Golf club head with weighted sole in stiffened region

• US 6,146,287 A
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Besnard, Philippe, Kraus, Stephen A., Rugge, Richard L., Sieleman, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/201,952
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/335, 473/338, 473/343, 473/344, 473/345, 473/334
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club head for a metalwood includes a body having an upper surface, a central region of which is stiffened by means of two parallel ridges extending perpendicular to the club face. Also, the lower surface of the club head has two ridges to stiffen a central region of the lower surface. A cavity in the lower surface of the club head holds a weight that is collateral with respect to the ridges. The weight does not fill the cavity completely, such that a 0.030" gap borders the weight between the weight and the wall of the cavity.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a unitary club head body defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and a club face therebetween;

at least two opposed parallel ridges on at least one of the surfaces of the body, the ridges defining respective planes, each plane passing through the respective ridge and the lower surface, wherein the ridges are formed on the lower surface;

a cavity in the lower surface; and

at least one weight disposed in the cavity, the weight extending between the planes defined by the ridges.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight defines a width in the dimension parallel to the club face, the planes are parallel to each other, and a distance is defined between the planes.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the width is less than the distance between the planes.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the width is equal to the distance between the planes.

5. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the width is greater than the distance between the planes.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cavity defines a wall, and a gap is defined between the weight and the wall.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the gap is at least ten thousandths of an inch wide.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the gap is at least twenty thousandths of an inch wide.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the gap is at least thirty thousandths of an inch wide.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body has a first density and the weight has a second density, and the first density is less than the second.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body includes a material selected from the group of materials including steel, magnesium, beryllium, titanium, and aluminum, and the weight includes at least one of:

copper, steel, nickel, or tungsten.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the golf club head body includes titanium or steel and the weight includes at least tungsten.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, in combination with a golf club shaft to establish a golf club.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising plural fasteners engaging the weight to the body.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the ridges are formed on the upper surface.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising upper ridges formed on the upper surface.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the ridges establish an alignment aid.

18. A golf club head, comprising:

a unitary body including an upper surface, at least one stiffened region, and a lower surface engaged with a weight;

at least two opposed parallel ridges on the lower surface of the body; and

at least two opposed parallel ridges on the upper surface of the body.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the body includes a club face defining a lateral dimension, and the weight is collateral with the stiffened region in the lateral dimension.

20. The golf club head of claim 19,

wherein the ridges on the upper surface establish at least a portion of the stiffened region therebetween, the ridges on the upper surface defining respective planes, each plane passing through the respective ridge and the lower surface;

a cavity formed in the lower surface; and

at least one weight disposed in the cavity, the weight extending between the planes defined by the ridges, wherein the weight defines a width in the dimension parallel to the club face, the planes are parallel to each other, and a distance is defined between the planes.

21. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the width is less than the distance between the planes.

22. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the width is equal to the distance between the planes.

23. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the width is greater than the distance between the planes.

24. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the cavity defines a wall, and a gap is defined between the weight and the wall, the gap being at least ten thousandths of an inch wide.

25. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the golf club head body includes a material selected from the group of materials including steel, magnesium, beryllium, titanium, and aluminum, and the weight includes at least one of:

copper, steel, nickel, or tungsten.

26. The golf club head of claim 18, in combination with a golf club shaft to establish a golf club.

27. A golf club head, comprising:

a unitary body having a lower surface, a cavity being formed in the lower surface, the cavity defining at least one wall;

a weight disposed in the cavity; and

at least two opposed parallel ridges on the lower surface of the body.

28. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the body includes an upper surface and a club face between the upper and lower surfaces, the golf club head further comprising:

at least two opposed parallel ridges on the upper surface, the ridges defining respective planes, each plane passing through the respective ridge and the lower surface, the weight extending between the planes defined by the ridges, the weight defining a width in the dimension parallel to the club face, a distance being defined between the planes.

29. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the width is less than the distance between the planes.

30. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the width is equal to the distance between the planes.

31. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the width is greater than the distance between the planes.

32. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein a gap of at least ten thousandths of an inch is established between the weight and the wall.

33. The golf club head of claim 32, wherein the gap is at least twenty thousandths of an inch wide.

34. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the golf club head body includes a material selected from the group of materials including steel, magnesium, beryllium, titanium, and aluminum, and the weight includes at least one of:

copper, steel, nickel, or tungsten.

35. The golf club head of claim 27, in combination with a golf club shaft to establish a golf club.

36. The golf club head of claim 27, further comprising plural fasteners engaging the weight to the body.