Golf club head

• US 5,203,565 A
• Filed: 01/22/1992
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack J. Murray, Tom R. Murray
• Original Assignee: Jack J. Murray, Tom R. Murray
• Inventors: Murray, Tom R., Murray, Jack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US07/824,223
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167-175, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/77 A, 273/77 R, 273/78, 273/186 A, 273/183 D, 273/164, D21/214-220
• US Class Current: 473/242
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0466 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 head for striking a golf ball. The golf club head including a pair of channels. The first channel extending from the front face through the area defined by the heel of the club. The second channel extending from the front face through the area defined by the toe of the club. The channels ending in the rear area of the club and forming a divider for aligning the club head. The pair of channels causing air to flow substantially unobstructed during movement of the golf club head towards striking the golf ball. The divider for aligning nearly eliminating rotational movement of the club head by forcing the air passing through the pair of channels to grip the divider, and hold the club head steady at impact.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a front face for striking a golf ball;

a crown portion connected to said front face for defining a top portion of said golf club head, said top portion defining a top area having a slightly V-shaped tapering wedge with a high point near said crown portion adjacent said front face and extending generally rearwardly away from said front face to substantially zero taper;

a sole portion connected to said front face for defining a bottom portion of said golf club head, said bottom portion defining a bottom area substantially equal to said top area;

a heel portion connecting said crown portion to said sole portion for defining a first side portion of said golf club head;

a toe portion connecting said crown portion to said sole portion for defining a second side portion of said golf club head;

a rear portion connecting said crown portion to said sole portion for defining a back side portion of said golf club head;

a hosel extending from said crown portion near said heel portion and adjacent said front face for connecting said golf club head to a golf club shaft;

a first U-shaped channel extending from said front face through said heel portion and to said rear portion;

a second U-shaped channel extending from said front face through said toe portion and to said rear portion; and

I-shaped means formed in said rear portion between said crown portion and said sole portion for separating said first U-shaped channel from said second U-shaped channel and for guiding air rearwardly from said front face of said golf club head during movement toward striking the golf ball.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first U-shaped channel guides air passing around said heel portion in an aerodynamic path and nearly equivalent to a natural flow of the passing air.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said second U-shaped channel guides air passing around said toe portion in an aerodynamic path and nearly equivalent to a natural flow of the passing air.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said first and second U-shaped channels funnel passing air substantially adjacent said I-shaped means to nearly eliminate any back vacuum and for increasing velocity of said golf club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said first and second U-shaped channels funnel the passing air toward said I-shaped means with the passing air gripping said I-shaped means on each respective side to prevent rotational movement of said golf club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein said first and second U-shaped channels force an inner mass of said golf club head into a centralized zone for creating center mass weighting within said defined golf club head.

7. A golf club head for striking a golf ball, said head comprising:

a top part defining a crown of said golf club head, said crown defining a crown area having a slightly V-shaped tapering wedge with a high point near said crown adjacent said top part and extending generally rearwardly away from said front face to substantially zero taper;

a bottom part defining a sole of said golf club head, said sole defining a sole area substantially equal to said crown area;

a front face connecting said crown to said sole and for striking the golf ball;

a hosel extending from said crown for interfitting said golf club head to a golf club shaft;

a heel defining an area closest to said extending hosel and connecting said crown to said sole adjacent said front face;

a toe defining an area farthest away from said extending hosel and connecting said crown to said sole adjacent said front face;

a rear area substantially parallel with said front face and for connecting said crown to said sole; and

two U-shaped channels, said first U-shaped channel extending from said front face through said heel area to said rear area, and said second U-shaped channel extending from said front face through said toe area to said rear area, said two U-shaped channels meeting at said rear area to form an I-shaped divider for separating said two U-shaped channels and for connecting said crown to said sole, said I-shaped divider forcing air moving through said two U-shaped channels away from said rear area.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein said two U-shaped channels and said I-shaped divider forcing an inner mass of said golf club head substantially closer to said front face.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the forcing of said inner mass substantially closer to said front face creates center mass weighting in said golf club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein said center mass weighting decreases rotational movement of said golf club head during striking of said golf ball.

11. A golf club head for striking a golf ball, comprising:

a top part defining a crown, said crown defining a crown area having a slightly V-shaped tapering wedge with a high point near said crown adjacent said top part and extending generally rearwardly away from said front face to substantially zero taper;

a bottom part defining a sole, said sole defining a sole area substantially equal to said crown area;

a front face connecting said crown to said sole;

a hosel extending from said crown and for interfitting said golf club head to a golf club shaft;

a heel defining an area near said hosel and adjacent said front face, said heel connecting said crown to said sole;

a toe defining an area opposite said heel and adjacent said front face, said toe connecting said crown to said sole;

a rear area opposite said front face and between said toe and said heel, said rear area connecting said crown to said sole;

a pair of channels, said first channel extending from said front face through said area defined by said heel, said second channel extending from said front face through said area defined by said toe, said channels ending in said rear area and forming means for aligning said golf club head, said pair of channels causing air to flow substantially unobstructed during movement of said golf club head towards striking the golf ball, and said aligning means during movement of said golf club head toward striking the golf ball nearly eliminating rotational movement of said golf club head by forcing the air passing through said pair of channels to grip said aligning means.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said sole includes a sole plate for preventing wear and tear to said sole.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said first channel guides air passing around said heel of said golf club head aerodynamically.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said second channel guides air passing around said toe of said golf club head aerodynamically.

15. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said sole includes a sole groove for causing air to flow through said sole substantially unobstructed during movement of said golf club head toward striking the golf ball.