IP Library Granted Patent US 9,168,431
Granted Patent B2
US 9,168,431 · App. 14/060,948 · Granted Oct 27, 2015

Fairway wood golf club head

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,168,431
App. No.
14/060,948
Granted
Oct 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fairway wood golf club characterized by a long blade length, a small club moment arm, and a large transfer distance thereby producing a relatively small CG angle and a relatively high face closing moment of inertia, and all the benefits afforded therefrom.

Claims (102)

1. A golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having:

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP) and a top edge height (TEH), and the face has a center face progression (CFP) of less than 0.525 inches;

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) wherein an outer shell defines a head volume of less than 250 cubic centimeters, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face and a front-to-back dimension (FB) from a furthest forward point on the face to the furthest rearward point at the rear portion of the golf club head;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches when the blade length (BL) is measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes:

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP), wherein the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 1.1 inches; and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located:

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(d) such that a CG angle (CGA) is no more than 30 degrees;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 1.1 inches;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is least 10 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA);

(xi) a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG of at least 2000 g*cm 2 ;

(xii) a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin of at least 4250 g*cm 2 ; and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

2. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

3. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 2 , wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 0.95 inches.

4. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees.

5. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

6. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein the transfer distance (TD) is 10-40 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA).

7. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 6 , wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

8. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.9.

9. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 8 , wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

10. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club length is at least 95.

11. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein the Ycg distance is less than 0.65 inches.

12. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 11 , wherein the transfer distance (TD) is 10-40 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA) and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

13. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 11 , wherein the Ycg distance is less than 0.60 inches.

14. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the golf club head front-to-back dimension (FB) is at least 0.32.

15. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the blade length (BL) is at least 0.33.

16. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1 , wherein the club head volume is less than 200 cubic centimeters.

17. A golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having:

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP) and a top edge height (TEH);

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) wherein an outer shell defines a head volume, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face and a front-to-back dimension (FB) from a furthest forward point on the face to the furthest rearward point at the rear portion of the golf club head;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches when the blade length (BL) is measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes:

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP); and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located:

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(d) such that a CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 0.95 inches;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is 10-25 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA); and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

18. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.9.

19. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein the golf club head has a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG of at least 2000 g*cm 2 , and a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin of at least 4250 g*cm 2 .

20. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein the golf club head has a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG of at least 2000 g*cm 2 , and a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin, wherein a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club length is at least 95.

21. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein the Ycg distance is less than 0.65 inches.

22. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein, wherein the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 1.1 inches.

23. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the golf club head front-to-back dimension (FB) is at least 0.32.

24. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the blade length (BL) is at least 0.33.

25. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 17 , wherein the club head volume is less than 170 cubic centimeters.

26. A golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having:

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP) and a top edge height (TEH), and the face has a center face progression (CFP);

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) wherein an outer shell defines a head volume of less than 250 cubic centimeters, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face and a front-to-back dimension (FB) from a furthest forward point on the face to the furthest rearward point at the rear portion of the golf club head;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes:

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP); and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located:

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(d) such that a CG angle (CGA) is no more than 30 degrees;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 1.0 inches;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is 10-40 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA);

(xi) a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG of at least 2000 g*cm 2 ; and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

27. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin is at least 4250 g*cm 2 .

28. The golf club of claim 27 , wherein a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin is at least 4500 g*cm 2 .

29. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein the transfer distance (TD) less than 25 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA).

30. The golf club of claim 29 , wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 0.95 inches.

31. The golf club of claim 30 , wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees.

32. The golf club of claim 31 , wherein the Ycg distance is less than 0.65 inches.

33. The golf club of claim 32 , wherein the club head volume is less than 200 cubic centimeters.

34. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein the center face progression (CFP) is less than 0.525 inches.

35. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club length is at least 95.

36. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.9.

37. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the blade length (BL) is at least 0.33.

38. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 1.1 inches.

39. The golf club of claim 26 , wherein blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches.

Assignments (14)
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 COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057293/0207 →
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 →
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: ADIDAS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 057453/0167 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2013
From: REED, TIM; KENDALL, JOHN D; HONEA, JUSTIN
To: ADAMS GOLF IP, LP
Reel/Frame 031460/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2013
From: ADAMS GOLF IP, LP
To: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031460/0487 →