Golf club having insert capable of elastic flexing

• US 3,989,248 A
• Filed: 02/20/1976
• Issued: 11/02/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Company (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: PepsiCo Incorporated
• Inventors: Campau, Daniel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/659,939
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 273/77 R, 273/78, 273/167-175
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club of the wood type in which the ball striking surface of the head is recessed to receive a metal insert which is secured therein, the insert having a front grooved surface which is flush with and forms a part of the striking surface of the club, the insert having an open-ended passageway extending therethrough from top to bottom so that the front grooved surface is capable of elastic flexing relative to the remainder of the insert.

Claims

1. A gold club of the wood type comprising a relatively massive enlarged head having a ball striking surface, said surface having a recess therein, and a metal insert secured within said recess and having a front grooved surface forming part of said ball striking surface, said insert having a hollow interior defining an open-ended passageway extending therethrough from top to bottom to facilitate elastic flexing of said front grooved surface.

2. The golf club of claim 1 in which said insert is adhesively secured within said recess.

3. The golf club of claim 2 in which said insert is secured within said recess by means of an epoxy adhesive.

4. The golf club of claim 1 in which the upper and bottom edges of said insert are spaced slightly from the upper and lower walls defining said recess.

5. The golf club of claim 1 in which said passageway is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section.

6. The golf club of claim 1 in which said insert is composed of a metal having a minimum yield strength of 150,000 pounds per square inch.

7. The golf club of claim 6 in which said insert is composed of a precipitation hardening stainless steel.

8. The golf club of claim 6 in which said insert is composed of a beryllium-copper alloy.

9. A golf club of the wood type comprising a wooden head having a striking face on its front surface, said front surface having a recess formed therein, a polygonal metal insert having parallel substantially horizontal upper and lower edges and being adhesively secured within said recess and having a grooved outer surface forming a portion of said striking face, said insert being composed of a metal having a yield strength of at least 150,000 pounds per square inch, said insert having a hollow interior extending the full vertical dimension of said insert, said upper and lower edges of said insert being spaced slightly from the upper and lower walls defining said recess.