Golf club head

• US 6,056,649 A
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daiwa Seiko Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daiwa Seiko Incorporated
• Inventors: Imai, Yasuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/174,407
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 473/328, 473/338, 473/334, 473/344, 473/349, 473/345, 473/346
• US Class Current: 473/328
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club head includes a pair of protrusions integral with a sole. Each protrusion elongates in a swing direction and protrudes downward from the sole. A weight having a larger specific gravity than the sole is accommodated in the protrusions.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

an integral hollow shell having a face adapted to strike a golf ball and a sole;

at least one elongated protrusion integral with said sole, said elongated protrusion extending in a swing direction and protruding downward from said sole; and

at least one weight having larger specific gravity than the sole, said weight being at least partially accommodated within said protrusion and retained thereby.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion has an opening at a protruding end thereof, and said weight is exposed through said opening.

3. A golf club head according to claim 2, wherein said weight is flush with said protruding end of said protrusion.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion has a recess opened to an inside of the club head body, and said weight is received by said recess.

5. A golf club head according to claim 3, wherein said protrusion has a recess opened to an inside of the golf club head, and said weight is received by said recess.

6. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein said recess substantially corresponds in shape to said protrusion.

7. A golf club head according to claim 2, wherein said weight engages with said opening.

8. A golf club head according to claim 2, wherein said protrusion has a recess at a protruding side thereof, and said weight is received by said recess.

9. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein said sole has at least one through-hole through which said recess is communicated with an inside of the golf club head, and said weight is secured through said through-hole.

10. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed in said protrusion, and said recess is located lower than an outer surface of said sole.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein said weight is an elongated weight.

12. A golf club head comprising

a unitary hollow shell having a sole portion integral therewith and an opening adjacent a front end, said sole portion having at least one protrusion extending below said sole portion and defining a recess opened to an inside of said unitary hollow shell;

at least one weight member disposed in said at least one protrusion of said sole portion and secured thereto,

a face plate secured to said unitary hollow shell adjacent to and closing said opening.

13. The golf club head according to claim 12, wherein said weight member includes a collar portion surrounding said weight member, said collar portion engaging an inner surface of said sole portion and secured thereto.

14. The golf club head according to claim 12, wherein said at least one protrusion includes two protrusions extending downward and along a length parallel to a swing direction substantially orthogonal to said face plate, said weight member comprising two elongated weight members one each disposed in said protrusions and extending in said swing direction, said two weight members being connected by a coupling part and having a collar portion surrounding said two weight members, said collar portion and said coupling part engaging an inner surface of said sole portion.

15. The golf club head according to claim 14, wherein said two weight members are adhered to an inner surface of said protrusions and said coupling part and said connecting part are adhered to said inner surface of said sole portion.

16. The golf club according to claim 13, wherein said collar portion is adhered to said inner surface of said sole portion.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a unitary hollow shell having a face plate adapted to strike a golf ball and an opening adjacent a bottom portion thereof

a sole plate secured to said unitary hollow shell adjacent to and closing said opening, said sole plate having at least one protrusion defining a recess extending below said unitary hollow shell; and

at least one weight member disposed in said at least one protrusion of said sole plate and secured thereto.

18. The golf club head according to claim 17, wherein said at least one protrusion comprises two elongated protrusions extending in a swing direction orthogonal to said face plate, said two elongated protrusions being substantially trapezoidal shaped in cross section, said at least one weight members comprises two weight members on each disposed in said protrusions and correspondingly shaped according to said trapezoidal shaped protrusions, said weight members being pressure fitted in said protrusions.