Golf club head, iron golf club head, wood golf club head, and golf club set

• US 6,695,712 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: Sakai, Koji, Shimotaka, Kanta, Nagao, Hiroshi, Kimura, Takashi, Tsuji, Kei, Iwata, Mototaka
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/701,817
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 473/250, 473/291, 473/345, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/291
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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 (11) has an ellipsoid of inertia (12) with its center at a center of gravity G. When the ellipsoid of inertia (12) is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of the golf club head (11) and being parallel to a face surface (11f), a major axis of a plane ellipse (13) appearing on its cut surface forms an angle of θ with an intersecting line (15) of the cut surface and a ground surface (16). The major axis extends upward and away from the ground surface (16) as it approaches a toe part (11t). The angle θ is not smaller than 0.5° and not larger than 9.5°. An aspect ratio a/b defined by a ratio of the length a of the major axis (13d) to the length b of a minor axis (13e) of the plane ellipse (13) is not smaller than 1 and not larger than 4.

Claims

1. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having different identification numbers, wherein

each of said plurality of golf clubs has a golf club head and a shaft connected to said golf club head;

each of sail golf club heads has an ellipsoid of inertia with its center at a center of gravity;

when said ellipsoid of inertia is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, a major axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface forms an angle of θ

with an intersecting line of said cut surface and a ground surface;

the major axis of said plane ellipse extends upward and away from the ground surface as it approaches a toe part;

said angle θ

is not smaller than 0.5° and

not larger than 9.5°

;

an aspect ratio a/b defined by a ratio α

length α

of the major axis to length b of a minor axis of said plane ellipse is not smaller than 1 and not larger than 4;

said angle θ

of each of the plurality of golf club heads increases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases; and

said aspect ratio a/b of said plurality of golf club heads decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number increases.

2. The golf club set as set forth in claim 1, wherein said aspect ratio a/b decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

3. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having different identification numbers, wherein

each of said plurality of golf clubs has a golf club head and a shaft connected to said golf club head;

each of said golf club heads has an ellipsoid of inertia with its center at a center of gravity;

when said ellipsoid of inertia is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, a major axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface for ms an angle of θ

with an intersecting line of said cut surface and a ground surface;

said major axis extends upward and away from the ground surface as it approaches a toe part;

said angle θ

is not smaller than 0.5° and

not larger than 9.5°

;

said angle θ

of each of the plurality of golf club heads increases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases; and

a height h of a sweet spot of each of said plurality of golf club heads decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number increases.

4. The golf club set as set forth in claim 3, wherein the height h of said sweet spot decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

5. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having different identification numbers, wherein

each of said plurality of golf clubs has a golf club head and a shaft connected to said golf club head;

each of said golf club heads has an ellipsoid of inertia with its center at a center of gravity;

when said ellipsoid of inertia is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, an aspect ratio a/b defined by a ratio of a length a of the major axis to a length b of a minor axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface is not smaller than 1 and not larger than 4;

a height h of a sweet spot from a ground surface is not smaller than 10 mm and not larger than 30 mm;

said aspect ratio a/b of each of said plurality of golf club heads decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases; and

the height h of the sweet spot of each of said plurality of golf club heads decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number increases.

6. The golf club set as set forth in claim 5, wherein the height h of said sweet spot decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

7. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having different identification numbers, wherein

each of said plurality of golf clubs has a golf club head and a shaft connected to said golf club head;

each of said golf club heads has an ellipsoid of inertia with its center at a center of gravity;

when said ellipsoid of inertia is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, an aspect ratio a/b defined by ratio of a length a of the major axis to a length b of a minor axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface is not smaller than 1 and not larger than 4;

a height h of a sweet spot from a ground surface is not smaller than 10 mm and not larger than 30 mm;

said aspect ratio a/b of each of said plurality of golf club heads decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number increases;

the height h of the sweet spot of each of said plurality of golf club heads decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number increases;

said major axis forms an angle of θ

with an intersecting line of said cut surface and a ground surface;

said major axis extends upward and away from the ground surface as it approaches a toe part;

said angle θ

is not smaller than 0.5° and

not larger than 9.5°

; and

said angle θ

of each of said plurality of golf club heads increases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

8. A golf club set comprising a plurality of iron golf clubs having different identification numbers wherein,

each iron golf club has a head body having a toe, a sole, and a heel;

wherein each iron golf club has a first weight member disposed in an upper part of the toe of said head body; and

wherein each iron golf club has a second weight member disposed in a heel side part of the sole of said head body,

wherein each of the iron golf club heads have an ellipsoid of inertia with its center at a center of gravity,

wherein when said ellipsoid of inertia is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said head body and being parallel to a face surface, a major axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface forms an angle of θ

with an intersecting line of said cut surface and a ground surface, and

wherein said angle θ

increases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

9. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first weight member has a larger specific gravity than a material constituting said head body.

10. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second weight member has a larger specific gravity than in material constituting said head body.

11. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first weight member has a larger density than other parts of said head body.

12. The golf club set as set forth in claim 11, wherein a depth of said back cavity increases according as it approaches from a lower part of the toe to a heel pan.

13. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second weight member has a larger density than other parts of said head body.

14. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein said head body has a back cavity.

15. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein a width of a sole part decreases according as it approaches from a lower part of the toe to a heel part.

16. The golf club set as set forth in claim 8, wherein said head body has a through-hole, and further comprising an insert member fitted into said through-hole so as to form a back cavity.

17. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having an identification number a club head, and an ellipsoid of inertia with its center at a center of gravity, wherein

when said ellipsoid of inertia of each of said plurality of golf clubs is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, a major axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface forms an angle of θ

with an intersecting line of said cut surface and a ground surface;

the major axis of said plane ellipse extends upward and away from the ground surface as it approaches a toe panrt; and

an aspect ratio a/b defined by a ratio of a length a of the major axis to a length b of a minor axis of said plane ellipse decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as said identification number of said golf club increases.

18. The golf club set as set forth in claim 17, wherein a height h of a sweet spot from the ground surface is not smaller than 10 mm and not larger than 30 mm.

19. The golf club set as set forth in claim 17, wherein a height h of a sweet spot of said golf club head decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number of said golf club increases.

20. The golf club set as set forth in claim 17, wherein said angle θ

increases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

21. The golf club set as set forth in claim 17, wherein a height h of a sweet spot decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

22. The golf club set as set forth in claim 17, each of said golf clubs further comprise:

a head body having a toe, a sole, and a heel;

a first weight member disposed in an upper part of the toe of said head body; and

a second weight member disposed in a heel side part of the sole of said head body.

23. The golf club set as set forth in claim 22, wherein said first weight member has a larger specific gravity than a material constituting said head body.

24. The golf club set as set forth in claim 22, wherein said second weight member has a larger specific gravity than a material constituting said head body.

25. The golf club set as set forth in claim 22, wherein said first weight member has a larger density than other parts of said head body.

26. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having different identification numbers, wherein

each of said plurality of golf clubs has a golf club head;

each of said golf club heads has an ellipsoid of inertia;

wherein said ellipsoid of inertia is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, a major axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface forms an angle of θ

with an intersecting line of said cut surface and a ground surface; and

said angle θ

increases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

27. The golf club set as set forth in claim 26, wherein said angle θ

is not smaller than 0.5° and

not larger than 9.5°

.

28. The golf club set as set forth in claim 26, wherein a height h of a sweet spot from the ground surface of said golf club head is not smaller than 10 mm and not larger than 30 mm.

29. The golf club set as set forth in claim 26, wherein a height h of a sweet spot from the ground surface of said golf club head decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number of said golf club increases.

30. A golf club set comprising a plurality of golf clubs having different identification numbers, wherein

each of said plurality of golf clubs has a golf club head;

each of said golf club heads has an ellipsoid of inertia;

wherein said ellipsoid of inertia is visually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of said golf club head and being parallel to a face surface, an aspect ratio a/b defined by a ratio of a length a of the major axis to a length b of a minor axis of a plane ellipse appearing on its cut surface; and

wherein said aspect ratio a/b decreases successively with an approximately constant ratio according as the identification number of said golf club increases.

31. The golf club set as set forth in claim 30, wherein said aspect ratio is not smaller than 1 and not larger than 4.

32. The golf club set as set forth in claim 30, wherein a height h of a sweet spot from the ground surface of said golf club head is not smaller than 10 mm and not larger than 30 mm.

33. The golf club set as set forth in claim 30, wherein a height h of a sweet spot from the ground surface of said golf club head decreases successively or remains approximately equal according as said identification number of said golf club increases.