U.S. patent application number 09/757973 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for golf clubs and golf club sets.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aneeging Sports Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Teramoto, Seiichiro.
Application Number | 20010004613 09/757973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22902770 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010004613 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teramoto, Seiichiro |
June 21, 2001 |
Golf clubs and golf club sets
Abstract
A golf club set in which the weight balance of club shafts is
optimized for each individual club. The weight balance at the
grip-end of the shaft of each of the individual golf clubs
increases as the corresponding loft angles of each of the
individual golf clubs increase.
Inventors: |
Teramoto, Seiichiro;
(Fukuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL S. GZYBOWSKI
BAKER & DANIELS
Suite 800
111 East Wayne Street
Fort Wayne
IN
46802
US
|
Assignee: |
Aneeging Sports Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
22902770 |
Appl. No.: |
09/757973 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09757973 |
Jan 10, 2001 |
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09239576 |
Jan 29, 1999 |
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6224495 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/290 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/00 20151001;
A63B 53/00 20130101; A63B 53/005 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/290 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A golf club set comprising a plurality of individual golf clubs
having progressively increasing loft angles, each golf club of the
set comprising: a grip for grasping the club; a head for hitting a
ball; and a shaft connected between the grip and head, each shaft
having a length, a grip-end and a head-end, wherein each shaft has
a weight balance at its grip-end thereof which increases from club
to club as the corresponding loft angles of each of the respective
clubs increase.
2. A golf club set according to claim 1, wherein the weight balance
of the shaft of each club is controlled by regulating a weight
ratio between a first and a second region of each shaft, which
first and second regions divide the shafts lengthwise into two
portions having length ratios of 1 to 1.6 from the grip-end to the
head-end thereof.
3. A golf club set according to claim 2, wherein a weight ratio
between the first and second regions changes in a range of 1:2 to
1:1 as the corresponding loft angles of each of the individual golf
clubs increase.
4. A golf club set according to claim 1, wherein the shaft of each
club includes a core and the weight balance of the shafts is
regulated by controlling the thickness of the cores of the
shafts.
5. A golf club set according to claim 2, wherein the shaft of each
club includes a core and the weight balance of the shafts is
regulated by controlling the thickness of the cores of the
shafts.
6. A golf club comprising: a grip for grasping the golf club; a
head for hitting a ball, the head having a loft angle; a shaft
connected between the grip and head, the shaft having a grip-end
and a head-end; and a weight provided at the grip-end of the shaft
which weight provides the shaft with a desired weight balance,
wherein the mass of the weight is proportional to the loft
angle.
7. A golf club according to claim 6, wherein the weight balance of
the shaft is controlled by regulating a weight ratio between a
first and a second region of the shaft, which first and second
regions divide the shaft lengthwise into two portions having length
ratios of 1 to 1.6 from the grip-end to the head-end thereof.
8. A golf club according to claim 7, wherein a weight ratio between
the first and second regions is a range of 1:2 to 1:1 and varies in
this range proportionally to the loft angle.
9. A golf club according to claim 6, wherein the shaft has a core
and the weight balance of the shaft is regulated by controlling the
thickness of the core.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to golf clubs and golf club
sets, and more particularly to golf club sets in which the weight
balance of shafts is optimized for each individual club.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In recent years, golf clubs have been improved remarkably.
In many cases, club heads have been designed in order to broaden
their sweet spots or to lower their centers of gravity. For the
shafts of golf clubs, new materials are being used to control
flexibility or strength against twist.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to other features, characteristics, embodiments
and alternatives of the present invention which will become
apparent as the description thereof proceeds below, the present
invention provides golf club sets in which weight balance of the
club shafts is optimized for each individual club.
[0004] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
golf clubs are designed so as to produce optimized or improved
perform characteristics for each individual club for golfers of all
levels of experience, from beginners or novice to professional
golfers.
[0005] The present invention is applicable to both woods and
irons.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, in golf club
sets, the weight balance at the grip-end of the shaft of each of
the individual golf clubs increases as the corresponding loft angle
of each of the individual golf clubs increases.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, golf clubs
are characterized by controlling the weight balance of the shafts
so that the weight at the grip-end increases as the loft angles
increase.
[0008] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and
will otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will be described hereafter with
reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting
examples only, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an iron set designed
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing shafts of golf clubs each of
which is divided two regions (A and B) which reference the manner
in which the weight balance is regulated according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a table showing examples of weight balances
between the regions A and B for each club in a set according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the core of a shaft of a
golf club with a large loft angle, according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing shafts of golf clubs in a golf
club set according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a table showing examples of diameters at a point A
of shafts according one embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention is directed to golf clubs and golf
club sets, and more particularly to golf club sets in which the
weight balance of shafts is optimized for each individual club. In
golf club sets, each individual club is required to have separate
characteristics. That is, it is required, for long (less-lofted)
clubs, such as drivers, to effect a long driving distance. On the
other hand, shorter (more-lofted) clubs, such as pitching wedges,
are required to have accuracy both in direction and distance.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a golf club set to which the present invention
is applied. The golf club set includes a long iron 10 having a
small loft angle of .theta.a, a middle iron 20 having a medium loft
angle of .theta.b and a short iron 30 having a large loft angle of
.theta.c. The golf club set may include other clubs having
different loft angles. In FIG. 1, the loft angles are defined by
measuring the angle formed by the central line of a shaft and the
face of a club head.
[0018] In FIG. 1, the long iron 10 includes a head 12 having a face
with a loft angle .theta.a, a grip 16 which a player grasps, and a
shaft 14 which connects the head 12 and the grip 16. In the same
manner, the middle iron 20 includes a head 22 having a face with a
loft angle .theta.b, a grip 26 which a player grasps, and a shaft
24 which connects the head 22 and the grip 26. The short iron 30
includes a head 32 having a face with a loft angle .theta.c, a grip
36 which a player grasps, and a shaft 34 which connects the head 32
and the grip 36. As discussed below, the present invention
optimizes the weight balance of shafts of golf clubs.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows shafts of golf clubs each of which is divided
two regions (A and B) so as to regulate or reference how the weight
balance is achieved according to one embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 2, regions A and B are divided so as to
have length ratios of about 1 to 1.6 from the grip-end of the
shaft. In FIG. 2, the regions A and B are indicated by 14a and 14b
for a shaft 14 of the long club 10. For a shaft 24 of the middle
club 20, the regions A and B are indicated by 24a and 24b. For a
shaft 34 of the short club 30, the regions A and B are indicated by
34a and 34b.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of the weight balance
(distribution) between the regions A and B of the shaft of each
club. As shown in the table, for the clubs with smaller loft
angles, the weight of the region A is set to be lighter and the
weight of the region B is set to be heavier as compared to the
clubs with larger loft angles. This weight balance relationship
causes the clubs to feel heavier at the head-end of the club as
compared to the grip-end during a swing. Because the mass is
increased near the club head, more power can be transferred to the
ball at the moment of impact. Therefore, according to the present
invention, less-lofted clubs can effect longer driving
distances.
[0021] For clubs with larger loft angles, the weight of the region
A is set to be heavier and the weight of the region B is set to be
lighter as compared to the clubs with smaller loft angles. This
weight balance relationship causes the clubs to feel heavier at the
grip-end of the club as compared to the head-end during a swing.
Because the pivot point of a swing tends to be more stabilized with
the weight balance of the present invention, it is possible to
obtain a more solid impact.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a core 40 of the shaft of a short club,
according to another embodiment of the present invention. Typically
the cores of golf club shafts for a given set of clubs are designed
to have a larger diameter at the grip-end and a smaller diameter at
the head-end. The shaft cores for longer clubs are designed to be
longer than those for shorter clubs. The diameter of the core at
the grip-end is designed to be similar within a given set of clubs.
In the same manner, the diameter of the core at the head-end is
designed to be similar within a given set of clubs. In other words,
the shaft cores of longer clubs are shaped to have diameters that
vary gradually from end to end, because the cores are long.
Conversely, the shaft cores of shorter clubs are shaped to have
diameters that vary steeply from end to end, because the cores are
short. In FIG. 4 the thickness of the shaft core, which increases
beneath grip 40a can be seen by phantom lines which follow the
outer surface of the shaft core.
[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
shaft core 40 of shorter clubs is shaped to have a larger diameter
at the grip-end so as to increase the weight around the
grip-end.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing shafts of golf clubs in a golf
club set according to another embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 5, the diameter at a point A on a shaft 14 (24,
34) is controlled for each individual golf club in a golf club set.
According to one example, for woods, the diameters at the head-end
and grip-end of club shafts can be about 8.6 mm and about 15.0 mm,
respectively. According to another example, for irons, the
diameters at the head-end and grip-end can be about 9.4 mm and
about 15.0 mm, respectively.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a table showing examples of diameters at a point A
of shafts according one embodiment of the present invention. In
FIGS. 5 and 6 point A is three inches away from the head-end of the
shaft. Generally, club shafts for a given set of clubs have similar
thicknesses measured from the outer diameter of the shaft cores and
the outer diameter of the shafts. In this regard, the club shafts
typically include a hollow core element and various layers such as
carbon fibers which are wound around the core.
[0026] According to the present invention, for shorter clubs
(more-lofted clubs), the diameter of the shafts at the point A is
set to be larger. That is, shorter clubs are designed to have
shafts with a thicker head-end, so that the shaft becomes
mechanically stronger. As a result, such shorter clubs feel more
stable to a player before and during a swing. Conversely, for
longer clubs (less-lofted clubs) the diameter of the shafts at the
point A is set to be smaller. Accordingly, longer clubs are
designed to have shafts with thin head-ends. As a result, such
longer clubs feel more sharp and less stable before and during a
swing.
[0027] Embodiments of the invention exemplified in FIGS. 5 and 6 do
not have to be used to the exclusion of the other embodiments of
the present invention, because changes in the diameter of the shaft
shells do not have to produce significant effects on the weight of
the shafts. Accordingly, changes in the diameters can be
accomplished so that they only affect the mechanical strength of
the shafts. Since shorter clubs tend to have heavier heads, such
clubs need stronger shafts, especially at the head-end.
[0028] According to the embodiments of the present invention which
are set forth above, it is possible to design clubs having shafts
that are ideally or optimally weight balanced according to the
skill or experience of a particular player.
[0029] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, from the
foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain
the essential characteristics of the present invention and various
changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and
characteristics without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention as described by the claims which follow.
* * * * *