Sole configuration for golf club head

• US 6,007,433 A
• Filed: 04/02/1998
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Evans, D. Clayton, Helmstetter, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/054,155
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/328, 473/345, 473/344, 473/349, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/328
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/0081 Substantially flexible shafts; Hinged shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/48 with corrugated cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/16 Making tubes with varying diameter in longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/18 conical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/202 with guides parallel to the tube axis
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 17/00 Making sport articles, e.g. skates

Abstract

A sole configuration for a golf club head that provides the benefits of a sole configuration incorporating a medial ridge design. The medial ridge divides the sole into a toe and heel section. The sole further comprises a first and a second recess in the toe and heel sections respectively, wherein the first and second recesses are downwardly convex thereby allowing for the center of gravity of the golf club head to be positioned lower than in a golf club head having recesses that are downwardly concave. The first recess has a horizontal concavity that is in an opposite direction from the concavity of the second recess.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body defining a face in a front section, a crown, a sole being downwardly convex, a toe section, a heel section and a rear section,

said sole comprising a medial ridge extending from said front section to said rear section and dividing said sole into said toe section and said heel section,

said medial ridge comprising a first lateral extension and a second lateral extension,

said first lateral extension extending from said rear section of said medial ridge in a direction toward said toe section, said first lateral extension convex from said medial ridge toward said crown,

said second lateral extension extending from said front section of said medial ridge in a direction toward said heel section, said second lateral extension convex from said medial ridge toward said heel section,

wherein said medial ridge and said first lateral extension define a first convex recess, and said medial ridge and said second lateral extension define a second convex recess, said first convex recess convex from said medial ridge toward said toe section, and said second convex recess convex from said medial ridge toward said crown.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein

a surface level of said first convex recess and said second convex recess is recessed from a surface level of said medial ridge, said first lateral extension and said second lateral extension.

3. A golf club head comprising:

a body defining a face in a front section, a crown, a sole being downwardly convex, a toe section, a heel section and a rear section,

said sole comprising a medial ridge having a first lateral extension convex toward said rear section of said crown and a second lateral extension convex toward said heel section, said medial ridge and said first lateral extension defining a first downwardly convex recess and said medial ridge and said second lateral extension defining a second downwardly convex recess,

said first downwardly convex recess being located in said toe section, and

said second downwardly convex recess being located in said heel section.

4. The golf club head according to claim 3 wherein

said first downwardly convex recess is forwardly convex in a horizontal plane, and

said second downwardly convex recess is rearwardly convex in a horizontal plane.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4 wherein

said first downwardly convex recess is adjacent a front bottom junction between said face and said sole, and

said second downwardly convex recess is adjacent a rear junction between said crown and said sole.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5 wherein

a surface level of said first downwardly convex recess and said second downwardly convex recess is recessed from a surface level of said medial ridge, said first lateral extension and second lateral extension.

7. A golf club head comprising

a body defining a face in a front section, a crown, a sole being downwardly convex, a toe section, a heel section and a rear section,

said sole comprising a medial ridge having a first lateral extension convex toward said rear section of said crown and a second lateral extension convex toward said heel section, said medial ridge and said first lateral extension defining a first downwardly convex recess and said medial ridge and said second lateral extension defining a second downwardly convex recess,

said first downwardly convex recess being forwardly convex in a horizontal plane and located in said toe section,

said second downwardly convex recess being rearwardly convex in a horizontal plane and located in said heel section,

said first downwardly convex recess adjacent a front bottom junction between said face and said sole,

said second downwardly convex recess adjacent a rear junction between said crown and said sole, and

a surface level of said first downwardly convex recess and said second downwardly convex recess being recessed from a surface level of said medial ridge, said first lateral extension and said second lateral extension.

8. A golf club head comprising

a body defining a face in a front section, a crown, a sole being downwardly convex, a toe section, a heel section and a rear section,

said sole comprising a medial ridge extending from said front section to said rear section,

said medial ridge defining a first surface level and dividing said sole into said toe section and said heel section,

said medial ridge comprising a first lateral extension and a second lateral extension,

said first lateral extension extending from said rear section of said medial ridge in a direction toward said toe section, and said first lateral extension convex from said medial ridge toward said rear section of said crown,

said second lateral extension extending from said front section of said medial ridge in a direction toward said heel section, and said second lateral extension convex from said medial ridge toward said heel section,

said medial ridge and said first lateral extension defining a first downwardly convex recess having a second surface level,

said medial ridge and said second lateral extension defining a second downwardly convex recess having a third surface level, and

said second surface level and said third surface level being intermediate said first surface level and said crown.