GB2192795A

GB2192795A - Golf club iron head

Info

Publication number: GB2192795A
Application number: GB08622343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David D Boone
Original assignee: Lynx Golf Inc
Current assignee: Lynx Golf Inc
Priority date: 1986-07-21
Filing date: 1986-09-17
Publication date: 1988-01-27
Also published as: GB2192795B; JPS6331683A; GB8622343D0

Abstract

A golf club iron head utilizes a composite structure of two different weight densities to transfer weight from the hose (14) and heel (16) to the ball-impact region (22) of the head. The head comprises a lightweight composite material e.g. epoxy impregnated graphite in the outlying structure portions (14), (16), (20) and a metallic insert (23) to form the majority of the face (22), the sole (18) and a backweight. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved golf club iron head This invention relates to golf clubs and more specifically, to an improved golf club iron head which utilises a lightweight composite nonmetallic material in all outlying structural parts of the head and a metallic insert comprising the face, sole and backweight of the head for durability and superior weight distribution.

Golf clubs irons are classified as those golf clubs which are generally used for intermediate strokes usually between the teeing ground and the green where the hole is located. This contrasts with golf club woods which are generally used to achieve greater distances required off the teeing ground and putters which are designed to be used on or around the green area for attaining the ultimate objective which is to sink the golf ball into the hole.

The present invention pertains specifically to the golf clubs classified generally as irons. A typical golf club iron comprises an elongated shaft terminating in what may be called an "iron head" which typically comprises a socket or neck portion known as a hosel, which is designed to mate with the shaft, a heel to which the hosel is connected, a sole which is the lowermost surface of the head and which extends generally horizontally from the bottom of the heel, a toe which extends upwardly from the sole opposite the heel and forms the forwardmost surface of the head and a topline which extends generally parallel to the sole between the uppermost portions of the heel and toe.Within the generally rectangular zone formed by the heel, sole, toe and topline are two usually non-parallel surfaces comprising the face or front of the head, which is the ball hitting surface, and the rear or back of the head which is not designed to contact the ball.

All prior art known to the applicant, that is, all previously available iron club heads of which the applicant- is aware, are manufactured from some metal such as steel which forms the entire head or virtually all of the head. Some iron club heads may use a wrapping of an expoxy-impregnated graphite but still use steel for the main frame and the force encountering structure such as the hosel. In particular, prior art iron club heads typically utilise metal for all structural parts including the hosel, which affixes the club head to the shaft, the structural component which attaches the hosel to the heel and all portions of the golf club head which come into contact with the ball or the ground during use of the club including the sole, the toe and the face of the head.Typical materials used for these structu ral components of a golf club iron head comprise investment cast stainless steel and forged carbon steel.

In accordance with the invention an improved golf club iron head comprises a lightweight, composite non-metallic material in all outlying structural parts of the head in conjunction with a metallic insert forming the face, sole and backweight of the iron golf club head. The resultant improved iron club head thereby provides better durability, a better weight distribution, a better utilisation of the mass of the head and better control of the location of the centre of gravity which tends to reduce the likelihood of an errant shot.

Weight distribution is improved because a substantial portion of the weight of metal normally used in all outlying structural parts of the club head is transferred to the back of the club head behind the ball. Similarly, mass associated in the prior art with the hosel and heel areas is in large measure transferred to the sole, toe and face of the club head at or adjacent the region in contact with the ball.

Further, the improved iron golf club head of the present invention as aforesaid has the effect of transferring a predominant portion of the weight of the head to the back of the club head behind the ball-impact portion of the face thereby providing improved weight distribution, utilisation of mass and control of the location of the centre of gravity.

The nature of the invention is hereafter explained in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings of a particular and at present preferred embodiment. In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a frontal elevation of the composite iron golf club head,; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the composite outlying structure of the present invention directed toward the bottom rear portion of the club head; Figs. 3 to 6 are various views of the insert position of the present invention; Figs. 7 to 9 are alternative plan views of the assembled golf club head; and Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the assembled golf club head to illustrate primarily the backweight and rear face portions of the club head.

Referring first to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the improved iron club head 10 is adapted to be connected to a golf club shaft 12 by means of a hosel 14 in which the shaft end is received. Unlike prior art golf club iron heads, the head 10 of the present invention comprises two distinct portions each made of separate types of material having different weight densities, namely, metallic on the one hand and non-metallic on the other. More specifically, the head 10 comprises a composite outlying structure 15 shown separately in Fig.

2 and a metal insert 23 shown separately in Figs. 3 to 6. The combination of the composite outlying structure 15, which is made of a non-metallic material such as epoxy-impregnated graphite and the metallic insert 23, constitutes the assembled golf club iron head 10 which comprises in addition to the hosel 14, a heel 16, a sole 18, a toe 20, face or front surface 22, a rear or back surface 24 and a topline 26.

As best seen in FIGs. 3 to 6, the metal insert 23 is a unitary structure comprising an insert face portion 27 and a backweight 32 having a toe wing 28 and a heel wing 30.

The backweight 32 has one surface which is substantially parallel to the insert face portion 27 forming a channel 34 therebetween of substantially rectangular cross-section adapted -to receive the composite outlying structure 15 as best shown in Figs. 8 to 10. When the composite outlying structure 15 and insert 23 are integrated, the toe 20 of the completed structure is formed from both the insert 23 and the composite outlying structure 15 whereby a portion of the toe 20, namely, that portion nearest the face 22 of the head 10, is the composite toe portion 21 while that por tion nearest the rear 24 of the iron 10 is the insert toe portion 25. On the other hand, the insert 23 forms the entire sole 18 of the inte grated iron head 10.

It will be understood that the density, that is, the weight per unit volume of the material comprising the composite outlying structure 15, is substantially less than the weight per unit volume of the metal insert 23. As a re sult, the novel structure of the present inven tion has the effect of re-distributing the weight of the iron head to those areas of the head which come into contact with the ball and which come into contact with the underlying surface. Consequently, much of the mass of all metal irons of the prior art, specifically in cluding those portions of greater mass located in the area of the hosel and heel of the head, are transferred to the back of the club head behind the ball hitting surface so as to im prove the performance of the golf dlub.

While it is recognized that there may be some relevant prior art in the mode of manufacture of wood golf composite heads, it is believed that the use of a composite structure of iron heads to gain better weight distribution and to position denser materials behind the ball hitting surface is a unique and surprising improvement resulting in superior golf club performance without deviating from the rules of golf.

Those having skiil in the art to which the present invention pertains should now, as a result of applicant's teaching herein, understand that what has been disclosed comprises an improved golf club iron head comprising a novel structure having a combination of a metallic insert and non-metallic outlying structure. The insert provides a substantially greater mass redistributed adjacent the ball contact area of the club head whereby to increase the performance of the golf club by decreasing the possibility of an errant stroke irrespective of where the ball comes in contact with the face of the club.More specifically, as a result of the novel structure herein described, there is a substantial reduction in the mass of the head in the hosei and heel areas and a transfer of the weight from those areas to the back of the club head behind the ball hitting area so as better to utilize weight and mass distribution and improve control of the location of the centre of gravity of the head.

As a result of the applicant's disclosure herein it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, that various modifications and additions may be made to the invention. Thus, for example, the precise shape of the metal insert and the composite outlying structure of the present invention may be altered without deviating from the underlying concept of the invention to utilize such a composite structure.

Furthermore, specific materials referred to herein may be replaced by alternative materials which still achieve the desired weight distribution and superior golf club performance referred to herein. Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A composite golf club iron head comprising: a hosel for attaching the head to a shaft; a front surface defined by a heel, a sole a toe and a topline; and a backweight; the hosel, heel and a portion of the toe being made of a material of a first weight density; the sole, backweight, remainder of the toe and a majority of the front surface being made of a material of a second weight density; said first weight density being less than said second weight density whereby the weight distribution of said head is greatest adjacent the centre of said front surface.

2. A golf club iron head according to claim 1 wherein said hosel, heel and toe portion form a first unitary member.

3. A golf club iron head according to claim 2 wherein said sole, backweight, remainder of the toe and front surface form a second unitary member.

4. A golf club iron head according to claim 3 wherein the second unitary member has a channel for receiving said first unitary member.

5. A golf club iron head according to claim 3 wherein the first unitary member is made of epoxy-impregnated graphite, and the second unitary member is made of steel.

6. A composite golf club iron head formed of at least two materials of different weight densities, the hosel, heel and front side of the toe of the head being formed of a first of said materials having the lower weight density and the remainder of said heel, the sole and face of said head being formed of a second of said materials having a higher weight density than said first of said materials.

7. A golf club iron head according to claim 6 wherein all respective portions of said first and second materials are integrated into respective unitary members.

8. A golf club iron head constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.