.95×BL.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a club head length dimension L and a club head breadth dimension B, wherein the club head body has a breadth dimension to length dimension ratio of at least 0.9, a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and an overall diagonal dimension of at least 0.75×

(B²+L²)^1/2, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head body and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.8×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.85×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body includes at least one non-metal portion.

5. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the at least one non-metal portion includes a non-metal crown portion.

6. A golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the at least one non-metal portion includes a non-metal sole portion.

7. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the at least one non-metal portion includes a non-metal sole portion.

8. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the club head body includes a metal member, wherein the at least one non-metal portion is engaged with the metal member.

10. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight member engaged with the club head body and located at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body.

11. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein at least some of the weight member is located toward a heel side of the rear portion of the club head body.

12. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein at least some of the weight member is located toward a toe side of the rear portion of the club head body.

13. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight member removably engaged with the club head body.

14. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weight member engaged with the club head body and located within an interior chamber at least partially defined by the club head body.

15. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weighted portion integrally formed as part of the club head body.

16. A golf club head according to claim 15, wherein the weighted portion is located at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body.

17. A golf club head according to claim 16, wherein at least some of the weighted portion is located toward a heel side of the rear portion of the club head body.

18. A golf club head according to claim 16, wherein at least some of the weighted portion is located toward a toe side of the rear portion of the club head body.

19. A golf club head according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first weight member engaged with the club head body at or proximate to the rear portion of the club head body; and

a second weight member engaged with the club head body at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body, wherein the second weight member is separate from the first weight member.

22. A golf club head according to claim 19, wherein the first weight member is located toward a heel side of the rear portion of the club head body and the second weight member is located toward a toe side of the rear portion of the club head body.

23. A golf club head according to claim 19, wherein the first weight member is removably engaged with the club head body and the second weight member is removably engaged with the club head body.

24. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the length dimension is at least 4.5 inches.

9. (canceled)

20-21. -21. (canceled)

25. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body including a metal body portion and a non-metal portion engaged with the metal body portion, wherein the club head body has an overall club head length dimension L of at least 4.5 inches, a breadth dimension B to length dimension ratio of at least 0.9, a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and an overall diagonal dimension of at least 0.75×

(B²+L²)^1/2, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension; and

a weight engaged with or integrally formed at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body.

26. A golf club head according to claim 25, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.8×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

27. A golf club head according to claim 25, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.85×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

28-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body having a club head length dimension L and a club head breadth dimension B, wherein the club head body has a breadth dimension to length dimension ratio of at least 0.9 and a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and wherein at least one horizontal cross section of the club head body encloses an area of at least 0.8×

BL.

41. A golf club head according to claim 40, wherein the area is at least 0.85×

BL.

42. A golf club head according to claim 40, wherein the area is at least 0.9×

BL.

43. A golf club head according to claim 40, wherein the club head body includes at least one non-metal portion.

44. A golf club head according to claim 43, wherein the at least one non-metal portion includes a non-metal crown portion.

45. A golf club head according to claim 44, wherein the at least one non-metal portion includes a non-metal sole portion.

46. A golf club head according to claim 43, wherein the at least one non-metal portion includes a non-metal sole portion.

47. A golf club head according to claim 43, wherein the club head body includes a metal member, wherein the at least one non-metal portion is engaged with the metal member.

49. A golf club head according to claim 40, further comprising:

a weight member is engaged with the club head body and located at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body.

50. A golf club head according to claim 49, wherein at least some of the weight member is located toward a heel side of the rear portion of the club head body.

51. A golf club head according to claim 49, wherein at least some of the weight member is located toward a toe side of the rear portion of the club head body.

52. A golf club head according to claim 40, further comprising:

a weight member removably engaged with the club head body.

53. A golf club head according to claim 40, further comprising:

a weight member is engaged with the club head body and located within an interior chamber at least partially defined by the club head body.

54. A golf club head according to claim 40, further comprising:

a weighted portion integrally formed as part of the club head body.

55. A golf club head according to claim 54, wherein the weighted portion is located at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body.

56. A golf club head according to claim 55, wherein at least some of the weighted portion is located toward a heel side of the rear portion of the club head body.

57. A golf club head according to claim 55, wherein at least some of the weighted portion is located toward a toe side of the rear portion of the club head body.

58. A golf club head according to claim 40, further comprising:

a first weight member engaged with the club head body at or proximate to the rear portion of the club head body; and

a second weight member engaged with the club head body at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body, wherein the second weight member is separate from the first weight member.

61. A golf club head according to claim 58, wherein the first weight member is located toward a heel side of the rear portion of the club head body and the second weight member is located toward a toe side of the rear portion of the club head body.

62. A golf club head according to claim 58, wherein the first weight member is removably engaged with the club head body and the second weight member is removably engaged with the club head body.

63. A golf club head according to claim 40, wherein the length dimension is at least 4.5 inches.

48. (canceled)

59-60. -60. (canceled)

64. A golf club, comprising:

a club head body having a club head length dimension L and a club head breadth dimension B, wherein the club head body has a breadth dimension to length dimension ratio of at least 0.9, a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and an overall diagonal dimension of at least 0.75×

(B²+L²)^1/2, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension; and

a shaft member engaged with the club head body.

65. A golf club according to claim 64, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.8×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

66. A golf club according to claim 64, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.85×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

67-88. -88. (canceled)

89. A golf club, comprising:

a club head body including a metal body portion and a non-metal portion engaged with the metal body portion, wherein the club head body has an overall club head length dimension L of at least 4.5 inches, a breadth dimension B to length dimension ratio of at least 0.9, a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and an overall diagonal dimension of at least 0.75×

(B²+L²)^1/2, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is measured along a diagonal of a bounding box enclosing the club head body and defined by the length dimension and the breadth dimension;

a weight engaged with or integrally formed at or proximate to a rear portion of the club head body; and

a shaft member engaged with the club head body.

90. A golf club according to claim 89, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.8×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

91. A golf club according to claim 89, wherein the overall diagonal dimension is at least 0.85×

(B²+L²)^1/2.

92-104. -104. (canceled)

105. A golf club, comprising:

a club head body having a club head length dimension L and a club head breadth dimension B, wherein the club head body has a breadth dimension to length dimension ratio of at least 0.9 and a club head volume of at least 450 cubic centimeters, and wherein at least one horizontal cross section of the club head body encloses an area of at least 0.8×

BL; and

a shaft member engaged with the club head body.

106. A golf club according to claim 105, wherein the area is at least 0.85×

BL.

107. A golf club according to claim 105, wherein the area is at least 0.9×

BL.

108-129. -129. (canceled)