U.S. patent number 3,869,126 [Application Number 05/417,836] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-04 for golf club face.
Invention is credited to Woodrow F. Thompson.
United States Patent |
3,869,126 |
Thompson |
March 4, 1975 |
GOLF CLUB FACE
Abstract
The face of a golf club is provided with a plurality of parallel
steps rising from the lower edge of the club face to the upper edge
of the club face to provide a plurality of edges designed to impart
back spin to a golf ball. Each of the parallel steps are parallel
to an imaginary plane which is an extension of the lowermost step
on the club face and which determines the pitch of the club.
Inventors: |
Thompson; Woodrow F. (West
Forest, MS) |
Family
ID: |
23655573 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/417,836 |
Filed: |
November 21, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
53/0466 (20130101); A63B 60/00 (20151001); A63B
53/047 (20130101); A63B 53/04 (20130101); A63B
53/0445 (20200801); A63B 53/0458 (20200801) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101); A63b 053/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/77R,78,164,167-175 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
"The Search for the Perfect Swing," by Cochran and Stobbs; 1968;
pages 150-156..
|
Primary Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn &
Macpeak
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf club comprising a shaft and a head having a ball impact
face thereon secured to said shaft, said face having a flat surface
along the lowermost edge of the club face lying in an imaginery
plane which defines the pitch of the club, a plurality of stepped
flat surfaces disposed parallel to said plane and spaced
progressively further from said plane as said stepped flat surfaces
progress from said lowermost edge of the club face to the uppermost
edge of said club face, and a plurality of risers interconnecting
said flat surfaces with each riser being disposed at a maximum
angle of 90.degree. relative to the next highest flat surface to
provide a plurality of edges adapted to bite into a golf ball upon
impact to impart back spin to the ball.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the golf club art and more
particularly to the construction of the face of the golf club.
2. Prior Art
It is old and well known in the prior art to provide the face of a
golf club with a plurality of grooves which upon impact with a golf
ball will aid in imparting control to the golf ball. However,
unless the impact is fairly substantial the edges of the grooves do
not provide any gripping action on the golf ball.
It is also old and well known in the golf club art to provide a
plurality of raised projections or ridges on the face of a golf
club for the purpose of imparting back spin to a golf ball upon
impact. It has also been proposed to provide the face of the club
with a plurality of steps which decrease in height from the lower
edge of the golf club face to the upper edge of the golf club face.
Although such an arrangement is purportedly provided for inducing
back spin to the golf ball the edges of each step are oriented in a
direction opposite to the direction of movement of the face of the
club upon contact with the ball thus preventing the edges of the
steps from biting into the surface of the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a golf club having a face
provided with a plurality of sequential steps thereon which are
disposed parallel to the top and bottom edges of the club and which
rise from the lower edge of the club to the top edge of the club to
impart backspin to a golf ball upon contact.
The present invention is directed to a golf club face having a
plurality of sequential steps thereon which may be used in
conjunction with either irons or woods in order to impart improved
back spin to a golf ball upon impact.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following more particular
description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of a wood-type golf club having a
club face according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of an iron-type golf club having a
club face according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The golf club 10 of FIG. 1 is illustrated with a representative
wood-type head 12 secured to the shank 14 in the conventional
manner. The face of the head 12 is provided with a plurality of
parallel steps 16 each of which is progressively higher than the
previous step in the direction from the bottom edge 18 of the club
head to the top edge 20 of the club head with respect to an
imaginery plane 19 which is an extension of the lowermost flat
surface 21 on the face of the club and which defines the pitch of
the club. The riser 22 of each step is disposed at substantially
right angles to the face surface of each step to provide a
plurality of edges 23, one or more of which will bite into the ball
25 upon impact to impart back spin to the ball. It is also
contemplated that the risers could be somewhat undercut so as to
present an acute angle with respect to the main face surface 16 of
each step. The golf club 30 in FIG. 2 is a conventional iron-type
club having a blade-type head 32 secured to shank 34 in the
conventional manner. The face of the blade 32 is provided with a
plurality of steps 36 which are parallel to each other each of
which is progressively higher than the preceeding step in a
direction from the bottom edge 38 of the head to the top edge 40
relative to an imaginery plane 39 which is an extension of the
lowermost surface 41 on the face of the club and which defines the
pitch of the club. The riser 42 for each step is disposed at
substantially right angles to the main face surface of each step to
provide a plurality of edges 43, one or more of which will bite
into the ball 45 upon impact to impart back spin to the ball. It is
also contemplated that the riser could be somewhat undercut so as
to be disposed at an acute angle relative to the main face
surfaces.
The stepped face according to the present invention is most
effective with the clubs having the greatest degree of pitch to the
club face such as the sand wedge, 9 iron and 4 wood. However, the
stepped face could be equally effective with numerous other clubs
and the height of each step as determined by the risers could be
varied depending upon the pitch. For a sand wedge the height of
each step could be on the order of 0.010-- 0.050 inches. By using a
plurality of steps the golfer is more certain of having at least
one of the edges of one of the steps engage the golf ball to impart
the desired back spin.
The height of each step as determined by the risers could
progressively increase as the steps progress from the bottom edge
of the club head to the top. Likewise, the width of each step
surface between risers could also vary progressive with the width
being narrowest adjacent the bottom edge of the club face. Also,
the height and width of the steps could vary from club to club
depending on the pitch of the club face. The length of each step is
immaterial as long as the steps extend at least over the
conventional impact area on the club face.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood
by those in the art that various changes in form and detail may be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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