Golf Clubs and Methods of Manufacture
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.
This disclosure relates generally to golf, and relates more particularly to golf clubs and methods of manufacturing a golf clubs.
BACKGROUNDGolf 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.
FIG, 5 Illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary golf club head of
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 EMBODIMENTSIn 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,
The golf club head 100 further comprises a first back 160 (
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
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
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
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
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
The providing steps in the described methods of
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
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 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.
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 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;
- 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.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 29, 2009
Inventor: John A. Solheim (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 11/828,260
International Classification: A63B 53/00 (20060101);