Iron golf club

• US 6,290,609 B1
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
• Inventors: Takeda, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/398,700
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/340, 473/349, 473/350, 473/290, 473/291, 473/256, 473/219, 473/226
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

An iron golf club which enables a further fine adjustment of the weight balance, moment of inertia and the like of a head. Four vertical balance weights 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D are disposed on different positions on a rear face 10, respectively. The first and fourth vertical balance weights 11A and 11D of larger specific gravity are provided on a toe or heel side of the rear face 10A. In the center of the rear face 10A are provided the second and third vertical balance weights 11B and 11C of smaller specific gravity. Through the combination of the balance weights 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D of various shapes and specific gravity, the weight balance of the head 1 can be freely adjusted. Also, the position of the center of gravity of the head 1 can be positioned backwards, thus enlarging the sweet area. In addition, as the denser balance weights 11A and 11D are provided near the toe 7 or the heel 6, the toe 7 and heel 6 of the head 1 can be weighted.

Claims

1. An iron golf club having a head body with a front face with a ball striking portion, a rear face which is nearly oppositely disposed to the ball striking portion of the front face, said rear face having substantially the same area and shape as the ball striking portion of the front face, and a shaft connected to one side of the head body, the golf club further comprising:

a plurality of balance weights provided on the rear face of said head body, each of said balance weights being separate from said head body, elongated from a top side of the head body toward a sole side thereof, arranged in parallel, at nearly equal intervals,

wherein said balance weights have substantially the same width, and are securely fitted into grooves provided on the rear face of said head body in a mortise and tenon joint,

wherein said rear face of the head body is nearly flush with respective rear faces of said balance weights, and

wherein at least one of the balance weights provided near a toe or heel side on said rear face has a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of at least one of the balance weights provided near a center of the rear face, and wherein at least one of the balance weights provided near the toe side on said rear face is longer than at least one of the balance weights provided near the heel side on the rear face.

2. An iron golf club having a head body with a front face having a ball striking portion, a rear face which is nearly oppositely disposed to the ball striking portion of the front face, said rear face having substantially the same area and shape as the ball striking portion of the front face, and a shaft connected to one side of the head body, the golf club further comprising:

a plurality of balance weights provided on the rear face of said head body, each of said balance weights being separate from said head body, elongated from a toe side of the head body toward a heel side thereof, arranged in parallel, at nearly equal intervals,

wherein said balance weights are securely fitted into grooves provided on the rear face of said head body in a mortise and tenon joint,

wherein said rear face of the head body is nearly flush with respective rear faces of said balance weights, and

wherein at least one of the balance weights provided near a sole side on said rear face has a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of at least one of the balance weights provided near a top side of the rear face, and wherein at least one of the balance weights provided near the sole side on said rear face is longer than at least one of the balance weights provided near the top side on the rear face.

3. An iron golf club having a head body with a front face having a ball striking portion, a rear face which is nearly oppositely disposed to the ball striking portion of the front face, said rear face having substantially the same area and shape as those of the ball striking portion of the front face, and a shaft connected to one side of the head body, the golf club further comprising:

a plurality of balance weights provided on the rear face of said head body, each of said balance weights being separate from said head body, formed into a fragmentary shape,

wherein at least one of the balance weights provided on a peripheral side of said rear face has a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of at least one of the balance weights provided on a center side of the rear face.

4. An iron golf club according to claim 3, wherein said rear face of the head body is formed with a cavity.

5. An iron golf club having a head body with a front face having a ball striking portion, a rear face and a shaft connected to one side of the head body, the golf club further comprising:

a plurality of balance weights provided on the rear face of said head body, each of said balance weights being separate from said head body, elongated from a top side of the head body toward a sole side thereof, arranged in parallel, at nearly equal intervals,

wherein said balance weights have substantially the same width, and are securely fitted into grooves provided on the rear face of said head body in a mortise and tenon joint,

wherein said rear face of the head body is formed with a cavity and a bottom face in the cavity that is nearly flush with rear faces of said balance weights, and

wherein at least one of the balance weights is provided near a toe side on said rear face and is longer than at least one of the balance weights provided near a heel side on the rear face, and wherein said balance weights are provided on said bottom face, said bottom face being opposite to said ball striking portion of said front face and having substantially the same area and shape as the ball striking portion of the front face.

6. An iron golf club having a head body with a face and a shaft connected to one side of the head body, which comprises:

a plurality of balance weights provided on a rear face of said head body, each of said balance weights being separate from said head body, elongated from a toe side of the head body toward a heel side thereof, arranged in parallel, at nearly equal intervals,

wherein said balance weights are securely fitted into grooves provided on the rear face of said head body in a mortise and tenon joint,

wherein said rear face of the head body is formed with a cavity so that a bottom face of the cavity may be nearly flush with respective rear faces of said balance weights, and

wherein at least one of the balance weights which is provided near the sole side on said rear face is longer than at least one of the balance weights which is provided near the top side on the rear face, and wherein said balance weights are provided on said bottom face, said bottom face being opposite to said ball striking portion of said front face, and having substantially the same area and shape as the ball striking portion of the front face.