Set of golf clubs

• US 7,553,241 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Roger Cleveland Golf Company Incorporated (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kuan, Jimmy H., Roberts, Douglas E., Park, Sharon J., Radcliffe, Nathaniel J., Horacek, Robert J., Lacey, Sam G., Hooley, Brad S., Nivanh, Dan S., Rae, John J., Stone, Daniel J., Schnell, Craig R., Schaeffer, Kevin, Chick, Andrew P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/730,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 473290-291, 473/350, 473345-346
• US Class Current: 473/290
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/021 the shaft axis being forwardly offset relative to the striking face of the head
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type

Abstract

At least three clubs of a set of golf clubs may have an average volume between about 75 cm³ and about 90 cm³. The transverse dimensions of the at least three clubs may progressively decrease from a highest volume club to a lowest volume club. At least one club of a set may include a constraining member in a cavity. A linear distance between a sweet spot and a center of gravity may progressively decrease from a lower lofted club to a higher lofted club within a set. At least one golf club of a set may include a face plate portion, and at least two golf clubs of the set may include a cup face portion. At least two clubs of a set may include a progressively increasing hosel length from a lowest lofted club to a highest lofted club. The strike face of at least one club of a set may include a bulge and a roll. A first club of a set may have a face thickness that is less than a face thickness of a second club of the set.

Claims

1. A set of golf clubs,

each club of the set including a club head comprising:

a shell;

a face member comprising a striking surface;

a loft of at least 20°

; and

a transverse dimension at a vertical height between about 2 mm and about 10 mm above a ground plane;

at least two club heads of the set comprising a cavity having a stiffening rib that is disposed in the cavity and dissociated from the face member, the cavity at least in part bounded by the shell and the face member; and

at least three club heads of the set having different lofts, the transverse dimensions of the at least three club heads progressively decreasing from the lowest-lofted club head to the highest-lofted club head, at least one club head of the set comprising at least two articulation points.

2. The set of claim 1, wherein:

the shell of each of at least three club heads comprises a concavity, and

the striking surface of each of at least two club heads comprises a bulge and a roll.

3. The set of claim 1, wherein:

the face member of at least one club head comprises a strike plate coupled to the shell at a first peripheral edge, and

the face member of each of at least two club heads comprises a cup face coupled to the shell at a second peripheral edge.

4. The set of claim 1, wherein:

each of the at least three club heads further comprises a hosel having a hosel length, the hosel lengths of the at least three club heads progressively increasing from the lowest-lofted club head to the highest-lofted club head, and

the striking surface of at least one club head comprises a bulge and a roll.

5. The set of claim 1, wherein:

the face member of at least one first club head has a loft between 20° and

47° and

comprises a first face thickness, and

the face member of at least one second club head has a loft between 20° and

47° and

comprises a second face thickness, the second face thickness being greater than the first face thickness.