JP2015089514A - Iron type golf club and golf club head having shaped surface - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide iron-type golf clubs and iron-type golf club heads.SOLUTION: Iron-type golf club heads include a ball striking surface, a rear surface 116, and a sole surface 120. The sole surface 120 may have a maximum width and a minimum width. The minimum width may be located adjacently to a heel edge. The maximum width may be located between a ball striking centerline and a toe edge. The width of the sole surface may monotonically increase from the minimum width to the maximum width. Further, a sole trailing edge may have an S-shaped profile that extends between the maximum width and the minimum width. A lower rear surface 116 region may have a substantially flat portion located on the toe side of the centerline and an indented, complexly curved portion located on the heel side of the centerline.

Description

  The present disclosure relates to golf clubs and golf club heads. Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure relate to iron-type golf clubs and iron-type golf club heads.

  Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of different genders and dramatically different ages and / or skill levels. Golf plays together with such a diverse group of players even directly competing with each other at a golf event (eg handed scores, using different tee boxes, in team form, etc.) It is somewhat unique in the sports world in that you can enjoy golf matches or competitions. These factors, combined with the increase in golf programs on television (eg, golf tournaments, golf news, golf history and / or other golf programs) and the emergence of prominent golf superstars, at least in part, in recent years, the United States and the world Increased the popularity of golf inside.

  Golfers try to improve performance, improve golf scores, and reach the next performance “level” at all skill levels. Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment responded to these demands, and in recent years the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment.

  Golf clubs have been the subject of significant technical research and progress in recent years, as they are the only tools for moving golf balls during play. For example, the market has recently seen dramatic changes and improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts and grips. In particular examples, a variety of golf club head shapes have been developed to provide users with specific hitting benefits. However, such shape can also affect other characteristics of the golf club head, such as center of gravity, moment of inertia, and the like. In addition, other technical advances have been achieved in an attempt to better match the various elements and / or characteristics of the golf club and the characteristics of the golf ball to the swing characteristics or characteristics of a particular user (e.g., club fitting techniques, Ball launch angle measurement technology, ball spin speed, etc.).

  Although the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements to golf equipment in recent years, there is room for further progress in golf club technology as long as prior art designs continue to have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome some of these limitations and other disadvantages of the prior art and to provide new features not previously available.

US D603918 US D516650 US D507320 US D491241 US D476707 US D476050 US D476048 US D457211 US D449866 US D399276 US D395476 US D393676 US D389541 US D376632 US D357520 US D346840 US D329481 US D321920 US D301907 US D240054 JP 2000135301

  The following presents an overview of aspects of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the disclosure and various aspects thereof. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way, but merely provides an overview and background of the detailed description that follows.

  An iron-type golf club head of at least some exemplary aspects of the present disclosure includes a ball striking surface, a rear surface, and a sole surface. The sole surface may extend rearward from the sole front edge to the sole rear edge and may extend lengthwise from the sole heel edge to the sole toe edge. The sole surface can have a maximum width and a minimum width. The minimum width may be located adjacent to the sole heel edge. Optionally, the minimum width may be located between the heel side boundary line and the hit ball center line. The maximum width may be located between the hit ball center line and the sole toe edge. Optionally, the maximum width may be located between the center line and the toe side boundary. The width of the sole surface may increase monotonically from the minimum width to the maximum width, from the sole heel edge to the centerline, and / or from the heel side border to the centerline. According to certain aspects, the sole trailing edge may have an S-shaped profile extending between a maximum width and a minimum width (ie, convex and concave curves with inflection points in between).

  An iron type golf club head of another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a ball striking surface that is configured to strike a ball and has a grip enhancement area that defines a heel side boundary, a toe side boundary, and a ball center line. Including. The club head further includes a rear surface opposite the ball striking surface. The rear surface may have an upper rear surface area, a lower rear surface area, and interface lines that define a boundary therebetween. The upper rear surface area can be oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking surface and can be bounded by an upper edge and an interface line. The lower rear surface region may have at least a toe side portion extending from a hit ball center line to a toe side boundary line. Further, the toe side portion can be oriented substantially vertically when the club head is in the reference position. The lower rear surface area may also have a heel side portion that extends from the toe side portion to the heel. The heel side portion may have a rear contour dimension measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface that decreases monotonically as it approaches the heel.

  An iron-type golf club head of yet another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is a ball striking surface that is configured to strike a ball and has a grip enhancement area that defines a heel side boundary, a toe side boundary, and a ball center line including. The club head further includes a rear surface opposite the ball striking surface, the rear surface having an upper rear surface region, a lower rear surface region, and an interface line defining a boundary therebetween. The club head includes a sole surface extending from the ball striking surface rearward to the rear surface and extending from the heel edge to the toe edge. The sole surface has a maximum width and a minimum width measured horizontally when the club head is in the reference position. The width of the sole surface can increase monotonically from the heel edge to the centerline. When viewed parallel to the ball striking surface from above, the lower rear surface region may have a complex curved rear profile that increases monotonically as it extends from the heel edge to the centerline. Further, the lower rear surface area may have a convex curved rear profile extending between the centerline and the toe edge.

  A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a golf club structure including, for example, a golf club head of the type described above. Such a golf club structure further includes a shaft member attached to the club head (optionally via a separate hosel member or hosel member provided as one or more integral parts of the club head or shaft); shaft One or more of a grip or handle member attached to the member; an additional weight member; A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a ball striking device as described above for a golf club head or golf club structure.

More specifically, the present invention provides the following:
[1] A hitting surface that is configured to hit a ball and has a hitting area that defines a heel side boundary line, a toe side boundary line, and a hitting ball center line;
A rear surface opposite to the hitting surface;
A sole surface that extends rearward from the leading edge of the sole surface at the intersection with the ball striking surface to the rear edge of the sole surface at the intersection with the rear surface and extends from the heel edge to the toe edge;
The sole surface has a maximum width and a minimum width measured horizontally when the club head is in a reference position;
The minimum width is located adjacent to the heel edge;
The maximum width is located between the hit ball center line and the toe edge;
An iron-type golf in which the width of the sole surface monotonously increases from the minimum width to the maximum width, and the trailing edge of the sole surface has an S-shaped profile extending between the maximum width and the minimum width Club head;
[2] The iron type golf club head according to [1], which has a minimum width of about 3.5 mm to about 9.0 mm;
[3] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the maximum width is about 25.0 mm to about 31.0 mm;
[4] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the maximum width is at least three times the minimum width;
[5] The iron-type golf club head according to [1], wherein the S-shaped portion of the trailing edge extends from the toe edge to the hitting ball center line;
[6] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the width of the sole surface is substantially constant from the center line to the toe edge;
[7] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the minimum width is located between the heel side boundary line and the center line;
[8] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the maximum width is located between the hit ball center line and the toe side boundary line;
[9] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the width of the sole surface monotonously increases from the heel side boundary line to the center line;
[10] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein the width of the sole surface is substantially constant from the center line to the toe side boundary line;
[11] The iron type golf club head according to [1], wherein an upper portion of the club head is configured as a blade type club head, and a lower portion of the club head includes a thick portion extending from the heel to the toe;
[12] The iron type golf club head according to [11], wherein the interface line defines a boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion, and the interface line substantially bisects the height of the hit ball surface at the hit ball center line. ;
[13] The iron type golf club head according to [11], wherein a heel vertical gap dimension between the ground and the heel edge when the club is directed to the reference position is about 5 mm;
[14] The iron type golf club head according to [11], wherein a toe vertical gap dimension between the ground and the toe edge when the club is directed to the reference position is about 3 mm;
[15] A ball striking surface configured to hit a ball defining a heel side boundary, a toe side boundary, and a ball center line;
An upper rear surface region, a lower rear surface region, and a rear surface opposite to the ball striking surface having an interface line defining a boundary therebetween,
The upper rear surface area is oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking surface and is bounded by an upper edge and the interface line;
The lower rear surface region has at least a toe side portion extending from the hit ball center line to the toe side boundary line, and when the club head is in a reference position, the toe side portion is oriented substantially vertically;
The lower rear surface area has a heel side portion that extends from the toe side portion to the heel, and the heel side portion is measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface that decreases monotonically as it approaches the heel. An iron type golf club head having a rear contour dimension;
[16] The iron type golf club head according to [13], wherein a toe side portion of the lower rear surface extends substantially parallel to the length direction of the club head;
[17] The iron-type golf club head according to [13], wherein the interface line is located in the middle 1/5 portion of the height of the hit ball surface at the hit ball center line;
[18] The iron type golf club head according to [13], wherein the toe side portion of the lower rear surface region has a convexly curved rear contour when viewed from above in parallel to the ball striking surface;
[19] The iron-type golf club head according to [13], wherein the heel side portion of the lower rear surface region includes a rear contour portion curved in a concave shape when viewed from above in parallel to the ball striking surface;
[20] The iron type golf club head according to [13], wherein the maximum rear contour size of the lower rear surface area is closer to the toe than the heel;
[21] A ball striking surface configured to hit the ball and having a grip enhancement area defining a heel side boundary line, a toe side boundary line, and a ball center line;
A rear surface opposite the ball striking surface having an upper rear surface area, a lower rear surface area, and an interface line defining a boundary therebetween;
A sole surface extending rearward from the ball striking surface to the rear surface and extending from a heel edge to a toe edge;
The sole surface has a maximum width and a minimum width measured horizontally when the club head is in a reference position, the width of the sole surface monotonically increasing from the heel edge to the centerline;
A complex curved rear profile wherein the lower rear surface region monotonically increases as it extends from the heel to the centerline when viewed parallel to the ball striking surface from above, the centerline and toe An iron-type golf club head having a convexly curved rear profile extending between the two;
[22] A compound curved rear profile of the lower rear surface region extending between the heel and the centerline has a concave portion near the heel and a convex portion near the centerline. ] Iron type golf club head as described in above;
[23] The iron type golf club head according to [19], wherein the rear edge of the sole surface has an S-shaped contour extending between a maximum width and a minimum width when viewed from below;
[24] The lower rear surface region has at least a toe side portion extending from the hit ball center line to the toe side boundary line, and when the club head is at the reference position, the toe side portion is oriented substantially vertically. Iron type golf club head according to [19];
[25] The iron-type golf club head of [22], wherein the lower rear surface area is oriented substantially parallel to the length dimension of the club head;
[26] The iron-type golf club head according to [19], wherein the upper rear surface area is oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking surface.

  The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, but is not limited thereto. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same type of elements.

1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a golf club structure having a golf club head according to aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a heel side perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from line L1-L1 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from line L2-L2 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from line L3-L3 in FIG. FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from line L1-L1 in FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a prior art golf club head. FIG. FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. FIG. 11A is a front perspective view of a prior art golf club head. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the prior art golf club head shown in FIG. 11A as viewed from line 11B-11B in FIG. 11A. 12A is a front perspective view of the golf club head according to the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of the aspect of the present disclosure shown in FIGS. 1 and 12A as viewed from line 12B-12B in FIG. 12B.

  It will be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather provide somewhat simplified representations of various features indicative of particular aspects of the invention. For ease of visualization and clarity of understanding, certain features of the illustrated aspects may be expanded or modified relative to other features. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example for ease of viewing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following description of various examples of the present invention, various illustrative structures, systems, and processes that form part of this specification and that can implement aspects of the present invention are illustrated. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that other specific configurations of parts, structures, exemplary devices, systems and processes may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Like. Also, in this specification, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “side” and the like are used to describe various exemplary features and elements of the present invention. However, these terms are used herein for convenience based on, for example, the exemplary orientation shown in the figures and / or the orientation at the reference position. Any description herein should not be construed as requiring a specific three-dimensional orientation of the structure to fall within the scope of the invention.

  As described above, aspects of the present disclosure relate to iron-type golf club heads and golf clubs. An iron-type golf club head of at least some exemplary aspects of the present disclosure may have a shaped rear surface and / or a shaped sole surface. The shaped sole surface of at least some examples of the present disclosure may provide a heel relief. The heel relief may be defined as a combination of material removal from the heel of the sole and a smooth or soft transition edge that allows the club sole to be positioned at an angle, opening the face and increasing lift. For example, a heel relief may provide the ability for a consumer type golfer to play well in bunker and turf type conditions. The heel relief generally provides and enables a wider and more stable sole surface on the toe side of the club head.

  Iron type golf clubs can generally be classified into three categories: blades, muscle backs, and cavity backs. In general, the thickness of the blade is substantially uniform from the heel to the toe and from the sole to the top line, but there may be some taper from the sole to the top line. Further, the rear surface of the blade type club head generally has a substantially planar appearance. In general, muscle back type club heads resemble blades with extra material ridges, or thickened portions, located on the rear surface. The excess material bumps can be formed as ribs extending from the heel to the toe and placed near the bottom of the club head, thereby lowering the club head center of gravity. Cavity back type club heads generally comprise a thickened portion located on the rear surface of the club head that extends around the club head and defines a void or recess in its boundary. The dimensions of the thick portion may be constant along the circumference, or the thickness and / or width may vary. In many cases, the thickened portion of the cavity back type club head has its maximum cross section along the peripheral lower edge.

  A club head having a center of gravity lower than the center of the ball can make the ball easier to float. Blade and muscle back designs generally have a small “sweet spot” (a term that refers to the area of the face that produces the desired golf shot when a golf ball is hit), but these designs are generally used only by skilled golfers. However, these designs impose a greater degree of control on the skilled golfer for a “successful ball”.

  Having outlined various exemplary aspects of the above disclosure, the following provides a more detailed description of various embodiments of the golf club and golf club head structure of the present disclosure.

  The following description and the annexed drawings illustrate various exemplary golf club and golf club head structures of the present disclosure. Where the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently to refer to the same or similar parts throughout the specification and drawings.

  Examples and features of the iron-type golf club head and golf club structure of the present disclosure are described in detail below with respect to the exemplary golf club structure shown in FIGS. 1-8D, 10, 12A, and 12B. In a more specific aspect of the invention, examples and features of iron type golf club heads and golf club structures may represent wedge type golf clubs and golf club heads, i.e., pitching wedges, lob wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges. Wedge type clubs can also be represented or identified by a loft angle in degrees, ie, by way of example, a 48 ° wedge, a 50 ° wedge, a 53 ° wedge, a 59 ° wedge, a 62 ° wedge. Any number of wedges (or designated wedges) may be utilized using the invention described below without departing from the invention.

  FIG. 1 generally illustrates an example of an iron-type golf club 100 according to aspects of the present disclosure. As seen in FIG. 1, an iron type golf club head 100 may include a golf club head 102 of the present disclosure. In addition to the golf club head 102, the entire golf club structure 100 of this example includes a hosel 104 and a shaft that is received in and / or inserted into and / or through the hosel 104. A member 106 and a grip or handle member 108 attached to the shaft member 106 or considered to be part of the shaft member 106 may be included. The shaft member 106 defines an axis 106a that extends along its centerline.

  Optionally, if desired, the hosel 104 may be removed and the shaft member 106 inserted directly into the golf club head 102 and / or otherwise attached (eg, provided on the top of the club head 102) Through an aperture formed through an internal hosel member (eg, provided within an internal chamber defined by the club head 102, etc.). The hosel 104 may be integrally formed as part of the club head structure 102, or may be separately formed and engaged therewith (eg, by adhesive or cement; welding, brazing, soldering) By affixing or other fusing techniques; eg by mechanical connectors). Without departing from this disclosure, its incorporation into conventional hosel and iron type club head structures may be used.

  Without departing from this disclosure, the shaft member 106 may be received by and engaged with the club head 102 in any suitable or desired manner, including conventional ways known and used in the art. May be combined and / or attached thereto. As a more specific example, the shaft member 106 may be engaged with the club head body 102 via the hosel 104 and / or directly to the club head structure 102, eg, adhesive, cement, weld May be engaged with the club head body 102, such as by soldering, mechanical connectors (eg, screws, retaining elements, etc.), etc .; via a shaft receiving sleeve or element that extends into the club head 102. If desired, the shaft 106 is connected to the golf club head 102 in a releasable manner using a mechanical connector to allow easy exchange between one shaft and another on the head. May be.

  The shaft member 106 may also be any suitable or desired material, including conventional materials known and used in the art, such as graphite-based materials, composites or other non-metallic materials, steel materials ( (Including stainless steel), aluminum materials, other metal alloy materials, polymer materials, combinations of various materials, and the like. The grip or handle member 108 may also be used in any suitable or desired manner, including conventional methods known and used in the art, such as using an adhesive or cement; Attached to, engaged with and / or extending from shaft member 106, such as by soldering, brazing, etc .; via mechanical connectors (eg, screws, retaining elements, etc.) Good. As another example, if desired, the grip or handle member 108 may be integrally formed with the shaft member 106 as an integral one-piece structure. In addition, any desired grip or handle member material such as rubber material, leather material, rubber or other material including cord or other fabric material embedded therein, polymer material, etc., without departing from this disclosure May be used.

  Aspects of the present disclosure relate to particular structures of the golf club head 102. 1-8D, 10, 12A, and 12B show various views of a golf club head 102 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As seen in FIGS. 2-8D, the golf club head 102 may include a heel 110, a toe 112, a ball striking surface 114, a rear surface 116, a top surface 118, and a sole surface 120.

  In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the heel 110 may be located generally adjacent to the hosel 104, as shown in FIGS. 1-8D, 10, 12A, and 12B. Toe 112 may be located generally opposite heel 110 and hosel 104. In addition, the ball striking surface 114 (FIG. 7) may be located generally in front of the golf club head 102, and the ball striking surface 114 may be used to hit the golf ball. The striking surface 114 can generally extend from the heel 110 to the toe 112. When the club is directed to a reference position, the ball striking surface 114 forms an angle (ie, loft angle) with respect to the ground.

  7-8D show the golf club head 102 oriented to a reference position. In the reference position, shaft axis 106a (and / or hosel axis) is located in a vertical plane as shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the shaft axis 106a (and / or the hosel axis 128) may be oriented at the lie angle. The lie angle is defined as an angle formed between the shaft axis 106a and a horizontal plane that contacts the sole surface 120, which may be the ground. The lie angle selected for the reference position may be a lie angle specified by the golf club 100 manufacturer. If the manufacturer-specified lie angle is not available, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a wedge lie angle of about 64 ° may be used in the case of a wedge depending on the shaft length and / or club head shape . For example, a modern wedge can be directed to a lie angle of about 64 °. The face may be directed to the loft angle and face angle for a reference position at a golf club manufacturer specified loft angle and face angle.

The loft angle is defined as a measured value between an axis perpendicular or perpendicular to the face center axis and an axis perpendicular or perpendicular to the ground. The face center axis is defined as an axis extending perpendicularly to the face 114 from the face center C _S. Similarly, the loft angle can be defined as a measured value between the face center axis and the ground. It will be appreciated that each of these loft angle definitions may yield a similar or exactly the same loft angle measurement. In addition, the face angle is measured by utilizing a face central axis and a right angle plane or a plane perpendicular to the X axis.

  Club head parameters or characteristics may be measured physically, ie in a computer aided design (CAD) environment. In general, if a three-dimensional (3D) model of the club head 102 is not readily available, a 3D scan inside and outside the physical sample of the club head 102 is performed, and from the scan data and / or physical measurements, the physical It can be created by creating a model file that substantially represents the dynamic club head. In the CAD environment, the club head 102 model may be set to a reference position, at which time the face 110 is oriented to the base face angle and / or base loft angle in the CAD environment, and the model is fully constrained.

  In another aspect of the invention, the golf club 100 can be physically directed to a reference position using an attachment system. As described above, the shaft axis 106a (and / or hosel axis) can be aligned to a lie angle according to the golf club manufacturer's standards or an appropriate lie angle as determined by one skilled in the art. The golf club head 102 uses a conventional loft and face angle measurement gauge known to those skilled in the art, and its sole surface 120 is in contact with a horizontal plane or the ground, and the ball striking face 114 is arranged at the face angle and / or loft angle. Can be located in a state

  Referring to FIG. 7, the ball striking surface 114 has a generally flat or planar surface that extends from the sole surface 120 to the top surface 118 and from the toe 112 to the front surface heel side line 111. The front surface heel side line 111 (shown in dashed lines) defines a boundary where the generally flat ball striking surface 114 connects with a curved transition surface extending to the hosel 104. The ball striking surface 114 has a length L defined in the heel-toe direction from the toe 112 to the front surface heel side line 111 and a height H defined in the top-bottom direction from the top surface 118 to the ground. When the club is in the reference position, the length L is measured horizontally and the height H is measured vertically.

In addition, the ball striking surface 114 may be provided with score lines 115, grooves or other surface features or texture that enhance the ability of the club head to grip the golf ball upon impact. The grip augmentation or ball striking area 114a generally includes a heel side scoreline (or other grip enhancement surface feature) boundary L1 (shown in broken lines) and a toe side scoreline (or other grip enhancement surface feature) boundary L2 (in broken lines). As well as segments of the top and bottom perimeters 118, 120 of the ball striking surface 114 extending between the heel side boundary line L1 and the toe side boundary line L2. Thus, the ball striking zone 114a has a length L _S (extending between the boundary L1 and the boundary L2) and a height H _S (extending between the upper edge 118 and the sole surface 120). In general, this height increases in the toe direction. Center line L3 of the ball striking area 114a may be located in the middle along the length L _S of the hitting area 114a. Face center C _S of the hitting area 114a may be located in the middle along the height H _S of the center line L3 (see Figure 7). (Lines L1, L2, and L3 may correspond to the thickness cross-sections shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, respectively. Thus, the points on the rear surface 116 and / or sole surface 120 are represented by the line L1. , L2, and / or L3).

  In accordance with aspects of the present invention and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 8A-8C, the club head 102 includes a blade type portion 130 and a thick portion 140 (ie, a portion of the club head 102 that is generally thicker than the blade portion 130). It can be characterized as having. The blade portion 130 is generally provided in the upper portion of the club head 102 and the thick portion 140 is generally provided in the lower portion of the club head 102.

The relatively thin blade portion 130 generally encompasses the entire upper portion of the club head 102. According to some embodiments, the blade portion 130 can have a substantially constant thickness T _B (see FIGS. 8A-8C), which can be, for example, less than about 6.35 mm. The thickness T _B is measured perpendicular to the striking surface 114. According to another aspect, the blade portion 130 may have a thickness T _B varying from top to bottom. For example, the thickness T _B of the blade portion 130, the minimum thickness may increase gradually from the state at the top. Another variation of the thickness T _B of the blade portion 130 may be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the thickness T _B of the blade section 130 may increase gradually and monotonically from the heel 110 to toe 112. Optionally, the blade portion 130 may have local reinforcing ribs or peripheral loads (not shown).

The thickened portion 140 is generally provided in the lower portion of the club head 102 to allow redistribution of weight within the club head 102. Thus, this thickened portion 140 may assist in balancing the club head 102, thereby improving the user's swing motion and the trajectory of the golf ball that is struck. When compared to a conventional blade type club head, the thick portion 140 can move the center of gravity downward and in the toe direction. When compared with a conventional muscle back type club head, the thick portion 140 can move the center of gravity in the toe direction. The thick portion 140 has a thickness T _C (see FIGS. 8A-8C) that is greater than the thickness of the blade portion 130 everywhere. The thickness T _C measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface 114 varies along the length and height of the club head 102.

  Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 8A-8C in accordance with some aspects, the lower rear surface region 116b defines a thickened area, ie, one side of the thickened portion 140 of the club head 102. The second side of the thickened portion 140 is defined by the sole surface 120. The third side of the thick portion 140 is defined by the ball striking surface 114. Accordingly, the cross-sectional shape of the thick portion 140 can be generally triangular.

  The rear surface 116 is located on the rear surface or the back surface of the golf club head 102 on the opposite side to the ball striking surface 114. Rear surface 116 generally extends from heel 110 to toe 112 and from top 118 to sole 120. Referring to the drawing, the rear surface 116 includes two general areas: an upper rear surface area 116a and a lower rear surface area 116b. The upper rear surface region 116a corresponds to the blade type portion 130, and the lower rear surface region 116b corresponds to the thick portion 140.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8A-8C, the lower rear surface region 116b is generally bounded by the upper rear surface region 116a in the transition region 121 (represented by the outline). Generally, there is no clear boundary separating the lower rear surface region 116b and the upper rear surface region 116a as in the illustrated embodiment, and there is no gap between the lower rear surface region 116b and the upper rear surface region 116a. The transition is provided as a gradually curved surface. In such a case, the interface line 121a is defined by the set of points between the upper rear surface area 116a and the lower rear surface area 116b, where a line inclined by 45 ° from the ball striking surface 114 is tangent to the surface in the transition area 121. Can be defined.

  According to a particular aspect, the toe side transition region 121 (and hence the interface line 121a) of the club head 102 may be located in the middle 1/3 of the height dimension H of the ball striking surface 114 (see FIG. 1). Optionally, the toe side transition region 121 of the club head 102 may be located in the middle 1/5 of the height dimension H of the ball striking surface 114. Even more preferably, the toe side transition region 121 of the club head 102 may be located in the range of 45-55% of the height dimension H of the ball striking surface 114. In accordance with some aspects, the interface line 121a defines a boundary between the upper blade type portion 130 and the lower wall thickness portion 140, and at the centerline L3, the interface line 121a has a height H of the ball striking surface 114. Bisect. On the heel side of the club head 102, the transition region 121 may not be more clearly defined than the toe side transition region. Furthermore, the heel side transition region 121 of the club head 102 may sink in the direction of the sole surface 120.

  According to some aspects, the toe side interface line 121a of the club head 102 may be oriented slightly obliquely relative to the horizontal (when the club is in the reference position). For example, the toe side interface line 121a of the club head 102 may tilt upward when it extends away from the heel 110 and toward the toe 112. Alternatively, the toe side interface line 121a of the club head 102 can be oriented substantially parallel to the horizontal (when the club is in the reference position). In certain embodiments, transition region 121 and / or interface line 121a may have a slight curvature. For example, when the club head 102 is viewed from the back, the interface line may have a slight downward concave curvature. The curvature of the transition region 121 and interface line 121a may increase on the heel side of the club head 120. In other embodiments, the transition region 121 and / or the interface line 121 can be substantially straight.

  Thus, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the upper rear surface region 116a can be provided as a substantially flat area or a generally planar surface. The substantially flat area is flat with the possible exception of a relatively small radius of curvature in the peripheral transition region. A generally planar surface may comprise a generally gently curved or gently curved region such that the entire surface slightly deviates from the plane as either a convex curved surface or a concave curved surface. Optionally, the generally planar surface can be provided as a smooth compound curved surface. In such a case, a generally planar surface may have both a very shallow convex curved region and a very shallow concave curved region. The upper rear surface region 116a, together with the upper portion of the ball striking surface 114, defines the blade portion 130 of the club head 102. The upper rear surface region 116a (and the upper portion of the ball striking surface 114) extends over the entire length of the upper portion of the club head 102. In accordance with certain aspects, the upper rear surface region 116a and the upper portion of the ball striking surface 114 may be parallel or substantially parallel to each other (eg, within 2 °).

  The lower rear surface region 116b will now be described with reference to FIGS. The lower rear surface region 116b is located adjacent to the toe and extends most of the distance to the rear surface heel side edge 113. The rear surface heel side line 113 (shown in phantom in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) defines the boundary where the rear surface 116 transitions to the heel surface 110. In general, as in the illustrated embodiment, there is a curved transition region that separates the rear surface 116 from the heel surface 110. In such a case, the rear surface heel side line 113 is defined by a set of points between the rear surface 116 and the heel surface 110, where the line inclined 45 ° from the ball striking surface 114 is tangent to the surface in the heel-rear transition region. Can be done.

  In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the lower rear surface region 116b has a more complex surface shape than the upper rear surface region 116a. The lower rear surface region 116b can be divided into parts: P1 and P2. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8B and 8C, the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b can be formed as a substantially flat surface area, and the second portion P2 is a composite and It can be formed as a smoothly curved dent or depression. The first portion P1 is located closer to the toe than the second portion P2, so the first portion P1 can be referred to as the toe side portion and the second portion P2 can be referred to as the heel side portion. According to a particular embodiment, the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b can extend over about 2/3 of the length L of the club head 102, and the second portion P2 of the lower rear surface region 116b can be the club head. It can extend over about 1/3 of the length L of 102.

A first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b extends from the upper rear surface region 116a at an angle A (see FIG. 8D). The first portion P1 is located adjacent to the toe 112 of the club head 102 and extends from the toe 112 in the direction of the center line L3. Further, the first portion P1 may extend from the tow 112 to the center line L3 and / or beyond or past the center line L3. Accordingly, the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116 can extend over most of the length L of the club head 102. Further, the first portion P1 can extend over most of the length L _S of the ball striking zone 114a.

The substantially flat area of the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface area 116b extends at an angle A with respect to the substantially flat area of the upper rear surface area 116a. This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 8D where line a ₁ represents the substantially flat surface of the upper rear surface region 116a and line a ₂ represents the substantially flat surface of the lower rear surface region 116b. ing. Line a ₁ may be determined as a least squares fitting of the contour of the upper rear surface region 116a, and line a ₂ may be determined as a least squares fitting of the contour of the lower rear surface region 116b.

  According to certain aspects, the angle A between the upper rear surface region 116a and the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b may be obtuse (see FIGS. 8B and 8C). According to some embodiments, the angle A may be equal to 130 ° ± 30 °. Optionally, angle A can be a function of the club head loft angle. For example, the angle A may generally be equal to 180 ° -loft angle (± 20 °). In accordance with certain aspects, the line representing the least squares fitting of the profile of the lower rear surface region 116b at lines L2 and l3 may be substantially parallel (± 10 °) to the longitudinal axis 106a of shaft 106. . Thus, when the club head 102 is in the reference position, the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b can be oriented substantially vertically. Further, the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b may extend parallel to the length of the club head 102.

  Referring to FIGS. 1-5 and 8A, the second portion P2 of the lower rear surface region 116b is substantially the same as the substantially flat or generally planar surface of the first portion P1 and the upper rear surface region 116a. Can be formed as a compound curved surface that smoothly and tangentially meets a flat or generally planar surface. When joining the first portion P1, the second portion P2 exhibits a smooth and relatively shallow convex curve. The second portion P2 exhibits a smooth and relatively shallow concave curvature when it merges with a substantially flat or generally planar surface of the upper rear surface region 116a. For example, according to one embodiment, when viewed from below (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the second portion P2 is separated from the first portion P1 adjacent to the sole surface 120 (ie, at the periphery 124). And has a relatively steep slope of about 45 ° when extended, which then flattens to a slope of about 0 ° when joining the heel 110. In some embodiments, the peripheral edge 124 may be slightly convex near where it meets the first portion P1 and slightly concave where it meets the heel 110. The second portion P2 has a relatively constant inclination of 10 to 30 ° adjacent to the upper rear surface region 116a. In some embodiments, the intersection 121 of the upper rear surface region 116a and the second portion P2 of the lower rear surface region 116b can be slightly convex when extending from the first portion P1 to the heel 110. . Accordingly, the second portion P2 includes both convex and concave curved surfaces.

The second portion P2 is located adjacent to the heel 110 of the club head 102 and extends from the heel 110 in the direction of the center line L3. According to some embodiments, the second portion P2 does not extend behind the center line L3 of the ball striking area 114a. Therefore, the second portion P2 can extend over a small portion of the length L _S of the ball striking area 114a.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8A-8C, the lower rear surface region 116b may include contour measurements T1, T2, and T3. These contour measurements T1, T2, and T3 are a measure of the distance between the ball striking surface 114 and the peripheral edge 124 of the lower rear surface region 116b. These contour measurements T1, T2, and T3 are also a measure of the maximum thickness of the thickened portion 140. The peripheral edge 124 of the lower rear surface region 116b is defined as the intersection of the lower rear surface region 116b and the sole surface 120, and thus may also be referred to as the sole trailing edge 124, as further described below. The contour dimension T1 is measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface 114 in the L1 cross section (see FIG. 8A); the contour dimension T2 is measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface 114 in the L2 cross section (see FIG. 8B); The contour dimension T3 is measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface 114 in the L3 cross section (see FIGS. 5 and 8A to 8C). T1 may define the maximum dimension of the thick portion 140 in the L1 cross section. T2 may define the maximum dimension of the thick portion 140 in the L2 cross section. T3 may define the maximum dimension of the thick portion 140 at the centerline L3.

  According to a particular embodiment, T3 is greater than T2. Optionally, T2 can be within 30% of the value of T3, or even within 20% of the value of T3. For example, T3 can be about 20 mm (± 3 mm) and T2 can be about 15 mm (± 2 mm). According to some embodiments, T3 is significantly greater than T1. Optionally, T3 may be greater than 100% of the value of T1, greater than 200% of the value of T1, or even greater than 300% of the value of T1. For example, T3 can be about 20 mm (± 3 mm) and T1 can be about 7 mm (± 1 mm).

  In addition, referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the club head 102 includes a sole or sole surface 120. The sole surface 120 is located at the bottom of the club head 102 and provides the lower surface of the thickened portion 140. Sole surface 120 extends from heel 110 to toe 112. Further, the sole surface 120 extends from the leading edge 122 to the trailing edge 124. The sole surface 120 may be compoundly curved, for example, having a club head lengthwise curvature and a clubhead 102 widthwise curvature.

  According to aspects of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6 and FIGS. 8A-8C, the sole surface 120 is relatively thick in the first sole portion S1 and relatively in the second sole portion S2. May have a thin front and back width. The first sole portion S1 can generally correspond to the first rear surface portion P1, and the second sole portion S2 can generally correspond to the second rear surface portion P2. Accordingly, the first sole portion S1 is located adjacent to the toe 112 and extends in the direction of the heel 100 beyond the line L2 and possibly beyond the line L3, but does not reach the line L1. The second sole portion S2 is located adjacent to the heel 110 and extends beyond the line L1 in the direction of the toe 112, but generally does not reach the line L3.

  According to some embodiments, the combined sole portions S1 and S2 were found to be smooth, uninterrupted, gently convexly curved sole surfaces 120. In other words, according to these aspects, the surface of the sole surface 120 does not provide a boundary between the sole portions S1, S2. However, the width of the sole portions S1, S2 provides a means for distinguishing the portions. The sole portion S1 has a relatively constant and relatively wide width. The sole portion S2 has a width that changes from a relatively wide width of the sole portion S1 to a relatively narrow width away from the sole portion S1. According to some embodiments, the sole portion S2 has an S-shaped edge that substantially reduces the width when the sole portion S2 extends from the sole portion S1 in the direction of the heel 110.

  The sole surface 120 may be at least partially defined by a sole leading edge 122 and a sole trailing edge 124. Sole leading edge 122 and sole trailing edge 124 define the opposite perimeter of sole surface 120 and may generally extend from heel 110 to toe 112. The sole front edge 122 is located at the intersection of the lower edge of the ball striking surface 114 and the sole surface 120. When the ball striking surface 114 and the sole surface 120 are joined by a curved intersection, the sole leading edge 122 is tangent to the intersection at which the 45 ° line is curved relative to the horizontal ground (in the vertical cross section of the curved intersection). It can be defined as a line. Similarly, the sole trailing edge 124 may be located on the sole surface 120 generally opposite the sole leading edge 122. When the rear surface 116 and the sole surface 120 are joined by a curved intersection, the sole trailing edge 24 is tangent to the intersection at which the 45 ° line is curved relative to the horizontal ground (in the vertical cross section of the curved intersection). It can be defined as a line.

  In addition, with particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, the sole surface 120 may be further defined by a sole heel periphery 126 and a sole toe periphery 128. The sole heel edge 126 may generally be located near the heel side of the golf club head 102. The sole heel edge 126 may generally extend from the sole leading edge 122 to the sole trailing edge 124. Similarly, the sole toe edge 128 may generally be located near the toe side of the golf club head 102. The sole toe edge 128 may generally extend from the sole leading edge 122 to the sole trailing edge 124. Similar to the sole leading and trailing edges 122, 124, when the toe surface (or heel surface) and the sole surface 120 are joined by a curved intersection, the sole toe edge 126 (or whole heel edge 128) is placed on the horizontal ground. In contrast, a 45 ° line can be defined as a line tangent to the curved intersection (in the vertical cross section of the curved intersection).

  The sole surface 120 of the present invention can be considered a shaped sole compared to the soles of conventional iron-type golf clubs and wedge-type golf club heads. For example, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when viewed from below when the club head is in the reference position, the leading edge 122 of the sole surface 120 is smooth and uninterrupted across both sole portions S1, S2 It extends in the toe-heel direction as a shallow and convexly curved line. The trailing edge 124 of the sole surface 120 also extends in the toe-heel direction at the S1 sole portion as a smooth, uninterrupted, very shallow, convexly curved line. Further, the portion of the trailing edge 124 of the first sole portion S1 can generally be oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking surface 114 and substantially parallel to the horizontal. However, the trailing edge 124 of the sole surface 120 in the second sole portion S2 has a compound curved shape, that is, has a convex curved portion and a concave curved portion. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the trailing edge 124 exhibits an S-shaped profile at the S2 sole portion. With respect to the present disclosure, the S-shaped profile has a convex curve and then a concave curve, with an inflection point between them. The convex curve and the concave curve need not be equal. The inflection point need not be in the center. Furthermore, the curvature may be shallow or deep. In the illustrated embodiment, the trailing edge 124 in the second sole portion S2 may comprise a convex curve that smoothly merges with a substantially straight portion of the trailing edge 124 in the sole portion S1. As the trailing edge 124 further extends in the heel direction, the curve changes smoothly and gradually into a concave curve. The inflection point can be substantially aligned with the line L1.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, the sole surface 120 may include three separate sole width measurements W1, W2, and W3. The sole widths W1, W2, and W3 are measured as horizontal distances between the sole front edge 122 and the sole rear edge 124 when the club head 102 is at the reference position. Thus, the sole width measurements W1, W2, W3 can be defined as the horizontal distance from the sole leading edge 122 to the sole trailing edge 124 on the area of the sole surface 120. W1 corresponds to the L1 cross section, W2 corresponds to the L2 cross section, and W3 corresponds to the L3 cross section. W1 may be defined as a heel side sole width measurement measured at a position near or close to the sole heel edge 126. W2 may be defined as a toe-side sole width measurement measured at a position near or close to the sole toe edge 128. W3 may be defined as a centerline sole width measurement measured at the L3 cross-section, ie, at a substantially equidistant position between W1 and W2.

Thus, according to certain aspects, the sole surface 120 can extend rearward from the sole leading edge 122 to the sole trailing edge 124 and can extend longitudinally from the sole heel edge 128 to the sole toe edge 128. The sole surface 120 may have a maximum width W _max and a minimum width W _min (see FIG. 3). The minimum width W _min can be located adjacent to the sole heel edge 126. Optionally, the minimum width W _min may be located between the heel side boundary line L1 and the center line L3. The maximum width W _max may be located between the hit ball center line L3 and the sole toe edge 128. Optionally, the maximum width W _max may be located between the center line L3 and the toe side boundary line L2. The width of the sole surface 120 may monotonically increase from the minimum width W _min to the maximum width W _max, from the sole heel edge 126 to the center line L3, and / or from the heel side boundary line L1 to the center line L3. According to certain aspects, the sole trailing edge 124 can have an S-shaped profile (ie, convex and concave curves with inflection points in between) extending between a maximum width W _max and a minimum width W _min. .

  According to certain embodiments, W3 may be approximately equal to W2. Accordingly, the width of the sole surface 120 may be substantially constant (ie, within 10%) from the center line L3 to the toe side boundary line L2 and / or from the center line L3 to the sole toe edge 128.

  According to another aspect, W3 is greater than W2. Optionally, W2 can be within 20% of the value of W3, within 15% of the value of W3, or within 10% of the value of W3. For example, W3 can be about 28 mm (± 3 mm) and W2 can be about 25 mm (± 3 mm). According to some embodiments, W3 is significantly larger than W1. Optionally, W3 may be greater than 200% of the value of W1, greater than 300% of the value of W1, or even greater than 400% of the value of W1. For example, W3 can be about 28 mm (± 3 mm) and W1 can be about 6 mm (± 1 mm).

  Thus, the thickened portion 140 of the club head is divided into two parts: the first portion P1 of the lower rear surface region 116b and the first portion of the sole surface 120, located adjacent to the toe 112 of the club head 102. A first portion 142 corresponding to S1, and adjacent to the heel 110 of the club head 102 and corresponding to a second portion P2 of the lower rear surface region 116b and a second portion S2 of the sole surface 120 It can be considered to have a second portion 144. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the first portion 142 has a greater thickness than the second portion 144. The first portion 142 has a larger sole surface 120 width than the second portion 144. The first portion 142 has a larger volume than the second portion 144. The first portion 142 has a greater mass than the second portion 144. In accordance with some aspects, when the user's right hand grabs the club head 102, the second portion 142 supports the hitting surface 114 with the index finger and the remaining three fingers of the user's right hand loosen around the hosel 104 It can be formed as a smooth indentation that provides an ergonomically comfortable thumb grip area in the rolled state.

  FIG. 8A shows the heel sole-ground measurement H1 between the sole surface 120 and the ground on the heel 110 of the club head 102. FIG. The heel sole-ground measurement value H1 corresponds to the L1 cross section and the second portion S2 of the sole surface 120. The heel sole-ground measurement H1 may be defined as the vertical gap dimension between the bottom heel surface 140 or the sole surface 120 along the L1 cross section at the heel edge and the ground when the club head 102 is directed to a reference position. . For certain exemplary golf club heads of the present invention, the H1 measurement can be about 5 mm. Other H1 dimensions can be applied without departing from the invention.

  FIG. 8C shows the toe sole-ground measurement H1 between the sole surface 120 and the ground on the toe 112 of the club head 102. FIG. The toe sole-ground measurement value H3 corresponds to the L3 cross section and the second portion S1 of the sole surface 120. The toe sole-ground measurement H3 may be defined as the vertical gap dimension between the ground surface and the sole surface 120 along the L3 cross section at the lower toe surface 144 or toe edge when the club head 102 is directed to a reference position. For certain exemplary golf club heads of the present invention, the H3 measurement can be about 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Other H3 dimensions can be applied without departing from the invention.

  Table 1 below provides exemplary 48 ° wedge club head dimensions for embodiments of the present invention.

Table 1 Exemplary dimensions of a 48 ° loft wedge club head

  Table 1 lists certain exemplary golf club heads of the present invention. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, different wall thickness profile dimensions T1, T2, T3 and / or other sole surface width measurements W1, W2, W3 and / or other having different sole-ground measurements H1, H3. A golf club head may be provided. For example, the contour dimension measurements T2 and T3 may be from about 20.0 mm to about 40.0 mm without departing from the invention. Optionally, the contour dimension measurements T2 and T3 may be about 25.0 mm to about 35.0 mm, or even about 27.0 mm to about 32.0 mm.

  Without departing from the present invention, sole width measurements W2 and W3 may be between about 20.0 mm and about 45.0 mm. Optionally, sole width measurements W2 and W3 may be from about 25.0 mm to about 40.0 mm or even from about 30.0 mm to about 35.0 mm.

  The maximum sole width need not match the sole width at line L2 or L3. According to some embodiments, the maximum sole width may be located between lines L2 and L3 and may be slightly larger than sole width measurements W2 and / or W3. Thus, as a non-limiting example, the maximum sole width may be 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm greater than the sole width measurement W2 or W3. The maximum sole width can range from about 25.0 mm to about 42.0 mm, from about 30.0 mm to about 37.0 mm, or even from about 32.0 mm to about 36.0 mm.

  Without departing from the invention, the sole width measurement W1 may be between about 3.0 mm and about 15.0 mm. Optionally, the sole width measurement W1 can be about 4.0 mm to about 10.0 mm, or even about 5.0 mm to about 9.0 mm.

  The minimum sole width need not match the sole width at line L1. According to some embodiments, the minimum sole width may be slightly less than the sole width measurement W1. Therefore, as a non-limiting example, the minimum sole width may be 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm smaller than the sole width measurement value W1. The minimum sole width can range from about 3.0 mm to about 10.0 mm, from about 3.5 mm to about 9.0 mm, or even from about 3.0 mm to about 7.0 mm.

  In addition, the sole surface 120 may have a longitudinal radius of curvature, ie, a radius of curvature of the sole surface from the leading edge 122 to the trailing edge 124 (not shown). For example, for a particular exemplary 59 ° wedge, the anterior-posterior radius of curvature may be about 6.5 cm. In addition, in the present invention, the sole surface 120 may be from about 3.0 cm to about 10.0 cm, from about 4.0 cm to about 9.0 cm, from about 5.0 cm to about 8.0 cm, or even from about 6.0 cm without departing from the present invention. It may have a front and back radius of curvature 130 of about 7.0 cm. Such front-to-back curvature is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 047,625, “Iron-Type Gold Club Heads with a Wide Sole, filed March 14, 2011, filed March 14, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. "It is described in.

  In another aspect, the anterior-posterior curvature radius may include a plurality of radius portions without departing from the invention, and each radius portion may have a different anterior-posterior curvature radius. For example, the front-back curvature radius may include a first radius portion and a second radius portion. For an exemplary 53 ° wedge, the first radius portion may have a radius of about 25 mm and the second radius portion may have a radius of about 50 mm. The first radius portion may extend from the leading edge 122 to a convergence line that is approximately 7.0 mm from the leading edge 122. The second radius extends from the convergence line to the trailing edge 124. Such front-to-back curvature having multiple radius portions is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 047,625, "Iron-Type Gold" to Knight et al., Filed Mar. 14, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It is described in “Club Heads with a Wide Sole”.

  In addition, the sole surface 120 can include a heel-toe curvature. The heel-toe radius of curvature may be defined as the radius of curvature of the sole surface 120 from the heel edge 126 to the toe edge 128. For an exemplary 59 ° wedge, the heel-toe radius may be about 18 cm. In addition, as described above with respect to the anterior-posterior curvature radius, the heel-toe curvature may also include a plurality of radius portions, each radius portion having a different heel-toe radius. Such heel-toe curvature is also described in U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 047,625 to Knight et al., Filed Mar. 14, 2011, "Iron-Type Gold Club Heads with", incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. a Wide Sole ”.

  The conventional ideal total weight of the golf club head 102 can be about 300 grams. In certain exemplary wedge club heads 102, the indentation of thickened portion 140 in the toe region is about 8-11 grams weight from sole surface 120 and club head 102 or about 3 of the total weight of golf club head 102. ~ 4% can be removed (compared to a rear portion having a constant thickness and width dimension over the entire length of the club head 102). Such weight may be redistributed elsewhere on the club head 102 to selectively control the center of gravity of the ball striking surface 114. In addition, in the present invention, the indentation of the thickened portion 140 in the tow region is about 6 grams, about 7 grams, about 8 grams, about 9 grams, about 10 grams, about 11 without departing from the present invention. Grams, about 12 grams or about 13 grams or more can be removed.

  In accordance with certain aspects, the length of the thick portion 140 may be defined as the distance from the heel edge 126 to the toe edge 128. In a particular exemplary club head 102, the length of the thick portion 140 can be about 8.0 cm. Optionally, the thickened portion 140 may have a length of about 6.5 cm to about 9.5 cm, about 7.0 cm to about 9.0 cm, or even about 7.5 cm to about 8.5 cm without departing from the invention. According to some embodiments, the first portion 142 may extend at least 2/3 of the distance from the toe 112 to the heel side line 113. In accordance with other aspects, the first portion 142 of the thickened portion 140 may extend 3/4 of the distance from the toe 112 to the heel side line 113.

  The shaped sole surface of at least some examples of the present disclosure may provide a heel relief. 9-12B clearly illustrate the heel relief features of the golf club head 102 of this embodiment. A heel relief may be defined as a combination of material removal from the heel 110 of the sole 120 and a smooth or soft transition edge. The heel relief allows the sole 120 of the club head 102 to be positioned at an angle, opening the face and increasing lift. For example, a heel relief may provide the ability for a consumer type golfer to play well in a bunker or turf type condition. The heel relief generally provides and enables a wider and more stable sole surface 120 on the toe side 112 of the club head 102.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 show a top perspective view of the golf club head 102 showing the sole / ground contact areas 170A, 170B of two different club heads 102A, 102B. FIG. 9 shows a top perspective view of a prior art golf club head 102A and a corresponding sole / ground contact area 170A with the prior art club head 102A. FIG. 10 shows a top perspective view of the golf club head 102B of the present invention and the sole / ground contact area 170B corresponding to the golf club head 102B. FIGS. 9 and 10 both include the ground, and the golf club head is open at an oblique ball hitting position along the ground.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sole / ground contact area 170A of the prior art golf club head 102A extends from the toe to the heel over most of the length L of the club head 102A. In addition, the sole / ground contact area 170A of the prior art golf club head 102A is much thinner across the club head 102A and the sole 120 in the front-rear direction of the golf club head 102A.

  In contrast to the prior art golf club head 102A, FIG. 10 shows an example golf club head 120B of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the sole / ground contact area 170B of the golf club head 102B is located near or close to the toe 112 of the club head 102B. This golf club head 102B provides a wide toe side 112 sole surface S1 and sole / ground contact area 170B located on the toe 112 of the club head 102B. The sole / ground contact area 170B of the golf club head 102B is shorter but more concentrated on the toe 112 of the golf club head 102B. In addition, the sole / ground contact area 170B of the golf club head 102B is wider in the front-rear direction of the golf club head 102B across the club head 102B and the sole 120. This sole / ground contact area 170B can help provide a wider and more stable sole surface S1 on the toe side 112 of the club head 102B while providing good performance in the rough. This sole / ground contact area 170A may also provide a lack of heel / turf or ground interaction.

The heel relief of the golf club head 102 of the present invention also allows the center of gravity CG to be located closer to the face center C _S of the ball striking face 114. The face center C _S is shown with reference to FIG. 7 and further described above. When the center of gravity CG is closer to the face center C _S of the ball striking surface 114, the visual center of gravity (or the face center C _S ) can be better aligned with the actual center of gravity CG. Opposite to heel bias, the club head 102 is much larger in the center, so the weight moves from the heel 110 (with heel relief) to the toe 112 and the center of gravity CG moves closer to the face center C _S To do. 11A to 12B show the movement of the center of gravity CG closer to the face center C _S of the ball striking surface 114. FIG.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B show an exemplary prior art golf club head 102A. 12A and 12B show a golf club head 102B of the present invention. 11A and 12A show a front perspective view of a golf club head oriented to a reference position on the ground. FIGS. 11B and 12B show cross-sectional views of the golf club head taken along line 11B-11B in FIG. 11A or line 12B-12B in FIG. 12A.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 12A, each club head includes a face center C _s and a center of gravity CG position of the ball striking face 114. FIGS. 11A and 12A also show the distance or dimension in the X direction (or heel-toe direction) from the face center C _s of the ball striking surface 114A to the center of gravity CG position, labeled “C _S -CG (X)”. . In addition, FIGS. 11B and 12B show a club head showing the face center C _s and the center of gravity CG position of the ball striking face 114A. 11B and 12B are expressed as the distance or dimension of the position of the center of gravity CG from the face center C _S of the hitting surface 114 in the direction perpendicular to the hitting surface 114, that is, “C _S -CG (face)”. The distance from the center of gravity CG from the hitting surface 114 is shown.

As described above, the heel relief of the golf club head 102B of the present invention enables the center of gravity CG to be located closer to the face center C _S of the ball striking surface 114. The center of gravity CG of the golf club head 102B having the heel relief of the present invention can approach the face center C _S of the ball striking face 114 in the X direction or the heel 110-toe 112 direction. In one example, the C _S -CG (X) dimension of the prior art golf club head 102A of FIG. 11A may be approximately 6 millimeters, while the C _S -CG ( X) The dimension can be about 4.5 millimeters. The center of gravity CG of the golf club head 102B of the present invention may be closer to the face center C _S of the ball striking face 114 by about 1.5 millimeters (or about 25%) than the prior art golf club head 102A without heel relief. In another example, the C _S -CG (X) dimension of the prior art golf club head 102A of FIG. 11A can be about 6.37 millimeters, while the C _S − of the golf club head 102B of the present invention shown in FIG. 12A. The CG (X) dimension can be about 4.57 millimeters. The center of gravity CG of the golf club head 102B of the present invention, may be closer to the face center C _S of the golf club about 1.8 millimeters from the head 102A (or about 28%) the ball striking face 114 having no prior art heel relief.

In addition, the center of gravity CG of the golf club head 102B having the heel relief of the present invention can approach the face center C _S of the hitting surface 114 in a direction perpendicular to the face. In one example, the C _S -CG (face) dimension of the prior art golf club head 102A of FIG. 11A can be about 1.3 millimeters, whereas the C _S -CG (face) of the golf club head 102B of the present invention shown in FIG. 12A. The dimension can be about 0.1 millimeter. The center of gravity CG of the golf club head 102B of the present invention may be closer to the face center C _S of the ball striking face 114 by about 1.2 millimeters (or about 90%) than the prior art golf club head 102A without heel relief. In another example, the C _S -CG (X) dimension of the prior art golf club head 102A of FIG. 11A may be about 1.32 millimeters, while the C _S − of the golf club head 102B of the present invention shown in FIG. 12A. The CG (X) dimension can be about 0.02 millimeters. The center of gravity CG of the golf club head 102B of the present invention, about 1.3 millimeters (or about 98%) than a golf club head 102A having no prior art heel relief near the face center C _S of the ball striking face 114 (or almost completely face to the center C _S) and may be.

  Various club head 102 configurations are possible without departing from the present disclosure. For example, if desired, some or all of the various individual parts of the club head 102 may be connected together (eg, by adhesive or cement; welding, soldering, brazing, or other fusion techniques (By mechanical connector etc.). In addition, the club head 102 can also be an integral piece that includes some or all of the various individual parts of the club head 102 as desired. Various parts (eg, heel 110, toe 112, hitting surface 114, rear surface 116, and sole surface 120, etc.) include materials conventionally known and used in the art, eg, light metal materials. Any desired including metal materials, composite materials, polymer materials, steel, titanium, aluminum, tungsten, magnesium, beryllium, alloys containing one or more of these metals, carbon fiber reinforced materials, glass fiber reinforced materials, graphite, etc. And a combination of various materials.

  In addition, club head 102 may be configured in any suitable or desired manner, including conventional ways known and used in the art, without departing from this disclosure. Club head 102 and its various parts may be forged, cast, molded, stamped, stamped, machined, grounded, and / or other techniques, including techniques and processes common and known in the art. And can be made using processes.

  A wide variety of overall club head configurations are possible without departing from this disclosure. For example, it will be noted that the dimensions and / or other characteristics of the example golf golf club head 102 of the present disclosure may differ significantly without departing from the present disclosure. For example, the configuration may be particularly useful in wedges (eg, pitching wedges, lob wedges, gap wedges, sand wedges, etc.), but the features include, for example, iron type hybrid clubs, driving irons, 0-10 irons, etc. It may be incorporated into any iron type club head.

  Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods of producing and / or manufacturing iron type golf club heads and iron type golf club structures of examples of the present disclosure. Such methods include, for example, (a) producing the various types of golf club head bodies (including any or all of the various structures, features and / or arrangements), for example, producing golf club head bodies. Or providing in other ways, such as by obtaining from a third party source; (b) engaging the shaft member with the golf club head body; and (c) engaging the grip member with the shaft member. One or more of the combining steps may be included in any desired order and / or combination.

  The iron-type golf clubs and golf club heads of the present invention provide many benefits over the latest golf clubs and golf club heads. First, the sole surface 120 of the present invention can be regarded as a shaped sole compared to a conventional iron-type club head. The shaped sole surface 120 is in contact with the ground when in contact with the golf ball, and more efficiently creates lift for the golf club head 102 when moving through it, thereby swinging when in contact with the ground. It can help to give the user more margin for errors. In addition, the shaped sole surface 120 can give the user more confidence regarding his golf swing when contacting the golf ball due to the breadth of the sole.

  The present disclosure has been described above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to various exemplary structures, features, elements, and combinations of structures, features, and elements. However, the objective served by the present disclosure is not to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but to provide examples of various features and concepts related to the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. For example, the various features and concepts described above in connection therewith may be used individually and / or in any combination or subcombination without departing from this disclosure.

100 iron type golf club
102 golf club head
102A golf club head
102B golf club head
104 Hosel
106 Shaft member
106a shaft shaft
108 Handle material
110 Heel
111 Heel side line
112 Tow
113 Heel side line
114 Hitting surface
114a Hitting area
114A Hitting surface
115 score line
116 Rear surface
116a Upper rear surface
116b Lower rear surface area
118 Top surface
120 Sole surface
121 Migration area
121a interface line
122 Sole front edge
124 Sole trailing edge
126 Sole heel edge
128 Salt Toe Rim
130 Blade part
140 Thick part
142 First part
144 Second part
170A Sole / ground contact area
170B Sole / ground contact area

Claims (26)

A ball striking surface configured to hit the ball and having a ball striking area defining a heel side boundary, a toe side boundary, and a ball center line;
A rear surface opposite to the hitting surface;
A sole surface that extends rearward from the leading edge of the sole surface at the intersection with the ball striking surface to the rear edge of the sole surface at the intersection with the rear surface and extends from the heel edge to the toe edge;
The sole surface has a maximum width and a minimum width measured horizontally when the club head is in a reference position;
The minimum width is located adjacent to the heel edge;
The maximum width is located between the hit ball center line and the toe edge;
The width of the sole surface monotonously increases from the minimum width to the maximum width;
The trailing edge of the sole surface has an S-shaped profile extending between the maximum width and the minimum width;
Iron type golf club head.   2. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the minimum width is about 3.5 mm to about 9.0 mm.   2. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the maximum width is about 25.0 mm to about 31.0 mm.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the maximum width is at least three times the minimum width.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the S-shaped portion of the trailing edge extends from the toe edge to the hitting ball center line.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the width of the sole surface is substantially constant from the center line to the toe edge.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the minimum width is located between the heel side boundary line and the center line.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the maximum width is located between the hit ball center line and the toe side boundary line.   2. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the width of the sole surface monotonously increases from the heel side boundary line to the center line.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the width of the sole surface is substantially constant from the center line to the toe side boundary line.   2. The iron type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the club head is configured as a blade type club head, and a lower portion of the club head includes a thick portion extending from the heel to the toe.   12. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the interface line defines a boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion, and the interface line substantially bisects the height of the hit ball surface at the hit ball center line.   12. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 11, wherein a heel vertical gap dimension between the ground and the heel edge when the club is directed to the reference position is about 5 mm.   12. The iron-type golf club head of claim 11, wherein a toe vertical gap dimension between the ground and the toe edge when the club is directed to a reference position is about 3 mm. A ball striking surface configured to hit the ball defining a heel side boundary, a toe side boundary, and a ball center line;
An upper rear surface region, a lower rear surface region, and a rear surface opposite to the ball striking surface having an interface line defining a boundary therebetween,
The upper rear surface area is oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking surface and is bounded by an upper edge and the interface line;
The lower rear surface region has at least a toe side portion extending from the hit ball center line to the toe side boundary line, and when the club head is in a reference position, the toe side portion is oriented substantially vertically;
The lower rear surface area has a heel side portion that extends from the toe side portion to the heel, and the heel side portion is measured perpendicular to the ball striking surface that decreases monotonically as it approaches the heel. Having rear contour dimensions,
Iron type golf club head.   14. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 13, wherein a toe side portion of the lower rear surface extends substantially parallel to the length direction of the club head.   14. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the interface line is located at a middle 1/5 portion of the height of the hit ball surface at the hit ball center line.   14. The iron type golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the toe side portion of the lower rear surface region has a convexly curved rear contour when viewed in parallel with the ball striking surface from above.   14. The iron type golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the heel side portion of the lower rear surface region includes a rear contour portion curved in a concave shape when viewed in parallel to the ball striking surface from above.   14. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the maximum rear contour size of the lower rear surface area is closer to the toe than the heel. A ball striking surface configured to hit the ball and having a grip enhancement area defining a heel side boundary, a toe side boundary, and a ball center line;
A rear surface opposite the ball striking surface having an upper rear surface area, a lower rear surface area, and an interface line defining a boundary therebetween;
A sole surface extending rearward from the ball striking surface to the rear surface and extending from a heel edge to a toe edge;
The sole surface has a maximum width and a minimum width measured horizontally when the club head is in a reference position, the width of the sole surface monotonically increasing from the heel edge to the centerline;
A complex curved rear profile wherein the lower rear surface region monotonically increases as it extends from the heel to the centerline when viewed parallel to the ball striking surface from above, the centerline and toe Having a convexly curved rear profile extending between
Iron type golf club head.   The compound curved rear profile of the lower rear surface region extending between the heel and the centerline has a concave portion near the heel and a convex portion near the centerline. Iron type golf club head.   20. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 19, wherein the rear edge of the sole surface has an S-shaped profile extending between a maximum width and a minimum width when viewed from below.   The lower rear surface region has at least a toe side portion extending from a hit ball center line to a toe side boundary line, and the toe side portion is oriented substantially vertically when the club head is in a reference position. The described iron-type golf club head.   24. The iron-type golf club head of claim 22, wherein the lower rear surface area is oriented substantially parallel to the club head length dimension.   20. The iron-type golf club head of claim 19, wherein the upper rear surface area is oriented substantially parallel to the ball striking surface.

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