Golf club head and method of manufacture

• US 8,257,197 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Schweigert, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNIS, MICHAEL DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/077,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20110177880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 473/345
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a golf club head body comprising;

a heel;

a toe opposite the heel;

a strike face comprising a leading edge;

a rear opposite the strike face; and

a hosel located at the heel and comprising a hosel axis,

wherein;

the golf club head body comprises;

a first ratio of a moment of inertia of the golf club head body versus a mass of the golf club head body greater than approximately 12 cm²;

a second ratio of the moment of inertia versus a volume of the golf club head body greater than approximately 25 g/cm;

a third ratio of a first distance versus a second distance greater than approximately 0.7, wherein the first distance is measured between a first plane intersecting the hosel axis and a center of gravity of the golf club head body, wherein the second distance is measured between a second plane intersecting the leading edge of the strike face and the center of gravity, and wherein the first and second planes are perpendicular to a third plane representing a ground surface when the golf club head body is at an address position; and

a third distance is greater than or equal to approximately 3.81 cm, the third distance is measured between the center of gravity and the hosel axis and the third distance is measured parallel to the strike face.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third distance is less than approximately 4.82 cm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to approximately 4.06 cm and less than or equal to approximately 4.44 cm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mass of the golf club head is greater than approximately 220 grams.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body comprises a hybrid golf club head body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first ratio is greater than or equal to approximately 13 cm2.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second ratio is greater than or equal to approximately 31 g/cm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third ratio is approximately 0.8 to approximately 1.0.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body is a hollow, hybrid golf club head body.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first distance of the golf club head body is at least approximately 1.88 cm; and

the second distance of the golf club head body is at least approximately 1.96 cm.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow hybrid golf club head body comprising;

a heel;

a toe opposite the heel;

a strike face comprising a leading edge, having a loft angle, and located between the heel and the toe;

a rear between the heel and the toe and opposite the strike face;

a hosel comprising a hosel axis and located at the heel;

a moment of inertia, a mass, a volume, and a center of gravity, wherein;

the leading edge of the strike face is located approximately at or in front of the hosel axis, and is characterized by a second ratio of the moment of inertia versus the volume greater than or equal to approximately 27 g/cm; and

the second distance is measured between the center of gravity and a second vertical plane that extends through the leading edge of the strike face and that is normal to the horizontal plane representing the ground surface when the hollow hybrid golf club head body is at the address position;

a third distance is greater than or equal to approximately 3.81 cm and less than or equal to approximately 4.82 cm, the third distance is measured between the center of gravity and the hosel axis and the third distance is measured across the strike face;

wherein the hollow golf club head body is characterized by at least the first ratio a first ratio of the moment of inertia of the hollow hybrid golf club head body versus the mass of the hollow hybrid golf club head body is greater than or equal to approximately 13 cm2; and

wherein a third ratio of a first distance versus a second distance is greater than or equal to approximately 0.8, wherein the first distance is measured between the center of gravity, of the hollow hybrid golf club head body and a first vertical plane that extends through the hosel axis and that is normal to a horizontal plane representing a ground surface when the hollow golf club head body is at an address position, and the second distance is measured between the center of gravity of the hollow hybrid golf club head body and a second vertical plane that extends through the leading edge of the strike face and that is normal to the horizontal plane representing the ground surface when the hollow golf club head body is at the address position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third length is greater than or equal to approximately 4.06 cm and less than or equal to approximately 4.44 cm.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mass of the hollow hybrid golf club head is greater than approximately 220 grams.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first ratio is less than or equal to approximately 15 cm2.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second ratio is less than or equal to approximately 34 g/cm.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third ratio is less than or equal to approximately 1.0.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the first distance of the hollow golf club head body is at least approximately 1.88 cm; and

the second distance of the hollow golf club head body is at least approximately 1.96 cm.

15. A method comprising:

forming a hybrid golf club head body comprising;

a heel;

a toe opposite the heel;

a strike face comprising a leading edge;

a rear opposite the strike face; and

a hosel comprising a hosel axis and located at the heel;

wherein;

the leading edge of the strike face is located approximately at the hosel axis or between the rear of the hybrid golf club head body and the hosel axis; and

the hybrid golf club head body is characterized by;

a first ratio of a moment of inertia of the hybrid golf club head body versus a mass of the hybrid golf club head body greater than approximately 12 cm2;

a second ratio of the moment of inertia versus a volume of the hybrid golf club head body greater than approximately 25 g/cm; and

a third ratio of a first distance versus a second distance greater than approximately 0.7, wherein the first distance is measured between a first plane intersecting the hosel axis and a center of gravity of the hybrid golf club head body, and the second distance is measured between a second plane intersecting the leading edge of the strike face and the center of gravity, and the first and second planes are perpendicular to a third plane representing a ground surface when the hybrid golf club head body is at an address position;

the first distance of the hybrid golf club head body is at least approximately 1.88 cm;

the second distance of the hybrid golf club head body is at least approximately 1.96 cm; and

the hybrid golf club head body is further characterized in that a third length is greater than or equal to approximately 3.81 cm, wherein the third distance is measured between the center of gravity and the hosel axis and the third distance is measured parallel to the strike face.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the third distance is less than approximately 4.82 cm.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to approximately 4.06 cm and less than or equal to approximately 4.44 cm.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein:

forming the hybrid golf club head body comprises;

forming a hollow, hybrid golf club head body.