US20100093465A1

US20100093465A1 - Hybrid golf club

Info

Publication number: US20100093465A1
Application number: US12/250,722
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Doran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-14
Filing date: 2008-10-14
Publication date: 2010-04-15

Abstract

Disclosed is a hybrid golf club for producing accurate and long distance shots. The hybrid golf club comprises a club head and a shaft member. The club head comprises a body member having a hitting surface, a top surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a sole surface extending between the toe end and the heel end. The club head further comprises a shaft attachment portion extending from the heel end upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The shaft member comprises a handle portion, a body portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portion of the shaft member is adapted to be received in the shaft attachment portion of the club head. Further, the hitting surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a shaft axis to produce the accurate and the long distance shots.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf clubs, and, more particularly, to a hybrid golf club for improving accuracy in hitting golf ball a long distance, and at the same time producing better shots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf is a competitive outdoor sport played on a large course with a series of holes spaced far apart. Golf is played by striking a small ball, called golf ball, using various customized clubs, known as golf clubs, to some distance and eventually into a small hole. The same exercise is repeated several times to shoot the golf ball into holes spaced apart at different distances and at different degree of difficulty.
Typically, a golfer is equipped with a set of golf clubs having different specifications such as varying length, club head density and loft angle. Usually, golfers carry a maximum of about fourteen golf clubs in a golf bag thereof. Three major categories of golf clubs found in the golf bag of the golfer are woods, irons and putter. A typical set of woods may include a 1-wood, a 2-wood, a 3-wood, and the like. Further, a standard set of irons includes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 irons and a pitching wedge. Woods are used for hitting long shots whereas irons are used for shorter shots.
Typically, either category of a golf club consists of three parts: a club head, a shaft and a grip portion. Woods have the largest club head than any club head. Further, the 1-wood (also referred to as driver) is the longest and biggest golf club in the golf bag. The driver is the hardest golf club to control. However, the driver can give a longest distance in the golf course. Every golf club is associated with a loft angle, which is an angle of a face of the golf club with respect to the shaft and is expressed in degrees. The loft angle controls trajectory and affects distance. The driver usually has a loft angle varying between 7 and 12 degrees, which is a lower loft angle than any other type of club. Typically, the loft angle for numbered irons ranges from about 16 degrees to 48 degrees. The iron is the most versatile golf club in terms of the variety of shots that can be made with a particular golf club with precision. However, irons are incompatible for hitting long shots. Most golfers prefer to make shots with the irons instead of the driver, but the inability of the irons for hitting long shots has always been a concern for the golfers. Further, every club head includes an area configured on the face thereof which is known as sweet spot. The sweet spot is the area where it is most effective to hit the golf ball. The long irons have a smaller face surface area than the short irons and, as such, a smaller sweet spot, which in turn makes hitting an accurate shot difficult.
Recently, professional golfers have been experimenting with woods, especially drivers, and irons having a higher loft angle, to achieve longer shots. This experimentation has led to an introduction of a new category of the golf clubs known as hybrid golf clubs. A hybrid golf club is a combination of elements from both irons and woods, and typically includes a club head similar to the driver club head and a long shaft similar to the shaft of the iron. Most hybrid golf clubs are designed to replace long irons (2-, 3-, 4- and sometimes 5-irons) in a golfer's bag. However, to hit an accurate shot consistently by using the hybrid golf club is difficult, and hitting becomes even more difficult in an area having dense trees and high grass. Further, golfers uncomfortable with using the driver may have similar crisis while hitting the golf ball with the hybrid golf club.
Accordingly, there is a need for providing a hybrid golf club which incorporates advantages of both woods and iron golf clubs to produce consistent accurate shots. Additionally, there also exists a need for a hybrid golf club, especially a hybrid golf club, which produces lower trajectory as compared to other golf clubs for covering longer distance with precision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a hybrid golf club for improving accuracy in hitting a golf ball, configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid golf club for improving accuracy in hitting a golf ball to a long distance and at the same time producing better shots.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid golf club capable of producing lower trajectory as compared to other categories of golf clubs, for covering longer distance with precision.
In light of the above objects, in one aspect of the present invention, a hybrid golf club for producing accurate and long distance shots is provided. The hybrid golf club comprises a club head and a shaft member. The club head comprises a body member having a hitting surface, a top surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a sole surface extending between the toe end and the heel end. The club head further comprises a shaft attachment portion extending from the heel end upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The shaft member comprises a handle portion, a body portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portion of the shaft member is adapted to be received in the shaft attachment portion of the club head. Further, the hitting surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a shaft axis to produce the accurate and the long distance shots.
In another aspect of the present invention, a hybrid golf club for improving a performance of a golfer is provided. The hybrid golf club provides an oversized club head, incorporating advantages of a conventional wood golf club and an iron golf club to produce longer shots with lower trajectory and precision.
These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a hybrid golf club, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of a club head, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a toe end view of the club head of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of the club head of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular hybrid golf club, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
The present invention provides a hybrid golf club incorporating advantages of a wood golf club and an iron golf club to produce longer shots with lower trajectory and precision. The present invention finds its utility in recreational golf as well as in professional golf. The present invention may be beneficial for both newcomers as well as amateur golfers.
With reference to FIG. 1, a hybrid golf club 100 is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid golf club 100 includes a club head 10, and a shaft member 50 removably attached to the club head 10. The structural configuration of the club head 10 may be explained in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2 to 3B.
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the club head 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The club head 10 is an oversized club head as compared to club head of irons. The club head 10 includes a body member 12 having a hitting surface 14, a top surface 16, a toe end 18, a heel end 20, and a sole surface 22 extending between the toe end 18 and the heel end 20. Further, the club head 10 includes a shaft attachment portion 24 extending from the heel end 20 upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The club head 10 is preferably formed as a unitary piece made of a lightweight material such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, high-tensile aluminum alloy steel, graphite, aluminum, and the like, to remove the disadvantages associated with the iron golf clubs or the wood golf clubs. The use of the lightweight material such as the steel, graphite, titanium, iron, aluminum, and the like, helps to obtain an oversized club head and at the same time, maintains a standard head mass requirement. However, it may be evident to a person skilled in the art that the materials for manufacturing the club head 10 as mentioned herein above have been provided for exemplary purposes and the same may not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.
Further, a length (L) of the hitting surface 14 is measured from a point of intersection of the shaft attachment portion 24 with a plane supporting the club head 10 to a widest point on the toe end 18. Also, a breadth (B) of the hitting surface 14 is measured from the sole surface 22 to the top surface 16. The hitting surface 14 also includes a plurality of horizontal grooves 26 extending across the hitting surface 14. The plurality of horizontal grooves 26 provides a backspin to a golf ball when the golf ball is struck by the hitting surface 14. The plurality of horizontal grooves 26 may be U-shaped or of any other shape to obtain a preferred spin rate for the golf ball upon impact with the hitting surface 14.
Further, the hitting surface 14 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a shaft axis 28 to produce accurate and long distance shots. More specifically, the club head 10 is associated with a loft angle θ as shown in FIG. 3A. The loft angle θ preferably ranges from about 9 degrees to about 13 degrees. FIG. 3B illustrates a top view of the club head 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the club head 10 is removably attached to the shaft member 50. The shaft member 50 includes a handle portion (not shown), a body portion 52 and an attachment portion (not shown). The attachment portion is configured to be received within the shaft attachment portion 24 of the club head 10. The shaft member 50 may be similar to a shaft of a driver, woods or irons. A plurality of shaft members such as the shaft member 50, configured to be securely mounted with the club head 10 may be provided in order to suit preference and compatibility of the golfer with different types of shafts. The shaft member 50 may be coupled to the club head 10 in any suitable or desired manner, including in conventional manners known and used in the art, without departing from the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the shaft member 50 may be directly engaged with the club head 10 by means of adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, mechanical connectors (such as threads, retaining elements, or the like), through the shaft attachment portion 24. The shaft member 50 may be cast from any suitable material, including conventional materials known in the art, such as graphite, composite or other non-metal materials, steel (including stainless steel), aluminum, other metal alloys, polymeric materials, combinations of various materials, and the like. Further, the handle portion may be provided with a grip member 54. The grip member 54 may be attached to the shaft member 50 in any suitable manner, including conventional manners known and used in the art, e.g., using adhesives or cements, welding, soldering, mechanical connectors (such as threads, and retaining elements). The grip member 54 may be made of rubber, leather, and the like.
In use, the shaft member 50 is attached with the club head 10. More specifically, the attachment portion of the shaft member is configured to be received within the shaft attachment portion 24 of the club head 10. The club head 10 is oversized as compared to a conventional woods club head and a conventional irons club head. The shaft member 50 may be similar to a shaft member of a driver, a 3-wood, 5-wood, or a 3-iron, 4-iron, or 5-iron golf club depending on the preference and compatibility of the golfer with a particular type of shaft member. The hybrid golf club 100 produces a low trajectory while at the same time resulting in a straight and a distant shot.
The club head 10 may have different sizes and shapes. In an embodiment of the present invention, the length (L) of the hitting surface 14 may be about 4 inches and the breadth (B) may range between about 1¾ inches to about 2½ inches. Further, width of the top surface 16 near the shaft attachment portion 24 may range from about ¾ inches to about 1 inch, and width of the top surface 16 near the toe end 18 may be about 1 inch to 1⅝ inches. Furthermore, weight of the club head 10 is preferably in a range of about 185 grams to about 300 grams.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hybrid golf club for producing accurate and long distance shots, the hybrid golf club comprising:

a club head comprising

a body member having a hitting surface, a top surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a sole surface extending between the toe end and the heel end, and

a shaft attachment portion extending from the heel end upwardly and rearwardly therefrom; and

a shaft member having a handle portion, a body portion and an attachment portion, wherein the attachment portion of the shaft member is adapted to be received in the shaft attachment portion, wherein width of the top surface near the shaft attachment portion ranges from about ¾ inches to about 1 inch, and width of the top surface near the toe end ranges from about 1 inch to 1 & ⅝ inches; and

wherein the hitting surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a shaft axis to produce the accurate and the long distance shots, further wherein the length (L) of the hitting surface 14 is about 4 inches and the breadth (B) ranges from about 1¾ inches to about 2½ inches.

2. The hybrid golf club of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle ranges from about 9 degrees to about 13 degrees.

3. The hybrid golf club of claim 1, wherein the hitting surface comprises a plurality of horizontal grooves configured thereon.

4. The hybrid golf club of claim 1, wherein the club head is cast from atleast one of stainless steel, titanium alloy, high-tensile aluminum alloy steel, graphite, and aluminum.

5. The hybrid golf club of claim 1, wherein the handle portion of the shaft member further comprises a grip member for providing a covering and a grip thereon.

6. The hybrid golf club according to claim 1, where weight of the club head ranges from about 185 grams to about 300 grams.