Iron golf club heads, iron golf clubs and golf club evaluating method

• US 6,344,000 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jiro Hamada
• Original Assignee: Jiro Hamada
• Inventors: Hamada, Jiro, Ito, Takaoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/551,655
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/329, 473/350, 473/332, 473/345, 473/338, 473/290, 473/291, 473/292, 473/293, 473/346, 473/349, D21/747, D21/748, D21/749, D21/750, D21/751, D21/752
• 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 53/04 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A variety of novel clubheads and iron golf clubs with the novel heads are provided by reexamining the conventional views that iron golf clubs with a low center of gravity have good performance, and introducing a new criterion for evaluation to obtain iron golf clubs capable of sending the ball better distance. A clubhead includes a face forming portion having a face formed on the forward surface thereof, and a sole forming portion extending rearwardly from the lower end of the face forming portion. The sole forming portion has a sole formed on the bottom thereof. The sole forming portion is provided with one of a hole, a hollow portion and a filling portion near the face forming portion.

Claims

1. An iron golf club have a head, said head comprising:

a face forming portion having a face formed on a forward surface thereof; and

a sole forming portion extending rearwardly from a lower end of said face forming portion, said sole forming portion having a sole formed on a bottom thereof,

wherein said sole forming portion is provided with a hole near said face forming portion, said hole having a length extending in a front to rear direction of the head, and

wherein said sole forming portion extends rearwardly by more than three times said length of the hole so that weight is shifted to a rearward end of said sole forming portion in an amount corresponding to the reduction in weight of the head due to the presence of said hole, thereby substantially shifting a center of gravity of the head toward a rearward end of the head.

2. An iron golf club having a head, said head comprising:

a face forming portion having a face formed on a forward surface thereof; and

a sole forming portion extending rearwardly from a lower end of said face forming portion, said sole forming portion having a sole formed on a bottom thereof,

wherein said sole forming portion is provided with a hole closer to said face than a center of gravity of said head, said hole having a length extending in a front to rear direction of the head, and

wherein said sole forming portion extends rearwardly by more than three times said length of the hole so that weight is shifted to a rearward end of said sole forming portion in an amount corresponding to the reduction in weight of the head due to the presence of said hole, thereby substantially shifting a center of gravity of the head toward a rearward end of the head.

3. An iron golf club having a head, said head comprising:

a face forming portion having a face formed on a forward surface thereof;

a sole forming portion extending rearwardly from a lower end of said face forming portion, said sole forming portion having a sole formed on a bottom thereof,

wherein a hole is formed in a lower portion of said head near said face, said hole having a length extending in a front to rear direction of the head,

wherein said sole forming portion extends rearwardly by more than three times said length of the hole so that weight is shifted to a rearward end of said sole forming portion in an amount corresponding to the reduction in weight of the head due to the presence of said hole, thereby substantially shifting a center of gravity of the head toward a rearward end of the head.

4. An iron golf club having a head, said head comprising:

a face forming portion having a face formed on a forward surface thereof; and

a sole forming portion extending rearwardly from a lower end of said face forming portion, said sole forming portion having a sole formed on a bottom thereof,

wherein said sole forming portion is provided with a hollow portion near said face forming portion, said hollow portion having a length extending in a front to rear direction of the head,

wherein said sole forming portion extends rearwardly by more than three times said length of said hollow portion so that weight is shifted to a rearward end of said sole forming portion in an amount corresponding to the reduction in weight of the head due to the presence of said hollow portion, thereby substantially shifting a center of gravity of the head toward a rearward end of the head.

5. An iron golf club having a head, said head comprising:

a face forming portion having a face formed on a forward surface thereof; and

a sole forming portion extending rearwardly form a lower end of said face forming portion, said sole forming portion having a sole formed on a bottom thereof,

wherein a hollow portion is formed in a lower portion of said head near said face, said hollow portion having a length extending in a front to rear direction of the head, wherein said sole forming portion extends rearwardly by more than three times said length of said hollow portion so that weight is shifted to a rearward end of said sole forming portion in an amount corresponding to the reduction in weight of the head due to the presence of said hollow portion, thereby substantially shifting a center of gravity of the head toward a rearward end of the head.