Golf club iron head

• US 20080102982A1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Wahl, Bret H., Ines, Marni D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of an iron type golf club head that defines a heel-portion, a mid-portion, and a toe-portion are disclosed. A mass of the heel-portion exceeds 35% of a combined mass of the heel-portion, mid-portion, and toe-portion. The heel-portion includes an opening to receive a weight insert located within a mass pad to provide heel biased weighting. The head further includes an undercut region in the toe-portion.

Claims

1. An iron type golf club head that defines a heel-portion, a mid-portion, and a toe-portion, wherein a mass of the heel-portion exceeds 35% of a combined mass of the heel-portion, mid-portion, and toe-portion.

2. The club head according to claim 1 further comprising a mass pad located at least partially in the heel-portion.

3. The club head according to claim 2 wherein the mass pad is adapted to receive an insert.

4. The club head according to claim 1 further comprising:

a first wall of thickness less than about 3 mm that defines a ball striking face.

5. The club head according to claim 1 further comprising:

a ball striking face;

a backside opposite the ball striking face;

a backside wall that extends in a direction normal to the ball striking face and around a backside perimeter to define a cavity, wherein the backside wall further defines an undercut region in the toe-portion.

6. The club head according to claim 1 wherein a center of gravity of the club head is greater than 4 mm heel-ward of the ball striking face centroid when the club head is at normal address position.

7. The club head according to claim 5 further comprising:

a mass pad located at least partially in the heel-portion; and

a sole at least partially formed by the backside wall, the sole having a first vertical thickness in the heel-portion and a second vertical thickness in the toe-portion less than the first vertical thickness.

8. The club head according to claim 3 wherein the insert is coupled to the mass pad and has a bulk density exceeding the bulk density of the surrounding mass pad.

9. The club head according to claim 3 wherein the insert is coupled to the mass pad and includes:

a plug formed of a material having a bulk density in excess of the bulk density of the surrounding mass pad, and an ornamental cap.

10. The club head according to claim 1 wherein the club head is substantially formed of a unitary cast body.

11. The club head according to claim 10 wherein the unitary cast body defines the heel-portion, the mid-portion, and the toe-portion.

12. The club head according to claim 5 wherein the club head has a unitary cast body and the undercut region is a cast portion of the club head.

13. The club head according to claim 1 wherein the iron type golf club head further defines a hosel portion having a hosel, wherein the hosel has a hosel length of about 45 to 75 mm and an outer diameter of about 12 to 15 mm.

18. The club head according to claim 12, wherein the club head is substantially formed of a unitary cast body.

14. An iron type golf club head comprising:

a heel-portion;

a mid-portion;

a toe-portion;

a face wall that defines a ball striking face; and

a backside wall that extends in a direction approximately normal to the ball striking face and around a backside perimeter to define a backside cavity, wherein the heel-portion defines a mass pad, the backside wall further defines an undercut region in the toe-portion, the face wall having a thickness less than approximately 3 mm, the heel-portion having a mass exceeding 35% of a combined mass of the heel-portion, the mid-portion, and the toe-portion.

15. The club head according to claim 14 wherein the heel-portion is adapted to receive an insert.

16. The club head according to claim 15 further including an insert coupled to the mass pad, wherein the insert has a bulk density that exceeds the bulk density of the surrounding mass pad.

17. The club head according to claim 15 further comprising an insert coupled to the mass pad, the insert including a plug formed of a material with a bulk density in excess of the bulk density of the surrounding mass pad, and an ornamental cap.

23. The club head of claim 14 wherein the iron type golf club head further defines a hosel portion having a hosel, wherein the hosel has a hosel length of about 45 to 75 mm and an outer diameter of about 12 to 15 mm.

19. An iron type golf club head comprising:

a hosel;

a cavity back style club head frame connected to the hosel and having a toe-portion, mid-portion and heel-portion;

the club head frame having a ball striking face peripheral wall extending generally rearwardly from a periphery of the ball striking face, and a back wall connected to and cooperable with the peripheral wall to define a cavity region, the peripheral wall including a sole portion having a toe wall thickness that increases in a direction from the toe-portion to the heel-portion;

the heel-portion having an opening configured to receive a removable weight, the heel-portion having a mass exceeding 35% of a combined mass of the heel-portion, mid-portion and toe-portion.

20. The club head of claim 19 wherein the weight is threadably received by the opening.

21. The club head of claim 19 wherein a mass pad occupies space in the heel-portion to reduce the volume of the cavity region and facilitate heel biased weighting.

22. The club head of claim 21 wherein the bulk density of the weight exceeds that of the mass pad.