Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-04-17
Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S334000, C473S349000, C473S345000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217461
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to the field of golf and, more particularly, to golf club heads.
Each club must enable a player to impart to the ball a long, precise trajectory. The distance traveled by the ball increases as the dynamic loft of the club head becomes greater, and trajectory accuracy improves as a function of head stability at the moment of impact on the ball. For this reason, manufacturers seek to improve the mechanical inertia of the heads.
Traditionally, golf club heads possessed homogeneous density; that is, they were made of solid wood or metal. These heads were difficult to use because of their low mechanical inertia. When a stroke was poorly aligned, the ball traveled substantially off-line.
Next appeared hollow heads made of metal or composite materials. These heads provided greater mechanical inertia for a given weight, thereby improving the golfers' performance.
However, despite the various prior art solutions to achieve optimal distribution of the weight of the head, many golfers still had difficulty hitting their shots properly.
Current heads do not make it possible to obtain ball trajectories that are simultaneously long and precise. In other words, present-day heads do not incorporate weight distribution capable of providing at the same time good dynamic loft and good stability upon impact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention attempts to solve these problems by proposing a golf club head whose volume is delimited by the upper face, or crown, and a lower face, or sole plate, separated by a belt and a front, or hitting, surface, junction points of the belt and the hitting surface delimiting a heel and a toe.
According to the invention, the belt comprises at least one arc-shaped portion constituting a visible layer of the belt while extending along the belt between the heel and the toe, the arc-shaped portion being a peripheral mass made of a high-density material.
This structure makes it possible to increase maximally the mechanical inertia of the head as regards dynamic loft and stability upon impact. It follows, advantageously, that ball trajectories are both long and accurate.
According to a first embodiment, the head according to the invention comprises a single arc-shaped portion which is continuous along the belt from the heel to the toe. This structure facilitates manufacture and allows use of new, economical processes.
According to a first variant of the first embodiment, the head according to the invention comprises at least three parts, i.e., a first, upper part incorporating the crown, the hitting surface, and an upper portion of the belt; a lower part including the sole-plate and a lower portion of the belt; and an intermediate part constituted by the arc-shaped portion. This structure allows the use of materials of different kinds.
According to this first variant, the upper part, the lower part, and the intermediate part of the head are screwed together into one assembly.
This assembly method facilitates the attachment and detachment of the head. It advantageously allows adjustment and maintenance of the head.
According to a second variant of the first embodiment, the head comprises two parts, i.e., the arc-shaped portion and a block incorporating at least the crown, the belt, the sole-plate, and the hitting surface.
In this instance, it is easy to manufacture an impermeable block that can advantageously prevent the risks of dirt accumulation and heaviness of the head.
According to this second variant, the arc-shaped portion of the head is made of a metallic copper alloy, and the block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy. This arrangement makes it possible to optimize weight distribution and the inertial properties of the head, without impairing the impact-resistance thereof.
According to the second variant, the arc-shaped portion and the block are welded together. This structure produces a more pleasant sound on impact and, consequently, allows the golfer to remain focused.
According to the first and second variants of the first embodiment of the invention, the total weight of the head is between 185 and 205 grams, the weight of the arc-shaped portion is between 40 and 60 grams, and the volume of the head is between 250 and 270 cm
3
.
These parameters impart to the head the size which is most reassuring to golfers, since it is neither too small nor too large and thus instills confidence in them.
According to a second embodiment, the head according to the invention comprises two arc-shaped portions. In this case, when considered together, the arc-shaped portions extend over at least 60% of the length of the belt, between the heel and the toe. This arrangement makes it possible to adjust weight distribution specifically for an individual golfer.
According to this second embodiment, the head comprises at least three parts, i.e., the two arc-shaped portions and a block incorporating at least the crown, the belt, the sole-plate, and the hitting surface. This structure allows selection of at least two different materials for manufacture of the head. Furthermore, the two arc-shaped portions may possess different densities. Accordingly, weight distribution specific to an individual golfer is further refined.
According to the second embodiment, the arc-shaped portions of the head are made of a metallic copper alloy and the block is made of a titanium-based metal alloy. In this case, the arc-shaped portions and the block are welded together, the total weight of the head is between 185 and 205 grams, the weight of each arc-shaped portion is between 16 and 34 grams, and the volume of the head is between 250 and 270 cm
3
.
The structure disclosed by the second embodiment allows weight to be balanced in a manner suited to the game of an amateur player.
The invention also relates to a process for producing a head possessing the characteristics previously mentioned.
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patent: WO 93/19817 A1 (1993-10-01), None
patent: WO 95/32765 (1995-12-01), None
Knobbe, Markens Olson & Bear LLP
Passaniti Sebastiano
Taylor Made Golf Company Inc.
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