Iron head

• US 8,277,337 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimazaki, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/507,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/350
• 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 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

An iron head is provided with a recess portion provided in an upper portion of a backside surface thereof, and a protruding portion provided at a lower portion of the backside surface. A first hollow portion is provided on a heel side from a bottom surface of a recess portion to a sole surface; and a second hollow portion is disposed on a toe side. The first hollow portion and the second hollow portion do not exist behind a sweet area. The first hollow portion and the second hollow portion may be filled with a shock absorber formed of a rubber or an elastomer.

Claims

1. An iron head comprising:

a striking face;

a backside surface;

a sole surface;

a hosel;

a recess portion provided in an upper portion of the backside surface, said recess portion having a first length in a vertical direction in parallel to the striking face;

a protruding portion provided at a lower portion of the backside surface and projecting backward, said protruding portion having a second length greater than the first length in the vertical direction, said protruding portion having an upper surface curved upwardly;

a first hollow portion provided on a heel side of the protruding portion; and

a second hollow portion disposed on a toe side and inside the protruding portion, said protruding portion including a middle portion between the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion,

wherein said striking face includes a plurality of score lines including a longest score line, said middle portion being disposed so that a center line of the middle portion is aligned with a center line of the longest score line.

2. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion penetrates from the upper surface of the protruding portion to the sole surface, and has a first lid to close the sole surface.

3. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion has a second lid to close an upper portion thereof.

4. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein said first hollow portion is disposed away from the second hollow portion by a distance equal to a distance between the upper surface of the protruding portion and the sole surface.

5. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein said first hollow portion is disposed away from the second hollow portion by a distance of 10 to 30 mm.

6. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein said first hollow portion is disposed away from the second hollow portion by a distance gradually increasing from the upper surface of the protruding portion toward the sole surface.

7. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein said first hollow portion is disposed away from the second hollow portion by a distance of 10 to 30 mm at the upper surface of the protruding portion.

8. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is disposed not to reach the sole surface.

9. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is filled with a shock absorber.

10. The iron head according to claim 9, wherein said shock absorber is made of a rubber or an elastomer.

11. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is filled with a shock absorber, at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion being closed with a lid formed of a material harder than that of the shock absorber.

12. The iron head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is arranged to increase an inner size thereof toward the sole surface.

13. The iron, head according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion extends in parallel to the striking face from the upper surface of the protruding portion toward the sole surface up to a middle between the upper surface and the sole surface.

14. An iron head comprising:

a striking face;

a backside surface;

a sole surface;

a hosel;

a recess portion provided in an upper portion of the backside surface;

a protruding portion provided at a lower portion of the backside surface and projecting backward, said protruding portion having an upper surface curved upwardly; and

a hollow portion extending from a toe side to a heel side of the protruding portion, said protruding portion including a middle portion with a first face plate thickness in a toe to heel direction thereof, said first face plate thickness being larger than a second face plate thickness on a toe side with respect to the middle portion and a third face plate thickness on a heel side with respect to the middle portion, said first face plate thickness increasing gradually from an upper portion toward a lower portion of the middle portion,

wherein said middle portion is situated at a center point of the striking face.

15. The iron head according to claim 14, wherein said hollow portion has a length of 15 to 30 mm in from the toe side to the heel side.

16. The iron head according to claim 14, wherein said middle portion has a width of 15 to 30 mm in the toe to heel direction.

17. The iron head according to claim 14, wherein said middle portion has the first face plate thickness equal to or more than 2.5 mm, said first face plate thickness being larger than the second face plate thickness and the third face plate thickness by equal to or more than 0.5 mm.

18. The iron head according to claim 14, wherein said hollow portion penetrates from the upper surface of the protruding portion to the sole surface, and includes a bottom surface closed with a bottom lid.

19. The iron head according to claim 14, further comprising a shock absorber filled in the hollow portion.

20. The iron head according to claim 19, wherein said shock absorber is made of a rubber or an elastomer.

21. An iron head comprising:

a striking face;

a backside surface;

a sole surface;

a hosel;

a recess portion provided in an upper portion of the backside surface;

a protruding portion provided at a lower portion of the backside surface and projecting backward, said protruding portion having an upper surface curved upwardly;

a first hollow portion provided on a heel side of the protruding portion, said first hollow portion having a first length in a vertical direction; and

a second hollow portion disposed on a toe side and inside the protruding portion, said second hollow portion having a second length in the vertical direction greater than the first length, said protruding portion including a middle portion between the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion.

22. The iron head according to claim 21, wherein said first hollow portion is disposed away from the second hollow portion by a distance gradually increasing from the upper surface of the protruding portion toward the sole surface.

23. The iron head according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is filled with a shock absorber, at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion being closed with a lid formed of a material harder than that of the shock absorber.

24. The iron head according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first hollow portion and said second hollow portion is arranged to increase an inner size thereof toward the sole surface.

25. An iron head comprising:

a striking face;

a backside surface;

a sole surface;

a hosel;

a recess portion provided in an upper portion of the backside surface, said recess portion having a first length in a vertical direction in parallel to the striking face;

a protruding portion provided at a lower portion of the backside surface and projecting backward, said protruding portion having a second length greater than the first length in the vertical direction, said protruding portion having an upper surface curved upwardly;

a first hollow portion provided on a heel side of the protruding portion; and

a second hollow portion disposed on a toe side and inside the protruding portion, said protruding portion including a middle portion between the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion,

wherein said first hollow portion is disposed away from the second hollow portion by a distance equal to a distance between the upper surface of the protruding portion and the sole surface.