Hybrid golf club heads and hybrid golf clubs incorporating the same

• US 9,028,339 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Doran
• Original Assignee: Mark Doran
• Inventors: Doran, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US13/795,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20130172101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473345-346, 473349-350, 473290-291
• US Class Current: 473/315
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• 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

Abstract

Hybrid golf club heads and hybrid golf clubs are described herein. The hybrid golf club head includes a body member having a hitting surface, a top surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a sole surface extending between the toe end and the heel end. The hybrid golf club head also includes a shaft attachment portion extending from the heel end upwardly and rearwardly therefrom away from the toe end, where the shaft attachment portion defines a shaft axis. The hitting surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the shaft axis. The hybrid golf club head includes a first Length B of the top surface near the shaft attachment portion and a second Length A of the top surface near the toe end, where the ratio of B to A is in a range from about 0.428 to about 0.75.

Claims

1. A hybrid golf club head comprising:

a body member having a hitting surface, a top surface, a toe end, a heel end, a back side, and a sole surface extending between the toe end and the heel end, and

a shaft attachment portion extending from the heel end upwardly and rearwardly therefrom away from the toe end, the shaft attachment portion defining a shaft axis, wherein a first Length B of the top surface from the back side to the hitting surface evaluated at the shaft attachment portion ranges from about ¾

inches to about 1½

inches, and a second Length A of the top surface from the back side to the hitting surface evaluated at the toe end ranges from about 1 inch to about 3½

inches, wherein a ratio of the first Length B to the second Length A is in a range from about 0.615 to about 0.75; and

wherein the hitting surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the shaft axis, further wherein the length (L) of the hitting surface is in a range from about 3 inches to about 5 inches.

2. The hybrid golf club head of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle ranges from about 6 degrees to about 13 degrees.

3. The hybrid golf club head of claim 1, wherein the hitting surface comprises a plurality of horizontal grooves debossed into the hitting surface.

4. The hybrid golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head is made from at least one of a stainless steel alloy, titanium or an alloy thereof, aluminum or an alloy thereof, a steel alloy, iron or an alloy thereof, tungsten or an alloy thereof, and graphite.

5. The hybrid golf club head of claim 1, where a weight of the club head ranges from about 185 grams to about 500 grams.

6. The hybrid golf club head of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the length L to the first Length B is in a range from about 4 to about 6.

7. The hybrid golf club head of claim 6, wherein a maximum distance between the hitting surface and a back side of the body member evaluated along the top surface of the body member is equal to Length A.