US20090029791A1

US20090029791A1 - Golf Clubs and Methods of Manufacture

Info

Publication number: US20090029791A1
Application number: US11/828,260
Authority: US
Inventors: John A. Solheim
Original assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2007-07-25
Filing date: 2007-07-25
Publication date: 2009-01-29
Also published as: GB0811833D0; CA2636938A1; GB2451318A

Abstract

Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a body having a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, and a top region. The golf club head further comprises a front face, a first back, and a second back that extends farther from the front face than the first back. The second back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from the sole region to about a midpoint between the sole region and the top region. The golf cub head also comprises a first cavity between the first back and the second back, and a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region. This embodiment may further comprise first and second weights that are inserted into the first and second cavities respectively. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to golf, and relates more particularly to golf clubs and methods of manufacturing a golf clubs.

BACKGROUND

Golf clubs and specifically golf club heads of various designs have typically been developed to improve the functionality of a golfer's swing and resulting golf shot. In particular, many golfers are unable or lack consistency to hit “down” on a ball, that is, to regularly hit the ball squarely. Golf club design and, particularly, golf club head design may optimize a golf club head's weighting scheme, for example, center of gravity position and moments of inertia. Such designs may mitigate a golfer's inconsistency problems. Back weighting and/or an additional lower toe weighting may strategically position the center of gravity and may induce the golfer during his swing, to hit “down” on the ball, thus, hitting the ball squarely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary golf club head according to an embodiment of the golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the exemplary golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded, cross-sectional view of the exemplary golf club head, taken from a section line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded, cross-sectional view of the exemplary golf club head, taken from a section line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG, 5 Illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram representation of one manner in which a golf club head may be manufactured; and

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram representation of one manner in which a golf club may be manufactured.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the golf clubs and their methods of manufacture. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the golf clubs and their methods of manufacture. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The terms “first,” “second/” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “contain,” “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion., such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “under,” “over,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in an electrical, physical, mechanical, or other manner.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment of the golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein, a golf club head comprises a body having a toe region, a heel region opposite the toe region, a sole region, and a top region opposite the sole region. The golf club head further comprises a front face, a first back opposite the front face, a second back opposite the front face and extending farther from the front face than the first back. The second back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from the sole region to about a midpoint between the sole region and the top region. The golf cub head further comprises a first cavity between the first back and the second back, and a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region. This embodiment may further comprise a first weight that is inserted in the first cavity and a second weight inserted in the second cavity.
In another embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a front face, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, and a sole. The sole extends from the heel region to the toe region, and the sole extends from the front face to a back sole edge. The golf club head further comprises a top opposite the sole, and a first back opposite the front face and substantially parallel to the front face. The first back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from a midpoint between the sole and the top, to the top. The golf club head further comprises a second back opposite the front face extending from the back sole edge to about the midpoint. The golf club head further comprises a rectangular first cavity between the second back and the front face, and a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region. This embodiment may further comprise a first weight that is inserted in the first cavity and a second weight inserted in the second cavity.
In another embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, a golf club comprises a golf club head described herein and coupled to a shaft. The golf club further comprises a hosel ratio of 0.75 wherein, the hosel ratio comprises a hosel distance to a front face distance. The hosel distance extends from a point at the heel region to a second end opposite the first end, and the front face distance comprises a distance measured along the front face from the point to a toe edge and substantially parallel to the sole. The golf club may further comprise a first weight to occupy the first cavity and a second weight to occupy the second cavity.
In an embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, a method for manufacturing a golf club head comprises providing a body having a toe region, a heel region opposite the toe region, a sole region, and a top region opposite the sole region. This embodiment further comprises a front face, a first back opposite the front face, a second back opposite the front face and extending farther from the front face than the first back. The second back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from the sole region to about a midpoint between the sole region and the top region. The body is further provided to comprise a first cavity between the first back and the second back, and a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region. This embodiment may further comprise providing a first weight that is inserted in the first cavity and providing a second weight inserted in the second cavity.
Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a rear, exploded perspective view of an exemplary golf club head 100 according to an embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, and FIG 2 illustrates a front view of the golf club head 100. In one embodiment of the golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein, the golf club head 100 comprises a body 101 having a toe region 110, a heel region 120 opposite the toe region 110, a hosel 105 at the heel region 120, a sole region 130, and a top region 140 opposite the sole region 130. The sole region 130 may extend from the heel region 120 to the toe region 110, and the sole region 130 may extend from a front face 250 (FIG. 2) to a back sole edge 165. In a different embodiment, the golf club head 100 may have a bore (not shown), instead of the hosel 105, at the heel region 120.
The golf club head 100 further comprises a first back 160 (FIG. 1) opposite the front face 250 (FIG. 2), a second back 170 (FIG. 1) opposite the front face 250 (FIG. 2) and extending farther from the front face 250 (FIG. 2) than the first back 160 (FIG. 1), as explained in more detail hereinafter. The first back 160 may be substantially parallel to the front face 250 (FIG. 2) and the first back 160 may extend from the heel region 120 to the toe region 110. The first back 160 may also extend from the sole 130 to a midpoint 115 (FIG. 1) between the sole region 130 and the top region 140 and may further extend from the midpoint 115 to the top region 140. The second back 170 (FIG. 1) may extend from the heel region 120 to the toe region 110, and may extend from the sole region 130 to about the midpoint 115 (FIG. 1) between the sole region 130 and the top region 140, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. In a different embodiment, back face 170 (FIG. 1) may extend from the sole region 130 beyond the midpoint 115, or the back face 170 may extend from the sole region 130 below the midpoint 115.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the golf club head 100 further comprises a first cavity 180 between the first back 160 and the second back 170. As illustrated in FIG. 3 the first cavity 180 separates the first back 160 from the second back 170, and vice versa. According to the various embodiments described herein, the golf clubs and methods of manufacture comprise the first cavity 180 to have a rectangular shape, but other configurations are contemplated. For example, the first cavity 180 may comprise an irregular shape, or a different regular shape, for example, triangular, circular, octagonal, hexagonal, and the like, in another example, the first cavity 180 may comprise a symmetrical shape or an asymmetrical shape. Moreover, the first cavity 180 may comprise various dimensions.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the golf club head 100 also comprises a second cavity 190 integral with the second back 170 at the lower toe region 110. Similar to the first cavity 180, the second cavity 190 may also comprise various shape and dimensional configurations. The shape and dimensional of the first cavity 180 and the second cavity 190 may be determined by the variables that optimize the utility of the golf club head 100, and to adjust the moments of inertia, the center of gravity, and the like. Also, the golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein, may further comprise cavities that vary in volume, and the volume may depend upon the desired design of the golf club head. Although the above examples may describe two cavities (e.g., the first and second cavities 180 and 190), the golf clubs and methods of manufacture described herein may include additional cavities.
This embodiment of golf club head 100 may further comprises a first weight 185 that is inserted in the first cavity 180 and a second weight 195 that is inserted in the second cavity 190. According to the various embodiments described herein, first weight 185 and second weight 195 may comprise various shapes and dimensional configurations. For example, the first weight 185 and the second weight 195 may comprise shapes and dimensions that are complimentary to the respective cavities into which they are inserted (e.g., the first and second cavities 180 and 190, respectively). In another example, the first weight 185 and the second weight 195 may comprise shapes that only partially occupy the cavities into which they are inserted, or the first weight 185 and the second weight 195 may comprise shapes that overfill the first and second cavities 180 and 190, respectively. The first weight 185 and the second weight 195 can comprise various materials. In one embodiment, the first weight 185 comprises a metal matrix material. In another embodiment, the first weight 185 comprises a polymer, and may be either a thermoset or thermoplastic polymer. The second weight 195 may comprise a metal, and may be either a single elemental metal such as iron, or a metal alloy, such as tungsten or titanium alloy. In this embodiment, the first weight 185 comprises a metal matrix material because it generally provides the ability to adjust the back weighting more so than the lightest, or least dense metal or metal alloy, and the second weight 195 comprises a metal because an outer toe weight may be beneficial to induce a golfer to swing “downwardly” and “outwardly. In another embodiment, the first weight 185 and the second weight 195 may comprise of the same material, such as a polymer, a composite, a metal, or a metal alloy. The body 101 can comprise standard golf club head materials such as iron, iron alloys, titanium alloys, and the like, and the first weight 185 and the second weight 195 can comprise the same or different materials as the body 101. As with the shape determination for the first and second cavities, the material determination may be similarly dependant upon the variables that maximize the utility of the golf club head, and other material configurations other than those specifically described are contemplated.
In another embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, and with reference to FIG. 2 a golf club 200 comprises the golf club head 100 coupled to a shaft 208. In this embodiment, the golf club 200 may further comprise a hosel ratio of 0.75. The hosel ratio comprises a hosel distance 203 to a front face distance 253. The hosel distance 203 measures from a first end 206 at about the heel region 120 to a second end 207 opposite the first end 206. The first end 206 is located at a point 204 where a linear portion of the hosel 105 begins to curve into the front face 250. The front face distance 253 comprises the distance measured along the front face 250 from the point 204 to a toe edge 211 and substantially parallel to the sole 130. The golf club 200 may further comprise, for example as shown in FIG. 1, the first weight 185 to occupy the first cavity 180 and the second weight 195 to occupy the second cavity 190.
The golf club 200, as described herein with the cavities and inserted weights of the golf club head 100, provides for an exemplary golf club that assists a golfer to improve his or her golf swing by allowing for customization of the back weight and toe weight in the club head 100. Furthermore, among the various embodiments described herein, the golf clubs and their methods of manufacture may be for irons, drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, putter, and or other suitable types of clubs.
In an embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, a method 600 for manufacturing a golf club head comprises providing a golf club head (a block 610). The golf club head of the block 610 may be similar to the golf club head 100 shown in FIGS. 1-5. Method 600 further comprises determining a first weight (a block 620), securing the first weight in a first cavity (a block 630), determining a second weight (a block 640), and securing the second weight in a second cavity (a block 650). As an example, the first weight of the block 620 may be similar to the first weight 185 of FIG. 1, and the second weight of the block 640 may be similar to the second weight 195 of FIG. 1.
Furthermore, the determining step In the block 620 may include having a professional golf technician analyze a golfer's swing. Depending on the swing analyzed by the professional golf technician, a lighter or heavier weight may be determined. Similarly, the determining step in the block 640 may likewise include determining whether to use a lighter or heavier weight based upon analysis of a golfers swing by a professional golf technician. In addition or alternatively, software, firmware, and/or hardware may be used to determine the first weight (e.g., monitor, measure, and/or analyze various parameters associated with an individual's golf swing).
In an embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, a method 700 for manufacturing a golf club, comprises providing a golf club head (the block 610), determining a first weight (the block 620), securing the first weight in a first cavity (the block 630), determining a second weight (the block 640), securing the second weight in a second cavity (the block 650), and coupling the body to a golf club shaft (a block 760). As an example, the shaft of the block 760 may be similar to the shaft 208 of FIG. 2. Also, the coupling step of the block 760 can include taping, adhering, welding, swaging, or other suitable techniques.
According to the method embodiments described herein, the method for securing the first and/or second weight(s) comprises any process to secure the weights in their respective cavities. For example, if either of the weights comprises a polymer material, then the weights may be glued and/or secured by an adhesive. If, for example, either of the weights is made of metal, then the weights may be similarly glued or secured by an adhesive, and additionally may be secured by any other known method for securing a metal within a cavity, such as welding, swaging, and the like.
Although a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, the actions depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. Also, the blocks 640 and 650 can be performed before the blocks 620 and 630, and the blocks 620 and 640 may be performed before the blocks 630 and 650.
The providing steps in the described methods of FIGS. 6 and 7 may include designing and/or manufacturing a golf club head. As an example, body 100 in FIG. 5 may be manufactured using a metal casting process. Furthermore, the described methods may be used to manufacture the other aspects of body 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1-5.
Additional examples of such changes have been given in the foregoing description. Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture is intended to be illustrative of the scope of golf clubs and methods of manufacture and is not intended to be limiting. For example, in one embodiment, a golf club head may have one or more features of FIGS. 1-5, with or without the other features described with reference to FIGS. 1-5. Other permutations of the different embodiments having one or more of the features of the various figures is likewise contemplated. It is intended that the scope of golf clubs and methods of manufacture shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims.
The golf clubs and methods of manufacture discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoing discussion of these embodiments does not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose at least one preferred embodiment of golf clubs and methods of manufacture, and may disclose alternative embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture.
All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to golf clubs or methods of manufacture claimed in that particular claim. Consequently, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims, and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a toe region;

a heel region opposite the toe region;

a sole region;

a top region opposite the sole region;

a front face;

a first hack opposite the front face;

a second back opposite the front face and farther from the front face than the first back, wherein the second back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from the sole region to about a midpoint between the sole region and the top region;

a first cavity between the first back and the second back; and

a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first back is substantially parallel with the front face.

3. The golf club bead of claim 1, wherein the first cavity comprises a rectangular shape.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 further comprising a first weight to occupy the first cavity.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the first weight comprises a polymer material.

6. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the first weight is replaceable.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 further comprising a second weight to occupy the second cavity.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the second weight is replaceable.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the second weight is permanent.

10. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the second weight comprises a metal material.

11. The golf club head of claim. 1, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity comprise different dimensions.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising:

a front face;

a heel region;

a toe region opposite the heel region;

a sole extending from the heel region to the toe region, and extending from the front face to a back sole edge;

a top opposite the sole;

a first back opposite the front face and substantially parallel to the front face, wherein the first back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and the first back extends from the top to a midpoint between the sole and the top;

a second back opposite the front face extending from the back sole edge to about the midpoint;

a rectangular first cavity between the second back and the front face; and

a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a first weight to occupy the first cavity.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first weight comprises a polymer material.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first weight is replaceable.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a second weight to occupy the second cavity.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the second weight comprises a metal material.

18. The golf club bead of claim 16, wherein the second weight is replaceable.

19. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity comprise different dimensions.

20. A method for manufacturing a golf club head comprising:

providing a body having:

a toe region;

a heel region opposite the toe region;

a sole region;

a top region opposite the sole region;

a front face;

a first back opposite the front face;

a first cavity between the first back and the second back; and

a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining a first weight to insert into the first cavity.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising securing the first weight in the first cavity.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining a second weight to insert into the second cavity.

24. The method of claim 23, further securing a second weight in the second cavity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein securing the second weight in the second cavity comprises welding or swaging the second weight in the second cavity.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising securing a second weight in the second cavity before determining a first weight to insert in the first cavity.

27. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head having:

a toe region;

a heel region opposite the toe region;

a sole region;

a top region opposite the sole region;

a front face;

a first back opposite the front face;

a first cavity between the first back and the second back; and

a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region;

a hosel ratio 0.75; and

a shaft coupled to the golf club head;

wherein,

the hosel ratio comprises a hosel distance to a front face distance;

the hosel distance extends from a first end at the heel region to a second end opposite the first end; and

the front face distance comprises a greatest distance measured along the front face from the heel region to the toe region and substantially parallel to the sole region.

28. The golf club of claim 27, further comprising a first weight to occupy the first cavity.

29. The golf club of claim 27 further comprising a second weight to occupy the second cavity.