Golf Clubs with Progressive Tapered Face Thicknesses

• US 20100160066A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Marty R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/290
• 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 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A set of golf clubs comprising a plurality of golf clubs, each club having a selected loft angle different from that of each other club in the set;

a face for striking a ball, comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a top portion and a bottom portion; and

a taper angle defining the orientation of the rear surface of the face relative to the front surface of the face;

wherein

the maximum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0035L²+0.441L−

6; and

the minimum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0048L²+0.561L−

16.

2. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the relationship of taper angle t to loft angle L approximately follows the formula t=0.25L−

8.

3. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the relationship of taper angle t to loft angle L approximately follows the formula t=0.10L−

2.

4. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the relationship of taper angle t to loft angle L approximately follows the formula t=0.00002L³−

0.008L²+0.773L−

15.

5. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the relationship of taper angle t to loft angle L approximately follows the formula t=0.00007L³−

0.0123L²+0.774L−

16.

6. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein

the maximum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0035L²+0.441L−

8; and

the minimum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0048L²+0.561L−

14.

7. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein

the maximum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0035L²+0.441L−

9; and

the minimum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0048L²+0.561L−

13.

8. The set of golf clubs of claim 1, wherein the plurality of golf clubs comprises at least one of a plurality of iron-type golf clubs, a plurality of wedge-type golf clubs, or a plurality of hybrid-type golf clubs.

9. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the plurality of golf clubs comprises at least five clubs.

10. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the plurality of golf clubs comprises at least eight clubs.

11. A set of golf clubs comprising a plurality of golf clubs, each club having a selected loft angle different from that of each other club in the set;

a face for striking a ball, comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a top portion and a bottom portion; and

a taper angle defining the orientation of the rear surface of the face relative to the front surface of the face;

wherein

for a club with a loft angle of 15 the taper angle is between −

9 and 0;

for a club with a loft angle of 20 the taper angle is between −

7 and 1.2;

for a club with a loft angle of 30 the taper angle is between −

4 and 4.25;

for a club with a loft angle of 40 the taper angle is between −

1 and 6;

for a club with a loft angle of 50 the taper angle is between 0 and 7.5;

for a club with a loft angle of 60 or more the taper angle is between 0 and 8;

for a club with a loft angle between 15 and 20 the minimum taper angle and maximum taper angle are determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 20 and 30 the minimum taper angle and maximum taper angle are determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 30 and 40 the minimum taper angle and maximum taper angle are determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 40 and 50 the minimum taper angle and maximum taper angle are determined by interpolation; and

for a club with a loft angle between 50 and 60 the minimum taper angle and maximum taper angle are determined by interpolation.

12. The set of golf clubs of claim 11 wherein

for a club with a loft angle of 15 the taper angle is about −

5.5;

for a club with a loft angle of 20 the taper angle is about −

3;

for a club with a loft angle of 30 the taper angle is about 1;

for a club with a loft angle of 40 the taper angle is about 4;

for a club with a loft angle of 50 the taper angle is about 5.5;

for a club with a loft angle of 60 the taper angle is about 6;

for a club with a loft angle of 65 the taper angle is about 6.1;

for a club with a loft angle between 15 and 20 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 20 and 30 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 30 and 40 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 40 and 50 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 50 and 60 the taper angle is determined by interpolation; and

for a club with a loft angle between 60 and 65 the taper angle is determined by interpolation.

13. The set of golf clubs of claim 11 wherein

for a club with a loft angle of 15 the taper angle is about −

7;

for a club with a loft angle of 20 the taper angle is about −

5;

for a club with a loft angle of 30 the taper angle is about −

2;

for a club with a loft angle of 40 the taper angle is about 0;

for a club with a loft angle of 50 the taper angle is about 1;

for a club with a loft angle of 60 the taper angle is about 2;

for a club with a loft angle of 65 the taper angle is about 2.5;

for a club with a loft angle between 15 and 20 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 20 and 30 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 30 and 40 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 40 and 50 the taper angle is determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 50 and 60 the taper angle is determined by interpolation; and

for a club with a loft angle between 60 and 65 the taper angle is determined by interpolation.

14. A method of manufacturing a set consisting of a plurality of golf club irons, comprising the steps of forming for each club in the set,

a selected loft angle different from that of each other club in the set;

a face for striking a ball, comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a top portion and a bottom portion; and

a taper angle defining the orientation of the rear surface of the face relative to

the front surface of the face;

wherein

the maximum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0035L²+0.441L−

6; and

the minimum taper angle t in degrees for any loft angle L in degrees is determined by the relationship t=−

0.0048L²+0.561L−

16.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the taper angle t formed in the club is approximately related to the loft angle L by the formula t=0.25L−

8.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the taper angle t formed in the club is approximately related to the loft angle L by the formula t=0.10L−

2.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the maximum and minimum taper angle for a selected loft angle is approximated by forming

a taper angle between −

9 and 0 for any club with a loft of 15;

a taper angle between −

7 and 1.2 for any club with a loft of 20;

a taper angle a between −

4 and 4.25 for any club with a loft of 30;

a taper angle between −

1 and 6 for any club with a loft of 40;

a taper angle between 0 and 7.5 for any club with a loft of 50;

a taper angle between 0 and 8 for any club with a loft of 60 or more;

a taper angle between a minimum determined by interpolation and a maximum determined by interpolation for any club with a loft between 15 and 20;

a taper angle between a minimum determined by interpolation and a maximum determined by interpolation for any club with a loft between 20 and 30;

a taper angle between a minimum determined by interpolation and a maximum determined by interpolation for any club with a loft between 30 and 40;

a taper angle between a minimum determined by interpolation and a maximum determined by interpolation for any club with a loft between 40 and 50;

a taper angle between a minimum determined by interpolation and a maximum determined by interpolation for any club with a loft between 50 and 60; and

a taper angle between a minimum determined by interpolation and a maximum determined by interpolation for any club with a loft between 60 and 65.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the taper angle for a selected loft angle is approximated by forming

for a club with a loft angle of 15 a taper angle of about −

5.5;

for a club with a loft angle of 20 a taper angle of about −

3;

for a club with a loft angle of 30 a taper angle of about 1;

for a club with a loft angle of 40 a taper angle of about 4;

for a club with a loft angle of 50 a taper angle of about 5.5;

for a club with a loft angle of 60 a taper angle of about 6;

for a club with a loft angle of 65 a taper angle of about 6.1;

for a club with a loft angle between 15 and 20 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 20 and 30 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 30 and 40 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 40 and 50 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 50 and 60 a taper angle determined by interpolation; and

for a club with a loft angle between 60 and 65 a taper angle determined by interpolation.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the taper angle for a selected loft angle is approximated by forming

for a club with a loft angle of 15 a taper angle of about −

7;

for a club with a loft angle of 20 a taper angle of about −

5;

for a club with a loft angle of 30 a taper angle of about −

2;

for a club with a loft angle of 40 a taper angle of about 0;

for a club with a loft angle of 50 a taper angle of about 1;

for a club with a loft angle of 60 a taper angle of about 2;

for a club with a loft angle of 65 a taper angle of about 2.5;

for a club with a loft angle between 15 and 20 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 20 and 30 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 30 and 40 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 40 and 50 a taper angle determined by interpolation;

for a club with a loft angle between 50 and 60 a taper angle determined by interpolation; and

for a club with a loft angle between 60 and 65 a taper angle determined by interpolation.