IP Library Granted Patent US 7,588,503
Granted Patent B2
US 7,588,503 · App. 11/808,189 · Granted Sep 15, 2009

Multi-piece golf club head with improved inertia

Assignee: Acushnet Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,588,503
App. No.
11/808,189
Granted
Sep 15, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-piece iron-type golf club head with a substantial weight member is disclosed and claimed. The golf club head includes a plurality of body members. A first body member includes a face, a rear surface, and a hosel. A viscoelastic material is attached to the rear surface, and a second body member is attached to the viscoelastic material. The second body member, which may be a weight member, has a substantially larger mass than in known golf clubs. The viscoelastic member may form a substantial part of the club head. The club head may also have a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. A low-density insert may be positioned within the recess.

Claims (28)

1. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:

a first body member including a face and a rear surface, wherein at least a portion of the rear surface has a concave profile extending from a heel of the club head to a toe of the club head;

a damping member coupled to the rear surface within the concave profile; and

a weight member coupled to said damping member;

wherein the club head has a sole formed of said first body member, said damping member, and said weight member, wherein the golf club head comprising a center of gravity and a moment of inertia measured about a vertical axis passing through said center of gravity from approximately 2400 gxcm^2 to approximately 2900 gxcm^2.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said weight member has a mass of 50 to 300 grams.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said rear surface has a concave profile extending from a heel of said club head to a toe of said club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the damping member comprises a viscoelastic material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said body member includes a top line having a recess therein extending toward said sole.

6. The golf club head of claim 5 , further comprising an insert positioned within said recess.

7. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein said insert is formed of a low-density, damping material.

8. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the club head has a center of gravity located at least 0.01 inch from a center of gravity location for a substantially similar golf club head without said recess and said insert.

9. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein:

the club head has a center of gravity; and

the club head has an increase in a moment of inertia measured about a vertical axis passing through said center of gravity of at least 20 gm·in 2 compared to a substantially similar golf club head without said recess and said insert.

10. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein:

said body member has a first volume;

said insert has a second volume; and

said second volume is from 0.5% to 10% of said first volume.

11. The golf club head of claim 6 , wherein said insert substantially fills said recess.

12. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said top has a top line with a length and said recess extends along said top from 10% to 95% of said length.

13. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said recess has a depth from 0.01 inch to 0.25 inch.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said weight member forms a majority of a central portion of said sole.

15. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said weight member extends to a position adjacent said a central region of rear surface.

16. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said sole is contoured such that a central portion of said sole is lower than corresponding heel and toe portions of said sole.

17. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said weight member has a varying density.

18. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the damping member, weight member, and first body member are coupled.

19. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the weight member further comprises a recess.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2010
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: COBRA GOLF, INC
Reel/Frame 024079/0980 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2007
From: ROACH, RYAN L.; SORACCO, PETER L.; BEST, CHRISTOPHER B.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019876/0785 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 1106496500 · Feb 25, 2005
Continuation In Part 1126618000 · Nov 4, 2005
Continuation In Part 1084362200 · May 12, 2004
Related Publication 20080015051A1 · Jan 17, 2008