U.S. patent application number 13/337850 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-27 for golf club with reversible sole.
The applicant listed for this patent is Douglas C. Jorgensen. Invention is credited to Douglas C. Jorgensen.
Application Number | 20130165251 13/337850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48655097 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130165251 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jorgensen; Douglas C. |
June 27, 2013 |
GOLF CLUB WITH REVERSIBLE SOLE
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a golf club having a
reversible sole member. The reversible sole member provides a
plurality of bounce contours. The user may select one of the
plurality of bounce contours and orient the sole member so that the
selected bounce contour forms the sole contour of the golf club
head.
Inventors: |
Jorgensen; Douglas C.; (San
Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Jorgensen; Douglas C. |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48655097 |
Appl. No.: |
13/337850 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20130101;
A63B 53/0433 20200801; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 2053/0491
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/328 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20060101
A63B053/06 |
Claims
1. A golf club head, comprising: a main body member defining a
hosel, and a face, wherein the face defines a ball-striking
surface, a leading edge and a rear surface; a sole member including
a mounting surface, a first bounce contour and a second bounce
contour, wherein the mounting surface abuts a lower portion of the
rear surface of the main body member so that the sole member forms
a muscle portion of the golf club head, and wherein one of the
first bounce contour and the second bounce contour forms an upper
surface of the muscle portion and the other of the first bounce
contour and the second bounce contour forms a majority of the sole
contour of the golf club head, and a mechanical fastener removably
coupling the sole member to the body member, wherein the sole
member is shaped to be selectively attached to the main body in a
first configuration or a second configuration of the golf club
head, and wherein the first bounce contour forms the majority of
the sole contour of the golf club head in the first configuration
and the second bounce contour forms the majority of the sole
contour of the golf club head in the second configuration.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the main body further
comprises an elongate support extending across the rear surface in
a heel-to-toe direction.
3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the rear surface is
planar, and wherein the elongate support extends rearward from the
planar rear surface by about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.
4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a
first bounce angle in the first configuration and a second bounce
angle in the second configuration and the first bounce angle is
different than the second bounce angle.
5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first bounce contour
includes at least one of a heel relief and a toe relief.
6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the second bounce contour
includes at least one of a heel relief and a toe relief.
7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the rear surface is
planar, and wherein the thickness of the main body between the
ball-striking surface and the rear surface is less than about 6.0
mm.
8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole member provides
more than about 60% of the arc length of the sole surface of the
golf club head in a central portion of the sole surface of the golf
club head.
9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the sole member provides
more than about 75% of the arc length of the sole surface of the
golf club head in a central portion of the sole surface of the golf
club head.
10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the main body further
comprises a boss that extends rearward from the rear surface by
about 3.0 mm to about 6.0 mm, and wherein the boss includes a bore
that receives a portion of the fastener.
11. A golf club head, comprising: a main body member defining a
hosel, and a face, wherein the face defines a ball-striking
surface, a leading edge and a rear surface; a sole member including
a first bounce contour and a second bounce contour, wherein the
sole member is shaped to be selectively attached to the main body
in a first configuration or a second configuration of the golf club
head, and wherein the first bounce contour forms the majority of
the sole contour of the golf club head in the first configuration
and the second bounce contour forms the majority of the sole
contour of the golf club head in the second configuration, and a
mechanical fastener removably coupling the sole member to the body
member, and wherein the main body member and the sole member form
the entire sole surface of the golf club head.
12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the main body further
comprises an elongate support extending across the rear surface in
a heel-to-toe direction.
13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the rear surface is
planar, and wherein the elongate support extends rearward from the
planar rear surface by about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.
14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the golf club head has
a first bounce angle in the first configuration and a second bounce
angle in the second configuration and the first bounce angle is
different than the second bounce angle.
15. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the first bounce
contour includes at least one of a heel relief and a toe
relief.
16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the second bounce
contour includes at least one of a heel relief and a toe
relief.
17. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the rear surface is
planar, and wherein the thickness of the main body between the
ball-striking surface and the rear surface is less than about 6.0
mm.
18. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the sole member
provides more than about 60% of the arc length of the sole surface
of the golf club head in a central portion of the golf club
head.
19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the sole member
provides more than about 75% of the arc length of the sole surface
of the golf club head in a central portion of the golf club
head.
20. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the second bounce
contour forms an upper surface of a muscle portion of the golf club
head in the first configuration and the first bounce contour forms
an upper surface of a muscle portion of the golf club head in the
second configuration.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to golf clubs, and more
specifically to the sole configuration of iron-type golf clubs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Iron-type golf clubs generally include a face that includes
a ball striking surface and a body that supports the face, provides
desired mass properties and includes a sole that is configured to
contact the ground during a swing. The face includes a ball
striking surface that generally includes a plurality of score lines
or grooves that are positioned to impart spin on the ball during
impact. The body is generally designed to provide mass that is
distributed to tailor the behavior of the club, especially during
impact with the ball. The sole configuration also dictates the
behavior of the club caused by its interaction with the ground at
address and during a swing.
[0003] Each golfer has a unique swing. It is impossible to design a
golf club that is perfectly suited to every golfer. However, golf
club designers are forced to provide a limited number of models
that are intended to suffice for the majority of golfers.
Typically, the construction of the golf club, especially for
iron-type golf clubs, includes a single structural component that
includes the body, the face, the sole and a hosel. In
multi-material constructions, the parts of the golf club head are
formed separately and then coupled during manufacturing of the club
head.
[0004] Prior golf clubs have utilized multi-component
constructions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,213 describes a
golf club head that includes a metal head body and a fiber
reinforced resin face plate. A support pin extends through the body
and retains the face plate.
[0005] In another multi-component golf club head construction,
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,068, a golf club head includes a head
attachment portion at the rear of a face that is horizontally
connected to a base of a shaft attachment portion.
[0006] There is a need for an improved golf club construction that
provides greater ability to alter the physical attributes of the
golf club head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a golf club with a
reversible sole member. The inventive golf club includes a sole
member that includes a plurality of bounce contours. The sole
member may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head in a
plurality of orientations so that a selected on of the plurality of
bounce contours forms the sole contour of the club head.
[0008] In an embodiment, a golf club head includes a main body
member, a sole member and a mechanical fastener. The main body
member defines a hosel, and a face, and the face defines a
ball-striking surface, a leading edge and a rear surface. The sole
member includes a mounting surface, a first bounce contour and a
second bounce contour. The mounting surface abuts a lower portion
of the rear surface of the main body member so that the sole member
forms a muscle portion of the golf club head. One of the first
bounce contour and the second bounce contour forms an upper surface
of the muscle portion and the other of the first bounce contour and
the second bounce contour forms a majority of the sole contour of
the golf club head. The mechanical fastener removably couples the
sole member to the body member. The sole member is shaped to be
selectively attached to the main body in a first configuration or a
second configuration of the golf club head, and the first bounce
contour forms the majority of the sole contour of the golf club
head in the first configuration and the second bounce contour forms
the majority of the sole contour of the golf club head in the
second configuration.
[0009] In another embodiment, a golf club head includes a main body
member, a sole member and a mechanical fastener. The main body
member defines a hosel, and a face, and the face defines a
ball-striking surface, a leading edge and a rear surface. The sole
member includes a first bounce contour and a second bounce contour.
The sole member is shaped to be selectively attached to the main
body in a first configuration or a second configuration of the golf
club head, and the first bounce contour forms the majority of the
sole contour of the golf club head in the first configuration and
the second bounce contour forms the majority of the sole contour of
the golf club head in the second configuration. The mechanical
fastener removably couples the sole member to the body member. The
main body member and the sole member form the entire sole surface
of the golf club head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in
which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a golf club head in
accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the golf club
head of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 in a
first configuration;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 in a
second configuration;
[0016] FIG. 6 is side view of a sole member of the golf club head
of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an exploded rear perspective view of another golf
club head in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 8;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a side view of a main body member of the golf
club head of FIG. 8;
[0022] FIG. 12 is side view of a sole member of the golf club head
of FIG. 8;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the sole member of FIG.
8;
[0024] FIG. 14 is an exploded rear perspective view of another golf
club head in accordance with the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 15 is a side view of the golf club head of FIG. 14;
[0026] FIG. 16 is side view of a sole member of the golf club head
of FIG. 14; and
[0027] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] The present invention is directed to modular golf clubs. In
particular, the inventive golf clubs generally include a
multi-component structure that allows various attributes to be
altered.
[0029] Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise
expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values
and percentages such as those for amounts of materials, moments of
inertias, center of gravity locations, loft and draft angles, and
others in the following portion of the specification may be read as
if prefaced by the word "about" even though the term "about" may
not expressly appear with the value, amount, or range. Accordingly,
unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set
forth in the following specification and attached claims are
approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties
sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least,
and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of
equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter
should at least be construed in light of the number of reported
significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding
techniques.
[0030] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters
setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations,
the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are
reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however,
inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the
standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
Furthermore, when numerical ranges of varying scope are set forth
herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values
inclusive of the recited values may be used.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, an iron-type golf club head 10
generally includes a main body 12 and a sole member 13. Main body
12 includes a face 14 and a hosel 16. Face 14 includes a generally
planar ball striking surface 18 that extends between a top line 20,
a leading edge 22, a toe 24 and a heel 26. Ball striking surface 18
includes a plurality of score lines 28, or grooves, that extend
into face 14 from ball striking surface 18. Score lines 28 assist
in imparting spin to a golf ball and allow debris to move away from
the ball during impact. Score lines 28 may have various
configurations to produce desired spin characteristics and debris
behavior.
[0032] Body 12 provides the majority of the mass of club head 10
and is configured to distribute the mass so that club head has a
desired behavior during impact with a golf ball. For example, the
upper portion of face 14 may be have a generally constant thickness
or the thickness may vary, such as by providing perimeter
weighting, to provide the desired mass distribution. As
illustrated, the upper portion of face 14 has a generally constant
thickness so that when body 12 is combined with sole member 13,
golf club head 10 generally has a muscle-back configuration.
Additionally, the constant thickness of the upper portion of body
12 results in a planar rear surface 30.
[0033] Sole member 13 is coupled to a lower portion of face 14, on
rear surface 30, and provides the majority of the sole contour of
golf club head 10, so that sole member 13 provides the majority of
the surface area of the sole surface of the complete golf club head
10. Additionally, sole member 13 provides the majority of the arc
length L from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the sole
surface of the complete golf club head 10 in a central portion of
the sole surface, where the central portion is a portion of club
head 10 that extends approximately 12.0 mm both heelward and
toeward from the heel-to-toe center of the ball striking surface of
the golf club head 10. Preferably, sole member 13 provides greater
than about 60%, and more preferably greater than about 75% of that
arc length of the sole surface of the center portion of golf club
head 10. It should be appreciated that the sole contour may include
a combination of planar and curved surfaces and in embodiments
utilizing a sole contour that includes at least one planar surface,
the "arc length" includes the linear length of the at least one
planar surface.
[0034] Sole member 13 is generally an elongate body that includes a
generally planar mounting surface 32, a first bounce contour 34,
and a second bounce contour 36. Sole member 13 is shaped so that a
user may configure golf club 10 to have one of two sole
configurations with a single sole member 13. For example, sole
member 13 is rotated to orient either first bounce contour 34 or
second bounce contour 36 lower on body 12 so that the selected
contour forms the sole contour of the complete golf club head 10.
Sole member 13 is generally rotated about a longitudinal axis of a
fastener 38 that is normal to the planar rear surface 30 of body
12. Because the longitudinal axis of the fastener 38 is utilized as
the pivot axis of sole member 13, sole member 13 may be re-oriented
simply by partially disengaging fastener 38 and sole member 13 from
body 12, rotating sole member 13 relative to body 12, and
tightening fastener 38 to body 12. As an alternative, fastener 38
and sole member 13 may be fully disengaged, if desired.
[0035] First bounce contour 34 and second bounce contour 36 are
shaped to provide different sole contours for golf club head 10.
For example, the bounce contours may be shaped to provide full sole
surfaces with different bounce angles, as shown in detail in FIGS.
3-5. First bounce contour 34 and second bounce contour 36 are
shaped to provide full sole configurations with different bounce
angles. As shown in FIG. 4, when first bounce contour 34 is
oriented on main body 12 to provide the sole contour of golf club
head 10, it provides a full sole surface having a first bounce
angle .alpha..sub.1. As shown in FIG. 5, when second bounce contour
36 is oriented on main body 12 to provide the sole contour of golf
club head 10, it provides a full sole surface having a second
bounce angle .alpha..sub.2 that is greater than first bounce angle
.alpha..sub.1. First bounce angle .alpha..sub.1 is preferably
between about 4.degree. and about 9.degree., and second bounce
angle .alpha..sub.2 is preferably between about 10.degree. and
about 15.degree..
[0036] Alternatively, one bounce contour may be shaped to provide a
full sole surface and the second bounce contour may be shaped to
provide a desired sole grind shape. As a further alternative, the
bounce contours may be shaped to provide two different sole grind
shapes.
[0037] Sole member 13 is constructed separate from body 12 and
coupled thereto. Sole member 13 includes alignment features that
engage alignment features of body 12 when sole member 13 is fully
installed on body 12. The engagement of the alignment features
ensures that the sole member 13 is oriented relative to main body
12 so that one of first bounce contour 34 and second bounce contour
36 forms the sole contour of golf club head 10. In that
orientation, sole member 13 generally extends between heel 26 and
toe 24 of main body 12 and the upper bounce contour generally forms
an upper surface of a muscle portion of club head 10. For example,
in the configuration of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, sole member 13 is
oriented so that first bounce contour 34 is lower on main body 12
and forms the sole contour of golf club head 10, while second
bounce contour 36 is adjacent an upper portion of main body 12 and
generally forms an upper surface of a muscle portion of the golf
club head 10.
[0038] The alignment features of main body 12 include a plurality
of tapered protrusions that extend from a lower portion of rear
surface 30 of main body 12. In the present embodiment, the
alignment features include a plurality of truncated cones 40 and a
boss 42 that is also generally shaped as a truncated cone. Boss 42
is configured to be coupled to fastener 38 in the assembled golf
club head 10. For example, boss 42 includes a threaded bore 44 bore
that is coupled to a threaded shank of fastener 38. Cones 40 are
spaced from boss 42 so that when sole member 13 is mounted on main
body 12, the interaction between cones 40 and sole member 13
prevent sole member from rotating about boss 42. The height of
cones 40 relative to rear surface 30 is selected so that sole
member 13 does not have to be fully removed from boss 42 in order
to rotate sole member 13 relative to main body 12 about boss 42 and
the longitudinal axis of fastener 38. As a result, the orientation
of sole member 13 may be altered without fully disengaging sole
member 13 from main body 12. Preferably, the height of cones 40
from rear surface 30 is less than the height of boss 42 from rear
surface 30.
[0039] The alignment features of sole member 13 include a plurality
of depressions that receive cones 40 and boss 42. In particular,
sole member 13 includes a pair of conical depressions 46 that are
sized and shaped to receive truncated cones 40 of main body 12 so
that relative motion between each cone 40 and depression 46 is
minimized or prevented. Similarly, a boss depression 48 is provided
in sole member 13 that is sized and shaped to receive boss 42.
[0040] A fastener bore 50 extends through sole member 13 and
intersects boss depression 48 so that fastener 38 extends through
sole member 13, through boss depression 48 and into boss 42 in the
assembled golf club head 10. Fastener bore 50 also preferably
includes a counterbore 52 so that the head of fastener 38 may be
received therein so that the outer surface of fastener 38 may be
flush, or below, an outer surface of sole member 13.
[0041] Sole member 13 is spaced from ball striking surface 18 so
that main body 12 provides the leading edge of golf club head 10.
Furthermore, sole member 13 is shaped so that the sole contour of
golf club head 10 is smooth over the interface between sole member
13 and main body 12. As an alternative, the sole contour of the
club head may be stepped at the interface so that the forward-most
edge of sole member 13 is recessed relative to the adjacent sole
surface of main body 12.
[0042] The mass properties of sole member 13 such as by including
empty cavities and/or filled cavities in selected portions of sole
member 13. For example, sole member 13 includes an empty cavity 54
and a filled cavity 56 to alter the mass distribution of sole
member 13. In the present embodiment, empty cavity 54 is located
adjacent second bounce contour 36 to remove mass from that portion
of sole member 13. Filled cavity 56 is located adjacent first
bounce contour 34 and includes a weight insert 58 to increase the
mass of sole member 13 on the side of first bounce contour 34. The
mass properties of sole member 13 may be altered so that the center
of gravity is located on the axis of rotation of sole member 13,
e.g., along the longitudinal axis of fastener 38, so that the
center of gravity of golf club head 10 remains in the same location
in both orientations of sole member 13.
[0043] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, a golf
club head 70 includes a main body 72 and a sole member 73. In the
present embodiment, sole member 73 is coupled to main body 72 by a
fastener that is retained in sole member 73. Main body 72 includes
a face 74 and a hosel 76. Face 74 includes a generally planar ball
striking surface 78 that extends between a top line 80, a leading
edge 82, a toe 84 and a heel 86. Ball striking surface 78 includes
a plurality of score lines 88, or grooves, that extend into face 74
from ball striking surface 78. Leading edge 82 may be contoured to
provide a desired behavior during turf interaction, such as by
including a leading edge chamfer 83.
[0044] Main body 72 also includes an elongate face support 90 that
provides an alignment feature. Face support 90 extends in a
generally heel to toe direction and projects outward from a rear
surface 92 of main body 72, so that it forms a bar or strut.
Preferably, the thickness of main body 72 between ball striking
surface 78 and rear surface 92 is less than, or equal to, about 6.0
mm, and the thickness of face support 90 is less than, or equal to,
about 6.0 mm. In the present embodiment, face support 90 generally
extends across rear surface 92 so that it is approximately parallel
to a ground surface G when club head 70 is placed in the address
position and oriented with the designed lie and loft angles.
Alternatively, face support 92 may be oriented so that it extends
diagonally across rear surface 92, such as from high toe to low
heel, or from low toe to high heel. Face support 90 intersects a
boss 91 that extends further outward from rear surface 92 than face
support 90. Boss 91 includes a threaded bore 93 that receives a
threaded shank of a fastener 100 that removably couples sole member
73 to main body 72. Boss 91 is shaped as a truncated cone.
Preferably, the portion of face support 90, excluding boss 91, has
a thickness of between about 1.0 mm and about 3.0 mm.
[0045] Sole member 73 is coupled to a lower portion of face 74, on
rear surface 92, and provides the majority of the sole contour of
golf club head 70. Sole member 73 is generally an elongate body
that includes a mounting surface 94, a first bounce contour 96, and
a second bounce contour 98. Sole member 73 is shaped so that a user
may configure golf club 70 to have one of two sole configurations
with a single sole member 73 by rotating sole member 73 relative to
main body 72 as described above with respect to the previous
embodiment.
[0046] First bounce contour 96 and second bounce contour 98 are
shaped to provide different sole contours for golf club head 70.
For example, one of the bounce contours may be shaped to provide a
full sole surface with a selected bounce angle and the other may be
shaped to provide a specific shape, also referred to as a "sole
grind," which may include one or more relieved portions adjacent a
primary bounce surface. A variety of sole shapes may be included to
provide desired turf interaction and behavior when the club face is
opened or closed by a user. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, first
bounce contour 96 is shaped to provide a full sole configuration
with a selected bounce angle that is preferably between about
4.degree. and about 15.degree.. Second bounce contour 98 is shaped
to provide a shape that includes a primary bounce surface 102 that
is interposed between a toe relief 104 and a heel relief 106, and a
chamfered trailing edge 108.
[0047] Sole member 73 is constructed separate from body 72 and is
coupled to main body 72 by fastener 100. Sole member 73 includes
alignment features that engage face support 90 when sole member 73
is fully installed on body 72. The engagement of the alignment
features ensures that the sole member 73 is oriented relative to
main body 72 so that one of first bounce contour 96 and second
bounce contour 98 forms the sole contour of golf club head 70. The
alignment features of sole member 73 include an elongate depression
110 that receives face support 90 and boss 91. As shown in FIG. 12,
depression 110 is intersected by a cavity 112 so that the elongate
depression 110 is divided into heel/toe portions 114 and a central
portion 116 that is shaped to receive boss 91.
[0048] In the assembled golf club head 70, fastener 100 extends
through sole member 73 and into boss 91 where it is threaded into
main body 72. A head 118 of fastener 100 is received in a
counterbore 120 included at an outer end of a fastener bore 101
that extends through sole member 73. Head 118 includes a
circumferential groove 122 and counterbore 120 includes a groove
124 that aligns with groove 122 when fastener 100 is fully inserted
in sole member 73. A retaining ring 126 is interposed between head
118 and sole member 73 and at least partially within each of the
grooves 122, 124 so that fastener 100 is coupled to sole member 73.
Fastener 100 is coupled to sole member 73 so that fastener is
rotatable relative to sole member 73, but remains coupled to sole
member 73 when it is removed from main body 72. An additional
benefit of retaining fastener 100 in sole member 73 is that as
fastener 100 is disengaged from boss 91, sole member 73 is pulled
away from main body 72 and becomes disengaged from the alignment
features of main body 72.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 14-17, a golf club head 140 will be
described. Golf club head 140 includes a main body 142 and a sole
member 143 that is coupled to main body 142. In the present
embodiment, sole member 143 is spring-loaded on main body 142 to
simplify the process of re-orienting sole member 143 relative to
main body 142. Main body 142 includes a face 144 and a hosel 146.
Face 144 includes a generally planar ball striking surface 148 that
extends between a top line 150, a leading edge 152, a toe 154 and a
heel 156. Ball striking surface 148 includes a plurality of score
lines 158, or grooves, that extend into face 144 from ball striking
surface 148.
[0050] Main body 142 also includes an elongate face support 160
that provides an alignment feature and that extends in a generally
heel to toe direction and projects outward from a rear surface 162
of main body 142. Face support 160 intersects a boss 161 that
extends further outward from rear surface 162 than face support
160. Boss 161 includes a threaded bore 163 that receives a threaded
shank of a fastener 164 that removably couples sole member 143 to
main body 142. Similar to the previous embodiments, boss 161 is
shaped as a truncated cone. Boss 161 also includes an annular
channel 165 that receives a spring 167 so that in the assembled
golf club head, spring 167 is interposed and compressed between
sole member 143 and main body 142. As a result, as fastener 164 is
disengaged from boss 161, spring 167 forces sole member 143 to
separate from main body 142 and its alignment features, thereby
simplifying the re-orientation of sole member 143 relative to main
body 142.
[0051] Sole member 143 is coupled to a lower portion of face 144,
on rear surface 162, and provides the majority of the sole contour
of golf club head 140. Sole member 143 is generally an elongate
body that includes a mounting surface 166, a first bounce contour
168, and a second bounce contour 170. Sole member 143 is shaped so
that a user may configure golf club 140 to have one of two sole
configurations with a single sole member 143 by rotating sole
member 143 relative to main body 142 as described above with
respect to previous embodiments.
[0052] First bounce contour 168 and second bounce contour 170 are
shaped to provide different sole contours for golf club head 140.
For example, each of the two bounce contours may be shaped to
provide a specific shape, or "sole grind." As illustrated in FIGS.
14 and 15, first bounce contour 168 is shaped to include a primary
bounce surface 172 that is interposed between a toe relief 174 and
a heel relief 176, and a chamfered trailing edge 178. In the
illustrated configuration, sole member 143 is oriented so that
second bounce contour 170 forms the sole surface of golf club head
140 and first bounce contour 168 forms an upper portion of a muscle
portion of golf club head 140. As a result, heel relief 176 and toe
relief 174 of first bounce contour 168 are located on toe and heel
sides of club head 140, respectively. Second bounce contour 170 is
shaped to include a heel relief 180, a primary bounce surface 182
that extends from heel relief 180 toward toe without a toe relief,
and a chamfered trailing edge 184.
[0053] Sole member 143 is constructed separate from body 142 and is
coupled to main body 142 by fastener 164. Sole member 143 includes
alignment features that engage face support 160 when sole member
143 is fully installed on body 142. The engagement of the alignment
features ensures that the sole member 143 is oriented relative to
main body 142 so that one of first bounce contour 168 and second
bounce contour 170 forms the sole contour of golf club head 140.
The alignment features of sole member 143 include an elongate
depression 186 that receives face support 160 and boss 161.
[0054] In the assembled golf club head 140, fastener 164 extends
through sole member 143 and into boss 161 where it is threaded into
main body 142. A head 188 of fastener 100 is received in a
counterbore 190 included at an outer end of a fastener bore 192
that extends through sole member 143.
[0055] While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of
the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives stated above,
it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments
may be devised by those skilled in the art. Elements from one
embodiment can be incorporated into other embodiments. Therefore,
it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to
cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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