Hollow golf club head with internal support

• US 4,944,515 A
• Filed: 01/04/1989
• Issued: 07/31/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William B. Shearer
• Original Assignee: William B. Shearer
• Inventors: Shearer, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US07/293,451
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167-175
• US Class Current: 473/337
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface 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

Abstract

A cast metal hollow headed golf club head having therewithin at least one internal structural support member disposed between the rear of the club head and the face of the club head, a first end of the internal structural support member being positioned at the geometric center of the face of the club head and a second end of the structural support member opening through the rear surface of the hollow headed golf club and having an open bottom thereto which a botton plate is permanently secured after the internal cavity of the hollow headed golf club is filled with a sound-proofing material, the internal structural member adapted to house additional metal or similar material to predetermine the resulting weight of the golf club head.

Claims

1. A hollow golf club head having a face, a back, a toe, a heel, a top and a bottom which comprise the exterior surface of said club head wherein said club head has an interior comprising a cavity having a dimension conforming to the general exterior surface configuration of said club and a linear support member extending between an internal surface of the face of said club head and an internal surface 9 of the back of said club head and wherein the exterior surface of the bottom has a substantially planar surface and wherein said linear support member has a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said planar surface wherein said face of said club head has a substantially planar surface having a geometric center and wherein said linear support member abuts said internal surface of said face at said geometric center, said linear support member having a first end and a second end and a cavity extending from the first end of said linear support member through the second end of said linear support member and wherein said cavity in said linear support member extends through the back exterior surface of said club whereby said cavity of said linear support member is visible from the exterior of said club head, whereby abutment of said linear support member against the internal surfaces of the face and back affords increased structural integrity to retard deformation of the club head during an impact.

2. A hollow golf club head as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linear support member is fixedly joined to the back of said club head and wherein said linear support member is tubular.

3. A hollow golf club head as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a weight removably receivable into said linear support member whereby the weight of the golf club head may be selectively determined.

4. A hollow golf club head having a face, a back, a toe, a heel, a top and a bottom which comprise the exterior surface of sad club head wherein said club head has an interior comprising a cavity having a dimension conforming to the general exterior surface configuration of said club and a linear support member extending between an internal surface of the face of said club head and an internal surface the back of said club head and wherein the exterior surface of the bottom has a substantially planar surface and wherein said linear support member has a longitudinal axis which slopes downwardly from said face of said club head toward said bottom of said club head said face of said club head having a substantially planar surface having a geometric center and wherein said linear support member abuts said internal surface of said face at said geometric center, said linear support member having a first end and a second end and a cavity extending from the first end of said linear support member through the second end of said linear support member and wherein said cavity in said linear support member extends through the back exterior surface of said club whereby said cavity of said linear support member is visible from the exterior of said club head, whereby abutment of said linear support member against the internal surfaces of the face and back affords increased structural integrity to retard deformation of the club head during an impact.

5. A golf club head as set forth in claim 4 wherein said linear support member is fixedly joined to the back of said club head and wherein said linear support member is tubular and has an outside diameter equal to the vertical distance between said top and said bottom of said golf club head at said back thereof.

6. A hollow golf club head as set forth in claim 4 and further comply a weight removably receivable into said linear support member whereby the weight of the golf club head may be selectively determined.