Clubhead with external hosel

• US 8,535,171 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eht Golf Design LLC
• Original Assignee: Eht Golf Design LLC
• Inventors: McGinnis, Thomas William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/634,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20110059810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 473/305, 473/307, 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/305
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/021 the shaft axis being forwardly offset relative to the striking face of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-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 golf club head consisting of a striking face, a soleplate, a crown, and a skirt connecting the face, the soleplate and the crown. A flange is placed at a selected location on the periphery of the skirt. Incorporated into the flange is a hosel, positioned to be displaced from the club head, for receiving the shaft of the golf club. The area of the skirt covered by the flange has a length versus height ratio.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a striking face;

a soleplate;

a crown;

a skirt connecting the face, the soleplate and the crown, and further comprising a periphery;

a flange having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being attached to and extending from the periphery of the skirt, the flange having a length versus height ratio, and the minimum ratio is 1.25 to 1; and

a hosel attached to the second edge of the flange and extending from the flange, wherein the flange forms a channel between the skirt and the hosel and the entire channel is visible from a top plan view of the golf club head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the minimum displacement of the hosel from the skirt is 1 mm.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the minimum displacement of the flange from the soleplate is 2 mm.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the minimum displacement of the flange from the crown is 2 mm.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the minimum displacement of the flange from the face is 1 mm.

6. A method for making a golf club head, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a striking face, a soleplate, and a crown to a skirt having a periphery,

attaching a first edge of a flange to the periphery of the skirt, the flange having a length versus height ratio and the minimum ratio is 1.25 to 1, and

attaching a second edge of the flange to a hosel such that the flange forms a channel between the skirt and the hosel, and the entire channel is visible from a top plan view of the golf club head.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the hosel is displaced from the skirt a minimum distance of 1 mm.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the flange is displaced from the soleplate a minimum distance of 2 mm.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the flange is displaced from the crown a minimum distance of 2 mm.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the flange is displaced from the face a minimum distance of 1 mm.