MUSCLE-BACK, WITH INSERT, IRON TYPE GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20090239682A1
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company Incorporated (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Wolfe, Kevin A., Roberts, Douglas E., Radcliffe, Nathaniel J., Wallans, Michael J., Garner, Trent E., Stone, Daniel J., Harman, Todd D., Beck, Christopher J., Newsome, Brent L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/350
• 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 53/005 Club sets
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A golf club head comprising:

a strike face;

a rear surface generally opposite the strike face, the rear surface including a recess;

an insert in the recess, the insert comprising a first color; and

a captive member associated with the insert, the captive member comprising a second color different from the first color, the first color and the second color in combination defining an insignia on the golf club head.

28. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the captive member further comprises an anterior surface facing away from the striking face, the insert partially overlapping onto the anterior surface.

29. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the insert further comprises a first material and the captive member further comprises a second material, the second material being more rigid than the first material.

30. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the recess further comprises a bottom surface, the captive member spaced from the bottom surface.

31. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein at least one of the insert and the captive member has a lower specific gravity than the rest of the golf club head.

32. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the insert and the captive member are made from the same material.

33. A golf club head comprising:

a strike face;

a rear surface generally opposite the strike face, the rear surface including a recess; and

an insert in the recess, the insert comprising a first contoured anterior surface facing away from the strike face and a second contoured anterior surface facing away from the strike face, the first contoured anterior surface spaced from the second contoured anterior surface, the first contoured anterior surface and the second contoured anterior surface in combination defining an insignia on the golf club head.

34. The golf club head of claim 33, wherein the first contoured anterior surface and the second contoured anterior surface are oblique relative each other.

35. The golf club head of claim 33, wherein the insert has a lower specific gravity than the rest of the golf club head.

36. The golf club head of claim 33, wherein the first contoured anterior surface comprises a first color and the second contoured anterior surface comprises a second color, the first color being different from the second color.

37. A golf club head comprising:

a front surface;

a rear surface generally opposite the front surface, the rear surface comprising a contoured muscle portion and a blade portion;

a heel recess entirely in the contoured muscle portion, the heel recess having a heel insert therein;

a toe recess entirely in the contoured muscle portion, the toe recess having a toe insert therein; and

a central recess at least partially in the contoured muscle portion, the central recess having a central insert therein, the central insert including a resilient body and a captive member.

38. The golf club head of claim 37, wherein the heel insert and the toe insert have a density greater than the density of the rest of the club head.

39. The golf club head of claim 37, wherein the central insert has a lower specific gravity than the rest of the golf club head.

40. The golf club head of claim 37, wherein the resilient body comprises a first color and the captive member comprises a second color different from the first color, the first color and the second color in combination defining an insignia on the golf club head.

41. The golf club head of claim 37, wherein the resilient body comprises a first contoured anterior surface and the captive member comprises a second contoured anterior surface spaced from the first contoured anterior surface, the second contoured anterior surface and the first contoured anterior surface in combination defining an insignia on the golf club head.

42. A golf club head comprising:

a front surface;

a rear surface generally opposite the front surface, the rear surface comprising a contoured muscle portion and a blade portion;

a recess at least partially in the contoured muscle portion, the recess defined by a perimeter wall and a bottom surface, the perimeter wall surrounding the bottom surface, at least one of the perimeter wall and the bottom surface comprising a step;

an insert in the recess, the insert associated with the step and comprising a resilient body and a captive member.

43. The golf club head of claim 42, wherein the step is a positive step.

44. The golf club head of claim 42, wherein the step is a negative step.

45. The golf club head of claim 42, wherein the perimeter wall comprises a positive step.

46. The golf club head of claim 45, wherein the bottom surface comprises a negative step.