IP Library Granted Patent US 8,353,785
Granted Patent B2
US 8,353,785 · App. 12/763,014 · Granted Jan 15, 2013

Golf club head

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,353,785
App. No.
12/763,014
Granted
Jan 15, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An iron-type golf club head is disclosed having a first piece including a portion of an iron-type face. A second piece including a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a hinge region, and a front opening for receiving the first piece is also disclosed. A first contact surface of the first piece is connected with a second contact surface of the second piece at a contact interface. A continuous weld extends along the contact interface attaching the first and second pieces together at the contact interface. The continuous weld includes a fusion zone occurring substantially on the iron-type face outside the hinge region of the club head.

Claims (27)

1. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a first piece including at least a portion of an iron-type face;

a second piece including a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a hinge region, and a front opening for receiving the first piece;

a first contact surface of the first piece being connected with a second contact surface of the second piece at a contact interface;

a continuous weld extending along the contact interface attaching the first and second pieces together at the contact interface, the continuous weld including a fusion zone occurring substantially on the iron-type face outside the hinge region of the club head, wherein a rear weld bead is exposed on a rear surface of the iron-type face and a front weld bead is removed from a front surface of the iron-type face.

2. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the rear weld bead is substantially covered by a third piece.

3. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a weld centerline axis is offset from a rear wall portion by a distance of at least 1 mm.

4. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a total face area is between 2,700 mm 2 -5,000 mm 2 .

5. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a thin face area is between 450 mm 2 -2,020 mm 2 .

6. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a thin face thickness is about 1.5-2.5 mm.

7. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a thin face thickness is in a range of less than 2.0 mm.

8. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a thin face area percentage is about 13-70%.

9. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein an inverted cone region is about 230 mm 2 to about 2,000 mm 2 .

10. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a first piece surface area is about 300 mm 2 to about 4,000 mm 2 .

11. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the coefficient of restitution is greater than about 0.8.

12. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first piece is forged of a steel selected from the group consisting of maraging steels, maraging stainless steels, and PH stainless steels.

13. The iron-type golf club head of claim 12 , wherein the stainless steel is C455 or 17-4 stainless steel.

14. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the fusion zone is substantially located in a relatively low impact stress region of the front striking surface.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a front striking surface;

a rear face surface located behind at least a portion of the front striking surface in a cavity region;

a first piece including at least a portion of the front striking surface;

a second piece including a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a hinge region, and a front opening on the front striking surface for receiving the first piece;

a first contact surface of the first piece being connected with a second contact surface of the second piece at a contact interface;

a continuous weld extending along the contact interface attaching the first and second pieces together at the contact interface, the continuous weld including a fusion zone creating a weld bead on at least the rear face surface; and

a third piece configured to be inserted into the cavity region and attached to the rear face surface, the third piece substantially covering the weld bead on the rear face surface.

16. The club head of claim 15 , wherein the continuous weld includes a weld centerline axis that is offset from a boundary line between the front striking surface and the hinge portion by a distance of at least 1 mm.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: KOOKMIN BANK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058983/0516 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: KOOKMIN BANK
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 058978/0211 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058962/0415 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058963/0671 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KOOKMIN BANK, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 057300/0058 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KOOKMIN BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057293/0207 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: ADIDAS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057453/0167 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057085/0314 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2021
From: KPS CAPITAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057085/0262 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2017
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044206/0712 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2017
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: KPS CAPITAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044207/0745 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2017
From: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
To: ADIDAS NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044206/0765 →