Multi-piece golf club head with improved inertia

• US 7,997,999 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L., Soracco, Peter L., Best, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US12/553,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20100056297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 473/332, 473334-337, 473290-291, 473349-350
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A multi-piece iron-type golf club head with a substantial weight member is disclosed and claimed. The golf club head includes a plurality of body members. A first body member includes a face, a rear surface, and a hosel. A viscoelastic material is attached to the rear surface, and a second body member is attached to the viscoelastic material. The second body member, which may be a weight member, has a substantially larger mass than in known golf clubs. The viscoelastic member may form a substantial part of the club head. The club head may also have a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. A low-density insert may be positioned within the recess.

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:

a first body member comprising a striking face, a hosel, a heel, a toe, and an uppermost portion adjacent to the striking face, extending between the hosel and the toe of the club head, defining a top line, a bottommost portion adjacent to the striking face, extending between the hosel and the toe of the club head, defining a sole;

the first body member further comprising a rear surface having a concave profile extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head, wherein the concave profile extends to the sole;

the sole having a sole profile extending between the striking face and the rear surface;

a second body member coupled to the rear surface of the concave profile of the first body member;

a third body member disposed between the first and second body members;

wherein the second body member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head;

wherein the concave profile is oriented in a front to back direction such that the concave profile widens in a continuous curve in a direction substantially parallel to the sole profile.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third body member comprises a viscoelastic material.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first body member forms at least a portion of a sole of the golf club head.