Golf Clubs and Methods of Manufacture

• US 20090029790A1
• Filed: 07/25/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Nicolette, Michael, Schweigert, Brad
• Application Number:
  US11/828,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029790A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/291
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club bead has a toe region having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a heel region opposite the toe region also having a top portion and a bottom portion. The club head has a hosel at the top portion of the heel region, a back face, and a front face opposite the back face. The club head has a first weight at a perimeter of the back face, and a second weight at the back face. The second weight is located at the bottom portion of the toe region, and farther away from the back face than the first weight. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a toe region having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a heel region opposite the toe region and having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a back face;

a front face opposite the back face;

a first weight at a perimeter of the back face; and

a second weight at the back face, at the bottom portion of the toe region, and farther away from the back face than the first weight.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein all of the second weight is located farther away from the back face than the first weight.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight is located at the perimeter of the back face.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight is located over the first weight.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight separates the back face from the second weight.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first weight comprises a first material; and

the second weight comprises a second material different from the first material.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first weight comprises a first material; and

the second weight comprises the first material.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight is integral with the first weight.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight is non-conformal with the first weight.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight is visibly distinct front the first weight.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight is substantially uniform.

38. A golf club comprising:

a shaft coupled to a golf club head;

the golf club head of claim 1 coupled to the shaft;

wherein the golf club head comprises;

a toe region having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a heel region opposite the toe region and having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a back face;

a front face opposite the back face;

a first weight at a perimeter of the back face; and

a second weight at the back face, at the bottom portion of the toe region, and farther away from the back face than the first weight.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising;

a heel region;

a toe region opposite the heel region;

a front face;

a back face opposite the front face;

a top rail extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face to create a top rail width, and extending from the heel region to the toe region;

a sole substantially opposite the top rail; and

a side surface extending from the top rail to the sole at the toe region;

wherein;

the side surface further comprises a side surface width extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face;

the side surface width increases non-linearly from the top rail to the sole; and

the side surface width has a maximum distance towards the sole.

13. The golf club head of claim 12,

wherein:

the sole further comprises a sole width extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face;

the sole width increases from the heel region to the toe region, and

a portion of the sole width is at least twice as wide as a portion of the top

rail width.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein:

the sole width extends from the front face to a rear sole edge to create a portion of a rear sole wall; and

the rear sole wall extends from the back face to the back face rear sole edge.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising an integral, arcuate reinforcing member at the back face and extending from the heel region to the toe region.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the top rail width is substantially constant from the heel region to the toe region.

17. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the side surface width is substantially constant along a first portion of the side surface; and

the first portion of the side surface extends from the top rail to a point adjacent to a midpoint between the top rail and the sole.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the side surface comprises a width substantially similar to the top rail width.

19. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein:

the side surface width increases along a second portion of the side surface, and

the second portion of the side surface extends from the point to the sole.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein;

the first portion of the side surface is closer to the top rail than the sole; and

the second portion of the side surface is closer to the sole than the top rail.

21. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the maximum distance of the side surface width towards the sole is at least three times the side surface width at the top rail.

22. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the golf club head is an iron.

23. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the side surface extends from the front face towards and beyond the back face to a side face back edge;

the side face back edge comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;

the first portion of the side face back edge is substantially parallel to the front face and extends in a first direction from the top rail towards the second portion of the side face back edge;

the second portion of the side face back edge comprises a center transition region between the first and third portions of the side face back edge;

the second portion of the side face back edge is adjacent to a midpoint between the top rail and the sole;

the third portion of the side face back edge is non-parallel to the front face and extends in a second direction from the second portion of the side front back edge towards the sole; and

the center transition region comprises a radius of curvature between the first direction and the second direction.

24. The golf club head of claim 23, wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction comprises an angle within the range from approximately 115 degrees to approximately 155 degrees.

25. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

a body coupled to the shall, the body comprising;

a hosel coupled to the body;

a heel region adjacent to the hosel;

a toe region opposite the heel region

a front face;

a back face opposite the front face;

a top rail extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face, and extending from the heel region to the toe region, and further comprising a top rail width substantially constant from the heel region to the toe region;

a sole opposite the top rail, and further comprising a sole width extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face, and

a side surface extending from the top rail to the sole at the toe region;

wherein;

the side surface further comprises a side surface width extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face;

the side surface width is constant along a first portion of the side surface;

the side surface width increases along a second portion of the side surface to a maximum distance towards the sole;

the side surface has a minimum distance at the top rail;

the sole width increases linearly from the heel region to the toe region; and

the sole width has a maximum distance towards the toe region.

26. The golf club head of claim 25, further comprising an integral, arcuate reinforcing member at the back face and extending from the heel region to the toe region.

27. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the side surface width along the first portion of the side surface is substantially similar to the top rail width.

28. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the side surface width at the sole is at least three times the side surface width at the top rail.

29. A method for manufacturing a golf club head comprising:

providing a body comprising;

a hosel;

a heel region;

a toe region;

a front face;

a back face;

a top rail to extend from the front face towards and beyond the back face, and to extend from the heel region to the toe region;

a sole;

a side surface to extend from the top rail to the sole at the toe region;

wherein;

the side surface further comprises a side surface width extending from the front face towards and beyond the back face;

the side surface width increases non-linearly from the top rail to the sole; and

the side surface width has a maximum distance towards the sole.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the sole to include a sole width to extend from the front face towards and beyond the back face; and

providing the sole width to increase from the heel region to the toe region.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the body to include an integral, arcuate reinforcing member at the back face and extending from the heel region to the toe region

32. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the sole width to extend to a rear sole edge to create a portion of a rear sole wall; and

providing the rear sole wall to extend from the back face to the back face sole edge.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the top rail to comprise a top rail width having a substantially constant distance from the heel region to the toe region.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the side surface width to be substantially constant along a first portion of the side surface; and

providing the first to portion extend from the top rail to a point adjacent to a midpoint between the top rail and the sole.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the first portion to comprise a width substantially similar to the top rail width.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein providing the body further comprises:

providing the side surface width to increase along a second portion of the side surface; and

providing the second portion to extend from the point to the sole

37. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the body further comprises providing the side surface width towards the sole to be at least three times the side surface width at the top rail.