Iron type golf club with improved weight configuration

• US 5,395,113 A
• Filed: 02/24/1994
• Issued: 03/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mizuno USA Incorporated (Mizuno Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony J. Antonious
• Inventors: Antonious, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/201,016
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 A, 273/167 D, 273/167 F, 273/167 H, 273/169, 273/170, 273/171, 273/172, 273/173, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/194 B, 273/77 R , 273/77 A, D21/214-220
• US Class Current: 473/324
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

An iron type golf club with an improved weight configuration including a peripheral weight extending around a rear surface of the club head body including a secondary weight system formed of a centrally located weight member located on a shelf defined by the peripheral weight directly below the center of percussion and a pair of auxiliary weight members integrally formed with and disposed on opposite sides of the centrally located weight member.

Claims

1. An iron type golf club head comprising:

a hosel and a club head body;

said club head body having a heel, toe, sole, ball striking face with a center of percussion thereon, a rear, central surface opposite said ball striking face, a peripheral weight extending around at least a bottom and sides of said rear, central surface, and a lower shelf which extends rearwardly from the rear, central surface to a rear edge of the peripheral weight adjacent the sole; and

a secondary weight system positioned on and integrally formed with a portion of said lower shelf;

said secondary weight system being formed of three distinctive weight members, namely (i) a central weight member located in a central portion, in a heel to toe direction, of said lower shelf and having opposite longitudinal ends facing the heel and toe, respectively, and (ii) a pair of auxiliary weight members integrally connected to the respective ends of said central weight member and extending outwardly toward the heel and toe, respectively.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member and said auxiliary weight members are positioned on and integrally formed with respective portions of said central, rear surface.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member extends rearwardly along said lower shelf to a rear edge of said lower shelf and each of said auxiliary weight members extend rearwardly along said lower shelf and end at positions spaced forwardly from the rear edge of said lower shelf.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member is dominate in size, relative to each of said auxiliary weight members.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein each of said auxiliary weight members are substantially the same size and shape and said central weight member is of a different size.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary weight members respectively extend from the central weight member to, and connect with, the perimeter weight adjacent the heel and toe of said club head.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said secondary weight system is positioned on and integrally formed with a portion of said rear, central surface and said central member extends rearwardly from said rear, central surface along said lower shelf a distance which is greater than the distance each of the auxiliary weight members extends rearwardly.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member is a rectangular member which extends to a rear edge of said lower shelf.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary weight members are semi-spherical in shape.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary weight members are appendages extending from opposite ends of said central weight member.

11. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member is substantially cubical in shape.

12. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member is formed in a step configuration.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary weight members are formed in a step configuration.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member and said auxiliary weight members are semi-spherical in shape.

15. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary weight members are parabolic in shape.

16. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member extends upwardly and includes a portion directly opposite said center of percussion of said club head.

17. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein one of said auxiliary weight members has a different mass than the other auxiliary weight member.

18. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary weight member proximate the toe has a greater mass than the auxiliary weight member proximate the heel.

19. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary weight member proximate the heel has a greater mass than the auxiliary weight member proximate the toe.

20. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member is asymmetrical in shape.

21. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said central weight member is trapezoidal in shape.

22. An iron type golf club head comprising:

a hosel and a club head body;

said club head body having a heel, toe, sole, ball striking face with a center of percussion thereon, a rear, central surface opposite said ball striking face, a peripheral weight extending around at least the bottom and sides of said rear, central surface, and a lower shelf which extends rearwardly from the rear, central surface to a rear edge of the peripheral weight adjacent the sole; and

a secondary weight system positioned on and integrally formed with a portion of said rear, central surface and a portion of said lower shelf;

said secondary weight system being formed of three distinctive weight members, namely (i) a central weight member located in a central portion, in a heel to toe direction, of said lower shelf and having opposite longitudinal ends facing the heel and toe, respectively, and (ii) a pair of auxiliary weight members integrally connected to the respective ends of said central weight member and extending outwardly toward said heel and toe, respectively.

23. The golf club head of claim 22 wherein said central weight member is dominate in size, relative to each of said auxiliary weight members.

24. The golf club head of claim 23 wherein each of said auxiliary weight members are substantially the same size and shape.

25. The golf club head of claim 23 wherein said auxiliary weight members respectively extend from the central weight member to, and connect with, the perimeter weight adjacent the heel and toe of said club head.

26. The golf club head of claim 25 wherein said central member extends rearwardly from said rear, central surface along said lower shelf a distance which is greater than the distance the auxiliary weight members extend rearwardly.

27. An iron type golf club head comprising:

a hosel and a club head body;

said club head body having a heel, toe, sole, ball striking face with a center of percussion thereon, a rear, central surface opposite said ball striking face, a peripheral weight extending around at least a bottom and sides of said rear, central surface, and a lower shelf which extends rearwardly from the rear, central surface to a rear edge of the peripheral weight adjacent the sole;

a secondary weight system positioned on and integrally formed with a portion of said rear, central surface and a portion of said lower shelf;

said secondary weight system being formed of three distinctive weight members, namely (i) a central weight member located at a central portion, in a heel to toe direction, of said lower shelf and having opposite longitudinal ends facing the heel and toe, respectively, and (ii) a pair of auxiliary weight members integrally connected to the respective ends of said central weight member, extending outwardly toward said heel and toe, respectively, and connecting with the perimeter weight adjacent the heel and toe of said club head.