Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Club or club support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-22
2002-01-01
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Club or club support
C473S342000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334818
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to golf clubs and, more particularly, to a golf club that has an insert on the strike surface of the club.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf clubs have long been developed to improve the “touch and feel” of the club, most particularly with, but not limited to, the clubs used on and around the green. One approach to improve the touch and feel of a club is to modify either the grip, the shaft, or the strike face of the golf club. For example, modifications to the club head could include an insert that is placed on the club strike surface to affect the impact of the club with the golf ball and to improve the feedback to the golfer after impact.
It is desired that the present invention provided an improved golf club head with better touch and feel as a result of modifying the strike face of the golf club head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club with an improved “touch and feel” on and around the green.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club with an insert on the strike face that affects the rebound of the golf ball at impact with the strike face.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club that dampens vibrations and improves the feedback to the golfer at impact of the golf club with the golf ball.
The present invention includes a golf club head having a toe and an opposite heel, a sole portion and an opposite top portion, a forwardly facing exposed strike face and an opposite rearwardly facing exposed back face portion. The club head includes a recess in the strike face, an insert disposed within the recess, and a vibration dampening material that extends continuously from the strike face to the back face portion. In one embodiment, the vibration dampening material extends through the insert.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a golf club includes a strike surface and an opposite back face portion. The strike face includes a recess with a bottom surface and a side wall surface. The club head further includes an insert which is disposed in the recess. The insert has a first portion, a second portion, and a back face. The first portion includes a front surface spaced from the strike face, and a first passageway extending from the upper surface to the back face of the insert. The second portion forms a portion of the strike face. A vibration dampening material is located in the first passageway.
In one embodiment, the insert is configured so that it has a peripheral edge spaced from the side wall surface to form a peripheral groove on the strike face, and the vibration dampening material located in the groove.
In another embodiment the club head further includes first apertures that extend from the back face portion to the bottom surface, and the vibration dampening material is located in the first aperture.
In yet another embodiment, the first passageway further includes second apertures through the first portion of the flange and a cutout extending between the second apertures into at least partial alignment with the first apertures.
Thus, the present invention provides a club head with an insert and vibration dampening material that is continuous from the strike face to the back face portion.
The configuration of the insert and club head vary the amount of vibration dampening material within the club to vary the feel of the club.
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Cameron Don T.
Slivnik August L.
Acushnet Company
Graham Mark S.
LandOfFree
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