Metalwood golf club

• US 6,001,027 A
• Filed: 08/27/1996
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tsa Stores Incorporated (Sports Authority Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teardrop Ram Golf Company
• Inventors: Hansberger, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/697,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/345, 473/346, 473/349, 473/350, 473/305, 473/306, 473/307, 473/308, 473/309, 473/310, 473/312
• US Class Current: 473/306
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A metalwood golf club comprising a head and a shaft, the head consisting of a four-piece construction including a crown plate having a top wall defining a front edge, side edges and a rear edge. The head includes a sole plate having a bottom wall, upwardly extending side and rear walls, upper edges of the side and rear walls attached to the respective side and rear edges of the crown plate, front edges defined by the sole late bottom wall and side walls, the combination of the sole plate bottom wall and the crown plate defining an open front for the head. Further, the head includes a front plate defining the ball-striking face of the head attached to said crown plate and sole plate front edges. A hosel is attached to the assembly of the plates.

Claims

1. A metalwood golf club comprising a head and a shaft, said head consisting of a four-piece construction including:

a) a crown plate having a top wall defining a front edge, side edges and a rear edge;

b) a sole plate having a bottom wall and upwardly extending side and rear walls, upper edges of said side and rear walls attached to the respective side and rear edges of said crown plate, the combination of said sole plate bottom wall and said crown plate defining an open front for said head;

c) a front plate defining the ball-striking face of the head, front edges defined by said sole plate bottom wall and side walls, said front plate being attached to said crown plate and sole plate front edges; and

d) a hosel attached to the assembly of the plate

and wherein each of said crown plate, sole plate and front plate defines an upwardly extending projection at its heel end, the combination of said projections forming a juncture defining an opening receiving said hosel, said hosel being welded within said opening to each of said upwardly extending projections, said hosel defining one end extending within said opening and an opposite end extending outwardly from said juncture, a threaded interior defined by said opposite end, and means including said threaded interior securing a golf club shaft to said hosel.

2. A golf club according to claim 1 wherein said crown plate, sole plate and front plate are formed of a titanium alloy, and wherein these plates are welded together at said edges.

3. A golf club according to claim 2 wherein said titanium alloy plates comprise forged plates.

4. A golf club according to claim 1 including an externally threaded stabilizing pin having one end received within said threaded interior, said shaft defining a threaded interior, and the opposite end of said threaded pin being received within said threaded interior of said shaft.