Golf clubheads correcting distance loss due to mishits

• US 6,431,997 B1
• Filed: 06/15/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John W. Rohrer
• Original Assignee: John W. Rohrer
• Inventors: Rohrer, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/333,449
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 473/329, 473/332, 473/340, 473/342, 473/347, 473/326
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

Golf shots lose both distance and directional accuracy when the ball is struck at a clubface location not aligned with (i.e. directly in front of) the clubhead center of gravity (a “mishit”). High moment of inertia clubhead designs (i.e., extreme toe heel weighting) only partially reduce mishit distance loss and are limited by practical clubhead size and weight. The subject invention reduces, or totally eliminates mishit distance loss regardless of clubhead moment of inertia via designs which absorb more ball impact energy for on-center hits versus mishits thus equalizing distance. The invention allows for the use of integral or attached metal or plastic faceplates without impeding the function of such variable energy absorbing mishit corrective devices, thereby greatly improving clubhead durability, feel, and practicality, especially for irons and putters.

Claims

1. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexible faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or golf ball cover flexibly attached to a rigid clubhead body and in intimate contact with one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements, the highest energy absorbing elastomer element being thickest behind the clubface intended strikepoint for maximum energy absorption at this point and thinner at points incremently remote from said strikepoint, thus at least partially correcting for distance loss due to mishits.

2. A golf clubhead according to claim 1, where at least a portion of the periphery of the faceplate backside is in intimate contact with, or bonded to, one or more of the energy absorbing elastomer elements, and in sliding contact with the rigid clubhead body.

3. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexible faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or golf ball cover flexibly attached to a rigid clubhead body by one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements located at the periphery of said faceplate, said elements also being attached to the rigid clubhead body leaving a void, cavity, or opening generally behind the strikepoint area between the faceplate and clubhead body, such flexible faceplate and energy absorbing elastomer elements being so arranged that maximum faceplate deflection and elastomer shear and compression deformation and therefore maximum energy absorption occurs when the faceplate is struck at the intended strikepoint and incrementally less energy is absorbed at points incrementally remote from said intended strikepoint thus at least partially correcting for mishit distance loss.

4. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexible faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or golf ball cover flexibly attached to a rigid clubhead body via one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements located at the periphery of said faceplate, said elements also being attached to the rigid clubhead body leaving a void, cavity, or opening generally behind the strikepoint between the faceplate and clubhead body, such flexible faceplate and energy absorbing elastomer elements being so arranged that maximum faceplate deflection and elastomer shear and tensile deformation and therefore maximum energy absorption occurs when the faceplate is struck at the intended strikepoint and incrementally less energy is absorbed at points incrementally remote from said intended strikepoint thus at least partially correcting for mishit distance loss.

5. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexible faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or golf ball cover rigidly attached around part or all its periphery to a rigid clubhead body or an integral part of said clubhead body material such faceplate having one or more cast or machined horizontal or longitudinal through slots, which may coincide with traditional clubface grooves, to improve faceplate flexibility while preserving faceplate thickness and durability, such clubhead having one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements between, and in intimate contact with, said faceplate and said rigid clubhead body, the highest energy absorbing elastomer element being thickest behind the clubface intended strikepoint, thus at least partially correcting for distance loss due to mishits.

6. A golf putter or iron clubhead of claim 5 such faceplate also having one or more cast or machined vertical through slots to further improve faceplate flexibility while preserving faceplate thickness and durability, such clubhead having one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements between said faceplate and said rigid clubhead body, the highest energy absorbing elastomer being thickest behind the clubface intended strikepoint, thus at least partially correcting for distance loss due to mishits.

7. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexible faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or ball cover comprised of a plurality of rigid or flexible faceplate striking elements in intimate contact with one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements, the highest energy absorbing elastomer being thickest behind the clubface intended strikepoint, thus at least partially correcting for distance loss due to mishits.

8. A golf putter or iron clubhead with or without a flexibly or rigidly attached, or integral faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or ball cover in front of and in intimate contact with one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements, the highest energy absorbing elastomer element being thickest behind the clubface intended strikepoint and thinner at points incrementally remote from said strikepoint, such energy absorbing elastomers having multiple holes, slots, or voids, to enhance element compressibility and deformation upon ball impact and hence energy absorbing properties.

9. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexibly or rigidly attached, or integral faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or ball cover in front of, and in intimate contact with, one or more energy absorbing elastomer elements, at least a major portion of the top or bottom of such elements not being in contact with the rigid clubhead body insert cavity thus, enhancing element deformation and energy absorption, the highest energy absorbing elastomer element being thickest behind the clubface intended strikepoint thus, at least partially correcting for distance loss due to mishits.

10. A golf putter or iron clubhead with a flexible faceplate of equal or greater hardness than a golf ball or golf ball cover rigidly or flexibly attached to a rigid clubhead body said faceplate having one or more small pneumatic or hydraulic pistons and cylinders between the faceplate and clubhead body, or integral thereto, such pistons being positioned into cylinders with throttling vent holes molded or machined in such a manner that maximum deflection and throttling energy absorption occurs at the intended strikepoint and incrementally less faceplate deflection and energy absorption occurs at points incrementally remote from the intended strikepoint thus at least partially correcting for mishit distance loss.