IP Library Granted Patent US 6,875,124
Granted Patent B2
US 6,875,124 · App. 10/452,396 · Granted Apr 5, 2005

Golf club iron

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,875,124
App. No.
10/452,396
Granted
Apr 5, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An iron golf club head having a thin (less than 0.12 inches) first section that has an expanded unsupported front face region. The first section including a central portion forming part of a leading edge and wrapping around a sole section of the club, to create an increase the coefficient of restitution of the club head to greater than 0.8. The club head utilizes a rear insert that in addition to providing support for the front face, also allows for the fine tuning of swing weights with no change in geometry or size of the club head. This is accomplished this by the utilization of weight adjustment inserts that impregnate tungsten loaded plastic into sheets of carbon graphite and epoxy. The percentage of tungsten creating a weight range without any size change in the sheets.

Claims (58)

1. An iron golf club head comprising:

a body having a perimeter weight, a front face, and a leading edge:

the front face having a front insert forming a first section comprising at least 50 percent of the front face and a central portion of the leading edge, and having a first thickness;

the front face having a second section comprising a second thickness being greater than the first thickness;

the second section forming a heel portion and a toe portion of the leading edge; and

the perimeter weight comprising a sole section, the central portion of the leading edge wrapping around and attaching to the sole section;

wherein the central portion has a width of about 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches, and a depth between about 0.30 inch to 1.0 inch.

2. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the first section has a thickness ranging from about 0.06 inch to about 0.12 inch.

3. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the insert has an area between 2.5 square inches and 4.0 square inches.

4. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the club head has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.79.

5. The golf club of claim 1 , wherein the first section has a substantially uniform thickness.

6. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the first section is welded to the front face.

7. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the first section is made from forged stainless steel.

8. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the first section is made from stamped stainless steel.

9. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the front face is made of high strength steel having a yield strength greater than 100,000 psi and an elongation less than about 15%.

10. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the front face is made of titanium alloy having a yield strength between 100,000 psi and 150,000 psi.

11. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the heel and toe portions each have a sole thickness that is at least twenty percent greater than the thickness of the first section.

12. The club head of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of each of the heel and toe portions is about 0.12 inch to about 0.25 inch.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter weight surrounds a rear cavity, and a composite insert is interposed within the rear cavity and attached to a back surface of the front face.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter weight includes:

a rear cavity defined therein;

a composite insert comprising of a high specific gravity filler loaded plastic; and

the composite interposed within the rear cavity and attached to a back surface of the front face.

15. An iron golf club head comprising:

a body having a perimeter weight, a front face comprising a front plate, and a leading edge:

the front plate forming at least 50 percent of the front face and a central portion of the leading edge, and having a first thickness;

the front face having a second section comprising a second thickness being greater than the first thickness;

the second section forming heel and toe portions of the leading edge; and

the perimeter weight comprising a sole section, the central portion of the leading edge wrapping around and attaching to the sole section;

wherein the central portion has a width of about 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches, and a depth between about 0.30 inch to about 1.0 inch.

16. The golf club of claim 15 , wherein the front plate has a thickness ranging from about 0.06 inch to about 0.12 inch.

17. The golf club of claim 15 , wherein the front plate has an area between 2.5 square inches and 4.0 square inches.

18. The golf club of claim 15 , wherein the club head has a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.79.

19. The golf club of claim 15 , wherein the front plate has a substantially uniform thickness.

20. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the front plate is welded to the front face.

21. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the front plate is made from forged stainless steel.

22. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the front plate is made from stamped stainless steel.

23. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the front plate is made of high strength steel having a yield strength greater than 100,000 psi and an elongation less than about 15%.

24. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the front plate is made of titanium alloy having a yield strength between 100,000 psi and 150,000 psi.

25. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the heel and toe potions each have a sole thickness that is at least twenty percent greater than the front plate.

26. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the thickness of each of the heel and toe portions is about 0.12 inch to about 0.25 inch.

27. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the perimeter weight surrounds a rear cavity, and a composite insert is interposed within the rear cavity and attached to a back surface of the front face.

28. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the perimeter weight includes:

a rear cavity defined therein;

a composite insert comprising of a high specific gravity filler loaded plastic; and

the composite insert interposed within the rear cavity and attached to a back surface of the front face.

29. An iron golf club head comprising:

a body having a perimeter weight, a front face, and a leading edge:

the front face having a front insert forming a first section comprising at least 50 percent of the front face and a central portion of the leading edge, and having a first thickness;

the front face having a second section comprising a second thickness being greater than the first thickness; and

the second section forming a heel portion and a toe portion of the leading edge,

wherein the thickness of each of the heel and toe portions is about 0.12 inch to about 0.25 inch.

30. An iron golf club head comprising:

a body having a perimeter weight, a front face comprising a front plate, and a leading edge:

the front plate forming at least 50 percent of the front face and a central portion of the leading edge, and having a first thickness;

the front face having a second section comprising a second thickness being greater than the first thickness; and

the second section forming heel and toe portions of the leading edge,

wherein the thickness of each of the heel and toe portions is about 0.12 inch to about 0.25 inch.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (ASSIGNS 039506-0030) Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0414 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027331/0725) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039938/0923 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2016
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039506/0030 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 7, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027331/0725 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2003
From: GILBERT, PETER J.; BURNETT, MICHAEL SCOTT
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 014157/0382 →