Golf Clubs and Methods of Manufacture

• US 20090029795A1
• 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: Jertson, Marty, Schweigert, Brad, Nicolette, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/828,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/328
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. A golf club has a shaft and a body coupled to the shaft. The body has a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a front end, a back, end opposite the front end, a front face at the front end, a top wall, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall. The body also has a body height measured in a first direction substantially normal to the bottom wall as measured from the bottom wall to a top point of the front face. The body also has a center of gravity and a center of gravity height measured in the first direction along a center of gravity line that extends from the bottom wall to the center of gravity. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a front face at the front end, a top wall, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall,

wherein;

the body has a body height measured in a first direction substantially normal to the bottom wall from the bottom wall to a top point of the front face;

the body has a center of gravity and a center of gravity height measured in the first direction along a center of gravity line from the bottom wall to the center of gravity;

the body has a center of gravity ratio comprising the center of gravity height relative to the body height, and

the center of gravity ratio is less than about 0.50.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity ratio is less than about 0.389.

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

the bottom wall extends from the front end to the back end and is substantially parallel to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position; and

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end.

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

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height; and

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the front face ratio is less than about 0.575.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body is substantially hollow.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of a central portion of the top wall is less than a radius of curvature of a central portion of the bottom wall.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity height is less than about 16 millimeters.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center of gravity height is less than about 12.7 millimeters.

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

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height; and

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the intersection ratio is less than about 0.136.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein an intersection of the top wall and the bottom wall at the intersection point creates an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

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

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height;

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6; and

the center of gravity height is less than about 16 millimeters.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein;

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height;

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6;

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height; and

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20.

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

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height;

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6; and

the top wall and the bottom wall intersect at the back end at an intersection point creating an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein;

the center of gravity height is less than about 16 millimeters;

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height; and

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20.

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

the center of gravity height is less than about 16 millimeters; and

the top wall and the bottom wall Intersect at the back end at an intersection point creating an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

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

the lop wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height;

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20; and

the top wall and the bottom wall at the intersection point creates an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

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

the center of gravity height is less than about 16 millimeters;

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height;

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20;

the top wall and the bottom wall at the intersection point creates an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

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

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height;

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6;

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height;

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20; and

the top wall and the bottom wall at the intersection point creates an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

21. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a front face at the front end, a top wall, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall,

wherein;

the body has a center of gravity;

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a maximum face height measured in a first direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the first direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height; and

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6.

22. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a front face at the front end, a top wall, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall,

wherein;

the body has a body height measured in a first direction substantially normal to the bottom wall from the bottom wall to a top point of the front face;

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height; and

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20.

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

providing a body to have a toe end, a heel end, a front end, a back end, a front face, a top wall, and a bottom wall extending from the front end to the back end and adjacent to the top wall at the toe end, the heel end, and the back end;

wherein;

the body has a body height measured in a first direction substantially normal to the bottom wall from the bottom wall to a top point of the front face;

the body has a center of gravity and a center of gravity height measured in the first direction from the bottom wall to the center of gravity;

the body has a center of gravity ratio comprising the center of gravity height to the body height; and

the center of gravity ratio is less than about 0.50.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the bottom wall to extend from the front end to the back end and to be substantially parallel to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position; and

providing the top wall to extend downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the body to have a maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

wherein;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height; and

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a radius of curvature of a central portion of the top wall is less than a radius of curvature of a central portion of the bottom wall.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing the center of gravity to be below the front face center of gravity point.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing the center of gravity height to be less than the front face center distance.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing the top wall to extend downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

wherein;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height; and

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing the intersection of the top wall and the bottom wall at the intersection point to create an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

31. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

a body coupled to the shaft and having a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, a front end, a back end opposite the front end, a front face at the front end, a top wall, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall,

wherein;

the body has a body height measured in a first direction substantially normal to the bottom wall from the bottom wall to a top point of the front face;

the body has a center of gravity and a center of gravity height measured in the first direction along a center of gravity line from the bottom wail to the center of gravity;

the body has a center of gravity ratio comprising the center of gravity height to the body height; and

the center of gravity ratio is less than about 0.50.

32. The golf club of claim 31, wherein:

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a

maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height; and

the front face ratio is less than about 0.6.

33. The golf club of claim 31, wherein:

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point further comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height; and

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.20.

34. The golf club of claim 31, wherein an intersection of the top wall and the bottom wall at the intersection point creates an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

35. The golf club of claim 31, wherein:

the front face extends from the top wall to the bottom wall at the front end and has a

maximum face height measured in a second direction substantially parallel to the front face from the top point of the front face to a bottom point of the front face;

the front face has a front face center of gravity point;

a line along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction intersects the front face center of gravity point and the center of gravity of the body;

the front face comprises a front face center distance measured in the second direction from the bottom point of the front face to the front face center of gravity point;

the body further comprises a front face ratio comprising the front face center distance to the face height; and

the front face ratio is less than about 0.575;

the top wall extends downward to intersect the bottom wall at the back end at an intersection point;

the intersection point comprises one end of an intersection distance measured in the first direction from the intersection point to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position;

the body has an intersection ratio comprising the intersection distance to the body height;

the intersection ratio is less than about 0.136; and

the intersection of the top wail and the bottom wall at the intersection point creates an intersection angle of less than about 55 degrees when excluding a transition radius at the intersection point.

36. A golf club head comprising:

a toe end;

a heel end opposite of the toe end;

a front end having a front face extending between the toe and heel ends, the front face having a first point and a second point;

a back end opposite of the front end, the back end having a third point;

a bottom wall substantially parallel to a ground plane when the golf club head is at an address position, the bottom wall coupled to the front face at the second point;

a top wall opposite of the bottom wall and continuously tapering from the first point to the third point, the top wall coupled to the bottom wall at the third point and the top wall having a maximum height and a minimum height,

wherein;

the maximum height is measured from the first point to the ground plane along a first vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the ground plane and including the first point; and

the minimum height is measured from the third point to the ground plane along a second vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the ground plane and including the third point.

37. The golf club head of claim 36, wherein the top wall comprises at least one of a substantially straight wall, a concavely curved wall relative to the ground plane, or a convexly curved wall relative to the ground plane.

38. The golf dub head of claim 36, wherein the bottom wall has a maximum length measured from the second point to the third point.

39. The golf dub head of claim 38, wherein the golf club head has the maximum length.