Metal clubhead and driver

Details Metal clubhead and driver Metal clubhead and driver

1996-11-08

2001-07-10

Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Club or club support

C473S310000, C473S328000, C473S345000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06257991

ABSTRACT:

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf clubs and, in particular, to metal drivers.
B. Definition of Term(s) and Discussion of Existing Technology
As used here “drivers” refers to golf clubs traditionally called “woods” and includes metal embodiments of such clubs, that is, metal woods or metal drivers.
The clubheads of prior art metal woods or drivers typically comprise two sections which are joined or welded along a generally horizontal plane above the sole.
II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is embodied in a metal driver golf club, in which the clubhead comprises a first body or member which itself comprises the sole, heel, toe and rear of the clubhead; and a second body or member which comprises the face of the clubhead. The two members are joined, for example, by a weld along a generally vertical joining line which is located at the periphery of the face of the clubhead and is coincident with the leading edge of the sole.
In a preferred embodiment, the hosel comprises a tube or shaft having opposite ends and having an internal bore into which the golf club shaft is inserted and mounted. At least the upper section of the hosel is enlarged, and has a reverse taper. The clubhead has a mating reverse tapered bore in which the hosel is mounted. The hosel and the associated golf club shaft are joined to the clubhead, by inserting or injecting a joining medium such as epoxy into the bore along with the hosel and shaft.
In another preferred aspect, the hosel has a stepped configuration. At a point between the two opposite ends, the tube expands via a shoulder to an enlarged cross-section which decreases toward the outer (upper) end of the hosel. The mating body bore comprises a relatively small cross-section, lower section which corresponds to the relatively small cross-section, lower section of the hosel, and a relatively large cross-section, reverse taper upper section, which corresponds to the relatively large cross-section, upper section of the hosel. The diameter of the bore is approximately the same dimension as or slightly larger than the diameter of the corresponding sections of the hosel. The relatively wide lower end of the tapered section of the hosel is countersunk within and captured by the bore and the head. This arrangement increases the weight in the head, increases the strength of the club, provides a more solid feel, including during the striking of a ball, and provides increased resistance to twist/torque.
Preferably, the clubhead comprises at least a pair of runners or grooves extending along the sole of the first member, rear-to-front, which guide the clubhead in the direction of the grooves if the clubhead strikes the ground. As alluded to above, the use of two members which are joined in a vertical plane permits positioning the join line at the periphery of the face and along the leading edge of the sole. This permits extended length runners, which extend preferably from the rear section of the sole to the leading edge thereof. Preferably the runners have a reverse chisel configuration defined by a relatively flat orientation at the rear which angles upwardly at the front. These runners facilitate the club's ability to track and square through the shot. Drag is reduced in the sole area. The runners which extend to the leading edge, reduce the area which strikes the ground, and allows the club to release from the initial dig into the turf.
Other embodiments and arrangements are described in the accompanying specification, including
III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention is described below with reference to the drawing, in which:
FIG. 1
is a face (front) elevation view of a metal driver in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a heel elevation view of the metal driver of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the driver of
FIG. 1
, taken generally from a rear perspective toward the heel of the clubhead.
FIG. 4
is a bottom plan view of the driver of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is a vertical section view taken along line
5
—
5
in FIG.
4
.


REFERENCES:
patent: D. 247922 (1978-05-01), Sheldon
patent: 1787415 (1930-12-01), Washington
patent: 2880002 (1959-03-01), Wetty
patent: 3997170 (1976-12-01), Goldberg
patent: 4065133 (1977-12-01), Gordos
patent: 4432549 (1984-02-01), Zebelean
patent: 4438931 (1984-03-01), Motomiya
patent: 5094383 (1992-03-01), Anderon
patent: 5203565 (1993-04-01), Murray
patent: 5232224 (1993-08-01), Zeider
patent: 5335909 (1994-08-01), Green
patent: 5435558 (1995-07-01), Iriarte
patent: 5441263 (1995-08-01), Gorman
patent: 5456469 (1995-10-01), MacDougall
patent: 5547427 (1996-08-01), Rigal et al.
patent: 5720674 (1998-02-01), Galy
patent: 5735754 (1998-04-01), Antonious
patent: 371665 (1932-04-01), None
Apr. 1992, brochure, title Orlimar Handcrafted Distinction (brochure, 7 pages (including front and rear covers)). See entire brochure, especially pages 1 and 3.

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