IP Library Granted Patent US 8,617,000
Granted Patent B2
US 8,617,000 · App. 13/173,279 · Granted Dec 31, 2013

Metal wood golf club head having externally protruding weights

Inventors: Gentry Ferguson (Encinitas, CA); Keisuke Yamane (Laguna Niguel, CA); Ronald K. Hettinger (Oceanside, CA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,617,000
App. No.
13/173,279
Granted
Dec 31, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A metal wood golf club with externally protruding weights that improves the performance of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club head that is capable of pushing the boundaries of performance all while maintaining the size and shape of a classic pear shaped golf club.

Claims (36)

1. A metal wood golf club head comprising:

a body portion forming a natural contour of said golf club head;

a sole portion near a bottom of said golf club head; and

a weight placed near a sole portion of said golf club head;

wherein said weight is invisible from a top view from an address position; and

wherein said golf club head has a MOIy to Front to Back Distance Ratio of greater than about 838 g-cm;

said MOIy to Front to Back Distance Ratio defined is a MOIy of said golf club head divided by a front to back distance of said golf club head.

2. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said MOIy to Front to Back Distance Ratio is greater than about 396 g-cm.

3. The metal wood golf club head of claim 2 , where said MOIy to Front to Back Distance Ratio is greater than about 409 g-cm.

4. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said golf club head has a mass of less than about 200 grams.

5. The metal wood golf club head of claim 4 , wherein said mass of said golf club head is less than about 195 grams.

6. The metal wood golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said mass of said golf club head is less than about 190 grams.

7. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a first material used to form said body portion has a first density of between about 4.0 g/cc and about 5.0 g/cc.

8. The metal wood golf club head of claim 7 , wherein said first density is about 4.5 g/cc.

9. The metal wood golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said first material is titanium.

10. The metal wood golf club head of claim 7 , wherein a second material used to form said weight has a second density that is greater than said first density.

11. The metal wood golf club head of claim 10 , wherein said second density is greater than about 9.0 g/cc.

12. The metal wood golf club head of claim 11 , wherein said second density is greater than about 10.0 g/cc.

13. The metal wood golf club head of claim 12 , wherein said second material is tungsten.

14. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a placement of said weight is constrained by an inner concentric circle and an outer concentric circle viewed from a two dimensional projection taken from a heel view of said golf club head;

said inner concentric circle has a radius of 89.4 mm with a center located 33.1 mm backwards along the z axis and 19.3 mm upward along the y-axis from a center of gravity of said golf club head;

said outer concentric circle has a radius of 94.8 mm with a center located 33.1 mm backward along the z axis and 19.3 mm upward along the y-axis from said center of gravity of said golf club head.

15. A metal wood golf club head comprising:

a body portion forming a natural contour of said golf club head;

a sole portion near a bottom of said golf club head; and

a weight placed outside said natural contour of said golf club head;

wherein wherein said natural contour is defined by an inner concentric circle and an outer concentric circle viewed from a two dimensional projection taken from a heel view of said golf club head;

said inner concentric circle has a radius of 89.4 mm with a center located 33.1 mm backwards along the z axis and 19.3 mm upward along the y-axis from a center of gravity of said golf club head;

said outer concentric circle has a radius of 94.8 mm with a center located 33.1 mm backward along the z axis and 19.3 mm upward along the y-axis from said center of gravity of said golf club head; and

wherein said weight is invisible from a top view from an address position.

16. The metal wood golf club head of claim 15 , wherein said golf club head has a mass of less than about 195 grams.

17. The metal wood golf club head of claim 16 , wherein said golf club head has a MOIy to Front to Back Distance Ratio of greater than about 838 g-cm;

said MOIy to Front to Back Distance Ratio defined is the MOIy of said golf club head divided by a front to back distance of said golf club head.

18. The metal wood golf club head of claim 15 , wherein a first material used to form said body portion has a first density of between about 4.0 g/cc and about 5.0 g/cc and a second material used to form said weight has a second density that is greater than about 9.0 g/cc.

19. The metal wood golf club head of claim 18 , wherein said first material is titanium.

20. The metal wood golf club head of claim 19 , wherein said second material is tungsten.

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 (027346/0897) Recorded Sep 7, 2016
From: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039939/0169 →
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 8, 2011
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK, NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 027346/0897 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2011
From: FERGUSON, GENTRY; YAMANE, KEISUKE; HETTINGER, RONALD K
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026528/0664 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130005504A1 · Jan 3, 2013