Golf club head

• US 5,516,106 A
• Filed: 12/13/1994
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicklaus Golf Equipment Company LC (Nicklaus Golf)
• Original Assignee: Nicklaus Golf Equipment Company LC (Nicklaus Golf)
• Inventors: Henwood, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/354,657
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 273/167 R, 273/167 A, 273/167 F, 273/169-172, 273/167 E, 273/164.1, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/77 R, 273/187.4, 273/174, 273/167 H, D21/214-220
• US Class Current: 473/350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head having improved weight distribution comprising an integral hollow metal body with a bottom wall including a cavity recessed inwardly of the body throughout an extended area which lies rearwardly of the front striking face and inwardly of the heel and toe such that the ground engaging sole area of the head comprises a front rail portion adjacent the front striking face and side rail portions joined to the front rail portion and extending toward the rear wall. The side rail portions disposed between the center of percussion and the heel and toe areas. The recessed cavity has a size and depth sufficient to result in a concentration of club head weight in the area surrounding the center of percussion and to produce an elevation in the center of gravity of the head relative to the ground engaging sole area.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising an integral metal body having a front striking face, an upper wall, a rear wall, a heel, a toe, and a bottom wall, a first rail depending from said bottom wall adjacent the front striking face, a second rail depending from said bottom wall joined to said first rail and extending substantially perpendicular from said front rail to about said rear wall, a third rail depending from said bottom wall joined to said first rail and extending substantially perpendicular from said first rail to about said rear wall, said second rail disposed inwardly from said heel and said third rail disposed inwardly from said toe.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said rails form a generally rectangular central cavity.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall is slightly arcuate in shape.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is directly connected with said heel, toe and rear walls.

5. A wood-type golf club head comprising an integral metal body having a top wall, a front striking face, a rear wall, a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole comprising a front rail adjacent said front striking face and forming a portion thereof, two substantially parallel rails integral to said front rail and perpendicular thereto extending toward the rear of said club, and a bottom wall recessed from said sole rails forming in combination with said rails, a central rectangular cavity open toward the rear of said club, a heel cavity open toward said rear and heel portion of said club, and a toe cavity open toward said rear and toe portions of said club.

6. The golf club head of claim 5 wherein the bottom wall is slightly arcuate in shape.

7. The golf club head of claim 5 wherein said bottom wall is directly connected with said heel, toe and rear walls.

8. In a golf club head comprising an integral hollow metal body having a front striking face, an upper wall, a rear wall, a heel, a toe, a bottom wall, and a hosel extending upwardly at a predetermined angle from the heel of the body for attaching a head to a shaft, the improvement wherein the bottom wall comprises three recessed cavities inwardly of the body which lie rearwardly of the front striking face such that the ground engaging sole area of the head comprises a front rail portion adjacent the front striking face and side rail portions joined to the front rail portion and extending inwardly of the heel and toe toward the rear wall, the recessed cavities having a depth sufficient to result in concentration of club head weight surrounding the center of percussion and to produce an elevation in the center of gravity of the head relative to the ground engaging sole area.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein a central of said three recessed cavities has a generally rectangular shape in plan view.

10. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein a central of said three recessed cavities is generally aligned with the center of the front striking face.

11. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein the heel and the toe are recessed inwardly generally from the upper wall toward the bottom wall.

12. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein the bottom wall is slightly arcuate in shape.

13. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein of said three recessed cavities, a central cavity is deeper than a toe cavity and a heel cavity.

14. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein said bottom wall is directly connected with said heel, toe and rear walls.

15. A wood-type golf club head consisting of an integral metal body having a front striking face, an upper wall, a rear wall, a heel, a toe, and a bottom wall, a first rail depending from said bottom wall adjacent the front striking face, a second rail depending from said bottom wall joined to said first rail and extending substantially perpendicular from said front rail to about said rear wall, a third rail depending from said bottom wall joined to said first rail and extending substantially perpendicular from said first rail to about said rear wall, said second rail disposed inwardly from said heel and said third rail disposed inwardly from said toe.

16. A wood-type golf club head consisting of an integral metal body having a top wall, a front striking face, a rear wall, a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole comprising a front rail adjacent said front striking face and forming a portion thereof, two substantially parallel rails integral to said front rail and perpendicular thereto extending toward the rear of said club, and a bottom wall recessed from said sole rails forming in combination with said rails, a central rectangular cavity open toward the rear of said club, a heel cavity open toward said rear and heel portion of said club, and a toe cavity open toward said rear and toe portions of said club.

17. A non-perimeter weighted integral wood-type club head comprising:

a) a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a front face and a rear wall;

b) said sole portion including depending ground engaging members forming a recessed generally rectangular cavity;

c) said depending portions including a front member adjacent the front face and two rearward extending members integrally formed thereto and extending perpendicular to said front member, disposed generally inwardly from said toe and heel;

d) said recessed rectangular cavity formed to produce an elevation in the center of gravity of the club head; and

e) said sole portion intersecting said rear wall, forming a rectangular opening in combination with said rearward extending members.