Club head sets with varying characteristics and related methods

• US 8,657,700 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Nicolette, Michael R., Schweigert, Bradley D., Jertson, Marty R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANCZAK, MATTHEW BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US12/791,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20100279796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 473290-291, 473/349, 473/350, 473334-339, 473/332, D21747-749
• US Class Current: 473/291
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.

Claims

1. A club head set comprising:

two or more club heads, each comprising;

a hosel having a hosel axis;

a loft angle;

a front face;

a back face opposite the front face;

one or more heelside support bars protruded from the back face, with at least one of the one or more heelside support bars comprising a maximum heelside support bar width; and

one or more toeside support bars protruded from the back face, with at least one of the one or more toeside support bars comprising a maximum toeside support bar width;

wherein;

the loft angle is incrementally varied across the two or more club heads;

as the loft angle increases from club head to club head;

the maximum heelside support bar width increases at a first rate from club head to club head; and

the maximum toeside support bar width increases at the first rate from club head to club head;

for each of the two or more club heads, each of the one or more heelside and toeside support bars are non-parallel to the hosel axis;

the maximum toeside and heelside support bar widths increase for each increment in the loft angle; and

for each individual club head of the two or more club heads;

the maximum heelside support bar width is substantially equal to the maximum toeside support bar width; and

each of the one or more heelside support bars and each of the one or more toeside support bars extends from a club head perimeter weight to a top end of a weight insert cavity configured to receive a weight insert.

2. The club head set of claim 1, wherein:

the two or more club heads comprise;

a first club head comprising;

one or more first heel support bars of the one or more heelside support bars of the first club head; and

one or more first toe support bars of the one or more toeside support bars of the first club head;

and

a second club head comprising;

one or more second heel support bars of the one or more heelside support bars of the second club head; and

one or more second toe support bars of the one or more toeside support bars of the second club head;

the one or more heelside support bars comprise;

a heelside support bar characteristic comprising one of;

a maximum heelside support bar thickness;

or

a maximum heelside support bar total number;

the one or more first toeside support bars comprise;

a toeside support bar characteristic comprising one of;

a maximum toeside support bar thickness;

or

a maximum toeside support bar total number;

the loft angle of the first club head is greater than the loft angle of the second club head;

the heelside support bar characteristic is greater for the one or more first heel support bars than for the one or more second heel support bars;

the toeside support bar characteristic is greater for the one or more first toe support bars than for the one or more second toe support bars; and

for each of the first and second club heads;

a magnitude of the heelside support bar characteristic equals a magnitude of the toeside support bar characteristic.

3. A club head set comprising:

a first club head comprising;

a first loft angle;

a first front face; and

a first back portion comprising;

a first heel region comprising a first heel end;

a first toe region comprising a first toe end;

a first center region between the first heel and toe regions;

a first back face opposite the first front face and extended between the first heel and toe regions;

a first perimeter weight around a perimeter of the first back portion;

a first weight insert cavity at the first back face and configured to receive a first weight insert; and

one or more first support bars coupled to the first back face and comprising;

a first toe support bar at the first toe region and comprising a first maximum width measured between the first heel end and the first toe end; and

a first heel support bar at the first heel region and comprising the first maximum width;

and

a second club head comprising;

a second loft angle;

a second front face; and

a second back portion comprising;

a second heel region comprising a second heel end;

a second toe region comprising a second toe end;

a second center region between the second heel and toe regions;

a second back face opposite the second front face and extended between the second heel and toe regions;

a second perimeter weight around a perimeter of the second back portion;

a second weight insert cavity at the second back face and configured to receive a second weight insert; and

one or more second support bars coupled to the second back face and comprising;

a second toe support bar at the second toe region and comprising a second maximum width measured between the second heel end and the second toe end; and

a second heel support bar at the second heel region and comprising the second maximum width;

wherein;

the first loft angle is greater than the second loft angle;

the first maximum width of the first heel and toe support bars is greater than the second maximum width of the second heel and toe support bars;

the first heel and toe support bars extend from the first perimeter weight to a top end of the first weight insert cavity; and

the second heel and toe support bars extend from the second perimeter weight to a top end of the second weight insert cavity.

4. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

each of the one or more first support bars comprises the first maximum width; and

each of the one or more second support bars comprises the second maximum width.

5. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first toe support bar comprises a first support bar maximum thickness;

the first heel support bar comprises the first support bar maximum thickness;

the second toe support bar comprises a second support bar maximum thickness;

the second heel support bar comprises the second support bar maximum thickness; and

the first support bar maximum thickness of the first heel and toe support bars is greater than the second support bar maximum thickness of the second heel and toe support bars.

6. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

a total number of the one or more first support bars is greater than a total number of the one or more second support bars.

7. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the one or more first support bars are visible at the first back face; and

the one or more second support bars are visible at the second back face.

8. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the one or more first support bars are integral with the first back face; and

the one or more second support bars are integral with the second back face.

9. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first heel and toe support bars are equidistant from the first center region; and

the second heel and toe support bars are equidistant from the second center region.

10. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first back face is subdivided between a first top portion and a first bottom portion by a first horizontal axis;

the first heel and toe support bars each comprise a first angle, facing the first center region, of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 90 degrees from the first horizontal axis;

the second back face is subdivided between a second top portion and a second bottom portion by a second horizontal axis; and

the second heel and toe support bars each comprise a second angle, facing the second center region, of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 90 degrees from the second horizontal axis.

11. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first back face is subdivided between a first top portion and a first bottom portion by a first horizontal axis;

the first heel and toe support bars are angled from the first horizontal axis for convergence towards the first center region;

the second back face is subdivided between a second top portion and a second bottom portion by a second horizontal axis; and

the second heel and toe support bars are angled from the second horizontal axis for convergence towards the second center region.

12. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first club head further comprises a first hosel;

the first back portion of the first club head further comprises;

a first lower toe section; and

a first counterbalance weight located only at the first lower toe section of the first back portion and configured to counterbalance the first hosel;

the second club head further comprises a second hosel; and

the second back portion of the second club head further comprises;

a second lower toe section; and

a second counterbalance weight located only at the second lower toe section of the second back portion and configured to counterbalance the second hosel.

13. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

at least one of the first or second maximum width is approximately 0.75 millimeters to approximately 12.7 millimeters.

14. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first club head comprises one of;

a 2-iron head, a 3-iron head, a 4-iron head, a 5-iron head, a 6-iron head, a 7-iron head, an 8-iron head, a 9-iron head, or a wedge head;

the second club head comprises a different one of;

the 2-iron head, the 3-iron head, the 4-iron head, the 5-iron head, the 6-iron head, the 7-iron head, the 8-iron head, the 9-iron head, or the wedge head;

the 2-iron head comprises;

a 2-iron loft angle of approximately 18 degrees to approximately 20 degrees; and

a 2-iron support bar width of approximately 0.75 mm to approximately 5.1 mm;

the 3-iron head comprises;

a 3-iron loft angle of approximately 20 degrees to approximately 23 degrees; and

a 3-iron support bar width of approximately 1.0 mm to approximately 5.3 mm;

the 4-iron head comprises;

a 4-iron loft angle of approximately 21 degrees to approximately 25 degrees; and

a 4-iron support bar width of approximately 1.3 mm to approximately 5.8 mm;

the 5-iron head comprises;

a 5-iron loft angle of approximately 23 degrees to approximately 28 degrees; and

a 5-iron support bar width of approximately 1.5 mm to approximately 6.6 mm;

the 6-iron head comprises;

a 6-iron loft angle of approximately 26 degrees to approximately 32 degrees; and

a 6-iron support bar width of approximately 1.8 mm to approximately 7.6 mm;

the 7-iron head comprises;

a 7-iron loft angle of approximately 29 degrees to approximately 36 degrees; and

a 7-iron support bar width of approximately 2.0 mm to approximately 8.7 mm;

the 8-iron head comprises;

a 8-iron loft angle of approximately 34 degrees to approximately 42 degrees; and

a 8-iron support bar width of approximately 2.3 mm to approximately 9.8 mm;

the 9-iron head comprises;

a 9-iron loft angle of approximately 38 degrees to approximately 45 degrees; and

a 9-iron support bar width of approximately 2.5 mm to approximately 11.2 mm;

and

the wedge head comprises;

a wedge loft angle of approximately 42 degrees to approximately 64 degrees; and

a wedge support bar width of approximately 2.8 mm to approximately 12.7 mm.

15. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the one or more first support bars are visible at the first back face;

the one or more second support bars are visible at the second back face;

the one or more first support bars are integral with the first back face;

the one or more second support bars are integral with the second back face;

the first back face is subdivided between a first top portion and a first bottom portion by a first horizontal axis;

the first heel and toe support bars are angled from the first horizontal axis for convergence towards the first center region;

the second back face is subdivided between a second top portion and a second bottom portion by a second horizontal axis; and

the second heel and toe support bars are angled from the second horizontal axis for convergence towards the second center region.

16. The club head set of claim 15, wherein:

the first club head further comprises a first hosel;

the first back portion of the first club head further comprises;

a first lower toe section; and

a first counterbalance weight located only at the first lower toe section of the first back portion and configured to counterbalance the first hosel;

the second club head further comprises a second hosel; and

the second back portion of the second club head further comprises;

a second lower toe section; and

a second counterbalance weight located only at the second lower toe section of the second back portion and configured to counterbalance the second hosel.

17. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first club head further comprises a first hosel having a first hosel axis;

the second club head further comprises a second hosel having a second hosel axis;

the first toe support bar is non-parallel to the first hosel axis; and

the second heel support bar is non-parallel to the second hosel axis.

18. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

each of the one or more first support bars further comprises a first attribute;

each of the one or more second support bars further comprises a second attribute; and

the first attribute of each of the one or more first support bars is greater than the second attribute of each of the one or more second support bars.

19. The club head set of claim 18, wherein:

the first attribute of the one or more first support bars comprises one of;

a first support bar thickness of the one or more first support bars;

or

a total number of the one or more first support bars; and

the second attribute of the one or more second support bars comprises one of;

a second support bar thickness of the one or more second support bars;

or

a total number of the one or more second support bars.

20. The club head set of claim 18, wherein:

each of the one or more first support bars further comprises a third attribute;

each of the one or more second support bars further comprises a fourth attribute;

the third attribute of each of the one or more first support bars is greater than the fourth attribute of each of the one or more second support bars;

the first attribute of the one or more first support bars comprises;

a first support bar thickness of the one or more first support bars;

the second attribute of the one or more second support bars comprises;

a second support bar thickness of the one or more second support bars;

the third attribute of the one or more first support bars comprises;

a total number of the one or more first support bars; and

the fourth attribute of the one or more second support bars comprises;

a total number of the one or more second support bars.

21. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the first heel and toe support bars are angled towards each other;

the first heel support bar comprises the first maximum width throughout its length;

the first toe support bar comprises the first maximum width throughout its length;

the second heel and toe support bars are angled towards each other;

the second heel support bar comprises the second maximum width throughout its length; and

the second toe support bar comprises the second maximum width throughout its length.

22. The club head set of claim 3, wherein:

the second club head comprises a 6-iron head; and

the first club head comprises an 8-iron head.

23. A method comprising:

providing a club head set, comprising;

providing a first club head of the club head set, the first club head comprising;

a first loft angle;

a first front face; and

a first back portion comprising;

a first heel region comprising a first heel end;

a first toe region comprising a first toe end;

a first center region between the first heel and toe regions;

a first back face opposite the first front face and extended between the first heel and toe regions;

a first perimeter weight around a perimeter of the first back portion;

a first weight insert cavity at the first back face and configured to receive a first weight insert; and

one or more first support bars coupled to the first back face and comprising;

 

a first toe support bar located at the first toe region and comprising a first maximum width measured between the first heel end and the first toe end; and

 

a first heel support bar at the first heel region and comprising the first maximum width;

and

providing a second club head of the club head set, the second club head comprising;

a second loft angle;

a second front face; and

a second back portion comprising;

a second heel region comprising a second heel end;

a second toe region comprising a second toe end;

a second center region between the second heel and toe regions;

a second back face opposite the second front face and extended between the second heel and toe regions;

a second perimeter weight around a perimeter of the second back portion;

a second weight insert cavity at the second back face and configured to receive a second weight insert; and

one or more second support bars coupled to the second back face and comprising;

 

a second toe support bar located at the second toe region and comprising a second maximum width measured between the second heel and the second toe end; and

 

a second heel support bar at the second heel region and comprising the second maximum width;

wherein;

the first loft angle is greater than the second loft angle;

the first maximum width of the first heel and toe support bars is greater than the second maximum width of the second heel and toe support bars;

the first heel and toe support bars extend from the first perimeter weight to a top end of the first weight insert cavity; and

the second heel and toe support bars extend from the second perimeter weight to a top end of the second weight insert cavity.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising at least one of:

providing a maximum thickness of the one or more first support bars to be greater than a maximum thickness of the one or more second support bars;

or

providing a total number of the one or more first support bars to be greater than a total number of the one or more second support bars.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

increasing, at a first rate, a maximum heelside support bar width from club head to club head of the club head set for each incremental loft angle variation; and

increasing, at the first rate, a maximum toeside support bar width from club head to club head of the club head set for each incremental loft angle variation.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein:

providing the first club head further comprises;

providing a first hosel of the first club head; and

providing a first counterbalance weight located only at a first lower toe section of the first back portion and configured to counterbalance the first hosel;

and

providing the second club head further comprises;

providing a second hosel of the second club head; and

providing a second counterbalance weight located only at a second lower toe section of the second back portion and configured to counterbalance the second hosel.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the first heel and toe support bars are angled towards each other;

the first heel support bar comprises the first maximum width throughout its length;

the first toe support bar comprises the first maximum width throughout its length;

the second heel and toe support bars are angled towards each other;

the second heel support bar comprises the second maximum width throughout its length; and

the second toe support bar comprises the second maximum width throughout its length.