Golf club head

• US 5,785,609 A
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lisco Incorporated
• Inventors: Trevino, Lee, Greene, Tom, Sheets, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US08/868,836
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/328, 473/344, 473/345, 473/346, 473/349, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/327
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A metalwood golf club head including upper and lower surfaces, a front ball striking face and a curved rear surface is characterized by a concave projection in the lower surface extending from the face toward the rear surface. The depth of the concavity in the projection is governed by the loft of the club face, with the depth being greater for higher lofted clubs. The concave projection enables the club head to strike to golf ball resting on the ground, and particularly in a poor lie such as in a bunker or deep rough, without the head becoming buried in the ground.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising

a metal body including an upper surface, a lower surface, a front ball striking face, and a curved rear surface, said lower surface including a lateral projection extending downwardly therefrom between said face and said rear surface, said projection having a concave configuration, whereby said club head is prevented from becoming buried in the ground when striking a golf ball.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said lower surface contains a pair of recesses on opposite sides of said projection, respectively, said recesses extending from said rear surface and terminating at a location short of said face.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, and further comprising an intermediate portion between said lower surface and each of said recesses, thereby to define a stepped configuration within said lower surface.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said rear surface contains a generally horizontal depression extending laterally between toe and heel portions of the head.

5. A gold club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the depth of the concavity within the projection increases relative to said projection as the loft of said striking face increases.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said projection has a forward portion parallel to the ground when said club head is positioned to address a golf ball resting on the ground.

7. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said projection extends along a middle portion of said lower surface.