U.S. patent application number 14/290750 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-19 for golf clubs and golf club heads.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nike, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jason Cardani, David N. Franklin, Andrew G.V. Oldknow, Raymond J. Sander.
Application Number | 20180200585 14/290750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53373657 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180200585 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Franklin; David N. ; et
al. |
July 19, 2018 |
GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS
Abstract
Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking
face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club
shaft with the golf club head body. Additionally, the shaft
engaging member may be configured to engage the golf club head body
and the shaft below a center of gravity of the golf club head,
and/or the shaft engaging member may have rotational locking
structure that can be locked in a plurality of positions. Further,
the golf club head may include a face member and a rear member,
where the rear member is configured to transfer energy and/or
momentum to the face member, particularly on off-center hits.
Inventors: |
Franklin; David N.;
(Granbury, TX) ; Cardani; Jason; (Portland,
OR) ; Oldknow; Andrew G.V.; (Beaverton, OR) ;
Sander; Raymond J.; (Benbrook, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nike, Inc. |
Beaverton |
OR |
US |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150343278 A1 |
December 3, 2015 |
|
|
Family ID: |
53373657 |
Appl. No.: |
14/290750 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13308079 |
Nov 30, 2011 |
9072948 |
|
|
14290750 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0416 20200801;
A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B 2053/0479
20130101; A63B 53/0454 20200801; A63B 53/0462 20200801; A63B 60/54
20151001; A63B 53/026 20200801; A63B 53/02 20130101; A63B 53/0425
20200801; A63B 60/50 20151001 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/02 20060101
A63B053/02; A63B 53/04 20060101 A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising: an iron-type golf club head body
having connecting structure, the golf club head body comprising: a
face member including a face having a striking surface configured
for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface
of the face, the face member having a heel edge and a toe edge; a
rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and being
spaced from the rear side of the face member; and a resilient
member separating the rear member from the rear side of the face
member, wherein the resilient member engages the rear member and
the rear side of the face member and is configured to transfer
momentum between the face member and the rear member; and a shaft
engaging member engaged with the connecting structure of the golf
club head body, wherein the shaft engaging member is configured to
be engaged with a golf club shaft to connect the shaft to the golf
club head body, wherein the shaft engaging member is engaged with
the connecting structure at a location completely below a center of
gravity of the golf club head body.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the resilient member
comprises a first portion positioned toward the heel edge from the
connecting structure and a second portion positioned toward the toe
edge from the connecting structure.
3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first portion and the
second portion are continuous with each other.
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the connecting structure
and the shaft engaging member have complementary rotational locking
structures to rotationally lock the shaft engaging member with the
connecting structure, and wherein the rotational locking structure
is adjustable, such that the shaft engaging member is configured to
be engaged with the connecting structure in at least a first
rotational position and a second rotational position with respect
to the golf club head body, wherein a loft angle of the golf club
head in the first position is different from the loft angle of the
golf club head in the second position.
9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the shaft engaging member
comprises a protrusion and an arm extending upward and away from
the protrusion, wherein the shaft engaging member engages the
connecting structure of the golf club head body, such that the
protrusion is at least partially received within the golf club head
body and extends horizontally into the golf club head body, and the
arm is at least partially exposed and extends upward and away from
the golf club head body, and wherein the protrusion is located
completely below the center of gravity of the golf club head
body.
10. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising an engagement
member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear member to form
a joint that permits the rear member to transfer momentum to the
face member upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface,
wherein the engagement member forms a point of rigid engagement
between the face member and the rear member.
11. (canceled)
12. A golf club head comprising: an iron-type golf club head body
having connecting structure, the golf club head body comprising: a
face member including a face having a striking surface configured
for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking surface
of the face, the face member having a heel edge and a toe edge; a
rear member connected to the rear side of the face member and being
spaced from the rear side of the face member; and a resilient
member separating the rear member from the rear side of the face
member, wherein the resilient member engages the rear member and
the rear side of the face member and is configured to transfer
momentum between the face member and the rear member; and a shaft
engaging member engaged with the connecting structure of the golf
club head body, wherein the shaft engaging member is configured to
be engaged with a golf club shaft to connect the shaft to the golf
club head body; and wherein the connecting structure and the shaft
engaging member have complementary rotational locking structures to
rotationally lock the shaft engaging member with the connecting
structure, and wherein the rotational locking structure is
adjustable, such that the shaft engaging member is configured to be
engaged with the connecting structure in at least a first
rotational position and a second rotational position with respect
to the golf club head body, wherein a loft angle of the golf club
head in the first position is different from the loft angle of the
golf club head in the second position.
13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the resilient member
comprises a heel portion positioned toward the heel edge from the
connecting structure and a toe portion positioned toward the toe
edge from the connecting structure.
14. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a joint that
permits the rear member to transfer momentum to the face member
upon an impact of the ball on the striking surface.
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising an
engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear
member to form a joint that permits the rear member to transfer
momentum to the face member upon an impact of the ball on the
striking surface, wherein the engagement member forms a point of
rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member.
22. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the shaft engaging
member is engaged with the connecting structure at a location
completely below a center of gravity of the golf club head
body.
23. (canceled)
24. A golf club head comprising: an iron-type golf club head body
comprising: a face member including a face having a striking
surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the
striking surface of the face, the face member having a heel edge
and a toe edge, and wherein the face member has an engaging surface
defining a passage forming at least a portion of a connecting
structure of the golf club head body; a rear member joined to the
rear side of the face member, the rear member having a heel edge
and a toe edge; a first engagement member rigidly engaging the face
member and the rear member to form a joint that permits the rear
member to transfer momentum to the face member upon an impact of
the ball on the striking surface, wherein the first engagement
member forms a point of rigid engagement between the face member
and the rear member, the first engagement member located toward a
center of the rear member from the heel edge and the toe edge of
the rear member, wherein the face member is spaced from the rear
member between the first engagement member and the heel edge of the
face member and between the first engagement member and the toe
edge of the face member; and a resilient member separating the rear
member from the rear side of the face member, wherein the resilient
member engages the rear member and the rear side of the face member
and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and
the rear member, wherein the resilient member includes at least one
gap permitting the engagement member rigidly engage the face member
and the rear member through the resilient member; and a shaft
engaging member comprising a horizontal protrusion and an arm
extending upward and away from the protrusion, wherein the shaft
engaging member is engaged with the connecting structure of the
golf club head body such that the protrusion is received in the
passage and the arm extends upwardly and away from the golf club
head body, wherein the arm of the shaft engaging member is
configured to be engaged with a golf club shaft to connect the
shaft to the golf club head body; and wherein the connecting
structure and the shaft engaging member have complementary
rotational locking structures comprising a plurality of
complementary, interlocking gear teeth on the protrusion and the
engaging surface defining the passage to rotationally lock the
shaft engaging member with the connecting structure, and wherein
the rotational locking structure is adjustable, such that the shaft
engaging member is configured to be engaged with the connecting
structure in at least a first rotational position and a second
rotational position with respect to the golf club head body,
wherein a loft angle of the golf club head in the first position is
different from the loft angle of the golf club head in the second
position.
25. A golf club head comprising: an iron-type golf club head body
comprising: a face member including a face having a striking
surface configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the
striking surface of the face, the face member having a heel edge
and a toe edge, and wherein the face member has an engaging surface
defining a passage forming at least a portion of a connecting
structure of the golf club head body, the face member further
including a perimeter weighting member extending rearwardly from
the face around at least a portion of a periphery of the face
member and a rear cavity defined at least partially by a rear
surface of the face and the perimeter weighting member; a rear
member operably connected to the rear side of the face member, the
rear member having a heel edge and a toe edge, wherein the rear
member is at least partially received within the rear cavity of the
face member; an engagement member rigidly engaging the face member
and the rear member to form a joint that permits the rear member to
transfer momentum to the face member upon an impact of the ball on
the striking surface, wherein the engagement member forms a point
of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear member;
and a resilient material separating the rear member from the face
member, wherein the resilient material engages the rear member and
the face member and is configured to transfer momentum between the
face member and the rear member; and a shaft engaging member
comprising a horizontal protrusion and an arm extending upward and
away from the protrusion, wherein the shaft engaging member is
engaged with the connecting structure of the golf club head body
such that the protrusion is received in the passage and the arm
extends upwardly and away from the golf club head body, wherein the
arm of the shaft engaging member is configured to be engaged with a
golf club shaft to connect the shaft to the golf club head body;
and wherein the connecting structure and the shaft engaging member
have complementary rotational locking structures comprising a
plurality of complementary, interlocking gear teeth on the
protrusion and the engaging surface defining the passage to
rotationally lock the shaft engaging member with the connecting
structure, and wherein the rotational locking structure is
adjustable, such that the shaft engaging member is configured to be
engaged with the connecting structure in at least a first
rotational position and a second rotational position with respect
to the golf club head body, wherein a loft angle of the golf club
head in the first position is different from the loft angle of the
golf club head in the second position.
26. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the face member is
spaced from the rear member between the engagement member and the
heel edge of the face member and between the engagement member and
the toe edge of the face member.
27. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein the engagement member
is aligned with a center of gravity of at least one of the face
member and the rear member.
28. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein the engagement member
is closer to the toe edge of the face member relative to a center
of gravity of the face member.
29. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the resilient member
comprises a slot permitting the engagement member to engage the
face member and the rear member through the resilient member.
30. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein an outermost periphery
of the rear member is smaller than an inner periphery of the
perimeter weighting member, such that the rear member sized to fit
within the rear cavity.
31. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the resilient member
includes at least one gap permitting the engagement member rigidly
engage the face member and the rear member through the resilient
member.
32. The golf club head of claim 10, further comprising a second
engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear
member to further define the joint that permits the rear member to
transfer momentum to the face member upon an impact of the ball on
the striking surface, wherein the second engagement member forms a
second point of rigid engagement between the face member and the
rear member.
33. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the engagement member
comprises a rigid projection fixed to the rear side of the face
member and rigidly abutting a front surface of the rear member.
34. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the resilient member
includes at least one gap permitting the engagement member rigidly
engage the face member and the rear member through the resilient
member.
35. The golf club head of claim 21, further comprising a second
engagement member rigidly engaging the face member and the rear
member to further define the joint that permits the rear member to
transfer momentum to the face member upon an impact of the ball on
the striking surface, wherein the second engagement member forms a
second point of rigid engagement between the face member and the
rear member.
36. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the engagement member
comprises a rigid projection fixed to the rear side of the face
member and rigidly abutting a front surface of the rear member.
37. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face member further
comprises a perimeter weighting member extending rearwardly from
the face and at least partially defining a rear cavity, and wherein
the resilient member and the rear member are at least partially
positioned within the rear cavity.
38. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the face member further
comprises a perimeter weighting member extending rearwardly from
the face and at least partially defining a rear cavity, and wherein
the resilient member and the rear member are at least partially
positioned within the rear cavity.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates to golf clubs and golf club
heads. Particular example aspects of this disclosure relate to the
configuration of golf club heads.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players--players of
different genders and dramatically different ages and/or skill
levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such
diverse collections of players can play together in golf events,
even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using
handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, in team formats, etc.),
and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors,
together with the increased availability of golf programming on
television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or
other golf programming) and the rise of well-known golf superstars,
at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recent years,
both in the United States and across the world.
[0003] Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their
performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next
performance "level." Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment
have responded to these demands, and in recent years, the industry
has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment.
For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are
available, with balls designed to complement specific swing speeds
and/or other player characteristics or preferences, e.g., with some
balls designed to fly farther and/or straighter; some designed to
provide higher or flatter trajectories; some designed to provide
more spin, control, and/or feel (particularly around the greens);
some designed for faster or slower swing speeds; etc. A host of
swing and/or teaching aids also are available on the market that
promise to help lower one's golf scores.
[0004] Being the sole instrument that sets a golf ball in motion
during play, golf clubs also have been the subject of much
technological research and advancement in recent years. For
example, the market has seen dramatic changes and improvements in
putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts, and grips in recent
years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been
made in an effort to better match the various elements and/or
characteristics of the golf club and characteristics of a golf ball
to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g.,
club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology,
ball spin rates, etc.). Still other advancements have sought to
provide golf club constructions that provide improved feel to the
golfer or enhanced energy transfer from the golf club to the golf
ball.
[0005] While the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and
improvements to golf equipment in recent years, there is room in
the art for further advances in golf club technology. The present
invention seeks to address certain of the shortcomings of prior
golf club designs and to provide a design having advantages to
heretofore provided.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] The following presents a general summary of aspects of the
disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the
disclosure and various aspects of it. This summary is not intended
to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way, but it simply
provides a general overview and context for the more detailed
description that follows.
[0007] Aspects of this disclosure relate to ball striking devices,
such as iron-type golf club heads and iron-type golf clubs.
Iron-type golf club heads according to at least some example
aspects of this disclosure may include: a golf club head body, a
ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member which is configured
to engage the golf club head body with a golf club shaft. According
to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head body and the shaft
engaging member may be configured so as to engage with each other.
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head
may be configured to provide the connection between the golf club
head body and the shaft connecting member wherein the connection is
below the center of gravity of the golf club head and/or the center
of gravity of the golf club head body. Additionally, according to
aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head may be configured so
as to provide the connection between the golf club head body and
the shaft connecting member below the center of the ball striking
face of the golf club head or below other preferred impact
positions between the golf ball and the ball striking face of the
golf club head.
[0008] According to aspects of this disclosure, the iron-type golf
club head body and the shaft engaging member may be integrally
formed and/or separate parts configured to engage with each other.
Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the iron-type golf
club head body and the shaft engaging member may be configured to
provide a connection between the iron-type golf club head body and
the shaft engaging member, wherein the entire connection is
completely below the center of gravity of the iron-type golf club
head and/or the center of gravity of the iron-type golf club head
body. Additionally, according to aspects of the disclosure, the
iron-type golf club head body and the shaft engaging member may be
configured to provide the entire connection between the iron-type
golf club head body and the shaft connecting member completely
below the center of the ball striking face of the iron-type golf
club head or completely below other preferred impact positions
between the golf ball and the ball striking face of the iron-type
golf club head.
[0009] According to further aspects of the disclosure, golf club
heads as described herein may be configured to have rotational
locking structure that is configured to permit connection of the
shaft engaging member to the club head body in at least first and
second different rotational positions (i.e., a plurality of
different positions) with respect to each other. The club head body
may further be configured so that the loft angle of the club head
is different in each different rotational position. Various
structures may be used for achieving different rotational
positions, such as by using interlocking gear teeth or other
complementary engaging structures.
[0010] According to still further aspects of the disclosure, golf
club heads as described herein may include a face member including
the face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball
and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face, a rear
member joined to the rear side of the face member, the rear member
having a heel edge and a toe edge, and one or more connection
members connecting the rear side of the face member to the rear
member, such that a space is defined between the face member and
the rear member. Such golf club heads may include a resilient
member separating the rear member from the rear side of the face
member, wherein the resilient member engages the rear member and
the rear side of the face member and is configured to transfer
momentum between the face member and the rear member.
[0011] According to still further aspects of the disclosure, golf
club heads as described herein may include a face member including
the face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball
and a rear side opposite the striking surface of the face, a rear
member joined to the rear side of the face member, the rear member
having a heel edge and a toe edge, and one or more engagement
members forming one or more points of rigid engagement between the
rear side of the face member and the rear member, such that a space
is defined between the face member and the rear member. Such golf
club heads may include a resilient member separating the rear
member from the rear side of the face member, wherein the resilient
member engages the rear member and the rear side of the face member
and is configured to transfer momentum between the face member and
the rear member. The engagement member(s) may form the sole or only
point(s) of rigid engagement between the face member and the rear
member.
[0012] Further, it is noted that, according to aspects of the
disclosure, the golf club head body and the shaft engaging member
may be separate pieces configured to engage with each other.
Additionally, according to other aspects of the disclosure, the
iron-type or wood-type golf club head body and the shaft engaging
member may be integrally formed as a unitary, one-piece
construction.
[0013] Other aspects of this disclosure may relate to wood-type
golf club heads, putter heads, or other types of golf club heads.
Such other types of golf club heads may include any features
described herein with respect to iron-type club heads.
[0014] Additional aspects of this disclosure relate to golf club
structures, including iron-type, wood-type, putter-type, and other
golf club structures that include golf club heads, e.g., of the
types described above. Such golf club structures further may
include one or more of: a shaft attached to the club head
(optionally via a separate shaft engaging member or a shaft
engaging member provided as an integral part of one or more of the
club head or shaft); a grip or handle attached to the shaft member;
additional weight members; etc.
[0015] Still additional aspects of this disclosure relate to
methods for producing golf club heads and golf club structures,
e.g., of the types described above. Such methods may include, for
example: (a) providing a golf club head of the various types
described above (including any or all of the various structures,
features, and/or arrangements described above), e.g., by
manufacturing or otherwise constructing the golf club head, by
obtaining the golf club head from another source, etc.; and (b)
engaging the shaft with the golf club head (e.g., via the shaft
connecting member). Other steps also may be included in these
methods, such as engaging a grip with the shaft, connecting the
face member to the rear member, club head body finishing steps,
etc.
[0016] Given the general description of various example aspects of
the disclosure provided above, more detailed descriptions of
various specific examples of golf clubs and golf club head
structures according to the disclosure are provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and
not limited in the accompanying figures, in which like reference
numerals indicate similar elements throughout, and in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a rear view of an illustrative embodiment of an
iron-type golf club according to aspects of the disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 1A is a front view of the head of the iron-type golf
club shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 2A is a partially exploded rear view of a head of the
iron-type golf club shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 2B is a rear view of the head of the iron-type golf
club shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear view of the head of the iron-type
golf club shown in FIG. 1, with connecting structure shown in
broken lines;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG.
3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG.
3;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a rear exploded view of the head of the iron-type
golf club shown in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a rear view of another illustrative embodiment of
an iron-type golf club according to aspects of the disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 11A is a partially exploded rear view of a head of the
iron-type golf club shown in FIG. 10;
[0031] FIG. 11B is a rear view of the head of the iron-type golf
club shown in FIG. 10;
[0032] FIG. 12 is an enlarged rear view of the head of the
iron-type golf club shown in FIG. 10, with internal structure shown
in broken lines;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a rear exploded view of the head of the iron-type
golf club shown in FIG. 10;
[0034] FIG. 14 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 15 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 16 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 17 is a rear view of another illustrative embodiment of
a resilient member according to aspects of the disclosure,
configured for use in the iron-type golf club head shown in FIGS.
10-13;
[0038] FIG. 18 is a rear view of another illustrative embodiment of
a resilient member according to aspects of the disclosure,
configured for use in the iron-type golf club head shown in FIG.
14;
[0039] FIG. 19 is a rear view of another illustrative embodiment of
a resilient member according to aspects of the disclosure,
configured for use in the iron-type golf club head shown in FIG.
15;
[0040] FIG. 20 is a rear view of another illustrative embodiment of
a rear member according to aspects of the disclosure, configured
for use in iron-type golf club heads as shown in FIGS. 10-16;
[0041] FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-section view of an iron-type
golf club head according to aspects of the disclosure, being
moveable between a plurality of different rotational positions with
respect to a shaft engaging member;
[0042] FIG. 22 is a rear exploded view of another illustrative
embodiment of an iron-type golf club head according to aspects of
the disclosure; and
[0043] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment
of a rotational locking sleeve that is configured for use with an
iron-type golf club head according to aspects of the
disclosure.
[0044] The reader is advised that the various parts shown in these
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] The following description and the accompanying figures
disclose features of golf club heads and golf clubs in accordance
with examples of the present disclosure.
[0046] The following discussion and accompanying figures describe
various example golf clubs and golf club head structures in
accordance with the present disclosure. When the same reference
number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is
used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer
to the same or similar parts throughout.
[0047] More specific examples and features of iron-type golf club
heads and golf club structures according to this disclosure will be
described in detail below in conjunction with the example golf club
structures illustrated in FIGS. 1-23.
[0048] FIG. 1 generally illustrates an example of an iron-type golf
club 100 according to aspects of the disclosure. As seen in FIG. 1,
the iron-type golf club may include an iron-type golf club head 101
in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0049] In addition to the golf club head 101, the overall golf club
structure 100 may include a shaft 103 and a grip or handle 105
attached to the shaft 103. The shaft 103 may be received in,
engaged with, and/or attached to the golf club head 101, for
example, through a shaft-receiving sleeve or element extending into
the club head 101 (e.g., the shaft engaging member 109 discussed
below), via a hosel (e.g., a hosel included in the shaft engaging
member discussed below), and/or in other manners as will be
described in more detail below. The connections may be via
adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, mechanical connectors (such
as threads, retaining elements, or the like), etc. If desired, the
shaft 103 may be connected to the golf club head 101 in a
releasable and/or adjustable manner using mechanical connectors to
allow easy interchange of one shaft for another on the head and/or
adjustment of the shaft with respect to the head.
[0050] The shaft 103 may be made from any suitable or desired
materials, including conventional materials known and used in the
art, such as graphite based materials, composite or other non-metal
materials, steel materials (including stainless steel), aluminum
materials, other metal alloy materials, polymeric materials,
combinations of various materials, and the like. Also, the grip or
handle 105 may be attached to, engaged with, and/or extend from the
shaft 103 in any suitable or desired manner, including in
conventional manners known and used in the art, e.g., using
adhesives or cements, mechanical connectors, etc. As another
example, if desired, the grip or handle 105 may be integrally
formed as a unitary, one-piece construction with the shaft 103.
Additionally, any desired grip or handle materials may be used
without departing from this disclosure, including, for example:
rubber materials, leather materials, rubber or other materials
including cord or other fabric material embedded therein, polymeric
materials, and the like.
[0051] According to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head
101 may include a golf club head body 107 and a shaft engaging
member 109. Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the
golf club head body 101 may also include a ball striking face or
striking face 111 that has a ball striking surface or striking
surface 110 configured for striking a ball, as shown in FIG. 1A, as
well as a rear surface 112 in one embodiment. According to aspects
of the disclosure, the ball striking face 111 may have a generally
trapezoidal shape which extends between a top and a sole of the
golf club head body 107 and, further, extends substantially between
a toe and a heel of the golf club head body 107. Of course, the
ball striking face 111 may have other configurations as well.
According to further aspects of the disclosure, the ball striking
face 111 may be comprised of one or more materials. The material(s)
of the ball striking face should be relatively durable to withstand
the repeated impacts with the golf ball. As some more specific
examples, the ball striking face 111 may comprise a high-strength
steel, titanium, or other metals (including alloys).
[0052] Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the ball
striking face 111 may include one or more score lines or grooves
106 that extend generally horizontally across the ball striking
face 111 (when the club is oriented in a ball address orientation).
The grooves 106 may interact with the dimpled surface of the golf
ball during the impact of the golf club head 101 with a golf ball
(e.g., during a golf swing) and affect the aerodynamics of the golf
ball during the golf shot. For example, the grooves 106 may cause a
spin (e.g., back spin) of the golf ball during the golf shot.
[0053] According to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head
body 107 may be a blade type iron golf club head, a perimeter
weighted and/or cavity back type iron golf club head, a half cavity
iron type golf club head, or other iron-type golf club head
structure. According to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club
head body 107 may include a top 107a, a sole 107b, a toe end 107c,
and a heel end 107d. Further, as seen in FIGS. 1-3, according to
aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head body 107 may be
configured in a generally trapezoidal shape. According to aspects
of the disclosure, at least a portion of the heel end 107d of the
golf club head body 107 may be flat or substantially flat. For
example, at least a portion of the heel end 107d of the golf club
head body 107 may formed as a relatively flat surface that extends
in a plane substantially perpendicular to the sole 107b of the golf
club head body 107 (e.g., the heel end 107d may extend in a
substantially vertical plane when the golf club head 101 is at the
ball address position). Further, according to aspects of the
disclosure, the heel end 107d may have a tapered configuration
wherein the heel end 107d becomes narrower as it extends vertically
upward from the sole 107b, such that the lower portion of the heel
end 107d is wider than the upper portion of the heel end 107d.
[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the face 111 is formed
integrally as part of a unitary, one-piece construction with a face
member 120 that is connected to a rear member 130. The face member
120 and/or the rear member 130 may each be made of an integral,
unitary, one-piece construction in one embodiment, or the face
member 120 and/or the rear member 130 may be made from a
multi-piece construction in another embodiment. According to other
examples, the ball striking face 111 may constitute a separate
element, such as a face plate, which is configured to be engaged
with the face member 120 and/or the rear member 130. For example,
the face member 120 or the rear member 130 may include a structure,
such as a recess, notch, frame or other configuration for receiving
the face plate, and the face plate may be engaged in a variety of
ways. For example, the face plate may be engaged with the face
member 120 by press fitting; bonding with adhesives or cements;
welding (e.g., laser welding), soldering, brazing, or other fusing
techniques; mechanical connectors; etc.
[0055] The rear member 130 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 is formed
as a ring-shaped perimeter member 132 with a center opening 135.
The perimeter member 132 at least partially forms and defines the
perimeter weighting member 113 of the club head 101, and the center
opening 135 at least partially defines the rear cavity 115 of the
club head 101. The rear member 130 may have a different
configuration in another embodiment. For example, the rear member
130 may have no opening 135 in one embodiment, creating a
solid-body or blade-type club head. In another embodiment, the rear
member 130 may have a rear wall extending from a sole portion of
the perimeter member 132 into the center opening 135 and bridging a
portion of the center opening 135, or may include a different type
of bridge member or bridging structure that bridges the center
opening 135.
[0056] The rear member 130 may have varying sizes and weights in
different embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the rear
member 130 may make up about 25-70% of the total weight of the head
101. The rear member 130 may also have various different dimensions
and structural properties in various embodiments. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1-3, the rear member 130 has a heel edge 133 and a
toe edge 134, with a lateral width defined between the heel and toe
edges 133, 134. The lateral width of the rear member 130 is the
same or approximately the same as the lateral width of the face
member 120, measured between the heel edge 123 and toe 124 of the
face member 120. In one embodiment, the rear member 130 has its
mass distributed proportionally more toward the heel and toe edges
133, 134, and has a thickness and a cross-sectional area that are
greater at or around the heel and toe edges 133, 134 than at the CG
of the rear member 130. Further, the rear member 130 may be
positioned so that the CG of the rear member 130 is substantially
aligned with the CG of the face member 120. In one embodiment, for
example as shown in FIGS. 1-6, the CGs of the rear member 130 and
the face member 120 are laterally aligned, and these respective CGs
may additionally or alternately be vertically aligned in another
embodiment. The face member 120 may likewise have various different
sizes, weights, weight distributions, dimensions, and structural
properties.
[0057] In other embodiments, the rear member 130 may be differently
configured, and/or the head 101 may contain multiple rear members
130. For example, the rear member 130 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 may be
divided into two, three, or more separate rear members 130 in
another embodiment, which may be connected to the face member 120
in similar or different configurations. It is understood that the
rear member 130 in all embodiments may affect or influence the
center of gravity of the head 101. Additionally, the rear member
130 may be made of any of a variety of different materials, which
may be selected based on their weight or density, and the rear
member 130 may be configured to have a greater density than the
face member 120 and/or to have areas of locally increased density
in one embodiment. For example, the rear member 130 may be made
from a metallic material such as stainless steel and/or tungsten,
or may be made from other materials, for example polymers that may
be doped with a heavier material (e.g. tungsten), or combinations
of such materials. The rear member 130 may also include portions
that may be more heavily weighted than others, and may include
weighted inserts or other inserts, portions doped with dense
materials, etc., for this purpose.
[0058] The body 107 formed by the face member 120 and the rear
member 130 may have a number of different configurations. In one
embodiment, the body 107 includes a perimeter weighting member 113
extending rearward from the peripheral edges 114 of the face 111
around at least a portion of the periphery of the body 107, such as
in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-9. For example, the perimeter
weighting member 113 may extend rearward at least along the sole
107b of the head 107. The perimeter weighting member 113 may
further define, at least in part, a rear cavity 115 located behind
the face 111. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the perimeter
weighting member 113 extends rearwardly around the entire periphery
of the body 107 and combines with the rear surface 112 of the face
111 to define a rear cavity 115. As shown in FIG. 6, the face
member 120 may have a slight indent 121 in the rear surface 122
that defines a portion of the rear cavity 115. In another
embodiment, the rear surface 122 of the face member 120 may be
completely flat, and the rear member 130 may completely define the
rear cavity 115 (if present). The body 107 also has connecting
structure 150 for connection of a shaft engaging member 109, as
described in greater detail below.
[0059] The face member 120 and the rear member 130 are connected to
each other to form the body 107, as described herein. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the face member 120 and the
rear member 130 have shapes and sizes that are substantially the
same, at least around the top 107a, the toe side 107c, and the sole
107b of the head 101, as well as potentially the heel 107d. For
example, the rear surface 121 of the face member 120 and the front
surface 131 of the rear member 130 confront each other and have
perimeter lengths that are equal or substantially equal (i.e.,
+/-5%). Additionally, in this embodiment, the face member 120 and
the rear member 130 have peripheries that are flush or
substantially flush with each other, to create a smooth outer
profile. As used herein, "substantially flush" means that a surface
of one article is level and aligned with the surface of an adjacent
article, such that the two surfaces form a substantially flat
single surface, within a tolerance of +/-0.005 inches.
[0060] In one embodiment, the face member 120 and the rear member
130 are connected such that the rear member 130 is configured to
transfer energy and/or momentum to the face member 120 upon impact
of the ball on the striking surface 110, including on an off-center
impact. The rear member 130 may be connected to the face member 120
in a number of different configurations that permit energy and/or
momentum transfer between the rear member 130 and the face member
120, several of which are described below and shown in the FIGS. In
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the face member 120 is
connected to the rear member 130 by complementary connection
members that include one or more pin connections 160 that form a
joint 161 between the face member 120 and the rear member 130, as
described in greater detail herein. The embodiments in FIGS. 7-9
are constructed in similar manners, and the connection members of
these embodiments is not described separately herein for the sake
of brevity.
[0061] The connection members in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6
include a pair of pin connections 160 positioned near the top and
bottom of the rear surface 122 of the face member 120, and a pair
of receivers 162 positioned on the front surface 131 of the rear
member 130 and configured to engage and receive the pins 160 in a
complementary manner. The pins 160 in the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1-6 extend vertically upward from bases 165 connected to the
face member 120. The receivers 162 in this embodiment are in the
form of tabs 163, each with an aperture 164 to receive the pins
160, as shown in FIG. 5. The pins 160 and the receivers 162, when
connected, form a joint 161 that permits energy and/or momentum can
be transferred between the rear member 130 and the face member 120
during impact, including an off-center impact on the striking
surface 110. It is understood that a fastener (not shown) such as a
nut, clamp, key, etc., or other retaining structure may be used to
retain the pin 160 in connection with the receiver 162. The
connection members (e.g., pins 160 and receivers 162) connect
together at connection points 168 that are located between the heel
and toe edges 123, 124 of the face member 120 and between the heel
and toe edges 133, 134 of the rear member 130. As shown in FIGS. 3
and 6, the pins 160 and the connection points 168 are approximately
vertically aligned with each other, and the pins 160 and the
connection points 168 are also approximately vertically aligned
with the CG of the face member 120. Likewise, the receivers 162 are
approximately vertically aligned with each other and with the CG of
the rear member 130. Further, the connection points 168 may be
located approximately equidistant from the heel edge 123 and the
toe edge 124 of the face member 120 and approximately equidistant
from the heel edge 133 and the toe edge 134 of the rear member 130.
The CG of the face member 120 and the CG of the rear member 130 may
be aligned with each other at least in the lateral (heel-toe)
direction in one embodiment.
[0062] In other embodiments, different types of connection members
may be used, or an engagement member such as the engagement members
280 shown in FIGS. 10-15 and 22, to permit transfer of energy
and/or momentum. In an alternate embodiment, the positions of at
least some components of the connection members (e.g., the pins 160
and receivers 162) may be transposed between the face member 120
and the rear member 130. For example, one or both of the pins 160
may be located on the rear member 130 and one or both of the
receivers 162 may be located on the face member 120. It is
understood that the face member 120 and the rear member 130 may
have diverse types of connection members. In a further embodiment,
the head 101 may not utilize connection members or a joint 161 as
described herein.
[0063] The connection members (e.g., the pins 160 and receivers
162) may form the only direct connection between the face member
120 and the rear member 130, such as in the embodiment of FIGS.
1-6. In this configuration, the rear member 130 may be spaced from
the face member 120 between the connection members and the heel
edges 123, 133 and between the connection members and the toe edges
124, 134. In one embodiment, the space between the rear member 130
and the face member 120 may be at least partially filled by another
member, such as a resilient member 140 as described herein. In
another embodiment, additional direct connections between the face
member 120 and the rear member 130 may exist.
[0064] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the rear member 130 is
connected to the face member 120 by a resilient member 140 at least
partially formed of a resilient material. In this embodiment, the
resilient member 140 is positioned in a space 141 between the rear
member 130 and the face member 120 and engages both the front
surface 131 of the rear member 130 and the rear surface 122 of the
face member 120. In another embodiment, the resilient member 140
may form the only connection between the rear member 130 and the
face member 120, and the rear member 130 may be considered to be
suspended with respect to the face member 120 by the resilient
member 140 in this configuration. One configuration of such an
embodiment may appear identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6,
except with the pins 160, the receivers 162, and the slots 142 of
the resilient member 140 being absent. It is understood that an
adhesive or other bonding material may be utilized to connect the
resilient member 140 to the face member 120 and/or the rear member
130, and that other connection techniques may be used in other
embodiments, such as mechanical fasteners, interlocking designs
(e.g. dovetail, tab and slot, etc.) and others. In one embodiment,
the resilient member 140 includes slots 142 to allow the connection
members (e.g., the pins 160 and/or the receivers 162) to engage
each other through the resilient member 140. In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6, the slots 142 are in the form of holes that are
completely defined within the resilient member 140, however in
other embodiments, the slots 142 may extend to one or more edges of
the resilient member.
[0065] The resilient member 140 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 has
a center portion 143 that is at least partially open, such that the
resilient member 140 is formed in a ring-like perimeter portion
144. In this configuration, the portions of the resilient member
140 positioned between the face member 120 and the rear member 130
are continuous, and the center portion 143 over the rear cavity 115
is open or at least partially open. The resilient member 140
illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 has a center portion 143 with a plurality
of strips 145 bridging across the open center portion 143 from one
point on the perimeter portion 144 to another. These strips 145 are
exposed within the rear cavity 115. The resilient member 140
further has cut-out areas 147 configured to permit components of
the head 101 to pass through the resilient member 140, such as the
shaft engaging member 109. In another embodiment, the center
portion 143 may be completely open or may have a different type of
bridging structure (including incomplete bridging structures). In
further embodiments, the center portion 143 may not have any open
portion, and/or the perimeter portion 144 may be non-continuous and
may only be intermittently present between the face and rear
members 120, 130. It is understood that the configuration of the
resilient member 140 may be at least partially dictated by the
configurations of the face member 120 and/or the rear member
130.
[0066] The resilient material of the resilient member 140 may be a
natural or synthetic rubber material, a polyurethane-based
elastomer, a silicone material, or other elastomeric material in
one embodiment, but may be a different type of resilient material
in another embodiment, including various types of resilient
polymers, such as foam materials or other rubber-like materials. In
one embodiment, the resilient material 140 may be a thermoplastic
(TPE) vulcanizate Additionally, the resilient member 140 may have
at least some degree of resiliency, such that the resilient member
140 exerts a response force when compressed, and can return to its
previous state following compression. The resilient member 140 may
have a strength or hardness that is lower than, and may be
significantly lower than, the strength/hardness of the material of
the face member 120 and/or the rear member 130. In one embodiment,
the resilient member 140 may have a hardness of from 70 Shore A to
70 Shore D. The hardness may be determined, for example, by using
ASTM D-2240 or another applicable test with a Shore durometer. It
is understood that the resilient member 140 may be made from any
material described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2013/0137533, filed Nov. 30, 2011, which application is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and made part
hereof.
[0067] The properties of the resilient material, such as hardness
and/or resiliency, may be designed for use in a specific
configuration. For example, the hardness and/or resiliency of the
resilient member 140 may be designed to ensure that an appropriate
rebound or reaction force is transferred to the face, which may be
influenced by parameters such as material thickness, mass of
various components (including the rear member 130 and/or the face
member 120), intended use of the head 101, and others. The hardness
and resiliency may be achieved through techniques such as material
selection and any of a variety of treatments performed on the
material that can affect the hardness or resiliency of the
resilient material, as discussed elsewhere herein. The hardness and
thickness of the resilient material may be tuned to the weight of a
particular rear member 130. For example, heavier weights may
require harder resilient materials, and lighter weights may require
softer resilient materials. Using a thinner resilient member 140
may also necessitate the use of a softer resilient material, and
thicker resilient members 140 may be usable with harder resilient
materials. In a configuration where the resilient material is a
polyurethane-based material having a hardness of approximately 65
Shore A, the resilient member 140 may have a thickness between the
rear member 130 and the rear surface 122 of the face member 120 of
approximately 1-5 mm in one embodiment, or approximately 3 mm in
another embodiment.
[0068] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the resilient member
140 may be formed as a single, integral piece; however the
resilient member 140 may be formed of separate pieces in various
embodiments. The resilient member 140 may be formed of multiple
components as well, including components having different hardness
levels in different regions of the resilient member 140, including
different hardness distributions. For example, the resilient member
140 may be formed of an exterior shell that has a different (higher
or lower) hardness than the interior of the resilient member 140,
such as through being made of a different material (e.g. through
co-molding) and/or being treated using a technique to achieve a
different hardness. Examples of techniques for achieving a shell
with a different hardness include plasma or corona treatment,
adhesively bonding a film to the exterior, coating the exterior
(such as by spraying or dipping), and others. In the case of a cast
or other polyurethane-based resilient material, the resilient
material may have a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film bonded to
the exterior, a higher or lower hardness polyurethane coating
applied by spraying or dipping, or another polymer coating (e.g. a
thermoset polymer), which may be applied, for example, by dipping
the resilient material into an appropriate polymer solution with an
appropriate solvent. Additionally, the resilient member 140 may
have different hardness or compressibility in different lateral or
vertical portions of the resilient member 140, which can create
different energy and/or momentum transfer effects in different
locations. For example, the resilient member 140 may have a higher
or lower hardness in proximate the heel edge 123 and/or the toe
edge 124 of the face member 120, which may be achieved by
techniques described herein, such as treatments or use of different
materials and/or separate pieces. In this configuration, the
hardness of the resilient member 140 may be customized for use by a
particular golfer or a particular golfer's hitting pattern.
Similarly, an asymmetrical resilient member 140 may also be used to
create different energy and/or momentum transfer effects, by
providing a larger or smaller amount of material at specific
portions of the face member 120. Such an asymmetrical resilient
member 140 may also be used to provide customizability. A
variable-hardness or asymmetrical resilient member 140 may also be
used in conjunction with an offset connection point, as discussed
below, for further customizability. Other embodiments described
herein may also employ a resilient member that has a variable
hardness or asymmetrical features. A single-component or
multi-component resilient member 140 may be manufactured by
co-molding, and may be co-molded in connection with the face member
120 and/or the rear member 130.
[0069] As seen in FIGS. 1-6, the resilient member 140 is connected
between the rear member 130 and the face member 120. In one
embodiment, the rear member 130 has at least one surface that is
engaged by the resilient member 140 and at least one other surface
that is exposed and not engaged by the resilient member 140. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the front surface 131 of the rear member
130 is engaged by the resilient member 140, and the periphery of
the rear member 130 (e.g., the top, bottom, heel 133, toe 134) and
the rear side 136 are exposed and not engaged by the resilient
member 140. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the resilient member 140 engages
the rear surface 122 of the face member 120 and the front surface
131 of the rear member 130. The rear member 130 is spaced from the
face member 120, and the resilient member 140 at least partially
fills the spaces 141 between the front surface 131 of the rear
member 130 and the rear surface 122 of the face member 120. The
resilient member 140 may be positioned at least on both opposite
lateral sides of the center of gravity (CG) of the face member 120.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the resilient member 140
completely or substantially completely fills the spaces 142 between
the rear member 130 and the face member 120. In another embodiment,
the resilient member 140 may be positioned at least between the
heel edges 123, 133 and between the toe edges 124, 134 of the face
member 120 and the rear member 130. In a further embodiment, the
head 101 of FIGS. 1-6 may have a resilient member 140 that only
partially fills the spaces 141 between the face member 120 and the
rear member 130.
[0070] The rear member 130 may be configured such that energy
and/or momentum can be transferred between the rear member 130 and
the face member 120 during impact, including an off-center impact
on the striking surface 110. The resilient member 140 can serve to
transfer energy and/or momentum between the rear member 130 and the
face member 120 during impact. It is understood that the joint 161
formed by the connection members may also transfer energy and/or
momentum, and that the joint 161 may also permit the resilient
member 140 to transfer energy and/or momentum. Additionally, the
rear member 130 may also be configured to resist deflection of the
face member 120 upon impact of the ball on the striking surface 110
in some embodiments. The resiliency and compression of the
resilient member 140 permits this transfer of energy and/or
momentum from the rear member 130 to the face member 120. As
described above, the momentum of the rear member 130 compresses the
resilient member 140, and causes the resilient member 140 to exert
a response force on the face member 120 to achieve this transfer of
energy and/or momentum. The resilient member 140 may exert at least
a portion of the response force on the face member 120 through
expansion after the compression. The rear member 130 may deflect
slightly toward the impact point to compress the resilient member
140 in the process of this momentum transfer. The actions achieving
the transfer of momentum occur between the beginning and the end of
the impact, which in one embodiment of a golf iron may be between
4-5 ms. In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-6, the rear member
130 may transfer a greater or smaller amount of energy and/or
momentum depending on the location of the impact on the striking
surface 110. For example, in this embodiment, upon an off-center
impact of the ball centered on the heel side of the face 112, the
heel 123 of the face member 120 tends to deflect rearwardly. As
another example, upon an off-center impact of the ball centered on
the toe side of the face 112, the toe 124 of the face member 120
tends to deflect rearwardly. As the heel 123 or toe 124 of the face
member 120 begins to deflect rearwardly, at least some of the
forward momentum of the rear member 130 is transferred to the face
member 120 during impact to resist this deflection. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, on a heel-side impact, at least some of
the momentum transferred to the face member 120 may be transferred
from the heel edge 133 of the rear member 130 during impact.
Likewise, on a toe-side impact, at least some of the momentum
transferred to the face member 120 may be transferred from the toe
edge 134 of the rear member 130 during impact. Generally, at least
some of the momentum is transferred toward the impact point on the
ball striking surface 110.
[0071] The resilient member 140 can function to transfer the energy
and/or momentum of the rear member 130 to the heel 123 or toe 124
of the face member 120. In the process of transferring energy
and/or momentum during impact, the resilient member 140 may be
compressed by the momentum of the rear member 130 and expand to
exert a response force on the face member 120, which resists
deflection of the face member 120 as described above. It is
understood that the degree of potential moment causing deflection
of the face member 120 may increase as the impact location diverges
from the center of gravity of the face member 120. In one
embodiment, the energy and/or momentum transfer from the rear
member 130 to the face member 120 may also increase as the impact
location diverges from the center of gravity of the face member
120, to provide increased resistance to such deflection of the face
member 120. In other words, the energy and/or momentum transferred
from the rear member 130 to the face member 120, and the force
exerted on the face member 120 by the rear member 130, through the
resilient member 140 and/or the joint 161, may be incremental and
directly relative/proportional to the distance the impact is made
from the optimal impact point (e.g. the lateral centerpoint of the
striking surface 110 and/or the CG of the face member 120, in
exemplary embodiments). Thus, the head 101 will transfer the energy
and/or momentum of the rear member 130 incrementally in the
direction in which the ball makes contact away from the center of
gravity of the head 101, via the rear member 130 suspended by the
resilient member 140. The transfer of energy and/or momentum
between the rear member 130 and the face member 120 can reduce the
degree of twisting of the face 111 and keep the face 111 more
squared upon impacts, including off-center impacts. Additionally,
the transfer of energy and/or momentum between the rear member 130
and the face member 120 can minimize energy loss on off-center
impacts, resulting in more consistent ball distance on impacts
anywhere on the face 111. The resilient member 140 may have some
elasticity or response force that assists in transferring energy
and/or momentum between the rear member 130 and the face member
120. Likewise, the rear member 130 and the resilient member 140 may
additionally be configured to transfer energy and/or momentum to
the face member 120 as a result of impacts that are higher or lower
than the center of the face 111 and/or the CG of the face member
120.
[0072] Aspects of the disclosure relate to particular structures of
the golf club head body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109.
According to some examples of this invention, the golf club head
body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109 may be separate pieces
that are configured to be engaged with each other. One embodiment
of such a configuration is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. It is
understood that the shaft engaging member 109 may be integrally
formed with or otherwise connected to the body 107 in some
embodiments. For example, the shaft engaging member 109 may be
formed as a conventional hosel structure, which may be integral
with at least one other component of the head 101.
[0073] According to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head
body 107 may be configured to engage with the shaft engaging member
109. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, the golf club head body
107 may include a connecting structure 150, such as a hole or
passage 108, configured to receive a portion of the shaft engaging
member 109. According to aspects of the disclosure, the passage 108
may be provided in the golf club head body 107 in a variety of
ways. For example, the passage 108 may be bored or otherwise
created in a machining method, or may be created in an extrusion
method. Also, the passage 108 may be formed in the golf club head
body 107 during manufacturing, such as when the golf club head body
107 is created by forging, casting, molding, and/or other
techniques and processes. The connecting structure 150 may include
one or more engaging surfaces 170 associated with the passage 108.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the passage 108 includes engaging
surfaces 170 on the face member 120 and the rear member 130 that
combine to define at least a portion of the passage 108, such that
each engaging surface 170 defines one side of the passage 108. In
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the passage 108 extends inwardly into
the body 107 in a heel-to-toe direction, and the passage 108 is in
communication with the rear cavity 115 of the body 107. Thus, in
this configuration, the passage 108 includes an enclosed portion
104 that is enclosed by the face and rear members 120, 130, and an
open portion 102 that is exposed and in direct communication with
the rear cavity 115.
[0074] According to aspects of the disclosure, the passage 108 may
be formed in a side of the golf club head body 107 which is
configured to engage with the shaft engaging member 109. For
example, the passage 108 may be positioned in the heel end 107d of
the golf club head body 107. Such an illustrative embodiment is
shown in FIGS. 1-6. As seen in FIGS. 2-3, the passage 108 extends
from the plane formed from the flat surface at the heel end 107d of
the golf club head body 107 into the golf club head body 107.
According to aspects of the disclosure, the passage 108 may extend
between 0.2-1.0 inches, 0.4-0.8 inches or 0.5-0.6 inches into the
golf club head body 107. If desired, the passage 108 may be tapered
so that the diameter becomes narrower as it extends farther into
the golf club head body 107. As long as the shaft engaging member
109 and the golf club head body 107 are securely engaged, the
distance or depth into the golf club head body 107 which the
passage 108 extends may be varied as desired. For example, in some
embodiments of the disclosure, the passage 108 may extend into the
golf club head body 107 across substantially the entire length of
the golf club head body 107 or the entire length of the length of
the sole of the golf club head body 107. In other words, the
passage 108 may extend into the golf club head body 107 over 60%,
70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the length of the of the golf club head
body 107 or 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the length of the length
of the sole of the golf club head body 107.
[0075] According to aspects of the disclosure, the width (e.g., the
diameter) at the opening of passage 108 may be varied as desired.
According to some aspects of the disclosure, the opening of the
passage 108 may have an opening 171 at the heel end 107d of the
body 107 with a width of 0.25-0.75 inches, 0.4-0.6 inches or
0.5-0.55 inches. Further, the opening 171 of the passage 108 may be
in a range of 20-70%, 30-60% or 40-50% of a total surface area of
the heel end 107d of the golf club head body 107. According to
aspects of the disclosure, the shape of the opening of the passage
108 may be configured as desired. For example, the shape of the
opening 171 of the passage 108 may be circular, triangular, square
or rectangular, other polygons, serrated, etc. The shaft engaging
member 109 may be configured in a complementary structure so that
the shaft engaging member 109 may be rotationally locked with
respect to the body 107. For example, in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-6, the passage 108 and the shaft engaging member 109 may
have a plurality of interlocking gear teeth. Further, while only a
single passage is shown in the depicted embodiment, multiple
passages may be provided and used if desired.
[0076] According to aspects of the disclosure, the passage 108 may
be configured as a horizontal, or relatively horizontal, hole in
the golf club head body 107 (when the club head 101 is in a ball
address orientation). For example, as seen in the depicted
embodiment, the passage 108 extends in a horizontal fashion in the
toe-heel direction of the golf club head body 107. However, if
desired, the passage 108 may be configured to create an angled hole
in the golf club head body 107. For example, the passage 108 may be
angled upwardly or downwardly relative to the heel to toe direction
for the golf club head 107.
[0077] According to aspects of the disclosure, the passage 108 may
be positioned relatively low in the golf club head body 107 when
the club head 101 is in a ball address orientation. For example,
the passage 108 may be positioned closer to sole 107b of the golf
club head body 107 than the top 107a of the golf club head body
107. As some more specific examples, the passage 108 may be
positioned such that it is in the lower half, lower third, or lower
quarter of an overall height, of the golf club head body 107 (e.g.,
as measured from the sole to the highest point of the golf club
head body 107 when the when the club head 101 is in a ball address
orientation). Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the
passage 108 may be positioned such that it is just above the sole
107b of the club head body 107 (e.g., the lower edge of the passage
108 may be within approximately 0.125 to 0.25 inches above the sole
107b of the golf club head body 107).
[0078] As discussed above, the golf club head 101 may include a
shaft engaging member 109. The shaft engaging member may 109 may be
configured to receive or otherwise engage the shaft 103 and,
further, to engage the golf club head body 107. According to
aspects of the disclosure, and the shaft engaging member 109 may be
constructed in any suitable or desired manner and/or from any
suitable or desired materials without departing from this
disclosure, including from conventional materials and/or in
conventional manners known and used in the art for making golf club
heads and parts of golf club heads. For example, according to
aspects of the disclosure, similarly to the golf club head body
107, the shaft engaging member 109 may be formed in a variety of
ways, such as forging, casting, molding (including injection
molding and other types), and/or other techniques and processes and
may be made from durable materials, such as metals (e.g., steel,
alloys, etc.) plastics, polymers, etc. Further, as seen in FIGS. 2A
and 6, according to aspects of the disclosure, the shaft engaging
member 109 may include a first portion 109a configured to engage
with the shaft 103 of the golf club and a second portion 109b
configured to engage with the club head body 107.
[0079] According to aspects of the disclosure, the first portion
109a may be oriented so that it extends upward and away from the
golf club head body 107 when engaged with the golf club head body
107 and the golf club 100 is at the ball address position. In this
configuration, the first portion 109a may be considered to be in
the form of an upwardly extending leg. Further, according to
aspects of the disclosure, the first portion 109a of the shaft
engaging member 109 may include a hosel or other structure for
engaging the shaft. According to aspects of the disclosure, the
shaft 103 may be received in and/or inserted into and/or through
the hosel.
[0080] If desired, the first portion 109a of the shaft engaging
member 109 may be configured such that the shaft 103 may be engaged
with the first portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109 in a
releasable and/or adjustable manner using mechanical connectors to
allow easy interchange of one shaft for another on the head and/or
to allow adjustment of the orientation of the shaft 103 with
respect to the golf club head body 107. For example, threads,
locking mechanisms, fasteners, etc. may be incorporated into the
first portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109, and the end of
the shaft 103 that is to be engaged with the first portion 109a of
the shaft engaging member 109 may be configured with a
corresponding configuration. Alternatively, the shaft 103 may be
secured to the shaft connecting member 109 via bonding with
adhesives or cements, welding (e.g., laser welding), soldering,
brazing, or other fusing techniques, etc. Further, optionally, if
desired, the hosel may be eliminated and the shaft 103 may be
otherwise attached to the golf club head 101 through the first
portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109 of the golf club head
101. For example, the shaft 103 may be otherwise engaged with the
first portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109 by butt
welding, laser welding, other type of welding; bonding with
adhesives or cements, soldering, brazing, or other fusing
techniques; etc. In a further embodiment, the shaft engaging member
109 may be integrally formed with the shaft 103, e.g., the first
portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109 may be integrally
formed with the shaft 103, rather than the shaft 103 being easily
removable from the shaft engaging member 109 as described
above.
[0081] As discussed above, according to aspects of the disclosure,
the shaft engaging member 109 may include a second portion 109b
that is configured to engage with the club head body 107. As seen
in FIGS. 2A and 6, according to aspects of the disclosure, the
second portion 109b may be oriented so that it extends
horizontally, or relatively horizontally, when engaged with the
golf club head body 107 and the golf club 100 is at the ball
address position. If desired, the shaft engaging member 109 may be
configured such that an obtuse angle is defined between the first
portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109 and the second
portion 109b of the shaft engaging member 109. The juncture formed
between the second portion of the shaft connecting member 109b and
the first portion of the shaft connecting member 109a may define
the top of the second portion of the shaft connecting member 109b.
In such embodiments, the second portion of the shaft connecting
member 109b is considered to not extend above the horizontal, or
relatively horizontal, line (when the club head 101 is at the ball
address position) that defines, in part, the angle formed between
the second portion of the shaft connecting member 109b and the
first portion of the shaft connecting member 109a. FIG. 2A
illustrates such a line in broken line format. The second portion
109b may include a shoulder area 109d configured to abut or engage
the heel end 107d of the body 107, and a protrusion 109c extending
from the shoulder area 109d and configured to be received within
the body 107.
[0082] According to aspects of the disclosure, the second portion
109b of the shaft engaging member 109 may be configured such that
the top of the second portion 109b does not engage with the top of
the golf club head body 107. For example, according to aspects of
the disclosure, when engaged with the golf club head body 107, the
top of the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging member 109 may
be at a position that is less than 3/4 of the height of the heel
end 107d of the golf club head body 107 or less than 3/4 of the
height of the overall golf club head body 107. Further, according
to aspects of the disclosure, when engaged with the golf club head
body 107, the top of the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging
member 109 may be at a position that is less than 1/2 or 1/4 of the
height of the heel end 107d of the golf club head body 107.
[0083] Therefore, as seen in FIGS. 2B and 6, in such a
configuration, a space or gap 116 is provided between heel end 107d
of the golf club head body 107 and the first portion 109a of the
shaft engaging member 109. For example, according to aspects of the
disclosure, the golf club head body 107 and the shaft engaging
member 109 may be configured to provide a space or gap 116 between
the upper portion (e.g., the upper 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, etc.) of the heel
end 107d of club head body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109
when the shaft engaging member 109 is engaged with the club head
body 107.
[0084] According to aspects of the disclosure, the second portion
109b of the shaft engaging member 109 may be configured such that
when engaged with the golf club head body 107, the connection
between the shaft engaging member 109 and the golf club head body
107 is below the center of gravity of the iron-type golf club head
101 and/or below the center of gravity of the iron-type golf club
head body 107 and/or below the geometric center of the ball
striking face 111 of the iron-type golf club head. For example,
according to aspects of the disclosure, the second portion 109b of
the shaft engaging member 109 may be configured such that when
engaged with the golf club head body 107, the entire second portion
109b of the shaft engaging member 109 (e.g., the entire protrusion
109c) is below the center of gravity of the iron-type golf club
head 101 and/or below the center of gravity of the iron-type golf
club head body 107 and/or below the center of the ball striking
face of the iron-type golf club head 101. Similarly, the body 107
may be configured such that the entire connecting structure 150 of
the body 107 (e.g., the passage 108 in one embodiment) is located
below the center of gravity of the head 101 and/or below the center
of gravity of the body 107 and/or below the geometric center of the
ball striking face 111 of the iron-type golf club head.
[0085] For example, FIG. 2A illustrates the golf club head 101
wherein the center of gravity of the golf club head 101 is shown
symbolically at reference numeral 117. Further, the axis along
which the golf club head body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109
are connected is shown symbolically at reference numeral 118. As
seen in FIG. 2A, the entire connection between the golf club head
body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109 is below the center of
gravity 117 of the iron-type golf club head 101 (when the club head
is oriented in a ball address position). This is in contrast to a
typical or conventional iron-type golf club head, which typically
does not have an entire connection between the golf club head body
and the shaft engaging member below the center of gravity of the
golf club head.
[0086] An iron-type golf club head configured according to aspects
of the disclosure can be particularly advantageous. For example, as
will be described in detail below, positioning the connection
between the golf club head body and the shaft engaging member below
the center of gravity of the golf club head and/or the center of
gravity of the golf club head body and below the preferred impact
position between the golf ball and the ball striking face, may act
to provide increased energy transfer. Further, as will be described
in detail below, positioning the connection between the golf club
head body and the shaft engaging member below the center of gravity
of the golf club head and/or the center of gravity of the golf club
head body and below the preferred impact position between the golf
ball and the ball striking face, may act to increase "feel" of the
golf club, or provide better frequencies of feel to the golfer.
[0087] The body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109 may be
configured to create a more visually seamless appearance. For
example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the resilient member 140
has an extension 146 that extends from the heel end 107d of the
body 107 to form a shroud that at least partially covers the shaft
engaging member 109 and/or the gap 116 between the heel end 107d
and the first portion 109a of the shaft engaging member 109. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the extension 146 jogs rearwardly outside
the periphery of the face and rear members 120, 130, extends
completely across the gap 116, and engages the first portion 109a
of the shaft engaging member 109. It is understood that the
extension 146 may have a different configuration in other
embodiments, and may surround or wrap around a portion of the shaft
engaging member 109 in one embodiment. The shroud formed by the
extension 146 may have any properties or configurations of the
separate shroud 246 described herein with respect to FIGS. 10-13.
In another embodiment, the resilient member 140 may not have an
extension, and the head 101 may include a separate shroud (e.g., as
shown in FIGS. 10-13) or no shroud. In a further embodiment, the
second portion 109b of the shaft engaging member 109 may be
configured with an outer surface that aligns with a corresponding
outer surface of the golf club head body 107. For example, the
shoulder area 109d of the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging
member 109 may be configured such that the front surface of the
shoulder area 109d aligns with the front surface, or ball striking
surface 110, of the golf club head 101 when the shaft engaging
member 109 is engaged with the golf club head body 107. Similarly,
such a shoulder area may be configured such that the bottom surface
and rear surface of the shoulder area align with a respective sole
surface and rear surface of the golf club head body 107 when the
shaft engaging member 109 is engaged with the golf club head body
107. In this way, there may be a relatively seamless engagement
between the shaft engaging member 109 and the golf club head body
107 (at least along a portion or a majority of the engaged
surfaces) when shaft engaging member 109 is engaged with the golf
club head body 107. Optionally, any seams between the golf club
body 107, the shaft engaging member 109 and/or any shroud structure
may be concealed, e.g., by paint, by chroming or electroplating, by
coating, or in some other manner.
[0088] According to aspects of the disclosure, the second portion
109b may include a protrusion 109c that extends from the shoulder
109d of the second portion 109b. According to aspects of the
disclosure, the protrusion 109c may extend from a side of the
shoulder 109d of the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging
member 109. The protrusion 109c may form the majority, the entirety
or the substantial entirety of the second portion 109b of the shaft
engaging member. In another embodiment, the protrusion 109c may
extend outward from a relatively vertical plane formed defined at
on the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging member 109.
[0089] Further, the protrusion 109c may be configured to extend
into and engage with and/or be received in the connecting structure
150 of the club head body member 107, such as the passage 108 in
FIGS. 2-3. For example, the protrusion 109c may be a tubular
protrusion and fits into the passage 108 of the club head body
member 107. Further, the protrusion 109c may be sized and
configured such that when engaged with the passage 108, an outer
surface of the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging member 109
matches and mates with a corresponding outer surface of the golf
club head body 107 (e.g., in a relatively seamless manner such as
described above). Thus, the protrusion 109c and the passage 108 may
have various corresponding or cooperating shapes.
[0090] According to aspects of the disclosure, the protrusion 109c
may be configured in a variety of ways. For example, the protrusion
109c may be formed on the shaft engaging member 109 during
manufacturing, such as when the shaft engaging member 109 is
created by forging, casting, molding, and/or other techniques and
processes. Also, the protrusion 109c may be attached to the shaft
engaging member 109 after manufacture of the shaft engaging member
109. For example, according to aspects of the disclosure,
protrusion 109c may be a separate peg or dowel that is engaged with
the shaft engaging member 109 (e.g., by welding, by cements,
etc.).
[0091] According to aspects of the disclosure, the protrusion 109c
may extend between 0.2-1.0 inches, 0.4-0.8 inches or 0.5-0.6 inches
away from the point of engagement of the second portion 109b of the
shaft engaging member 109 with the body 107 (e.g., the shoulder
area 109d). As long as the shaft engaging member 109 and the golf
club head body 107 are securely engaged, the distance or depth that
the protrusion 109c extends out of the shaft engaging member 109
may be varied as desired. For example, in some embodiments of the
disclosure, the protrusion 109c may extend out of the shaft
engaging member 109 for a length that is substantially the entire
length of the golf club head body 107. In other words, the
protrusion 109c may extend out of the shaft engaging member 109
over 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the length of the of the golf
club head body 107 or the 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the length
of the sole of the golf club head body 107. In this way, the
protrusion 109c may engage with and fill a corresponding passage
108 that extends into the golf club head body 107 by the same or
similar dimension.
[0092] FIGS. 1-6 show an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure,
where the passage 108 and the protrusion 109c have lengths which
extend substantially the entire length of the golf club head body
107. It is noted that in such an embodiment, the weight of the golf
club head 101 may be more centered. Further, the protrusion 109c
may be formed with a varied weight, e.g., by varied density or
thickness, along its length such that the protrusion 109c may
provide more weight at a particular portion of the golf club head
101 (e.g., heel or toe weighted).
[0093] According to further aspects of the disclosure, the width
(e.g., the diameter) of the protrusion 109c may be varied as
desired. According to some aspects of the disclosure, the
protrusion 109c may have a width of 0.25-0.75 inches, 0.4-0.6
inches or 0.5-0.55 inches. According to aspects of the disclosure,
the shape of the protrusion 109c may be configured as desired. For
example, the shape of the protrusion 109c may be circular,
triangular, square or rectangular, etc. in order to correspond to
the shape of the passage 108 in the golf club head body 107. It is
noted that while only a single protrusion 109c is shown in the
depicted embodiment, multiple protrusions may be used if desired.
As mentioned above, the protrusion 109c may be configured in a
complementary structure so that the shaft engaging member 109 may
be rotationally locked with respect to the body 107. For example,
in one embodiment, the passage 108 and the protrusion 109c may have
a plurality of interlocking gear teeth 172 or other locking
surfaces, such as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6. Other
rotational locking structure may be used in other embodiments.
Generally, the passage 108 and the protrusion 109c may have nearly
identical, symmetrical, non-circular cross-sectional shapes that
can engage in a plurality of positions. For example, the passage
108 and the protrusion 109c may have identical polygonal shapes,
such as shapes having a large number of sides to provide a large
number of different locking positions. Further rotational locking
structures are contemplated.
[0094] FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of a structure for
providing interlocking gear teeth 172 with a greater number of
options for rotational locking engagement. FIG. 23 illustrates a
sleeve 173 having an outer surface 174 and an inner surface 175
defining a central passage 176, each with a plurality of locking
gear teeth. The sleeve 173 is configured so that at least a portion
of the protrusion 109c fits inside the central passage 176, and the
gear teeth 172 of the inner surface 175 and the protrusion 109c
interlock with each other. The protrusion 109c and the sleeve 173
can then be inserted into the passage 108, so that the gear teeth
172 on the passage 108 and on the outer surface 174 of the sleeve
173 interlock with each other. This provides a significantly larger
number of options for rotational locking positions, which in turn
permits smaller rotational adjustment increments. It is understood
that the sleeve 173 of FIG. 23 may be used in connection with any
embodiment described herein.
[0095] According to aspects of the disclosure, the protrusion 109c
may be configured to extend horizontally, or relatively
horizontally, away from the shoulder area 109d of the shaft
engaging mechanism 109. For example, as seen in the depicted
embodiment, the protrusion 109c extends in a horizontal fashion in
the toe-heel direction of the golf club head 101. However, if
desired, the protrusion 109c may be configured to extend from the
shaft engaging member 109 at an angle. For example, the protrusion
109c may be angled upwardly or downwardly relative to the heel to
toe direction of the shaft engaging member 109.
[0096] According to aspects of the disclosure, the protrusion 109c
may be positioned relatively low in the shaft engaging member 109.
For example, the protrusion 109c may be positioned closer to the
bottom of the shaft engaging member 109 than the top of the shaft
engaging member 109. As some more specific examples, the protrusion
109c may be positioned such that it is in the lower half, or lower
quarter, of the shaft engaging member 109. Further, according to
aspects of the disclosure, the protrusion 109c may be positioned
such that it is extends from the center of the second portion 109b
of the shaft engaging member 109 (e.g., the lower edge of the
protrusion 109c may be within approximately 0.125 to 0.25 inches or
less from the bottom of the shaft engaging member 109).
[0097] In the depicted embodiment as described above, the shaft
engaging member 109 may be engaged with the golf club head body 107
by inserting the protrusion 109c into the passage 108.
Additionally, if desired, the golf club head 101 may include one or
more securing or retaining features that aid in securing the
engagement of the shaft engaging member 109 with the golf club head
body 107, including removable or releasable retaining features. For
example, the protrusion 109c may include one or more keys or ridges
(not shown) that correspond to one or more respective notches at
the opening of the passage 108 or within the interior of the of
club head body 107. Such keys or ridges on the protrusion 109c may
be configured to engage with corresponding notches or grooves in
the passage 108 in order to engage or lock the club head body 107
with the shaft engaging member 109 (e.g., to prevent twisting of
these parts with respect to one another). In this configuration,
the keys or ridges of the protrusion 109c may be aligned with
notches in the passage 108 to allow the protrusion 109c to slide
into the passage 108. The passage 108 may be configured with
grooves that allow the protrusion 109c to be rotated from a first
position, at which the keys or ridges are aligned with the notches
to allow entry of the protrusion 109c into the passage 108, to a
second position, wherein the keys or ridges of the protrusion 109c
are no longer aligned with the notches of the passage 108. In this
way, the shaft engaging member 109 may be secured or locked within
the golf club head body 107. Of course, other securing or retaining
features may be provided as well (e.g., threads, recesses, snap fit
features, etc.). For example, the end of passage 108 (e.g., close
to the toe of the golf club head 101) may include securing,
retaining or locking members (e.g., mechanical connectors) which
receive corresponding members on the protrusion 109c (e.g.,
expandable/contractible/movable members on the tip end of the
protrusion 109c) when the protrusion 109c is inserted into the
passage 108. Such retaining members may prevent the protrusion 109c
from being disengaged from the passage 108 once the
expandable/contractible/movable members on the tip end of the
protrusion 109c have been received and expanded in the securing,
retaining or locking members at the end of the passage 108 and
until they are contracted to release from the mechanical
connectors. A further example of a retaining structure includes a
fastener, such as a screw 119, as illustrated in FIG. 8 and
described in greater detail herein.
[0098] According to one embodiment, the passage 108 may extend
through the entire golf club head body 107. In such an embodiment,
there are openings at both the toe end 107c and the heel end 107d
of the golf club head body 107. Further, in such embodiments, the
protrusion 109 may be secured via a mechanical connector extends
from the opening at the toe end 107c of the golf club head body
107.
[0099] Therefore, it is understood that the shaft engaging member
109 may be configured to be engaged with the golf club head body
107 in a releasable manner using mechanical connectors. It is noted
that in such a configuration, if desired, easy interchange of one
shaft for another (e.g., if the shaft 103 is permanently affixed to
the shaft engaging member 109) may be accomplished. Further, it is
noted that in addition to the above described mechanical
connectors, the engagement between the shaft engaging member 109
the golf club head body 107 may be supplemented with other securing
means such as bonding with adhesives or cements, welding (e.g.,
laser welding), soldering, brazing, or other fusing techniques,
etc.
[0100] Additionally, it is noted that while a passage and a
protrusion are specifically described above, the shaft engaging
member 109 may be engaged with the golf club head body 107 in any
desired manner. For example, according to other embodiments of the
disclosure, no protrusions and no passages are used. For example,
the shaft engaging member 109 may be engaged with the golf club
head body 107 via mechanical connectors (e.g., threads, recesses,
snap fit features, etc.) which do not include the protrusion and
hole described above. Also, if desired, in addition to such other
mechanical connectors, the engagement between the shaft engaging
member 109 and the golf club head body 107 may be supplemented with
other securing means, such as bonding with adhesives or cements,
welding (e.g., laser welding), soldering, brazing, or other fusing
techniques, etc.
[0101] Further, it is noted that as an alternative to mechanical
connectors, such as described above, securing means, such as
bonding with adhesives or cements, welding (e.g., laser welding),
soldering, brazing, or other fusing techniques, etc., may be
employed to secure the shaft engaging member 109 with the golf club
head body 107. For example, according to some aspects of the
disclosure, the second portion 109b of the shaft engaging member
109 may be directly engaged with the golf club head body 107. For
example, an outer surface of the second portion 109b of the shaft
engaging member 109 (e.g., the relatively vertical plane at a toe
end of the shaft engaging member 109) may be directly engaged with
a corresponding outer surface of the club head body 107 (e.g., the
relatively vertical plane at the heel end 107d of the club head
body 107), such as by a welding process or other technique.
[0102] It is also noted that, if desired, according to other
aspects of the disclosure, no shaft engaging member 109 is needed.
For example, the shaft 103 may be attached directly to the golf
club head body 109 or the golf club head 101. For example, the
shaft 103 may be configured at its end that is opposite the grip
105 with a configuration to directly engage with the golf club head
body 107 or the golf club head 101. For example, the shaft 103 may
include a thicker portion that is joined with the golf club head
body 107 or the golf club head 101 via mechanical connectors,
bonding with adhesives or cements, welding (e.g., laser welding),
soldering, brazing, or other fusing techniques, etc. (e.g., joined
such that the entire connection is completely below the center of
gravity of the golf club head and/or the center of gravity of the
iron-type golf club head body and/or the center of the face of the
golf club head).
[0103] In one embodiment, the body 107 and the shaft engaging
member 109 may include complementary rotational locking structure
that rotationally locks the body 107 and the shaft engaging member
109 together. Such rotational locking structure may be configured
for rotationally locking the body 107 and the shaft engaging member
109 in a plurality of different positions, and the loft angle of
the club head 101 changes for the plurality of different positions.
An example of these multiple different positions and loft angles
are illustrated in FIG. 21. For example, the rotational locking
structure may be connectable in at least a first position and a
second position, where the club head 101 has a first loft angle and
a second loft angle, respectively. In a further embodiment, the
rotational locking structure may be releasable and reconnectable,
in order to allow the rotational orientations of the body 107 and
the shaft engaging member 109 and/or the loft angle of the club
head 101 to be adjusted. It is understood that the club head 101
may have releasable connecting structure for connecting to the
shaft engaging member 109, as described above. In one example
embodiment, such as shown in FIGS. 1-6, both the protrusion 109c
and the passage 108 may have complementary interlocking gear teeth
172 or other interlocking structure for such rotational locking, as
described in greater detail herein. In one embodiment, the
rotational locking structure is configured to permit 3.degree. of
total relative rotational adjustment (i.e., +/-1.5.degree. from
baseline) in 0.5.degree. increments, and the gear teeth 172 may be
spaced and configured to provide such incremental adjustment. The
sleeve 173 in FIG. 23 may also be used to provide this incremental
adjustment.
[0104] As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the rotational locking structure in
this embodiment includes a plurality of complementary teeth 172
that engage each other to achieve rotational locking. As shown in
FIG. 2A, the protrusion 109c has gear teeth 172 that extend around
the entire or substantially the entire periphery of the protrusion
109c. Additionally, the teeth 172 of this embodiment extend the
entire or substantially the entire length of the protrusion 109c.
The passage 108 has complementary teeth 172 at least around the
enclosed portion 104 of the passage 108. In another embodiment, the
teeth 172 may extend only a portion of the length of the protrusion
109c, for example, only the portion of the protrusion 109c within
the enclosed portion 104 of the passage 108 may have teeth 172. In
other embodiments, the teeth 172 may be positioned along a
different or additional portion of, or the entire length of, the
protrusion 109c and/or the passage 108. For example, the protrusion
109c may engage one or more walls defining the rear cavity 115,
which may have teeth 172 for such engagement (e.g., the rear
surface 122 of the face member and/or the front surface 131 of the
rear member 130). Additionally, in other embodiments, the teeth 172
may be positioned around at least a portion of or the entire
periphery of the protrusion 109c and/or the passage 108. In a
further embodiment, the rotational locking structure may not be
complementary, and either the body 107 or the shaft engaging member
109 may include a rotational locking structure that can lock the
head in different rotational positions with respect to the shaft
engaging member 109, and thereby lock the head in different loft
angles, as described herein and shown in FIG. 21.
[0105] The teeth 172 may be arranged and configured so that
advancing the rotation of the shaft engaging member 109 relative to
the body 107 changes the loft angle of the club head by a set
amount, such as 1.degree. per tooth 172, in one embodiment. The
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 permits multiple different club heads
with different loft angles to be manufactured using the same body
member 107 and/or shaft engaging member 109. This can simplify
manufacturing by reducing the number of different parts required to
produce a full set of club heads, and can thereby reduce costs and
increase efficiency. It is understood that different shrouds may be
utilized for heads 101 that may include the same body 107 and shaft
engaging member 109, in order to maintain flush and contiguous
surfaces between the shroud and the body 107 when different loft
angles are used. The shaft engaging member 109 may be permanently
connected to the body 107 in the correct position for the desired
loft angle, such as by welding, soldering, brazing, etc. In a
further embodiment, the rotational locking structure in FIGS. 1-6
may be configured to be releasable, reconnectable, and/or
adjustable, in order to allow the rotational orientations of the
body 107 and the shaft engaging member 109 and/or the loft angle of
the club head 601 to be adjusted after manufacturing. A releasable
and reconnectable retaining structure may be utilized to retain the
body 107 in connection with the shaft engaging member 109 in one of
the multiple rotational positions. For example, the fastener 119
shown in FIG. 8 and described herein may be releasable and
reconnectable, and these or other structures may be used for this
purpose in various embodiments. It is noted that the shaft engaging
member 109 and club head body 107 may have other configurations
than shown in the depicted embodiment. For example, golf club head
body 107 and shaft engaging member 109 may have corresponding
configurations, such as corresponding notches and recesses,
corresponding stair step configurations, etc.
[0106] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate different embodiments of potential
configurations of the golf club head 101 shown in FIGS. 1-6 and
described herein. The golf club heads 101 shown in FIGS. 7-9 can be
used in the same manner as the head 101 described above with
respect to FIGS. 1-6, and may include any features or variations
described herein with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6.
Additionally, any of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9 may include any
features or variations described herein with respect to any other
embodiment of FIGS. 1-9. Accordingly, the embodiments in FIGS. 7-9
are described only with respect to their differences from the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-6.
[0107] In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the face member 120 has an
engaging member 125 that encircles and engages the entire periphery
of the protrusion 109c of the shaft engaging member 109. The
engaging member 125 in this embodiment is located at least at the
heel edge 123 of the face member 120 and has an engaging surface
170 that defines the opening 171 of the passage 108. As shown in
FIG. 7, the entire engaging member 125 is located proximate the
heel edge 123, however in another embodiment, the engaging member
125 may extend a greater distance toward the toe edge 124, and may
be an elongated tube in one embodiment. The engaging member 125 in
FIG. 7 has rotational locking structure in the form of teeth 172
around the entire inner periphery of the engaging surface 170,
configured to engage the rotational locking structure of the shaft
engaging member 109 (e.g., teeth 172). The rear member 130 and the
resilient member 140 have structures to compensate for the presence
of the engaging member 125 in the embodiment in FIG. 7 (e.g.,
cutouts 137, 147).
[0108] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, a screw 119 or other fastener
is engaged with the end of the protrusion 109c, and connects the
protrusion 109c to the golf club head body 107. The screw 119 may
be received through an aperture 126 in the toe end 107c in this
embodiment. It is understood that the protrusion 109c may have a
threaded aperture 109e for engaging the fastener 119. The aperture
126 may be defined in the face member 120 or the rear member 130.
In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the face member 120 includes a block
127 or other mounting structure having the aperture 126 defined
therein, for connection to the protrusion 109c. The block 127 is
located at the toe end 107c of the golf club head body 107 in the
embodiment of FIG. 8, and abuts and engages the end of the
protrusion 109c in this embodiment. The rear member 130 and the
resilient member 140 have structures to compensate for the presence
of the block 127 in the embodiment in FIG. 8 (e.g., cutouts 137,
147).
[0109] In one embodiment, such as illustrated in FIG. 9, the club
head body 107 has an engaging member 125 located at the toe end
107c to engage the end of the protrusion 109c. The engaging member
125 is similar to the engaging member 125 described herein with
respect to FIG. 7, being mounted on the face member 120 and
encircling the entire periphery of the protrusion 109c, and also
having rotational locking structure in the form of teeth 172 around
the entire inner periphery of the engaging surface 170, configured
to engage the rotational locking structure of the shaft engaging
member 109 (e.g., teeth 172). In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the
engaging member is mounted near the toe edge 124 of the face member
120. It is understood that the engaging member 125 in FIG. 9 may be
used in combination with the engaging member 125 in FIG. 7 in one
embodiment. In other embodiments, the face member 120 and the rear
member 130 may combine to define an engaging member 125 at the toe
end 107c of the body 107. The engaging member 125 may further
provide a location for welding to the protrusion 109c, in one
embodiment. The rear member 130 and the resilient member 140 have
structures to compensate for the presence of the engaging member
125 in the embodiment in FIG. 9 (e.g., cutouts 147).
[0110] According to aspects of the disclosure, the golf club head
101 and its components may be constructed in any suitable or
desired manner and/or from any suitable or desired materials
without departing from this disclosure, including from conventional
materials and/or in conventional manners known and used in the art.
For example, the club head 101 and/or its various parts may be made
by forging, casting, molding, and/or using other techniques and
processes, including techniques and processes that are conventional
and known in the art. The golf club head 101 may be made of a
variety of materials, including materials described above, such as
titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, and/or other metallic
materials, as well as polymers (including fiber reinforced
polymers) and other types of materials. Various portions of the
head 101, such as the shaft engaging member 109, the face member
120 and/or the rear member 130, may each be made of a single,
integral piece, such as by casting, forging, molding, etc., or may
be made of multiple pieces connected together using appropriate
techniques. In one embodiment, at least part of the head 101 (e.g.,
the face member 120 and/or the rear member 130) may be formed of a
nanocoated or other coated lightweight material, such as a high
strength polymer (e.g., an injection molded plastic) that is coated
with a thin layer of a metallic material. For example, in one
embodiment, the body 107 may be partially or entirely formed of a
high strength polymer such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or
other high strength polymer, coated with aluminum or other metal.
Such a formation can create a complex structure for the body 107
with sufficient strength for performance, while also providing a
lightweight structure, which may have a lower weight and/or density
than the shaft engaging member 109.
[0111] In one embodiment, the entire body 107, or at least the face
member 120, may have a lower weight and/or density than the
protrusion 109c alone, particularly so if the protrusion 109c is
weighted as described herein. For example, by using a lightweight
coated polymer structure to create the body 107, the head 101 can
be manufactured so that a significant portion (even a majority) of
the weight of the head can be provided by the shaft engaging member
109. Further, in embodiments where the second portion 109b of the
shaft engaging member 109 is positioned below the center of gravity
of the body 107, this configuration can create an overall lower
center of gravity for the head 101. Such a lower center of gravity
may be desirable for certain clubs and/or golfers, such as to
provide a higher ball flight trajectory.
[0112] FIGS. 10-22 illustrate additional embodiments of an
iron-type golf club 200 with an iron-type golf club head 201 having
a face member 220 and a rear member 230, and which is configured
for engagement with a shaft engaging member 209. Many features of
the golf club head 201 are similar to the embodiments described
above and, therefore, will not be discussed in more detail here for
the sake of brevity. Such similar or common features are referred
to herein using reference numbers similar to those used with
respect to FIGS. 1-6, within the "200" series of reference numbers.
Such similar or common features already described herein may not be
discussed again in complete detail for the sake of brevity. It is
understood that the head 201 in FIGS. 10-22 may have any of the
structural features described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-9, as
well as any variations or alternate embodiments as described
herein.
[0113] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-13, the club head body
207 has a face 211 that is formed integrally as part of a unitary,
one-piece construction with a face member 220 that is connected to
a rear member 230. The face member 220 and/or the rear member 230
may each be made of an integral, unitary, one-piece construction in
one embodiment, or the face member 220 and/or the rear member 230
may be made from a multi-piece construction in another embodiment.
The face member 220 and/or the rear member 230 may include any
structures, configurations, or variations described with respect to
the members 120, 130 in FIGS. 1-9, such as a separate face
plate.
[0114] The face member 220 in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13 has a
perimeter weighting member 213 extending rearwardly from the face
211 and defining at least a portion of the periphery of rear cavity
215, such that the perimeter weighting member 213 and the rear
cavity 215 at least partially define the rear surface 222 of the
face member 220. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13, the perimeter
weighting member 213 extends rearwardly around the entire periphery
of the face 211 and defines the entire periphery of the rear cavity
215. The face member 220 also includes an opening 271 at the heel
edge 223 that leads to a passage 208 for receiving and connecting
to the shaft engaging member 209, as described in greater detail
herein. The face member 220 in this embodiment includes a flat
surface at the heel end 223 in which the opening 271 is defined,
which surface may be substantially vertical and perpendicular to
the striking surface (not shown) and/or the sole surface 207b of
the body 207. Additionally, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-14, the
face member 220 defines the top 207a and the sole 207b of the body,
and the heel and toe edges 223, 224 of the face member 220 define
the heel end 207d and the toe end 207c of the body 207.
[0115] The rear member 230 in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13 is
formed as a plate member that may have a center opening or window
235. The rear member 230 may be at least partially positioned
within the rear cavity 215. In the embodiment of FIGS. 10-14, the
rear member 230 is entirely or substantially entirely positioned
within the rear cavity 215, such that the entire outer periphery of
the rear member 230 is positioned within the boundaries defined by
the perimeter weighting member 213 and fits within the rear cavity
215. The window 235 of the rear member 230 may permit viewing of
components within the rear cavity 215, such as engagement member(s)
180 that engage the face member 220 and the rear member 230. The
window 235 has a covering 237 in one embodiment that may be at
least partially transparent in order to permit such viewing. The
rear member 230 may have a different configuration in another
embodiment. For example, the rear member 130 may have no window 235
in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the rear member 230 may
have integral and/or separate weighting structures. For example, in
the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the rear member 230 has two weight
cavities 238a configured to receive removable weight members 238b
using complementary threading as a connecting structure. The weight
cavities 238a are positioned proximate the heel and toe edges 233,
234 of the rear member 230, to provide perimeter weighting. It is
understood that the weight members 238b may have the same or
different weights, and may be interchanged for each other or other
weight members 238b having different weights.
[0116] The rear member 230 may have varying sizes and weights in
different embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the rear
member 230 may make up about 25-70% of the total weight of the head
201. The rear member 230 may also have various different dimensions
and structural properties, including weight distributions, in
various embodiments, as similarly described above. Additionally,
the rear member 230 may be positioned so that the CG of the rear
member 230 is substantially aligned with the CG of the face member
220. In one embodiment, for example as shown in FIGS. 10-13, the
CGs of the rear member 230 and the face member 220 are laterally
aligned, and these respective CGs may additionally or alternately
be vertically aligned in another embodiment. The face member 220
may likewise have various different sizes, weights, weight
distributions, dimensions, and structural properties. In other
embodiments, the rear member 230 may be differently configured,
and/or the head 201 may contain multiple rear members 230, as
described above. Further, the rear member 230 may be made of any of
a variety of different materials, which may be selected based on
their weight or density, and the rear member 230 may be configured
to have a greater density than the face member 220 and/or to have
areas of locally increased density in one embodiment, including
configurations as described above.
[0117] In one embodiment, the face member 220 and the rear member
230 are connected and/or engaged such that the rear member 230 is
configured to transfer energy and/or momentum to the face member
220 upon impact of the ball on the striking surface, including on
an off-center impact. The rear member 230 may be connected to the
face member 220 in a number of different configurations that permit
energy and/or momentum transfer between the rear member 230 and the
face member 220, several of which are described below and shown in
the FIGS. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, the face
member 220 is engaged by the rear member 230 through one or more
engagement members 280 that create a point of rigid engagement
between the face member 220 and the rear member 230, as described
in further detail below. The engagement member 280 may be the sole
point or area of rigid engagement between the face member 220 and
the rear member 230 in one embodiment. For example, in the
embodiment of FIGS. 10-13, the engagement member 280 forms the sole
area of rigid engagement between the face member 220 and the rear
member 230, as the resilient member 240 separates the face member
220 from the rear member 230. The engagement member 280 may also be
considered to create a joint 261 between the face member 220 and
the rear member 230. In other embodiments, there may be multiple
areas of rigid engagement between the face member 220 and the rear
member 230, such as by use of multiple engagement members 280 (see
FIG. 15), or there may be no points of rigid engagement between the
face member 220 and the rear member 230, such as if the club head
201 is not provided with an engagement member (see FIG. 16). It is
understood that "rigid" engagement as defined herein does not
necessary imply any fixing or attachment, but instead, means that
the surfaces engaging each other are rigid, rather than flexible,
and behave rigidly during energy and/or momentum transfer. For
example, the engagement members 280 illustrated in FIGS. 13-15 may
rigidly engage the face member 220 and/or the rear member 230
through non-fixed abutment.
[0118] The engagement member 280 may have various structural
configurations, locations, and orientations. In various
embodiments, the engagement member 280 may be fixed to at least one
of the face member 220 and the rear member 230, and/or the
engagement member may rigidly abut at least one of the face member
220 and the rear member 230 (but without being fixedly connected).
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, the engagement member
280 is a ridge or embossment having a triangular-wedge shape, that
extends vertically and is fixed to the rear surface 222 of the face
member 220. The engagement member 280 abuts the front surface 231
of the rear member 230, but the engagement member 280 is not fixed
or otherwise connected to the rear member 230. In this embodiment,
the resilient member 240 includes a gap 248 allowing the engagement
member 280 to extend through the resilient member 240 to engage
both the face member 220 and the rear member 230. This gap 248 is
provided by the resilient member 240 being split into two pieces in
the embodiment of FIGS. 10-15, however FIGS. 17-19 illustrate
alternate embodiments of the resilient member 240, as described
below. Additionally, in this embodiment, the engagement member 180
is located approximately at a midpoint between the heel and toe
edges 223, 224 of the face member 220 and between the heel and toe
edges 233, 234 of the rear member 230. In this location, the
engagement member 280 and the joint 261 also approximately aligned
laterally with the CG of the face member 220, the rear member 230,
and/or the club head 201 as a whole. In other embodiments, the
engagement member 280 may have a different orientation, structure,
or location, as described below.
[0119] FIGS. 14-15 illustrate potential alternate embodiments of
the engagement member 280 that may be used in connection with the
club head 201 shown in FIGS. 10-13, and it is understood that any
of the engagement members 280 described herein may be utilized with
any embodiments of club heads 201 described herein. In the
embodiment of FIG. 14, the engagement member 280 is in the form of
a domed projection that is fixed to the rear surface 222 of the
face member 220 and abuts the front surface 231 of the rear member
230. This engagement member 280 may be laterally aligned with the
CG of the face member 220, the rear member 230, and/or the club
head 201 as a whole, and may additionally or alternately be
vertically aligned with the CG of one or more of these components,
in a further embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the head 201
includes two engagement members 280 in the form of two domed
projections as described above. These engagement members 280 may be
laterally aligned with the CG of the face member 220, the rear
member 230, and/or the club head 201 as a whole, in one embodiment.
Further configurations of engagement members 280 may be used,
including engagement members that are fixed to the front surface
231 of the rear member 230 and abut the rear surface 222 of the
face member 220, or engagement members that are embedded within the
resilient member 240 and are fixed to neither the face member 220
nor the rear member 230. It is understood that the engagement
members 280 in FIGS. 10-15 may be considered to define a joint 261
between the face member 220 and the rear member 230, in one
embodiment.
[0120] The head 201 may further include a resilient member 240
positioned in a space 241 between the rear member 230 and the face
member 220 and engaging both the front surface 231 of the rear
member 230 and the rear surface 222 of the face member 220. FIG. 13
illustrates the club head 201 of FIGS. 10-13 having a resilient
member 240 between the rear member 230 and the face member 220. The
resilient member 240 may be connected to the face member 220 and/or
the rear member 230 in any manner described herein, including by
the use of adhesives or other bonding materials. The resilient
member 240 in the embodiment of FIG. 13 has two sections or
portions: a heel section or portion 240a and a toe section or
portion 240b. In the embodiment illustrated, the heel and toe
sections 240a,b are completely separate from each other and spaced
by a gap 248 that provides room for the engagement member 280.
However, in another embodiment, the heel and toe portions 240a,b
may be connected, such as by one or more bridging members spanning
the gap 248. As shown in FIG. 13, the heel and toe portions 240a,b
of the resilient member 240 conform to the inner surfaces of the
perimeter weighting member 213 defining the rear cavity 215 and
substantially fill the portions of the rear cavity 215 proximate
the heel 207d and toe 207c. The resilient members 240 in FIGS.
14-15 have a similar configuration to that shown in FIG. 13. The
resilient member 240 may have further different configurations in
other embodiments, including having more than two pieces. It is
understood that the configuration of the resilient member 240 may
be at least partially dictated by the configurations of the face
member 220 and/or the rear member 230. The resilient material of
the resilient member 240 may be made from any material described
herein with respect to the resilient member 140 in FIGS. 1-6.
[0121] FIGS. 17-19 illustrate other embodiments of resilient
members 240 that can be used in connection with the embodiments of
FIGS. 10-15. For example, the resilient member 240 in FIG. 17 can
be used in connection with the head 201 in FIGS. 10-13, and
includes a gap 248 formed by a slot that is shaped and located to
permit the engagement member 280 to engage both the face member 220
and the rear member 230 through the resilient member 240. The
resilient member 240 in FIG. 18 can be used in connection with the
head 201 in FIG. 14, and includes a gap 248 formed by a hole that
is shaped and located to permit the engagement member 280 to engage
both the face member 220 and the rear member 230 through the
resilient member 240. The resilient member 240 in FIG. 19 can be
used in connection with the head 201 in FIG. 15, and includes two
gaps 248 formed by two holes that are shaped and located to permit
the engagement members 280 to engage both the face member 220 and
the rear member 230 through the resilient member 240. It is
understood that any of the resilient members described herein may
include a cut-out to provide room for the shaft engaging member
109, as shown by the broken lines 281 in FIG. 13.
[0122] FIG. 22 illustrates another embodiment of a club head 201
that is similar in most ways to the club head of FIGS. 10-13. The
difference in this embodiment is that the engagement member 280 is
located closer to the heel edges 223, 233 than to the toe edges
224, 234 of the face member 220 and the rear member 230. In this
configuration, the engagement member 280 provides for greater
transfer of energy and/or momentum to the face member 220 upon
impacts that occur close to the toe edge 224 of the face member
220. Toe impacts are a particularly common and problematic
occurrence for users of iron-type golf clubs, as impacts near the
toe tend to exert greater twisting moments on the shaft 203. In a
further embodiment, the head 201 may have the engagement member 280
located closer to the toe edges 224, 234, to obtain a similar
effect with respect to impacts near the heel edge 223 of the face
member 220. The resilient member 240 in FIG. 22 is configured to
provide a gap 248 that cooperates with the location and structure
of this particular embodiment of the engagement member 280.
[0123] As described above, the engagement member(s) 280 form a
joint 261 that permits energy and/or momentum to be transferred
between the rear member 230 and the face member 220 during impact,
including an off-center impact on the striking surface. It is
understood that the rear member 230 may be retained in connection
with the resilient material 240 and/or the face member 220 by
various retaining structures. In one embodiment, the rear member
230 may be bonded (e.g., adhesively) to the resilient material 240,
which is in turn bonded to the face member 220. In another
embodiment, the head 101 may include connecting structure for this
purpose, such as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-9, and
this connecting structure may be a part of the engagement member
280 in one embodiment.
[0124] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the resilient
member 240 may form the only connection between the rear member 230
and the face member 220, and the rear member 230 may be considered
to be suspended with respect to the face member 220 by the
resilient member 240 in this configuration. The rear member 230 and
the face member 220 have configurations similar to the same
components of the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13, except without the
engagement members forming the joint 261. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 16, the resilient member 240 is configured
similarly to the resilient member 240 in FIG. 14, with separate
heel and toe portions 240a,b. However, in another embodiment, the
resilient member 240 may have a different configuration, such as
being formed of a single piece, filling or substantially filling
the entire rear cavity 215.
[0125] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10-13, the head 201
includes a shaft engaging member 209 connecting the shaft 203 to
the body 207, which includes many features of the shaft engaging
member 109 of FIGS. 1-6. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, the
shaft engaging member 209 is described herein generally with
respect to its differences from the shaft engaging member 109 of
FIGS. 1-6. It is understood that the shaft engaging member 209 may
include any variations or features of the shaft engaging member 109
described herein. In general, the protrusion 209c and any other
connecting portion of the shaft engaging member 209 may be
positioned below the CG of the head 201, as described above.
[0126] The shaft engaging member 209 in FIGS. 10-13 has a first
portion 209a, a second portion 209b, and a protrusion 209c engaging
the connecting structure 250 of the club head body 207 and received
within the body 207. The protrusion 209c has rotational locking
structure in the form of teeth 272 extending around the entire
periphery of the protrusion 209c, over a portion of the length of
the protrusion 209c. The protrusion 209c has an enlarged portion
273, upon with the teeth 272 are positioned. In another embodiment,
the teeth 272 may extend along the entire or substantially the
entire length of the protrusion 209c, such as in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-6. The length of the protrusion 209c in FIGS. 10-13 is
shorter than that of the protrusion 109c in FIGS. 1-6, however the
protrusion 209c may have any length described above.
[0127] The head 201 in FIGS. 10-13 has connecting structure 250 for
connection to the shaft engaging member 209, which may include
rotational locking structure. As shown in FIGS. 10-13, the face
member 220 has an opening 271 in the heel end 223, which is in
communication with a passage 208 within the face member 220, as
described above. The protrusion 209c of the shaft engaging member
209 is received in the passage 208 through the opening 271 to
connect the shaft engaging member 209 to the body 207, as similarly
described above with respect to FIGS. 1-6. The passage 208 may be
in communication with the rear cavity 215 in one embodiment, such
that the protrusion 209c extends through the passage and at least
partially into the rear cavity 215. The passage 208 has an engaging
surface 270 with teeth 272 proximate the opening 271, extending
over at least a portion of the passage 208, which interlock with
the teeth 272 of the protrusion 209c to form a rotational locking
structure, as described above. The body 207 and/or the shaft
engaging member 209 may have additional or alternate rotational
locking structure in another embodiment. Once the protrusion 209c
is received in the passage 208, the body 207 may be connected to
the shaft engaging member 209 by any structure or technique
described herein, including permanent connections (e.g., welding,
brazing, adhesive, etc.) and removable/reconnectable structures.
The body 207 and the shaft engaging member 209 may thereby be
positioned in a plurality of different rotational positions
relative to each other, as described elsewhere herein and shown in
FIG. 21, and such a configuration may produce any of the advantages
described herein. The rotational locking structure may provide for
fixed incremental adjustment as described above with respect to
FIGS. 1-9 and/or may also be used in connection with the sleeve 173
of FIG. 23.
[0128] The golf club head 201 of FIGS. 10-13 may also contain a
shroud 246 that engages at least one of the body 207 and the shaft
engaging member 209 and at least partially covers the shaft
engaging member 209, the connecting structure 250 of the body 207,
and/or the gap 216 between the first portion 209a of the shaft
engaging member 209 and the heel end 207d of the body 207. The
shroud 246 may receive at least a portion of the first portion 209a
(i.e. the leg) and/or the second portion 209b of the shaft engaging
member 209 to accomplish this function. The shroud 246 may be
purely cosmetic in one embodiment, and may be configured to create
the appearance of an integral hosel. In other embodiments, the
shroud 246 may serve a structural or other functional purpose. In
the embodiment of FIGS. 10-13, the shroud 246 receives and
partially covers the first and second portions 209a,b of the shaft
engaging member 209, and completely covers the heel end 207d and
the opening 271 of the passage 208 of the body 207. Additionally,
the shroud 246 in this embodiment extends across the gap 216 to
engage both the body 207 and the first portion 209a of the shaft
engaging member 209, and at least partially covers the gap 216. The
shroud 246 in this embodiment has two end openings 246a and 246b.
The first opening 246a receives the first portion 209a of the shaft
engaging member 209 therethrough, and the second opening 246b
allows the second portion 209b of the shaft engaging member 209 to
extend through to connect to the body 207. The second opening 246b
also engages and surrounds the flat surface at the heel end 207d of
the body 207 in this embodiment. The shroud 246 as shown in FIGS.
10-13 has a flared end portion 248 around the second opening 246b,
such that the second opening 246b is also flared. Further, the
shroud 246 (or the flared end portion 248 thereof) may have
surfaces that are substantially flush and/or contiguous with one or
more surfaces of the golf club head body 207 around the heel end
207d, such as the top 207a, the sole 207b, the face 211, and/or the
rear of the perimeter weighting member 213. The shroud 246 may be a
shell made from plastic or other polymer material (including fiber
reinforced polymers or other composites) in one embodiment, however
it is understood that other materials may be used in other
embodiments. It is further understood that the shroud 246 may have
a different configuration in another embodiment.
[0129] A wide variety of overall club head constructions are
possible without departing from this disclosure. For example, it is
noted that the dimensions and/or other characteristics of the golf
club heads 101 and 201 according to examples of this disclosure may
vary significantly without departing from the disclosure. For
example, the above described features and configurations may be
incorporated into any iron-type club heads including, for example:
wedges (e.g., pitching wedges, lob wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges,
etc.), iron-type hybrid clubs, driving irons, 0 through 10 irons,
etc. While iron-type golf clubs and iron-type golf club heads have
been described in detail above, other aspects of this disclosure
may be used in connection with wood-type golf club heads,
hybrid-type golf club heads, putter heads, and other types of golf
club heads or other ball striking devices, including golf clubs
incorporating such heads.
[0130] The various embodiments and configurations described herein
produce multiple advantages over existing golf clubs and other ball
striking devices. For example, the use of rotational locking
structure can simplify manufacturing by reducing the number of
different parts required to produce a full set of club heads, and
can thereby reduce costs and increase efficiency. In other words, a
single shaft engaging member and club head can be used to produce
multiple different iron clubs having different loft angles, so that
each different club does not require its own specific club head
part. As another example, the use of releasable rotational locking
structure permits for customization of a club head by a user,
retailer, custom fitter, etc. As a further example, the transfer of
energy and/or momentum transfer from the rear member to the face
member can assist in resisting deflection of the face upon impact
of the ball on the striking surface, particularly on off-center
hits. This, in turn, can create greater energy and/or momentum
transfer to the ball, straighter ball flight, and/or less
undesirable side-spin. As yet another example, the use of
rotational locking structure can permit users to adjust the loft
angles of some of his/her clubs to provide larger or smaller "gaps"
in ball flight distance between sequential clubs. This can be
particularly beneficial for long irons, where many golfers do not
obtain great variation in distance. Still other benefits and
advantages are recognizable to those skilled in the art.
[0131] It is understood that any embodiments shown and described
herein may incorporate one or more features shown and/or described
herein with respect to any other embodiment. For example, the
embodiments of FIGS. 1-9 may include any features shown and/or
described herein with respect to FIGS. 10-22, and vice versa. In
other words, the embodiments of FIGS. 1-9 may contain engagement
members 280 as described herein and/or shown in FIGS. 10-22, or the
embodiments of FIGS. 10-22 may include connection members as
described herein and/or shown in FIGS. 1-9. A wide variety of
overall club head constructions are possible without departing from
this disclosure. For example, it is noted that the dimensions
and/or other characteristics of the golf club heads according to
examples of this disclosure may vary significantly without
departing from the disclosure.
[0132] The present disclosure is described above and in the
accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of example
structures, features, elements, and combinations of structures,
features, and elements. The purpose served by the disclosure,
however, is to provide examples of the various features and
concepts related to the disclosure, not to limit the scope of the
disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that
numerous variations and modifications may be made to the
embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. For example,
the various features and concepts described above in conjunction
with FIGS. 1 through 23 may be used individually and/or in any
combination or subcombination without departing from this
disclosure.
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