Golf iron having a customizable weighting feature

• US 6,719,641 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicklaus Golf Equipment Company LC (Nicklaus Golf)
• Original Assignee: Nicklaus Golf Equipment Company LC (Nicklaus Golf)
• Inventors: Long, Dabbs C., Dabbs, Tony R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US10/133,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20030203764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/290, 473/291, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/291
• 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 53/047 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

An iron golf club head includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel portion, and a striking face having a front surface and a back surface. A peripheral mass is disposed on the back surface, which defines a first cavity. A cantilevered mass extends from the sole portion toward the top portion within the first cavity. The cantilevered mass includes a rear surface, which defines a second cavity in which a weight medallion is disposed. The weight medallion includes a high-density portion and a low-density portion, providing a customizable weighting device for controlling right or left shot tendencies from which golfers suffer. By positioning the high-density portion of the weighted medallion near the heel or toe, depending on the golfer'"'"'s shot tendency, longer and straighter shots are achievable.

Claims

1. A golf iron set including a plurality of long irons, middle irons, and short irons, each of said irons having a club head comprising:

a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel portion, a striking face having a front surface and a back surface, a peripheral mass disposed on the back surface, said peripheral mass defining a first cavity;

a first weight member extending from the sole portion toward the top portion within the first cavity, said first weight member having a rear surface which defines a second cavity;

a weight medallion disposed within the second cavity;

wherein for the long irons said first weight member has a height H₁;

wherein for the middle irons said first weight member has a height H₂, where H₂>

H₁; and

wherein for the long irons at least a portion of the first weight member is spaced apart from the back surface.

2. The golf iron set according to claim 1, wherein for the short irons the first weight member has a height H₃, where H₃>

H₂.

3. The golf iron set according to claim 2, wherein for short irons said weight medallion includes a high-density portion disposed toward the toe portion and a low-density portion disposed toward the heel portion.

4. The golf iron set according to claim 1, wherein for the middle irons at least a portion of the first weight member is spaced apart from the back surface.

5. The golf iron set according claim 1, wherein for middle irons said weight medallion includes two halves of equal density.

6. A set of golf irons including a first club having a first loft angle and a second club having a second loft angle less than the first angle, wherein each of said first club and said second club includes a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel portion, a striking face having a front surface and a back surface, a peripheral mass disposed on the back surface, said peripheral mass defining a first cavity, and a first weight member extending from the sole portion toward the top portion within the first cavity, the first weight member having a rear surface that defines a second cavity, wherein the first weight member of said first club extends from the sole portion a height H₁ and the first weight member of said second club extends from the sole portion a height H₂, where H₂>

H₁ and wherein at least a portion of the first weight member of at least one of said first club and said second club is spaced apart from the back surface.

7. The set of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first club and said second club includes a means for horizontally adjusting the center of gravity of the club disposed within the second cavity.

8. The set of claim 7, wherein the means for horizontally adjusting the center of gravity of the club in at least one said first club and said second club comprises a weight medallion including a high-density portion and a low-density portion.

9. The set of claim 8, wherein the high-density portion of the weight medallion of said second club is disposed adjacent the heel portion.

10. The set of claim 8, wherein the low-density portion of the weight medallion of said first club is disposed adjacent the heel portion.

11. A method of making a golf iron to fit a player'"'"'s golf swing, the method comprising:

making a golf iron including a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel portion, a striking face having a front surface and a back surface, a peripheral mass disposed on the back surface, said peripheral mass defining a first cavity, a first weight member extending from the sole portion toward the top portion within the first cavity and having at least a portion spaced from the back surface, the first weight member having a rear surface which defines a second cavity, and said golf iron having a predetermined loft angle;

adjusting the center of gravity of said iron in a vertical direction in response to the loft angle by extending the first weight member from the sole portion a predetermined height; and

providing a means for adjusting the center of gravity of said iron in a horizontal direction disposed within the second cavity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein for a golf iron having a loft angle of about 17°

to 25°

adjusting the center of gravity in a vertical direction comprises extending the first weight member from the sole portion a height equal to or less than about 0.810 inches.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein for a golf iron having a loft angle of about 26°

to 39°

adjusting the center of gravity in a vertical direction comprises extending the first weight member from the sole portion a height about 0.810 to 0.920 inches.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein for a golf iron having a loft angle of about 40°

to 60°

adjusting the center of gravity in a vertical direction comprises extending the first weight member from the sole portion a height equal to or greater than about 0.920 inches.

15. A method of making a golf iron to fit a players golf swing, the method comprising:

making a golf iron including a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel portion, a striking face having a front surface and a back surface, a peripheral mass disposed on the back surface, said peripheral mass defining a first cavity, a first weight member extending from the sole portion toward the top portion within the first cavity and having at least a portion spaced from the back surface, the first weight member having a rear surface which defines a second cavity, and said golf iron having a predetermined loft angle;

adjusting the center of gravity of said iron in a vertical direction in response to the loft angle; and

providing a means for adjusting the center of gravity of said iron in a horizontal direction disposed within the second cavity, the means comprises disposing a weight medallion within the second cavity, wherein the weight medallion includes a first portion having a first density and a second portion having a second density, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the center of gravity of said iron in a horizontal direction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein for a golf iron having a loft angle of about 17°

to 25°

, adjusting the center of gravity in a horizontal direction comprises positioning the first portion of the weight medallion adjacent the heel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein for a golf iron having a loft angle of about 40°

to 60°

, adjusting the center of gravity in a horizontal direction comprises positioning the first portion of the weight medallion adjacent the toe.

19. The method of claim 16, Wherein adjusting the center of gravity in a vertical direction comprises extending the first weight member from the sole portion a predetermined height.

20. A golf iron set including a plurality of long irons, middle irons, and short irons, each of said irons having a club head comprising:

a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel portion, a striking face having a front surface and a back surface, a peripheral mass disposed on the back surface, said peripheral mass defining a first cavity;

a first weight member extending from the sole portion toward the top portion within the first cavity, said first weight member having a rear surface which defines a second cavity;

a weight medallion disposed within the second cavity;

wherein for the long irons said first weight member has a height H₁;

wherein for the middle irons said first weight member has a height H₂, where H₂>

H₁; and

wherein for the middle irons at least a portion of the first weight member is spaced apart from the back surface.