Muscle-back, with insert, iron type golf club head

• US 8,821,314 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Roberts, Douglas E., Garner, Trent E., Wolfe, Kevin A., Stone, Daniel J., Beck, Christopher J., Harman, Todd D., Newsome, Brent L., Wallans, Michael J., Radcliffe, Nathaniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US13/800,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, D21747-751, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A muscle-back iron golf club head includes a blade-like upper mass, a muscle-like lower mass, a planar front surface, a top surface, a sole surface, a heel surface, a toe surface, and a rear surface having a first contour. A recess is in the rear surface, the recess having a first portion in the blade-like upper mass and a second portion in the muscle-like lower mass. An insert may be provided in the recess, and such insert may substantially fill the recess and may include a back surface having a second contour which is different from the first contour of the club head rear surface.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a striking face;

a rear surface opposite the striking face; and

an insert fixed opposite the striking face such that at least a portion of the rear surface is between the striking face and the insert, the insert including;

a resilient body, and

a captive member having an anterior surface facing away from the striking face and a posterior surface facing toward the striking face, the anterior surface being partially bounded by the resilient body, wherein the resilient body partially overlaps onto the anterior surface, the posterior surface being spaced apart from the rear surface of the striking face.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the resilient body comprises a first material and wherein the captive member comprises a second material different than the first material.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the second material is more rigid than the first material.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the perimeter weighting portion defines a first recess and a second recess.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a top line and a sole, the sole having a perimeter weighting portion in contact with at least a portion of the resilient body.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, having a toe region and a heel region, wherein the first recess is proximate the toe region and the second recess is proximate the heel region.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, further comprising a first mass element located in the first recess and a second mass element located in the second recess.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein at least one of first mass element and the second mass element comprises tungsten.

9. An insert for an iron-type golf club, the insert including:

a resilient body comprising a first material, and

a captive member comprising a second material different from said first material, and having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the anterior surface being partially bounded by the resilient body, wherein the resilient body partially overlaps onto the anterior surface, the anterior surface having insignia, and further wherein the second material and insignia are exposed.

10. The insert of claim 9, wherein the resilient body further includes a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being complementary to a rear surface of an iron-type golf club head, and the second surface being complementary to and in contact with a perimeter weighting portion of an iron-type golf club head.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a striking face;

a rear surface opposite the striking face; and

an insert fixed opposite the striking face such that at least a portion of the rear surface is between the striking face and the insert, the insert including;

a housing, and

an inner member having an anterior surface displaying insignia, and an anterior surface facing away from the striking face, the anterior surface being partially bounded by the housing, wherein the housing partially overlaps onto the anterior surface, and a posterior surface facing toward the striking face, the posterior surface being spaced apart from the rear surface of the striking face.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a first material and wherein the inner member comprises a second material different than the first material.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the second material is more rigid than the first material.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a top line and a sole, the sole having a perimeter weighting portion contacting at least a portion of the housing.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the perimeter weighting portion defines a first recess and a second recess.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, having a toe region and a heel region, wherein the first recess is proximate the toe region and the second recess is proximate the heel region.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein at least one of first mass element and the second mass element comprises tungsten.

18. The golf club head of claim 15, further comprising a first mass element located in the first recess and a second mass element located in the second recess.

19. An insert for an iron-type golf club head, the insert including:

a housing comprising a first material, and

a inner member comprising a second material different from the first material, and having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the anterior surface being partially bounded by the housing, wherein the housing partially overlaps onto the anterior surface, the anterior surface having insignia, and wherein the second material and insignia are exposed.

20. The insert of claim 19, wherein the housing further includes a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being complementary to a rear surface of an iron-type golf club head and the second surface being complementary to a perimeter weighting portion of an iron-type golf club.