Metal wood golf club head

• US 6,332,848 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Crow, Thomas L., Long, D. Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/493,927
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/345, 473/346, 473/347, 473/348, 473/349, 473/256, 473/328, D21/733, D21/752
• US Class Current: 473/328
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown 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

Disclosed is a metal wood club head with a body having a crown a sole, a skirt and a strike face. The sole has a first cavity located rearwards and towards the heel of the club head and a second cavity located rearwards towards the toe of the club head and approximately opposite of the first cavity. The two cavities define a relatively flat ridge or land area extending from the front of the sole rearwards which forms a beam-like stiffening structure. A backweight may be attached to the body portion to redistribute mass more rearwardly in the club head and directly behind the stiffening ridge. The redistribution of the mass rearwards increases the dynamic loft and moment of inertia of the club head and its position behind the stiffening ridge enhances energy transfer upon striking of a ball. The disclosed club head is thus provided with an increased moment of inertia to resist rotation and enhanced striking efficiency without an increase in club volume.

Claims

1. A metal wood club head, comprising:

a crown with a depending skirt and strike face, and a sole plate secured to the skirt and strike faces, said club head having a heel and a toe and a back portion on said skirt opposite the strike face;

at least one cavity defined in the sole plate to provide a contoured sole plate surface with increased stiffness; and

a backweight attached to the skirt back portion, said backweight being included within an angle of not greater than about 110 degrees measured at the center of mass centered around a line perpendicular to the strike face.

2. The club head according to claim 1, wherein the sole plate defines:

a first cavity located rearwards and towards the heel of said club head; and

a second cavity located rearwards towards the toe of said club head and approximately opposite of said first cavity to define a ridge therebetween extending back from the strike face.

3. The club head according to claim 2, wherein the crown defines two opposed dimples located rearwardly from the strike face separated by an hour-glass shaped spine.

4. The club head according to claim 2, wherein said first and second cavities include a bottom wall and a distinct side wall to form a web in the sole plate such that the sole plate stiffness is increased thereby.

5. The club head according to claim 2, wherein the volume of the club head is less than about 250 cc with a moment of inertia of at least about 3200 g·

cm².

6. The club head according to claim 5, having a mass of about 188 to 212 grams, wherein the backweight comprises about 7 to 15 percent of the total club mass.

7. The club head according to claim 6, wherein said head includes a hosel.

8. The club head according to claim 6, wherein said head is hosel-less.

9. The club head according to claim 2, wherein the sole plate further defines a dished recess positioned between and behind said first and second cavities such that said recess has a leading edge which defines a rearward boundary of the sole plate ridge.

10. The club head according to claim 9, wherein said rearward boundary is positioned at least about 0.1 inch behind the club head center of mass.

11. A metal wood club head, comprising:

a crown with a depending skirt and strike face, and a sole plate secured to the skirt and strike faces, said club head having a heel and a toe, and a back portion on said skirt opposite the strike face;

a first cavity defined by the sole plate located rearwards and towards the heel of said club head;

a second cavity defined by the sole plate located rearwards towards the toe of said club head and approximately opposite of said first cavity to define a ridge there between extending back from the strike face, wherein said first and second cavities include a bottom wall and a distinct side wall to form a web in the sole plate such that the sole plate stiffness is increased thereby;

a dish-shaped depression located rearward said first and second cavities and approximately in the center of said sole plate; and

a backweight having a front face and attached to the skirt back portion, wherein said front face is tilted towards said heel.

12. The club head according to claim 11, wherein said backweight is behind and substantially in line with said ridge defined by the first and second cavities.

13. The club head according to claim 12 wherein the club head has a volume of less than about 250 cc and a moment of inertia of at least about 3200 g·

cm².

14. The club head according to claim 12 wherein the backweight is included within an angle of not greater than about 110 degrees measured at the center of mass centered around a line perpendicular to the strike face.

15. The club head according to claim 12 wherein the backweight is included within an angle of not greater than about 80 degrees measured at the center of mass centered around a line perpendicular to the strike face.

16. The club head according to claim 11, wherein said front face of said backweight is tilted towards said heel by an angle of about 3.5 to 6 degrees as measured from a line tangent to the face.

17. A metal wood club head, comprising:

a crown with a depending skirt and strike face, and a sole plate secured to the skirt and strike faces, said club head having a heel and a toe and a back portion on said skirt opposite the strike face, the club having a volume of less than about 250 cc and a moment of inertia of at least about 3200 g·

cm²;

said crown defining two opposed dimples located rearwardly from the strike face separated by an hour-glass shaped spine;

a first cavity defined by the sole plate located rearwards and towards the heel of said club head;

a second cavity defined by the sole plate located rearwards towards the toe of said club head and approximately opposite of said first cavity to define a ridge therebetween extending back from the strike face, wherein said first and second cavities include a bottom wall and a distinct side wall to form a beam-like web in the sole plate the such that sole plate stiffness is increased thereby;

a dish-shaped depression located rearward said first and second cavities and approximately in the center of said sole plate; and

a backweight attached to the skirt back portion, behind and substantially in line with said ridge defined by the first and second cavities, said backweight comprising about 7 to 15 percent of the club head mass and being included within an angle of not greater than about 110 degrees measured at the center of mass centered around a line perpendicular to the strike face.