RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/165,947 filed Jun. 11, 2002 titled Metalwood Type Golf Club Head Having Expanded Sections Extending the Ball Striking Clubface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the golf clubheads shown and described in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,954,595, 5,989,134 and 6,530,847 which are incorporated herein by reference, and in particular, to an improved metalwood type golf clubhead having an improved structural system for reduction of cubic centimeter displacement and the elimination of adverse aerodynamic drag effect.
In the aforementioned applications, metalwood type golf club heads are described having at least a reinforcing and stabilizing, hereinafter R/S member, including additional ball-striking surfaces, coincident with and parallel to the clubface and are located horizontally at the toe and heel sections of the clubface, enlarging it substantially. Club heads are also described with an R/S located vertically, in a top to bottom direction and in a perpendicular plane to the clubface.
Most wood-type traditional shaped clubheads are currently made of metal, either totally of steel, titanium, or combined with other alloys. Other clubheads include a shell made of steel with a clubface insert that is made of forged titanium or similar lighter weight and stronger materials. This permits clubheads to be much larger, yet meet the accepted weight parameters for the respective drivers and fairway type metalwoods.
Although these traditional shaped clubheads are substantially enlarged overall, with higher face heights and wider, bulkier convex shaped crowns and convex shaped sole bottoms, their traditional shaped clubfaces continue to have diminishing and lesser effective ball-contact hitting area, in a heel to toe direction, or top to bottom direction They are not structurally designed to expand the ball-striking area on the clubface proportionately to the overall enlarged clubheads for any possible improved performance, for most golfers.
Many attempts have been made to reinforce and improve traditional shaped metal wood type golf clubheads as shown and described in the prior art. Raymont (U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,399) reinforces the back of the clubface with a honeycomb structure. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,230 reinforces the interior of a metalwood with a first mass located behind the ball-striking face, and my U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,279 provides an interior peripheral mass basically along the inner periphery, of the clubhead shell behind the clubface. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,134 reinforces the outer sidewalls, rear, bottom and crown areas of a traditional shaped wood-type golf clubhead. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,095 shows a traditional shaped metalwood golf club with elevated peripheral weight in combination with an inwardly disposed sidewall having an upper curved and lower straight wall surface. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,754 discloses an aerodynamic metalwood golf club head with an inwardly disposed aerodynamic slot between the crown and bottom of the clubhead. U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,745 to Adams shows a low profile, wood type golf clubhead wherein the bottom sole surface is larger than the upper crown surface. A commercial golf club was marketed by Founders Club having a shallow, inwardly disposed sidewall.
Recently, various improvements have been made to enlarge and strengthen the prior art of conventional shaped metalwood clubheads. However, for most golfers, the subtle changes to the clubfaces and the expected performance of the larger metalwood clubheads, have been disappointing. For the recreational and high-handicap golfers, the restrictive ball-contact area on all traditional shaped clubfaces will always have problems for them. The performance of most of these traditional shaped metalwood clubheads has not materially improved clubhead feel at ball contact, or significantly increased clubhead stability and control for anticipated improved ball-flight accuracy and additional significant distance. Consequently, these bulkier, over-sized traditional shaped clubheads and clubfaces have not meaningfully improved or advanced the majority of golfers' performance potential; especially for the mid to high-handicap golfers that need productive improvements the most.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to wood-type metalwood golf clubheads having a concave structural innovation system that substantially reduces the cubic-centimeter displacement of the clubhead. In addition, the concave structural system design also reduces the negative drag effects of conventional clubheads. The design of the structural system of the present Invention starts from a clubhead bottom that is not convex shaped like traditional shaped clubheads which bottoms extend outwardly producing bulkier more mass that increases the cubic-centimeter displacement of the clubhead.
To accomplish this, the system is formed with an elongated concave section below the top crown of the clubhead that eliminates excess bulging mass of convex bottom shapes of traditional shaped clubheads.
The elongated concave section (ECS) includes continuous, inwardly curved opposing surfaces. The ECS has a top edge, a mid-section, and a bottom surface. The widths and depths of the ECS can be variable depending on the clubhead sizes for drivers or fairway clubheads. Alternately, the shape of the elongated concave section can be wedge or V-shaped with angular disposed straight sidewalls. The invention is equally applicable for drivers and fairway clubheads.
Further the invention is particularly applicable to metalwood clubheads having both horizontal and vertical reinforcing and stabilizing (R/S) sections, particularly those having additional frontal ball-striking surfaces coincident with the ball striking club faces of the metalwoods, thereby greatly enlarging the overall ball striking areas on the clubfaces. This innovative combination provides the extraordinary mega-size deep-faced drivers to produce superior results for all caliber of golfers.
In addition, the Invention is equally applicable to the presently marketed dominant traditional shaped golf club heads with traditional convex shaped top crown surfaces, and convex shaped bottoms. Most have downwardly and inwardly sloped sides, sidewalls, and rear surfaces resulting in a restrictive ball striking area, diminished in size that forms the front hitting surface of the clubface. The embodiments of the present application are particularly directed to an innovative system, including a novel “Concave Shaped” underside structure adapted for club heads with traditional shaped club faces and top crown surfaces on non-traditional shaped club heads in combination with a horizontally located reinforcing and stabilizing member. The concave aerodynamic surfaces facilitate a more effective, repeating swing-path motion of a golf club head structured in accordance with this invention. To accomplish this, the lower side and bottom portions of the club head are formed inwardly into the skirt and shell with continuous opposing concave surfaces producing an inwardly curved, concave lower section, located between the bottom sole and the upper top crown, surface of the clubhead. Preferably the lower concave portion of the club head extends all the way between the outer perimeter of the underside of the top crown and the bottom sole although it will be appreciated that the overall size of the concave section may vary in shape and size with particular club head designs and may form only a portion of the side surfaces of a particular clubhead. The concave lower section structure reduces the overall cc displacement of the club head, by as much as 25%, when compared to club face sizes equivalent to club heads with a 25% larger cc overall displacement.
The present invention may include one of at least two distinctively different aerodynamically designed reinforcing and stabilizing (R/S) members that perform totally different functions on the clubheads, independently of each other, or a combination of both, as described in detail in the aforementioned applications. The R/S members both include additional ball-striking surfaces that are coincident with the clubface and are located separately and/or independently, at opposite sections of the clubhead, to produce preferred and specifically different functions.
In one embodiment, the outermost surfaces of the first R/S ball-striking faces are located horizontally at the toe and heel sections, parallel to the clubface and are generally curved, forming parabolic, rounded or elliptical type shapes.
This R/S aerodynamic shaped member is located parallel to and horizontal to the clubface and surrounds the clubhead from the toe, rear and heel sections of the clubface. These R/S members include additional ball-striking surfaces that are coincident with and parallel in-line with the clubface and create an expanded ball-contact surface, at the toe and heel sections, of the clubface, to provide a substantially larger non-proportionately sized ball-striking area on the enlarged clubface. This is accomplished without proportionately enlarging the top or crown section and/or the bottom or sole sections of the clubheads.
In another embodiment, the ball-striking surfaces of the R/S members are coincident with the clubface, and are located in a vertical, or top to bottom direction, above and/or below the clubface with additional ball striking surfaces to produce deep-faced clubheads. This also dramatically enlarges the respective hitting areas of the clubfaces of both drivers and fairway metalwoods by as much as 25% and 22% respectively.
Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of metalwood type golf clubheads that enhance the potential for greater improved performance, for all caliber golfers.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of metalwood type golf clubheads, particularly for medium to large size metalwood clubheads, in the range of 230-470 cc, having a larger overall size relative to cc displacement using a concave lower section on the lower surfaces of the clubhead.
Another object is the provision of metalwood type golf clubheads which provide R/S members with additional expanded ball-striking surfaces to the clubface while maintaining the overall size of the clubhead in combination with concave surfaces on the lower sections of the clubhead.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head with an improved aerodynamic, sole configuration on the bottom surface of the club head.
These and other objects of the present invention will be understood from the drawings and the description that follows or may be learned from the practice of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 12 is a bottom view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of a ninth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the golf clubhead of FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 is a front elevation view of a tenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a bottom view of an eleventh embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a bottom view of a twelfth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a front elevation view of a prior art golf club.
FIG. 24 is a phantom view of the FIG. 16 embodiment of the present invention superimposed on the prior art golf club of FIG. 23.
FIG. 25 is a front elevational view of a thirteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 26 is a heel side elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 25.
FIG. 27 is a toe side elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 25.
FIG. 28 is a rear elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 25.
FIG. 29 is a top front perspective view of the clubhead of a fourteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 30 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 29.
FIG. 31 is a front elevational view of the golf clubhead of FIG. 29.
FIG. 32 is a rear elevational view of the golf clubhead of FIG. 29.
FIG. 33 is a heel end elevational view of the golf clubhead of FIG. 29.
FIG. 34 is a toe end elevational view of the golf clubhead of FIG. 29.
FIG. 35 is a bottom view of the golf clubhead of FIG. 29.
FIG. 36 is a front perspective view of a fifteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 37 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 36.
FIG. 38 is a front perspective view of a sixteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 39 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 38.
FIG. 40 is a front perspective view of a seventeenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 41 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 40.
FIG. 42 is a front perspective view of an eighteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 43 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 42.
FIG. 44 is a front perspective view of a nineteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 45 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 44.
FIG. 46 is a front perspective view of a twentieth embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 47 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 46.
FIG. 48 is a top rear perspective view of the clubhead of a twenty-first embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 49 is a front elevational view of a twenty-third embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 50 is a rear elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 49.
FIG. 51 is a toe end elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 49.
FIG. 52 is a heel end elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 49.
FIG. 53 is a bottom perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 49.
FIG. 54 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 51.
FIG. 55 is a sectional view taken along line 55-55 of FIG. 51.
FIG. 56 is a top perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 49.
FIG. 57 is a top plan view thereof.
FIG. 58 is a bottom view thereof.
FIG. 59 is a bottom perspective view of a twenty-third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 60 is a sectional view taken along the lines 60-60 of FIG. 59.
FIG. 61 is a bottom perspective view of a twenty-fourth embodiment of a clubhead of the present invention.
FIG. 62 is a sectional view of FIG. 61.
FIG. 63 is a bottom perspective view of a twenty-fifth embodiment of a clubhead of the present invention.
FIG. 64 is a toe end elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 63.
FIG. 65 is a bottom perspective view of a twenty-sixth embodiment of a clubhead of the present invention.
FIG. 66 is a toe elevational view of a twenty-seventh embodiment of a clubhead of the present invention.
FIG. 67 is a bottom perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 66.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.
FIGS. 1-48 relate to non-traditional golf clubheads that include a reinforcing and stabilizing R/S member including additional frontal ball-striking surfaces located horizontally at toe and heel sections of the clubface producing an expanded ball-striking area to the clubface.
FIGS. 1-4 show a first embodiment of a golf clubhead 100 in accordance with the present invention including a clubhead body 112, hosel 114, heel 116, toe 118, ball-striking clubface 120, upper surface 122, rear surface 124 and bottom sole 126. A single reinforcing and stabilizing member 128 having an aerodynamic shape, is located coincident with or adjacent to the bottom surface 126 of the clubhead 100 and which wraps partially around the peripheral sides 130 of the clubhead 100. The member 128 includes upwardly curving, convex parabolic surface 132 including a lower surface 134 extending upwardly and coincident with the bottom sole 126 of the clubhead 100. In this embodiment, the member 128 has an additional front ball-striking surface 136 which is laterally coincident with the lower section of the ball-striking clubface 120, thereby enlarging the ball contact surface of 120 and providing a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the ball-striking clubface 120 toward the toe 118 of the clubhead 100.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the reinforcing and stabilizing member 128 and metal shell 140 of the clubhead 100. The peripheral weight of the clubhead body 112 may be controlled by varying the thickness of this 128 area. Being farthest away from the CG creates more effective MOI. The thickness of the metal shell 140 is preferably in the range of 0.035-0.060 in. or greater, whereas the thickness of the expanded reinforcing and stabilizing member 128 may be in the range of 0.055-0.100 in. or greater. These dimensions exclude the clubface thickness which can be in the range of 0.090 to 0.130 or less.
FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a golf clubhead 200 of the present invention. In this embodiment a reinforcing and stabilizing member 228 includes a ball-striking surface 234 which is parallel to but does not align fully with clubface 220 with a non-coincident raised bottom surface 236 is centrally located on the side wall 230 of the clubhead 200 approximately midway between the crown surface 222 and the bottom 226 of the clubhead 200.
FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of a golf clubhead 300 of the present invention wherein a reinforcing and stabilizing member 328 includes a larger ball-striking surface 334 which is coincident with and covers a larger portion of clubface 320. The reinforcing and stabilizing member 328 has a non-coincident lower surface 336 raised above the bottom surface 326 of the club head 300. The reinforcing and stabilizing member 328 is also located adjacent the top surface of side wall 330 adjacent the crown surface 322 of the clubhead 300. For lower ball flight trajectory, a larger ball-striking surface 334 is coincident with a greater portion of the front of ball-striking clubface 320.
FIGS. 7-12 illustrate a fourth embodiment of a clubhead 400 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a reinforcing and stabilizing member 428 is generally elliptical in shape. The member 428 includes front ball-striking surfaces 434 and 436 located parallel to and coincident with the ball-striking clubface 420 of the clubhead 400 and wraps around to surround the clubhead body 412 between the toe 418 and heel 416. As seen in plan in FIG. 9, the member 428 extends outwardly beyond the peripheral edge 423 of the crown 422 and in FIG. 12, the member 428 extends outwardly beyond the bottom 426 of the clubhead 400. The clubhead 400 includes a sole skimmer 429 on the bottom 426.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a fifth embodiment of a clubhead 500 of the present invention. A reinforcing and stabilizing member 528 includes front ball-striking surfaces 534 and 536 located parallel to and coincident with the ball-striking clubface 520 of the clubhead 500. A ledge 540 is set back from the ball-striking clubface 520 and sloped rearwardly front surface 521 of crown 522 favorably alters air flow by more effectively accelerating it across the surface of the crown 522 of the clubhead 500 during high velocity swings.
FIG. 15 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a clubhead 600 of the present invention including a reinforcing and stabilizing member 628 with ball-striking surfaces 634 and 636 located parallel to and coincident to ball-striking clubface 620 and a pair of ledges 640 and 642 which are set back from the ball-striking clubface 620 with rearwardly sloped front surfaces 621 of crown 622.
FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of a golf clubhead 700 in accordance with the present invention including a clubhead body 712, hosel 714, heel 716, toe 718, ball-striking face 720, upper surface 722, and bottom sole 726. In this embodiment, reinforcing and stabilizing members 734 and 736, having an aerodynamic shape, include ball-striking surfaces 735 and 737 located coincident with and parallel to the ball-striking clubface 720 of the clubhead 700 and wrap rearwardly surrounding clubhead 700 as with the above-described embodiments. The reinforcing and stabilizing members 734 and 736 extend outwardly beyond the sidewall surfaces 730 as defined by the lateral extension of the end boundaries of the upper crown surface 722. In this embodiment, the upper crown surface 722 is approximately 3.500 inches in length in a heel 716 to toe 718 direction. The overall heel to toe length of the ball-striking face 720, including the reinforcing and stabilizing members 734 and 736, is approximately 4.500 inches, with a height of approximately 2.000 inches, thereby extending the lateral dimensions of the clubface approximately one half inch, 0.500 inches, at both the heel 716 and toe 718 of the clubhead 700.
FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a golf clubhead 800 in accordance with the present invention including a clubhead body 812, hosel 814, heel 816, toe 818, ball-striking clubface 820, upper crown surface 822, and bottom sole 826. In this embodiment, reinforcing and stabilizing members 834 and 836, having an aerodynamic shape, include ball striking surfaces 835 and 837 located coincident with and parallel to the ball-striking clubface 820 of the clubhead 800 and wrap rearwardly surrounding clubhead 800 as with the above-described embodiments. The reinforcing and stabilizing members 834 and 836 extend outwardly beyond the sidewall surfaces 830 as defined by the lateral extension of the end boundaries of the upper crown surface 822. In this embodiment, the upper crown surface 822 is shorter than the previous embodiment, approximately 2.500 inches in length in a heel 816 to toe 818 direction. The overall heel to toe length of the ball-striking face 820, including the reinforcing and stabilizing members 834 and 836, is approximately 4.500 inches, with a height of approximately 2.000 inches, thereby extending the lateral dimensions of the clubface approximately one inch, 1.00 inch, at both the heel 816 and toe 818 of the clubhead 800.
FIGS. 18 and 19 show an embodiment of a golf clubhead 900 in accordance with the present invention including a clubhead body 912, hosel 914, heel 916, toe 918, ball-striking clubface 920, and upper crown surface 922. Reinforcing and stabilizing R/S members 934 and 936, have an aerodynamic shape which wrap rearwardly as with the above-described embodiments, and are located laterally and outwardly from the heel and toe sections 916 and 918 of clubhead 900. Reinforcing and stabilizing members 934 and 936 include front ball-striking surfaces 935 and 937, which are coincident with and parallel to the ball-striking clubface 920 of the clubhead 900 and bottom aerodynamic surfaces 926 and 928. The reinforcing and stabilizing members 934 and 936 extend outwardly beyond the sidewall surfaces 930 as defined by the lateral extension of the end boundaries of the upper crown surface 922. In this embodiment, ball-striking clubface 920, has an upper section including the expanded areas of the clubface at 934 and 936, and further includes a reinforcing and stabilizing member 921 having another bottom surface 927, located below bottom surfaces 926 and 928, and having a front ball-striking surface 925 which is coincident with, vertically located, and in a perpendicular plane to the ball-striking clubface 920 and extends rearwardly partway to the rear edge 940 of the clubhead 900. This provides a distinctive second lower section expanding the clubface hitting area below the bottom of the ball-striking clubface 920. The reinforcing and stabilizing R/S member 921 extends rearwardly on the bottom surface 926 and supports the clubhead 900 in a slightly raised position above the ground whereby the clubface 920 is in an optimum position to make the most solid ball contact with a golf ball, particularly when the ball is lying in heavy grass or when a thin ball-contact occurs especially from tight lies on hard fairway surfaces. The upper crown surface 922 is approximately 3.500 inches in length in a heel 916 to toe 918 direction. The overall heel to toe length of the ball-striking clubface 920, including the reinforcing and stabilizing members 934 and 936, is approximately 4.500 inches, thereby extending the lateral dimensions of the clubface approximately one half inch, 0.500 inches, at both the heel 916 and toe 918 of the clubhead 900. The addition of the R/S 921 located below the bottom surfaces 926 and 928 of clubface 920 increases the height range of the clubface 920 to produce deep-faced drivers up to and beyond 2.500″.
FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a golf clubhead 1000 in accordance with the present invention including a clubhead body 1012, hosel 1014, heel section 1016, toe section 1018, ball-striking clubface 1020, and an upper crown surface 1022. In this embodiment, reinforcing and stabilizing members 1034 and 1036, have an aerodynamic shape and which wrap rearwardly as with the above-described embodiments, and are located laterally and outwardly from the heel and toe sections 1016 and 1018 of clubhead 1000. Reinforcing and stabilizing members 1034 and 1036 include front ball-striking surfaces 1035 and 1037 which are coincident with and parallel to the ball-striking clubface 1020 of the clubhead 1000 and bottom surfaces 1038 and 1040. The reinforcing and stabilizing members 1034 and 1036 are further defined as extending outwardly beyond the sidewall surfaces 1030 at the outer edges or end boundaries limiting the upper crown surface 1022. In this embodiment, ball-striking clubface 1020 includes a lower reinforcing and stabilizing member 1021 having another bottom surface 1027 which includes a front ball-striking surface 1025 coincident with and located vertically in a plane extending below the ball-striking clubface 1020 thereby providing a substantial additional clubface hitting area below the lowest bottom portion of the ball-striking clubface 1020. The reinforcing and stabilizing member 1021 extends rearwardly between bottom surfaces 1038 and 1040 and supports the clubhead 1000 in a slightly raised position above the ground whereby the clubface 1020 is in an optimum position to strike a golf ball, particularly when the ball is lying in heavy grass or tight lies. The bottom 1027 of the reinforcing and stabilizing member 1021 is non-coincident with and spaced from the bottom surfaces 1038 and 1040 of reinforcing and stabilizing members 1034 and 1036 respectively. The upper crown surface 1022 is smaller at approximately 2.500 inches in length in a heel section 1016 to toe section 1018 direction thereby extending the lateral dimensions of the clubface approximately one inch, 1.00 inch, at both the heel section 1016 and toe section 1018 of the clubhead 1000. The additional ball-striking surface of R/S 1021 creates a higher perpendicular elevation from top to bottom up to 2.500 inches or greater to produce a deep face on the clubface 1020.
FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of a golf clubhead 1100 in accordance with the present invention having reinforcing and stabilizing members 1134 and 1136 including ball-striking surfaces 1116 and 1118 located parallel to and coincident with clubface 1120 with bottom surfaces 1138 and 1140 respectively, and a reinforcing and stabilizing member 1121 including a ball-striking surface 1122 and a bottom surface 1127 which are coincident with and located in a perpendicular plane to the clubface 1120 and which extends rearwardly approximately to the rear surface 1142 of the clubhead 1100.
FIG. 22 shows another embodiment of a golf clubhead 1200 in accordance with the present invention having reinforcing and stabilizing members 1234 and 1236 including ball-striking surfaces 1235 and 1237 located parallel to and coincident with clubface 1220 with bottom surfaces 1238 and 1240 respectively, and a reinforcing and stabilizing member 1221 including a ball-striking surface and a bottom surface 1227 which is coincident with and located in a plane extending the clubface 1220 and extends approximately to the rear surface 1242 of the clubhead 1200, the rearward portion 1222 of member 1221 being narrower than the front portion 1223 at the clubface 1220.
FIG. 23 shows a typical prior art clubhead C having a ball-striking clubface F with an inverted trapezoidal shape whereby the hitting area on the clubface is reduced toward the bottom of the face F as the edges of the clubface F extend downwardly and inwardly from the bottom of the striking face F.
FIG. 24 shows a view of an embodiment of a golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention compared to a prior art clubhead, shown in phantom, of the type shown in FIG. 21. It can be seen the clubhead of the present invention provides considerable more hitting surface at the heel and toe portions parallel to and coincident with the clubface.
FIGS. 25 to 28 show a thirteenth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead 1300. The clubhead 1300 is formed with a hosel 1302, ball-striking clubface 1320, upper crown surface 1306, heel 1308, toe 1310, upper sidewall surface 1322, lower sidewall surface 1324, rear wall surface 1314 and bottom sole surface 1316. The dotted lines 1311 in FIG. 25 outline the diminishing downward and inward direction of the outer configuration of the ball-striking area of a traditional shaped clubface 1311, similarly on the outer configuration on a traditional shaped clubhead. This graphically demonstrates the long existing difference between the ball-striking areas of traditional shaped clubface and the additional expansion of the ball-striking surfaces 1321 and 1323 provided by the R/S member 1318 located parallel to horizontal and coincident with the toe and heel sections 1310 and 1308 of the present invention. An aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1318 is formed with a curved, generally parabolic outer, aerodynamic surface, which defines the outermost perimeter surfaces 1319 of the clubhead 1300. The reinforcing and stabilizing member 1318 locates a portion of its overall weight to the extreme outer edges 1319 of the golf clubhead 1300. The aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing R/S member 1318 extends completely around and forms the outer perimeter of the clubhead 1300 and between the side wall surface 1322, and side wall surface 1324 from the toe 1310 to the heel 1308, terminating with front ball-striking surfaces 1321 and 1323 being coincident with and parallel to the ball-striking clubface 1320 at the heel 1308 and toe 1310, thereby expanding the ball-striking clubface 1320 outwardly in a lateral direction at the heel 1318 and toe 1310 of the clubhead 1300. In this embodiment the respective sidewalls 1322 and 1324 extend up to the upper crown surface 1306 and down to the bottom sole surface 1316. The aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1318 is located between the sidewall surface 1322 and the lower wall surface 1324, approximately between the upper crown surface 1306 and the bottom surface 1316.
FIGS. 29 to 35 show a fourteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1400 in accordance with the present invention. The clubhead 1400 is formed with outer surfaces that are more aerodynamically defined and sculptured than the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 to 28. The golf clubhead 1400 includes a hosel 1402, ball-striking clubface 1404, top crown surface 1406, heel 1408, toe 1410, upper sidewall 1422, lower sidewall 1424, rear surface 1414 and bottom sole surface 1416. In accordance with the present invention, an aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1418 is formed on the side walls 1422 and 1424, and on rear surface 1414, to surround the clubhead 1400 and is located approximately midway between the upper crown surface 1406 and bottom sole surface 1416. The aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1418 includes two opposing ball-striking surfaces 1421 at the toe 1410 and 1423 at the heel 1408, which are coincident with and parallel to clubface 1404 to increase the ball-striking surfaces on the ball-striking clubface 1404 located at the toe 1410 and the heel 1408 sections of clubface 1404.
As can be seen in FIGS. 32, 33 and 34, the side walls 1422 and 1424 and rear surface 1414 extend only partially in a downward direction from the upper crown surface 1406, the remaining lower structure forms an aerodynamic, continuous inwardly curving, concave lower surface 1420 between lower side wall 1424 and the bottom sole surface 1416. The curvature of the lower surface 1420 is defined by the width and depth thereof. The lower surface 1420 is generally concave, that is it extends inwardly toward the center of the club head 1400 and forms a track-like depression around the outer periphery of the clubhead 1400 from the heel 1408 on one side to the toe 1410 on the opposite side of the clubhead 1400. Preferably the concave lower surface 1420 has a constant diameter that is continuously curving from the bottom 1430 of the lower concave surface 1420 to an upper edge 1432 adjacent the lower sidewall 1424 and a lower edge 1434 adjacent the bottom sole surface 1416 as it wraps around the sides and rear of the club head 1400. In keeping within the scope and spirit of the present invention, the diameter of the concave lower surface 1420 may by constant or it may be parabolic as long as the shape is continuously curving inwardly.
The concave lower surface 1420 extends downward and inwardly at an angel less than 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 33 further decreasing the overall displacement of the clubhead 1400 as compared to conventional club heads having a similar top crown and ball-striking clubface surfaces.
The concave lower surface 1420 is deep and wide extending between the bottom sole surface 1416 and the sidewall 1424. The shape of the concave lower surface 1420 results in less overall cc displacement and reduced weight of the clubhead 1400 which in turn reduces clubhead drag while generally maintaining the large overall outer dimensions of the clubhead 1400 and in particular, the enlarged ball striking face 1404.
Because of the shape of the concave lower surface 1420, the clubhead 1400 may be provided with the aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member R/S 1418 that extends outwardly from side walls 1422 and 1424, without substantially increasing the outer overall size of the clubhead 1400, thus presenting a generally parabolic shape at the extreme outer peripheral edge of the golf clubhead 1400. The aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1418 separates the upper sidewall 1422 and the lower sidewall surface 1424. In addition to creating a wider upper aerodynamic surface surrounding crown 1406, the aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1418 moves a portion of the overall weight to the extreme outer edge of the golf clubhead 1400.
The combination of the reinforcing and stabilizing member 1418 and the concave lower surface 1420 create an improved aerodynamic surface for the entire bottom of the clubhead 1400 as well as increasing the size of the ball striking face 1404 without increasing the overall size of the clubhead 1400. This structure is unknown with more traditional golf club heads.
FIGS. 36 and 37 show a fifteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1500, which is similar to the clubheads described hereinabove and includes a slightly smaller upper crown surface 1506 producing a wider upper surface for the reinforcing and stabilizing member 1518 including wider ball-striking surfaces 1521 and 1523 located horizontal, parallel to and coincident with toe 1510 and heel 1508 sections of clubface 1520 and narrow side walls 1512 between the crown surface 1506 and reinforcing and stabilizing member 1518.
FIGS. 38 and 39 show a sixteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1600 formed with ball-striking clubface 1620, an upper crown surface 1606, side wall 1612 and an aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1618 including ball-striking surfaces 1621 and 1623 located horizontal, parallel to and coincident with toe 1610 and heel 1608 sections of clubface 1620. In this embodiment, the clubhead 1600, is formed with a concave aerodynamic depression 1624 in the upper crown surface 1606 further adding to the aerodynamic characteristics of the clubhead 1600.
FIGS. 40 and 41 show a seventeenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1700 formed with ball-striking clubface 1720 having vertical grooves 1725, and a significantly smaller, raised, reinforcing and stabilizing upper crown R/S member 1706 with an upper surface 1707 and sidewall 1722. The upper R/S crown member 1706 is formed with a single, additional upper ball-striking surface 1723, located above, in a perpendicular plane to and coincident with the upper portion of clubface 1720. The upper crown member 1706 is vertically disposed in a top to bottom direction when the clubhead 1700 is in a normal address position with its bottom surface (not shown) flat on the grass or ground surface. A significantly larger horizontally located aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing R/S member 1718, including ball-striking surfaces 1726, having a wider, more aerodynamic upper surface of 1717 surrounding the adjacent vertically located smaller, raised, reinforcing and stabilizing upper crown member 1706. This structure moves a portion of the overall weight to the extreme outer edge 1724 of the golf clubhead 1700. The reinforcing and stabilizing member 1718 is disposed in a generally horizontal, heel to toe direction to the clubface 1720 when the clubhead 1700 is soled in a normal address position on the ground surface. The upper sidewall 1722 of the smaller, raised, reinforcing and stabilizing upper crown member 1706 is located further inward from the outer peripheral edge 1724 surrounding the clubhead 1700. The forward ball-striking surfaces 1726 of the aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1718 are both parallel to and coincident with the toe and heel sections 1726 of ball-striking clubface 1720, substantially increasing the overall ball-striking areas on clubface 1720.
FIGS. 42 and 43 show an eighteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1800, with a ball-striking clubface 1820, a downsized smaller, raised, reinforcing and stabilizing upper crown member 1806 having an upper surface 1807, and a significantly larger aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1818. Features of the aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1818 include a wider upper surface 1817 and wider ball-striking surfaces 1826, both respectively located parallel to toe 1810 and heel 1808 sections of clubface 1820. This structure locates a large portion of the overall weight to the extreme outer edge 1824 of the golf clubhead 1800. In this embodiment of clubhead 1800, the forward wider ball-striking faces 1826 of the aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1818 has an upper edge 1828 sloped to coincide with the upper edge 1830 of the ball-striking clubface 1820. Side wall 1822 also tapers toward the clubface 1820 coinciding with the upper edge 1828 of the aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing R/S member 1818 and the upper edge 1830 of the clubface 1820, creating a smooth airfoil surface to accelerate the air flow across the upper surface of 1818 of the clubhead 1800.
FIGS. 44 and 45 show a nineteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1900, formed with ball-striking clubface 1920, a downsized smaller raised top crown surface 1906 having an upper surface 1907, sidewalls 1922 and a significantly larger aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 1918. Features of the reinforcing and stabilizing member 1918 include a much wider upper aerodynamic surface 1917 surrounding top crown 1906. This moves a significant portion of the overall weight to the extreme outer surrounding edge 1924 of the golf clubhead 1900, thus increasing the effective moment of inertia of the clubhead 1900. In this embodiment of the clubhead 1900, the forward edge 1908 of the raised top crown surface 1906 is sloped rearwardly and does not have a ball-striking surface to coincide with the upper edge 1930 of the ball-striking clubface 1920. The forward edge 1908 is curved backwardly to alter the “angle of attack” of the airfoil shape and to create smooth airfoil surfaces to substantially minimize drag and increase the acceleration of airflow across the upper surfaces of the clubhead 1900.
FIGS. 46 and 47 show a twentieth embodiment of clubhead 2000, having an upper shelf surface 2010 and a ball striking clubface 2020. The clubhead 2000 includes two aerodynamically shaped, reinforcing and stabilizing members 2006 and 2018, both having forward ball striking surfaces 2023 which are coincident with the ball-striking face 2020. The clubhead 2000 includes an upper shelf surface 2010 located between the reinforcing and stabilizing R/S members 2006 and 2018. The first smaller aerodynamically shaped, reinforcing and stabilizing member 2006 includes a raised top surface 2007, and sidewalls 2024 and an upper ball-striking face 2012, centrally located above and coincident with the upper portion of the main ball striking clubface 2020, vertically in a top to bottom direction and in a perpendicular plane relative to the clubface 2020. The larger second aerodynamically shaped, reinforcing and stabilizing member 2018 located on both sides of R/S 2006 is separated from the upper shelf surface 2010 by sidewalls 2022, and includes two ball-striking faces 2023 both located horizontal, parallel to and coincident with the toe 2009 and heel 2010 sections of the clubface 2020. Combining the two coordinated aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing members 2006, 2018 on the same clubhead, substantially increases the ball-contact area of the clubface 2020, specifically at the toe and heel sections 2009 and 2010 and above the central upper portion of the clubface 2020. The structure of the clubhead 2000 provides improved aerodynamics and substantially expands the ball-contact areas located parallel to and in a perpendicular plane above the clubface 2020. This results in faster acceleration, and, at the same time, produces the most solid-ball contacts made on the greatly enlarged hitting areas in both horizontal and vertical directions on the clubface 2020 for straighter and longer ball flights.
FIG. 48 shows a twenty-first embodiment of a golf clubhead 2100 similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 46 and 47, and includes an upper wider shelf surface 2110 and aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing members 2108 and 2118 on the top and sides respectively of the clubhead 2100. This embodiment differs in the shape of the raised, upper aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member 2108, which extends to the rear 2126 of the clubhead 2100 and forms an arcuate shape at the interface of member 2108 and the rear 2126 of the clubhead 2100.
FIGS. 49 to 71 relate specifically to clubheads that combine a convex top crown and ball-striking face configuration of traditional shaped clubheads with non-traditional designed lower sections located below the elongated top crown having lower sections extending inwardly which reduce the overall size and cc displacement of the clubhead.
FIGS. 49-52 show a twenty-second embodiment of a more traditional shaped metalwood clubhead 2200 than the embodiments described hereinabove wherein the sides of the clubhead extend downwardly and inwardly from the crown to the bottom sole. The clubhead 2200 includes a ball striking club face 2210, heel 2212, toe 2214, bottom sole surface 2216, and a full, convex shaped, top-crown surface 2206. The improvement of the present invention includes an inwardly formed, concave lower surface 2220 having continuous inwardly curving, opposing surfaces to create a large size cavity which reduces the overall weight and cc displacement of the clubhead 2200. The concave lower surface 2220 is located between the underside surface 2218 of the outermost edge of the top crown 2206 and the bottom sole surface 2216. The concave lower surface 2220 includes a toe portion 2221, rear wall portion 2222 and heel portion 2224. The concave lower surface 2220 is wide and deep relative to the overall size of the clubhead 2200 and preferably has a constant diameter along the length of the concave lower surface 2220. Alternately the diameter of the concave lower surface 2220 may vary along its smaller length. The structural shape of the concave lower surface 2220 considerably decreases the overall cc displacement and overall weight/mass at the bottom of the clubhead 2200 without decreasing the size of the ball striking face 2210 and/or the upper top crown surface 2206.
FIGS. 53, 54 and 55 show the concave lower surface 2220 is deepest at the bottom 2230 and gradually curves inwardly toward an upper edge 2232 which interfaces with the underside portion 2218 of top crown 2206. The lower edge 2234 of the concave lower surface 2220 interfaces with the bottom sole surface 2216. Furthermore, the concave shape of the lower surface 2220 also provides an airfoil effect created by a track-like structure with less drag which results in increased club head speed for a given swing force. Preferably the concave opposing lower surfaces 2220 have a radius that is continuously curving inward either with a constant diameter or with a variable diameter in a generally concave configuration.
Preferably the area of the bottom sole surface 2216 is less than one-half of the area of the top crown surface 2206. Because of this structure, the concave lower surface 2220 extends downwardly and inwardly at a shallow angle less than 45 degrees to the horizontal with the bottom sole surface 2216 as shown in FIG. 52. This configuration allows more of the bulk of the clubhead 2200 to be removed thereby decreasing the overall cc displacement thereof.
FIG. 59 is a bottom perspective view and FIG. 60 is a sectional view of a twenty-third embodiment of a golf club head 2300 having a bottom sole surface 2316, a side wall 2340 and an inwardly curving concave lower surface 2320 between the edge 2342 of the clubhead 2300 and the bottom sole surface 2316. The sidewall 2340 extends between the bottom sole surface 2316 and the concave lower surface 2320 raising the bottom sole surface 2316 outwardly from the clubhead 2300. This wall 2340 provides additional strength and stability between the concave lower surface 2320 and the bottom sole surface 2316. It will be appreciated the remaining structure of the clubhead 2300 is the same as the clubhead 2200 shown in FIGS. 49 to 58.
FIGS. 61 and 62 show a twenty- fourth embodiment of a golf club 2400 in accordance with the present invention. The club head 2400 includes a bottom sole surface 2416, a sidewall 2440 and an inwardly curving concave lower surface 2420 adjacent the bottom sole surface 2416. In this embodiment the sidewall 2440 is located between the edge 2442 of the clubhead 2400 and the concave lower surface 2420 providing additional strength and stability in this area.
FIGS. 63 and 64 show a twenty-fifth embodiment of a golf club 2500 in accordance with the present invention. The club head 2500 includes a ball striking club face 2510, a bottom sole surface 2516, a top crown surface 2506 and an inwardly disposed angular lower surface 2520 adjacent the bottom sole surface 2516. In this embodiment the inwardly disposed angular lower surface 2520 is wedge shaped formed of two angularly disposed straight, planar sloped surfaces 2522 and 2524 located between the edge 2542 of the clubhead 2500 and the bottom sole surface 2516. As with the embodiments described hereinabove, the inwardly disposed angular lower surface 2520 decreases the overall size and cc displacement of the clubhead 2500, without decreasing the size of the top crown surface 2506 and/or the ball striking face 2510. Whereas the present embodiment shows an inwardly disposed angular lower surface 2520 formed of two planar, disposed surfaces disposed at an obtuse angle relative to each other, it will be appreciated that any number of a plurality of planar surfaces may be used to create a similar structure to provide the same effect as the embodiment disclosed. For example, the inwardly disposed angular lower surface may be formed as a three sided slot extending around the lower periphery of a clubhead.
FIG. 65 illustrates a twenty sixth embodiment of a clubhead 2600 formed with an inwardly disposed lower surface 2620 made up by a pair of inwardly curved concave surfaces 2622 and 2624.
FIGS. 66 and 67 illustrate a twenty-seventh embodiment of a clubhead 2700 formed with an inwardly disposed lower surface 2720 made up by three planar surface 2722, 2724 and 2726 which form a generally trapezoidal configuration as shown by the dotted line configuration of FIG. 66.
While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
