IP Library Granted Patent US 8,491,407
Granted Patent B2
US 8,491,407 · App. 13/647,851 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Iron-type golf clubs

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 8,491,407
App. No.
13/647,851
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An iron-type golf dub includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. The heavyweight section includes anchoring structures to which the lightweight section can securely attach. This arrangement maintains the overall weight of the club head compared to a similarly proportioned conventional club head while shifting the center of gravity low and aft. As such, the club head provides benefits such as forgiveness for thin shots, heel/toe shots, and provides longer drives with less roll.

Claims (31)

1. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a first section comprising a hitting face and at least a section of a hosel, wherein the first section comprises a first material having a first density;

a second section connected to the first section, wherein the second section comprises a second material having a second density, wherein the second density is less than the first density; and

a third section comprising a portion of a sole and connected to the first section and the second section, wherein the third section comprises a third material having a third density, wherein the third density is greater than the first density.

2. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the third section comprises a substantial portion of the sole.

3. The iron-type golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the third section comprises more than 50% of the sole.

4. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the third material comprises tungsten or tungsten-loaded plastic.

5. The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the third density is between about 16 grams/cm 3 to about 20 grams/cm 3 .

6. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises stainless steel or carbon steel.

7. The iron-type golf club head of claim 6 , wherein the first density is between about 6 grams/cm 3 and about 10 grams/cm 3 .

8. The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises plastic, urethane, aluminum silica, magnesium, or aluminum.

9. The iron-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the second density is less than about 3 grams/cm 3 .

10. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a first section comprising a hitting face, wherein the first section comprises a first material having a first density;

a second section connected to the first section, wherein the second section comprises a second material having a second density, wherein the second density is less than the first density; and

a third section comprising a portion of a sole and connected to the first section and the second section, wherein the third section comprises a third material having a third density, wherein the third density is greater than the first density,

wherein the first density is between about 6 grams/cm 3 and about 10 grams/cm 3 , the second density is less than about 3 grams/cm 3 , and the third density is between about 16 grams/cm 3 and about 20 grams/cm 3 .

11. The iron-type golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the first section comprises at least a section of a hosel.

12. The iron-type golf club head of claim 11 further comprising at least one structure formed on or in the third section configured to secure the third to the second section.

13. The iron-type golf club head of claim 12 , wherein at least one structure is a protrusion extending from the third section and into the second section, and wherein the second section is formed around the protrusion.

14. The iron-type golf club head of claim 12 , wherein at least one structure is a channel formed at least partially through the third section, and wherein at least a portion of the second section extends into the channel.

15. A set of iron-type golf clubs comprising:

at least one club comprising a first section comprising a hitting face, wherein the first section comprises a first material having a first density,

a second section connected to the first section, wherein the second section comprises a second material having a second density, wherein the second density is less than the first density,

a third section comprising a portion of a sole and a portion of a back flange, connected to the first section and the second section, wherein the third section comprises a third material having a third density, wherein the third density is greater than the first density, and

wherein at least one club has a center of gravity less than about 15 mm as measured from the ground when the at least one club is in an address position.

16. The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 15 , wherein the first section comprises at least a section of a hosel.

17. The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 16 , wherein the first density is between about 6 grams/cm 3 and about 10 grams/cm 3 , the second density is less than about 3 grams/cm 3 , and the third density is between about 16 grams/cm 3 and about 20 grams/cm 3 .

18. The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 16 , wherein the first material comprises stainless steel or carbon steel, the second material comprises plastic, urethane, aluminum silica, magnesium or aluminum, and the third material comprises tungsten or tungsten-loaded plastic.

19. The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 16 , wherein at least one structure is a protrusion extending from the third section and into the second section, and wherein the second section is formed around the protrusion.

20. The iron-type golf club head of claim 19 , wherein at least one structure is a channel formed at least partially through the third section, and wherein at least a portion of the second section extends into the channel.

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 (031923/0695) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0381 →
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 Jan 6, 2014
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 031923/0695 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2012
From: GILBERT, PETER J.; SHEAR, DAVID A.
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY; ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029098/0478 →