Metal golf driver

• US 4,432,549 A
• Filed: 01/26/1979
• Issued: 02/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pro-Patterns, Inc., ZEBELEAN, JOHN 7821-5 ALABAMA AVE., CANOGA PARK, CA. 91340
• Original Assignee: Pro-Pattern Incorporated
• Inventors: Zebelean, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/006,577
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 273/77 R, 273/78, 273/79, 273/163 R, 273/164, 273/167-175, 273/167 H
• US Class Current: 473/346
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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 60/52 with slits

Abstract

An all metal hollow golf driver is formed by casting a first main part from metal, e.g., stainless steel, in the shape of practically a complete golf driver, except for an opening on one side of the driver body, e.g., the sole side. A second cast part fits within the opening and is weldable thereto to form a complete integral hollow metal golf driver. The weight (mass) of the driver is distributed in order to reduce its torque and/or deflection. The mass is distributed so that it increases from the top side toward the sole side and from the heel end toward the toe.

Claims

1. A golf driver comprising:

an enclosed body of preselected metal, shaped in the form of a golf driver head having a front face side 15, a bottom sole-defining side 19, a back side 21, a heel 17 and an opposite toe 16, a top side 18 and a hollow neck 20 extending from said body at said heel 17 at a preselected angle, the mass of said body being distributed to increase from the top side 18 toward the bottom sole-defining side 19 and from the heel 17 toward the toe 16 by progressively and continuously varying the thicknesses of selected ones of said sides from one end to the other, with said top side 18 progressively and continuously increasing in thickness from said back side 21 toward said front face side 15.

2. A golf driver as recited in claim 1 wherein the mass distribution of the front face side 15 increases from the top side 18 to the sole-defining side 19 and from the heel 17 to the toe 16.

3. A golf driver as recited in claim 2 wherein the mass distribution of the toe 16 increases from the top side 18 toward the sole-defining side 19.

4. A golf driver as recited in claim 2 wherein the mass distribution of the back side 21 increases from the heel 17 to the toe 16 and from the top side 18 to the sole-defining side 19.

5. A golf driver as recited in claim 2 wherein the mass distribution of the top side 18 increases from the heel 17 towards the toe 16 and from the back side 21 toward the front face side 15.

6. A golf driver as recited in claim 1 wherein the mass distribution of the sole-defining side 19 increases from the heel 17 to the toe 16 and from the back side 21 to the front face side 15.

7. A golf driver as recited in claim 6 wherein the mass distribution of the front face side 15 increases from the top side 18 to the sole-defining side 19 and from the heel 17 to the toe 16.

8. A golf driver as recited in claim 7 wherein the mass distribution of the toe 16 increases from the top side 18 toward the sole-defining side 19.

9. A golf driver as recited in claim 7 wherein the mass distribution of the back side 21 increases from the heel 17 to the toe 16 and from the top side 18 to the sole-defining side 19.

10. A golf driver as recited in claim 7 wherein the mass distribution of the top side 18 increases from the heel 17 toward the toe 16 and from the back side 21 toward the front face side 15.

11. A golf driver as recited in claim 1 wherein the metal is stainless steel and the thickness of any of said sides being in the range of 0.025 inch to 0.200 inch.

12. A golf driver as recited in claim 1 with said top side 18, said bottom side 19 and said front face side 15 progressively increasing in thickness from said heel 17 to said toe 16.

13. A golf driver comprising an enclosed metal body shaped in the form of a golf driver head and having a front face side 15, a bottom sole-defining side 19, a back side 21, a heel 17 and an opposite toe 16, a top side 18 and a hollow neck 20 extending upward from said body at said heel 17,

with the mass of said body distributed to increase from said back side 21 toward said front face side 15 by progressively and continuously increasing the thickness of said top side 18 from said back side 21 to said front face side 15.

14. A golf driver as defined in claim 13 with the mass of said body distributed to increase from said top side 18 toward said bottom sole-defining side 19 and from said heel 17 toward said toe 16 by progressively and continuously increasing the thickness of said top side 18, said bottom side 19 and said front face side 15 from said heel 17 to said toe 16.