CA1276200C - Golf club head with sloping keel - Google Patents
Golf club head with sloping keelInfo
- Publication number
- CA1276200C CA1276200C CA000498960A CA498960A CA1276200C CA 1276200 C CA1276200 C CA 1276200C CA 000498960 A CA000498960 A CA 000498960A CA 498960 A CA498960 A CA 498960A CA 1276200 C CA1276200 C CA 1276200C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- keel
- head
- front face
- upwardly
- sloping
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0416—Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0433—Heads with special sole configurations
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/045—Strengthening ribs
- A63B53/0454—Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0466—Heads wood-type
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/047—Heads iron-type
Abstract
GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH SLOPING KEEL
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A golf club head has a front face, bottom and top surfaces, and a keel extending generally forwardly at the bottom of the head. The keel has a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the front face at a lateral linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby the keel sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A golf club head has a front face, bottom and top surfaces, and a keel extending generally forwardly at the bottom of the head. The keel has a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the front face at a lateral linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby the keel sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head.
Description
BACKGROUND OE' THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to golf clubs, and more particularly concerns improvements in heads having a bottom keel configuration.
When impact loads are transmitted to such metallic sole plates, the loads are typically transmitted to the wooden heads at point~ adjacent the plates Where head laminations extend parallel to the plate, the load is transmltted to the few lamination~ adjacent the edge3 of the plate, and a tendency to de~tructive delamination can occur, particularly when a relatively immovable ob~ect ~uch a~ a concealed rock is lnadvertently ~truck. This problem is aggravated in that type of club di~closed in U S Patent 3,761,095, wherein the sole plate carrie~ a downwardly projecting keel which is more likely to ~trike ob~ects concealed in the turf or ground. The attachmsnt of such ~ole plates to the laminations as by ~crew~
i~ not an answer to the problem, ~ince the edge~ of the threads form cracks in or between the lamination~, encouraging delamination.
Al~o, the direct impact of a keel forward face with hard turf or ground ~urfaces during a golf swing tends to 810W
down the swing and result in less forward driving impact to the golf ball. This i5 true for golf irons as well as woods, and also for metal shell wood and iron lead~, UMMARY OF THe INVENTION
It is a major ob~ect o~ the invention to provide an improved keel ~imple construction which will obviate the ~ ~ 7~
problems described above. sasically, the keel is constructed to have a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the head front face at a lateral linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby the keel sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head, tending to compress the laminations.
Further, the head may also have auxiliary upwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of the uppermost extent of the keel sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intereect the head front face along lateral lines wbich are lateral continuatlon~ of the linear intersection of the keel eloped eurface with the front face, whereby extended "81edding" effect i~ achieved. Such effect is optimized when the line of intersection is between about 1/6 and 1/3 the height of the head as measured upwardly from the bottom of the I keel and toward the uppermost extent of the front face; and when the keel ~loping eurface extende at an angle between 40 and 50 relative to the head bottom eurface that liee horlzontally, preventing delamination as referred to.
Theee ae well as other object~ and advantages of the lnvention, a~ well a~ the detail~ of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully underetood from the following deecription and drawings, in which:
DR~WING DESCRIPTION
Fig, 1 is a front elevation showing use of a golf club incorporating the invention~
.
t6Z~
Fig. 2 is a frontal elevation showing a golf club ~wood" head that incorporates the invention;
Fig. 3 i8 a bottom plan view on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Pig. 4 is an elevation taken in section on lines 4-4 of 5 - Eig. 3; and Fig. 4a is a section on lines 4a-4a of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 ls a section taken in elevation on lines 5-5 of Pig 3~
Fig~ 6 i~ a bottom plan view like Fig. 3 but with the in~ert plate re~oved~
Fig. 7 is a bottom plan vlew o the in~ert plate in as moldoa conditlon i.e. before tri~ming~
Pig. B i~ an end elevatlon on lines 8-8 of Fig. 7~
Fig 9 i8 a ~ide elevation on lines 9-9 of Flg. 7;
Pig. 10 i~ a view like Pig. 4 but showing a metal ~wood~ head incorporating the inventiont Plg. 11 i~ a fragmentary section taken on line~ 11-11 9~ Pig 10~
Fig 12 i~ a section taken through an ~iron~ head incorporating the inventlon~ and Pig. 13 i~ a fragmentary ~ection on line~ 13-13 of Fig.
12.
DETAII.ED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig 1 a golf ¢lub head embodying the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and i8 ~hown secured to a shaft 11.
~he latter ha~ a conventional grip 12 to form an improved golf club 13 The club 13 is ~hown in hands of a golfer 14 just as the head 10 is about to engage the ball. As best seen in .. !
~ 2'76 Z~ ~
Fig. 2, the golf club head lo generally includes an upwardly extending 6haft receiving hosel 15, a body 16, and a sole plate 25.
The golf club head 10 is shown as being a ~wood~, with the wooden body 16 having front face 17. The latter may be o any conventional incline to the vertical, as indicated by anglec~_ in F~g. 4, The front face 17 has a centrally located cutout 18 J for a trapezoidal panel 35. The body 16 is bulged (i.e.
letwardly convex in Fig . 6) at 19 behind the ront ~ace 17 ao 1~ conventional for a wood. The body 16 al~o has a lower ~urface 20 with a cutout 21 for receiv~ng the ~olc plate 25. The cutout 21 follow~ the shape of the sole plate 25 to be fitted therein, and has ~entrally located, oppo~ed poninsulas 22 to locate the ~ole plate 25 with respect to the body 16. The sole plate may con~ist, for example of ~ ~ 15 ca~t metal ~uch a~ zinc or zinc aluminum alloy.
c A~ be~t ~een ln Pig~, 2 and 3, the ~ole plate 25 i5 i uh~ped to mate with ¢utout 21 in the lower ~urface 20 of the ¦ body 16, The ol- plate 25 h~ a ~hallow V-~haped front face ~ 26 ~as ~een between lines 31 and 60, in Fig. 2) ! 20 whi¢h, when the eole plate 25 iB located in the cutout 21, provl4e~ an exten~ion at 26a of the i'ront face 17 of the body 16 above a line of intersection 60 of extension 26_ w~th a rearwardly and downwardly sloping front ~urface 61. The front ~loping front fsce 61 iB relatively wide and the 601e plate 25 extends rearwardly therefrom to narrow into a waist 27 before ~proading again at the rear ond portion 28. The wai~t 27 mate~
wlth the centrally loc~ted opposed body penin~ula~ 22 to locate the uole plate 25 with re~pect to the body 16, The ~ole plate 25 1~ secured within the cutout 21 in the lower ~urface 20 of the body 16 by a bonding agent ~uch a~ epoxy to bond the ~ole plate 25 and the body 16 together.
3 Z~75 Z~
As seen in Fig. 2, the sole plate 25 has a lower surface 29 from which a longitudinally rearwardly and forwardly elongated keel 30 protrudes downwardly. In Fig. 3, the longitudinal keel 30 ex~ends generally centrally from the front face 26 and from sloping surface 61 rearwardly along a line corresponding to the path of swing of the front face of the golf club head 10. Note that rearward and downward (or upward and forward) sloping surface 61 has a middle portion 61_ defined by the keel forwardmost extent, as well as side portions 61b which extend laterally beyond the keel forward surface 61_. The keel 30, being lowermost, typically contacts the ground before the ball 100 i8 struck to space the major portion 29 of the lower surface of the plate 25 and lower surface 20 of the body 16 from the ground. In particular the keel "sled" surface 61_ may impact the ground at an angle to minimize resistance to forward travel of the head, and also to transfer impact force upwardly and rearwardly toward the head laminations, to minlmize any tendency toward delamination, on impact. Also, ~urface portions 61b, being rearward and downwardly sloped, enhance the8e effect~.
~n the preferred embod~ment, keel 30 has downwardly con¢ave oldes 31. (See Fig. 2). The concave side~ 31 blend smoothly with the downwardly convex keel 30 and the major portion 29 of the lower surface of plate 25 and they merge with sloped surfaces 61_ and 61b. They, and the sloped surfaces, tend to set up a favorable air flow over the lower surfaces 29 and 30 of the club head 10 as the club 13 i8 swung through the air~ ~urther, a~ the head 10 pa~es through the air, the keel 30 ~plits the air ahead of the club head 10 and the concave ~ides 31 direct the air outwardly as it passes over the lower l.Z'~2~
surÇaces 29 and 20. This pattern of air flow tends to separate and bend the grass as the head 10 approaches the ball (see Fig.
1) rather than crush the grass as the conventional flat bottomed head does.
The golf club head 10 is completed by the insertion of the trapezoidal panel 35 in the cutout 18 on the front face 17 of the body 16. The panel 35 typically consists of a hard plastic material which can engage a ball repeatedly without becoming dented or worn as the wood of the body 16 would otherwise become if such a panel 35 were not provided, A
suitable bonding agent such as an epoxide may be employed to bond the rear wall 35a, sides 35b and bottom 35_ of the insert to corresponding surfaces of the body and of the sole plate 25.
As shown in Fig. 4, the body 16 is typically defined by a vertical 5tack of generally horizontal and paralLel laminations 16_ consisting of wooden sheets bonded together at their interfaces. As an example, there may be between 17 and 19 such laminations per inch in the direction of arrows 40 in Fig. 4. The strength of the club head, to resist impact of the ball, i~ thereby enhanced. However, the rather shallow thlckne~s of the sole plate, in the direction of arrows 40, causes ~tress concentration at the lowermost laminations 16a, i.e. those below the level of the upper surface 25d of the plate 25, since at times the full impact load o~ the club head against a concealed rock or other object is transmitted from the sole plate to such lowermost laminations.
The sole plate typically carries or defines at least one stud and preferably multiple 6tuds, or holders, integral J.Z'7~2~Q
with the plate and projecting upwardly from the plate upper side 25d into a corresponding opening or openings extending upwardly in the head from the cutout or recess 21. As shown in the drawings, multiple studs or holders 41-44 are shown projecting within and closely fitting corresponding drilled openings 41a-44a with vertical dimensions exceeding the combined thicknesses of at least two of the laminations through which the studs project. For best results, the studs project through at least about 10 laminations. Adhesive bonding material such a~ epoxide re5in is employed as at 46 between the studs and the walls of the openings receiving them, to rigidly bond the studs to the lamination~, whereby loading is transmitted to multiple lamination~ above the rece~ or cutout 21 in response to heavy impact loading, Such loading i5; however, directed upwardly and rearwardly by sloping surfaces 61_ and 61b, and toward the laminations, to "compact" them rather than pull them apart.
Destructive delamination is thereby avoided since the load is sufficiently di8tributed and directed toward the laminations as to avoid it.
Fig. 3 shows that studs 41 ad 43 are located at one side of a vertical plane 47 which bisects the keel 30, and ~tude 42 and 44 at the opposite side of the plane. Plane 47 extends forwardly and rearwardly and through the crest of the keel. Also, studs 43 and 44 are located forwardly of the peninsulas 22, and studs 41 and 42 rearwardly of the latter.
Such spacing distributes the load over the club head, in balanced relation relative to the head and the sole plate.
Plate side p4ckets 22a receive such peninsulas.
~ Z7$2~Q
Fig. 6 illustrates the provision of two additional openings 48 and 49 projecting in the body 16 upwardly and forwardly, as well as laterally away from plane 47, at angles from vertical, and at opposite sides of the plane 47. Such openings intersect the bottom surface of recess or cutout 21, and are of larger diameter than the e~ual diameters of the ~tuds, the latter being about 1/8 inch, for example. Concealed weight~ 50 and 51 are or may be fitted in the recesses, which ~re typically loc~ted rearwardly of a lateral uprlght plane 53 bl~ecting the penlnsula~ 22, 8~ i6 clear from Flgs. 3 and 4.
Thc w~ight~ are typically bonded ln position, in their a~ociated openlngs. Pigs. 2 and 3 show the outline 54 of an additlonal cylindrical opening to receive welghtlng materlal, and whlch extend~ rearwardly lnto the body 16 a~ove the keel ~nd rom a position intersecting the cutout 18. Plane 47 bi~ects openlng 54.
Flg~, 7-9 ~how the ~ole pl~te ln as-c~st condition, wlth ear~ 56 and 57 which are later partially cut-aw~y or trlmm-d to ~atch the Contour of the woodon body 16, during a~embly. Al~o, plate portlon 5B ls trlmmed during such a~sembly. A central, elongated reces~ 59 is formed, for ca~ting purposes, asvia ~ duct 60 in that recess. The recess inter~ects the concave upper ~urface 66 of the sole-plate, as ~hown. The ~ymmetric con~truction i~ ~uch that the Figs. 7-9 Jole plate may be u~ed on either lo~t or right handed club heads, The studs 41-44 are ~mooth surfaced, as are their receiving openings 41a-44a, to prevent formation of cracks in or between the laminations,which would encourage delamination.
_g_ ~: . .
..
, . w . . , ~
~ 27~2~0 Openings 48 and 49 are located rearwardly of a lateral upright plane through the peninsulas 22, but forwardly of openings 43a and 44a, ~o as not to interface with the latter.
It will be noted that the sloped auxiliary surfaces 61b ~ntersect the head front face along lines 60b which are lateral cont~nuations of the llnear lntersection 60a of the keel sloped ~urface 61 w$th the front face 17. ~hat l~ne of inter5ection extend~ lat-rally along at lea~t about half the h-ad front face lateral dlmension, and lt ~5 located between about 1/8 and 1/4 thc he1ght o the head as measured upwardly from the bottom of the keel and toward the uppermost extent of the front face.
rurther, keol ~lop~ng ~urface 61 extends at an angle ~ between about 40 and 50 relative to the head bottom surface, as at 30a in Fig. 4 that lles horlzontally. Note also that ~loped ~urface 61 i~ below the sweet ~pot, generally indicated at 72, in Fig. 2, i.e. the preferred and centered ball strlking sur~ace, generally circular, horlzontally. Note ~l~o thnt ~loped eurface 61 1- b-low the ~weet ~pot, generally ind~cated at 72, in Pig. 2, i.e. the preferred and centered ball striking surface, generally clrcula~.
The keel concave opposite sides 31 intersect the auxiliary sloplng surfaces 61b along lines of intersection 73 ~nd 74. 8ur~ces 61~ curve laterally, rearwardly and ,' ,~ , ~.27~2~
upwardly away from 61a, while also sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward lines 73 and 74. Lines 73 and 74 define a rearwardly convex bulge at the bottom of the keel in Fig. 3, whereby the sloping surface 61a has greater height than the S height dimeneion of sloping sur~aces 61b.
Accordlngly, force of lmpact wlth the ground ls transmltted upwardly and rearwardly, toward the lamlnstions, tending to co~pact them, not "delaminate~ them as by ~hear. Also, such ~loplng a~si~t6 forwara travel of the head despite keel impact with the turf or ground.
Figs. 10 and 11 ~how application of the invontion to a ~met~l wood~ h~ad 80, comprl~ing a thin metal ~such a~ steel) ~hell 81, having a central hollow whlch may be filled with pl~tic materlal, a8 at 82. A relnforcement ~trut 83 may be 1~
~,o -lOa-.... .. .
~'~76Z`~O
located to extend integrally from the rear of front wall 84 to the rear wall 85, at corner 86. The keel 130 corresponds in shape with keel 30, and sloping front surface 161 as well as sloping auxiliary surfaces 161b correspond to above described sloping surfaces 61 and 61b. See also line of intersections 160_ and 160b corresponding to line 60a and 60b.
Figs. 12 and 13 show the invention extended to a golfing iron 280, having head 281 with front face 217, keel 230, keel front wall 261 that slopes downwardly and rearwardly from l~ne of intersection 260a with front ~ace 261; and auxiliary ~loping surfaces 261.b ~corresponding to surfaces 61b) at laterally opposite sides of surface 261 and forming continuation~ of surface 261. The line 260a has lateral continuations at 260b, liké continuations 60b.
This invention relates generally to golf clubs, and more particularly concerns improvements in heads having a bottom keel configuration.
When impact loads are transmitted to such metallic sole plates, the loads are typically transmitted to the wooden heads at point~ adjacent the plates Where head laminations extend parallel to the plate, the load is transmltted to the few lamination~ adjacent the edge3 of the plate, and a tendency to de~tructive delamination can occur, particularly when a relatively immovable ob~ect ~uch a~ a concealed rock is lnadvertently ~truck. This problem is aggravated in that type of club di~closed in U S Patent 3,761,095, wherein the sole plate carrie~ a downwardly projecting keel which is more likely to ~trike ob~ects concealed in the turf or ground. The attachmsnt of such ~ole plates to the laminations as by ~crew~
i~ not an answer to the problem, ~ince the edge~ of the threads form cracks in or between the lamination~, encouraging delamination.
Al~o, the direct impact of a keel forward face with hard turf or ground ~urfaces during a golf swing tends to 810W
down the swing and result in less forward driving impact to the golf ball. This i5 true for golf irons as well as woods, and also for metal shell wood and iron lead~, UMMARY OF THe INVENTION
It is a major ob~ect o~ the invention to provide an improved keel ~imple construction which will obviate the ~ ~ 7~
problems described above. sasically, the keel is constructed to have a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the head front face at a lateral linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby the keel sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head, tending to compress the laminations.
Further, the head may also have auxiliary upwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of the uppermost extent of the keel sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intereect the head front face along lateral lines wbich are lateral continuatlon~ of the linear intersection of the keel eloped eurface with the front face, whereby extended "81edding" effect i~ achieved. Such effect is optimized when the line of intersection is between about 1/6 and 1/3 the height of the head as measured upwardly from the bottom of the I keel and toward the uppermost extent of the front face; and when the keel ~loping eurface extende at an angle between 40 and 50 relative to the head bottom eurface that liee horlzontally, preventing delamination as referred to.
Theee ae well as other object~ and advantages of the lnvention, a~ well a~ the detail~ of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully underetood from the following deecription and drawings, in which:
DR~WING DESCRIPTION
Fig, 1 is a front elevation showing use of a golf club incorporating the invention~
.
t6Z~
Fig. 2 is a frontal elevation showing a golf club ~wood" head that incorporates the invention;
Fig. 3 i8 a bottom plan view on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Pig. 4 is an elevation taken in section on lines 4-4 of 5 - Eig. 3; and Fig. 4a is a section on lines 4a-4a of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 ls a section taken in elevation on lines 5-5 of Pig 3~
Fig~ 6 i~ a bottom plan view like Fig. 3 but with the in~ert plate re~oved~
Fig. 7 is a bottom plan vlew o the in~ert plate in as moldoa conditlon i.e. before tri~ming~
Pig. B i~ an end elevatlon on lines 8-8 of Fig. 7~
Fig 9 i8 a ~ide elevation on lines 9-9 of Flg. 7;
Pig. 10 i~ a view like Pig. 4 but showing a metal ~wood~ head incorporating the inventiont Plg. 11 i~ a fragmentary section taken on line~ 11-11 9~ Pig 10~
Fig 12 i~ a section taken through an ~iron~ head incorporating the inventlon~ and Pig. 13 i~ a fragmentary ~ection on line~ 13-13 of Fig.
12.
DETAII.ED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig 1 a golf ¢lub head embodying the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and i8 ~hown secured to a shaft 11.
~he latter ha~ a conventional grip 12 to form an improved golf club 13 The club 13 is ~hown in hands of a golfer 14 just as the head 10 is about to engage the ball. As best seen in .. !
~ 2'76 Z~ ~
Fig. 2, the golf club head lo generally includes an upwardly extending 6haft receiving hosel 15, a body 16, and a sole plate 25.
The golf club head 10 is shown as being a ~wood~, with the wooden body 16 having front face 17. The latter may be o any conventional incline to the vertical, as indicated by anglec~_ in F~g. 4, The front face 17 has a centrally located cutout 18 J for a trapezoidal panel 35. The body 16 is bulged (i.e.
letwardly convex in Fig . 6) at 19 behind the ront ~ace 17 ao 1~ conventional for a wood. The body 16 al~o has a lower ~urface 20 with a cutout 21 for receiv~ng the ~olc plate 25. The cutout 21 follow~ the shape of the sole plate 25 to be fitted therein, and has ~entrally located, oppo~ed poninsulas 22 to locate the ~ole plate 25 with respect to the body 16. The sole plate may con~ist, for example of ~ ~ 15 ca~t metal ~uch a~ zinc or zinc aluminum alloy.
c A~ be~t ~een ln Pig~, 2 and 3, the ~ole plate 25 i5 i uh~ped to mate with ¢utout 21 in the lower ~urface 20 of the ¦ body 16, The ol- plate 25 h~ a ~hallow V-~haped front face ~ 26 ~as ~een between lines 31 and 60, in Fig. 2) ! 20 whi¢h, when the eole plate 25 iB located in the cutout 21, provl4e~ an exten~ion at 26a of the i'ront face 17 of the body 16 above a line of intersection 60 of extension 26_ w~th a rearwardly and downwardly sloping front ~urface 61. The front ~loping front fsce 61 iB relatively wide and the 601e plate 25 extends rearwardly therefrom to narrow into a waist 27 before ~proading again at the rear ond portion 28. The wai~t 27 mate~
wlth the centrally loc~ted opposed body penin~ula~ 22 to locate the uole plate 25 with re~pect to the body 16, The ~ole plate 25 1~ secured within the cutout 21 in the lower ~urface 20 of the body 16 by a bonding agent ~uch a~ epoxy to bond the ~ole plate 25 and the body 16 together.
3 Z~75 Z~
As seen in Fig. 2, the sole plate 25 has a lower surface 29 from which a longitudinally rearwardly and forwardly elongated keel 30 protrudes downwardly. In Fig. 3, the longitudinal keel 30 ex~ends generally centrally from the front face 26 and from sloping surface 61 rearwardly along a line corresponding to the path of swing of the front face of the golf club head 10. Note that rearward and downward (or upward and forward) sloping surface 61 has a middle portion 61_ defined by the keel forwardmost extent, as well as side portions 61b which extend laterally beyond the keel forward surface 61_. The keel 30, being lowermost, typically contacts the ground before the ball 100 i8 struck to space the major portion 29 of the lower surface of the plate 25 and lower surface 20 of the body 16 from the ground. In particular the keel "sled" surface 61_ may impact the ground at an angle to minimize resistance to forward travel of the head, and also to transfer impact force upwardly and rearwardly toward the head laminations, to minlmize any tendency toward delamination, on impact. Also, ~urface portions 61b, being rearward and downwardly sloped, enhance the8e effect~.
~n the preferred embod~ment, keel 30 has downwardly con¢ave oldes 31. (See Fig. 2). The concave side~ 31 blend smoothly with the downwardly convex keel 30 and the major portion 29 of the lower surface of plate 25 and they merge with sloped surfaces 61_ and 61b. They, and the sloped surfaces, tend to set up a favorable air flow over the lower surfaces 29 and 30 of the club head 10 as the club 13 i8 swung through the air~ ~urther, a~ the head 10 pa~es through the air, the keel 30 ~plits the air ahead of the club head 10 and the concave ~ides 31 direct the air outwardly as it passes over the lower l.Z'~2~
surÇaces 29 and 20. This pattern of air flow tends to separate and bend the grass as the head 10 approaches the ball (see Fig.
1) rather than crush the grass as the conventional flat bottomed head does.
The golf club head 10 is completed by the insertion of the trapezoidal panel 35 in the cutout 18 on the front face 17 of the body 16. The panel 35 typically consists of a hard plastic material which can engage a ball repeatedly without becoming dented or worn as the wood of the body 16 would otherwise become if such a panel 35 were not provided, A
suitable bonding agent such as an epoxide may be employed to bond the rear wall 35a, sides 35b and bottom 35_ of the insert to corresponding surfaces of the body and of the sole plate 25.
As shown in Fig. 4, the body 16 is typically defined by a vertical 5tack of generally horizontal and paralLel laminations 16_ consisting of wooden sheets bonded together at their interfaces. As an example, there may be between 17 and 19 such laminations per inch in the direction of arrows 40 in Fig. 4. The strength of the club head, to resist impact of the ball, i~ thereby enhanced. However, the rather shallow thlckne~s of the sole plate, in the direction of arrows 40, causes ~tress concentration at the lowermost laminations 16a, i.e. those below the level of the upper surface 25d of the plate 25, since at times the full impact load o~ the club head against a concealed rock or other object is transmitted from the sole plate to such lowermost laminations.
The sole plate typically carries or defines at least one stud and preferably multiple 6tuds, or holders, integral J.Z'7~2~Q
with the plate and projecting upwardly from the plate upper side 25d into a corresponding opening or openings extending upwardly in the head from the cutout or recess 21. As shown in the drawings, multiple studs or holders 41-44 are shown projecting within and closely fitting corresponding drilled openings 41a-44a with vertical dimensions exceeding the combined thicknesses of at least two of the laminations through which the studs project. For best results, the studs project through at least about 10 laminations. Adhesive bonding material such a~ epoxide re5in is employed as at 46 between the studs and the walls of the openings receiving them, to rigidly bond the studs to the lamination~, whereby loading is transmitted to multiple lamination~ above the rece~ or cutout 21 in response to heavy impact loading, Such loading i5; however, directed upwardly and rearwardly by sloping surfaces 61_ and 61b, and toward the laminations, to "compact" them rather than pull them apart.
Destructive delamination is thereby avoided since the load is sufficiently di8tributed and directed toward the laminations as to avoid it.
Fig. 3 shows that studs 41 ad 43 are located at one side of a vertical plane 47 which bisects the keel 30, and ~tude 42 and 44 at the opposite side of the plane. Plane 47 extends forwardly and rearwardly and through the crest of the keel. Also, studs 43 and 44 are located forwardly of the peninsulas 22, and studs 41 and 42 rearwardly of the latter.
Such spacing distributes the load over the club head, in balanced relation relative to the head and the sole plate.
Plate side p4ckets 22a receive such peninsulas.
~ Z7$2~Q
Fig. 6 illustrates the provision of two additional openings 48 and 49 projecting in the body 16 upwardly and forwardly, as well as laterally away from plane 47, at angles from vertical, and at opposite sides of the plane 47. Such openings intersect the bottom surface of recess or cutout 21, and are of larger diameter than the e~ual diameters of the ~tuds, the latter being about 1/8 inch, for example. Concealed weight~ 50 and 51 are or may be fitted in the recesses, which ~re typically loc~ted rearwardly of a lateral uprlght plane 53 bl~ecting the penlnsula~ 22, 8~ i6 clear from Flgs. 3 and 4.
Thc w~ight~ are typically bonded ln position, in their a~ociated openlngs. Pigs. 2 and 3 show the outline 54 of an additlonal cylindrical opening to receive welghtlng materlal, and whlch extend~ rearwardly lnto the body 16 a~ove the keel ~nd rom a position intersecting the cutout 18. Plane 47 bi~ects openlng 54.
Flg~, 7-9 ~how the ~ole pl~te ln as-c~st condition, wlth ear~ 56 and 57 which are later partially cut-aw~y or trlmm-d to ~atch the Contour of the woodon body 16, during a~embly. Al~o, plate portlon 5B ls trlmmed during such a~sembly. A central, elongated reces~ 59 is formed, for ca~ting purposes, asvia ~ duct 60 in that recess. The recess inter~ects the concave upper ~urface 66 of the sole-plate, as ~hown. The ~ymmetric con~truction i~ ~uch that the Figs. 7-9 Jole plate may be u~ed on either lo~t or right handed club heads, The studs 41-44 are ~mooth surfaced, as are their receiving openings 41a-44a, to prevent formation of cracks in or between the laminations,which would encourage delamination.
_g_ ~: . .
..
, . w . . , ~
~ 27~2~0 Openings 48 and 49 are located rearwardly of a lateral upright plane through the peninsulas 22, but forwardly of openings 43a and 44a, ~o as not to interface with the latter.
It will be noted that the sloped auxiliary surfaces 61b ~ntersect the head front face along lines 60b which are lateral cont~nuations of the llnear lntersection 60a of the keel sloped ~urface 61 w$th the front face 17. ~hat l~ne of inter5ection extend~ lat-rally along at lea~t about half the h-ad front face lateral dlmension, and lt ~5 located between about 1/8 and 1/4 thc he1ght o the head as measured upwardly from the bottom of the keel and toward the uppermost extent of the front face.
rurther, keol ~lop~ng ~urface 61 extends at an angle ~ between about 40 and 50 relative to the head bottom surface, as at 30a in Fig. 4 that lles horlzontally. Note also that ~loped ~urface 61 i~ below the sweet ~pot, generally indicated at 72, in Fig. 2, i.e. the preferred and centered ball strlking sur~ace, generally circular, horlzontally. Note ~l~o thnt ~loped eurface 61 1- b-low the ~weet ~pot, generally ind~cated at 72, in Pig. 2, i.e. the preferred and centered ball striking surface, generally clrcula~.
The keel concave opposite sides 31 intersect the auxiliary sloplng surfaces 61b along lines of intersection 73 ~nd 74. 8ur~ces 61~ curve laterally, rearwardly and ,' ,~ , ~.27~2~
upwardly away from 61a, while also sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward lines 73 and 74. Lines 73 and 74 define a rearwardly convex bulge at the bottom of the keel in Fig. 3, whereby the sloping surface 61a has greater height than the S height dimeneion of sloping sur~aces 61b.
Accordlngly, force of lmpact wlth the ground ls transmltted upwardly and rearwardly, toward the lamlnstions, tending to co~pact them, not "delaminate~ them as by ~hear. Also, such ~loplng a~si~t6 forwara travel of the head despite keel impact with the turf or ground.
Figs. 10 and 11 ~how application of the invontion to a ~met~l wood~ h~ad 80, comprl~ing a thin metal ~such a~ steel) ~hell 81, having a central hollow whlch may be filled with pl~tic materlal, a8 at 82. A relnforcement ~trut 83 may be 1~
~,o -lOa-.... .. .
~'~76Z`~O
located to extend integrally from the rear of front wall 84 to the rear wall 85, at corner 86. The keel 130 corresponds in shape with keel 30, and sloping front surface 161 as well as sloping auxiliary surfaces 161b correspond to above described sloping surfaces 61 and 61b. See also line of intersections 160_ and 160b corresponding to line 60a and 60b.
Figs. 12 and 13 show the invention extended to a golfing iron 280, having head 281 with front face 217, keel 230, keel front wall 261 that slopes downwardly and rearwardly from l~ne of intersection 260a with front ~ace 261; and auxiliary ~loping surfaces 261.b ~corresponding to surfaces 61b) at laterally opposite sides of surface 261 and forming continuation~ of surface 261. The line 260a has lateral continuations at 260b, liké continuations 60b.
Claims (14)
1. In a golf club head having a front face, bottom and top surfaces, and a keel extending generally forwardly at the bottom of the head, the improvement comprising a) the keel having a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the front face at a lateral linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby the keel sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said head also has auxiliary upwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of the uppermost extent of said keel sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intersect the head front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the linear intersection of the keel sloped surface with said front face.
3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said line of intersection is between about 1/8 and 1/4 the height of the head as measured upwardly from the bottom of the keel and toward the uppermost extent of said front face.
4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said keel sloping surface extends at an angle between 40° and 50°
relative to said head bottom surface that lies horizontally.
relative to said head bottom surface that lies horizontally.
5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said keel is located below a sweet spot defined by said front face.
6. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said keel has opposite sides which slope upwardly and laterally, rearwardly of said forwardly and upwardly sloping front surface of the keel, and which intersect said front surface.
7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said opposite sides are concave , upwardly
8. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said lateral lines of intersection are spaced above the level of the merging of said keel opposite sides with the head bottom surface .
9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the head has a laminated wood body, and a metal insert on which said keel is carried, the insert attached to said laminated body, said sloping surface angled to transmit impact loading upwardly toward laminations defined by said body.
10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said body and keel are defined by a single metallic structure.
11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said metal structure is hollow.
12. The improvement of claim 10 wherein said head is a golfing iron head.
13. A golf club head having a front face, bottom and top surfaces, a toe and heel, the face of the club extending directionally laterally between toe and heel, the head having a stack of horizontally extending laminations, and an elongated protuberance extending rearwardly and forwardly below said laminations and along the bottom of the head and centrally thereof to define a keel, the keel having a lowermost surface a substantial portion of which is straight, in a front to rear direction, the improvement comprising:
a) the keel having a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom thereof and intersecting the front face to define a line of intersection substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby said forwardmost sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer come force upwardly toward the head laminations tending to compress same and prevent delamination, b) said head also having auxiliary upwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of and merging with the uppermost extent of said forwardmost sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intersect the head front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the line of intersection of said forwardmost sloped surface with said front face, front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the line of intersection of said forwardmost sloped surface with said front face, c) said forwardmost sloping surface of the keel extending at an angle between 40° and 50° relative to said straight surface portion of the keel, the surface of said head between said lateral lines of intersection at the front face and at the underside of the keel vertically therebelow defining an angle between 40° and 50° relative to said straight surface portion of the keel, d) the forwardmost sloping surface intersecting the bottom of the keel at said straight surface portion thereof and being substantially greater in height than the heights of said auxiliary surfaces, the bottom of the keel being at the lowest level of the entire head, e) said keel having opposite sides which slop upwardly and laterally, rearwardly of said forwardly and upwardly sloping front surface said opposite sides being downwardly concave, f) said lateral lines of intersection being spaced above the level of the merging of said keel opposite sides with the head bottom surface, and above the levels of said concave sides.
a) the keel having a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom thereof and intersecting the front face to define a line of intersection substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby said forwardmost sloping surface on striking the ground during a golf swing will transfer come force upwardly toward the head laminations tending to compress same and prevent delamination, b) said head also having auxiliary upwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of and merging with the uppermost extent of said forwardmost sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intersect the head front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the line of intersection of said forwardmost sloped surface with said front face, front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the line of intersection of said forwardmost sloped surface with said front face, c) said forwardmost sloping surface of the keel extending at an angle between 40° and 50° relative to said straight surface portion of the keel, the surface of said head between said lateral lines of intersection at the front face and at the underside of the keel vertically therebelow defining an angle between 40° and 50° relative to said straight surface portion of the keel, d) the forwardmost sloping surface intersecting the bottom of the keel at said straight surface portion thereof and being substantially greater in height than the heights of said auxiliary surfaces, the bottom of the keel being at the lowest level of the entire head, e) said keel having opposite sides which slop upwardly and laterally, rearwardly of said forwardly and upwardly sloping front surface said opposite sides being downwardly concave, f) said lateral lines of intersection being spaced above the level of the merging of said keel opposite sides with the head bottom surface, and above the levels of said concave sides.
14. In a golf club head having a front face, bottom and top surfaces, a toe and heel, the face of the club extending directionally laterally between the toe and heel, and an elongated protuberance extending rearwardly and forwardly along the bottom of the head and centrally thereof to define a keel, the improvement comprising:
a) the protuberance having a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the front face at a linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby said forwardmost sloping surface on striking the ground during a gold swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head, b) said head also having auxiliary upwardly ant forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of the uppermost extent of said forwardmost sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intersect the head front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the linear intersection of said forwardmost sloped surface with said front face, c) said forwardmost sloping surface extending at an angle between 40° and 50° relative to a portion of said head bottom surface that lies horizontally, said angle remaining substantially the same between said lateral linear locations of intersection at the front face, and the underside of the keel, d) said forwardmost sloping surface intersecting the bottom of the protuberance at the lowermost level of the entire head.
a) the protuberance having a forwardmost surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the keel, to intersect the front face at a linear location substantially above the bottom level of the keel, whereby said forwardmost sloping surface on striking the ground during a gold swing will transfer some force upwardly toward the head, b) said head also having auxiliary upwardly ant forwardly sloped surfaces laterally of the uppermost extent of said forwardmost sloped surface, and which auxiliary surfaces intersect the head front face along lateral lines which are lateral continuations of the linear intersection of said forwardmost sloped surface with said front face, c) said forwardmost sloping surface extending at an angle between 40° and 50° relative to a portion of said head bottom surface that lies horizontally, said angle remaining substantially the same between said lateral linear locations of intersection at the front face, and the underside of the keel, d) said forwardmost sloping surface intersecting the bottom of the protuberance at the lowermost level of the entire head.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US69150485A | 1985-01-14 | 1985-01-14 | |
| US691,504 | 1985-01-14 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1276200C true CA1276200C (en) | 1990-11-13 |
Family
ID=24776798
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000498960A Expired - Lifetime CA1276200C (en) | 1985-01-14 | 1986-01-03 | Golf club head with sloping keel |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS61164574A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1276200C (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2169516B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4877249A (en) * | 1986-11-10 | 1989-10-31 | Thompson Stanley C | Golf club head and method of strengthening same |
| US5154423A (en) * | 1991-09-18 | 1992-10-13 | Antonious A J | Iron type golf club head having a single sole runner |
| US5755624A (en) * | 1996-01-22 | 1998-05-26 | Callaway Golf Company | Selectively balanced golf club heads and method of head selection |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB452389A (en) * | 1935-10-16 | 1936-08-21 | Emanuel Richard De Lange | Improvements in and relating to golf clubs |
| US4332388A (en) * | 1978-06-26 | 1982-06-01 | Cobra Golf, Inc. Ii | Golf club head |
-
1985
- 1985-12-19 GB GB08531220A patent/GB2169516B/en not_active Expired
-
1986
- 1986-01-03 CA CA000498960A patent/CA1276200C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-01-14 JP JP61006183A patent/JPS61164574A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8531220D0 (en) | 1986-01-29 |
| JPS61164574A (en) | 1986-07-25 |
| GB2169516B (en) | 1988-07-13 |
| GB2169516A (en) | 1986-07-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |