IRON TYPE GOLF CLUB

Abstract: There is provided a golf club (66) of the iron type (a one iron through a nine iron wherein the hosel (82) is formed intermediate heel (78) and tow (76) portions of the club with the front face (72) of the club head having a substantially uniform height from the toe portion (76) to the heel portion (78) to thereby provide a greater latitude of error when the ball is struck off center.

Description: IRON TYPE GOLF CLUB The present invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly, relates to golf clubs of the iron-type. Over the years, there have been many different approaches taken to the design and construction of iron type golf clubs has been taken. Generally the golf club heads have, however, remained substantially uniform wherein there is a front face, a back face, a sole, a toe portion, a heel portion and a hosel portion. Conventionally, the hosel is formed at the heel of the club. The front face of the club head (and the rear face) are normally designed such that the face has a greater height near the toe portion than near the heel portion. When hitting a golf shot, a great deal of skill is required and missed shots are frequent, particularly among those of relatively lesser skill. Thus, if the ball is not struck squarely on the "sweet spot" of the club, a misdirected shot will occur. In other words, when the ball is hit either near the heel or toe portions of the club, a poor shot normally results. It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head of the iron-type which provides a larger margin of error compared to a conventional golf club when the ball is hit near the toe or heel areas of the club face. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf club of the iron type which SUBSTITUTESHEET includes a shaft and a club head wherein the club head has a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole, a hosel, a front face and a rear face, with the front face being of a substantially planar nature being bounded by a bottom edge adjacent a sole portion of the club, an upper edge, a first side edge proximate the heel portion and a second side edge proximate the toe portion. The club is characterized in that the hosel extends upwardly from a point intermediate the heel portion and the toe portion, the hosel terminating in a plane which extends substantially parallel to and tangential with the side edge at the heel portion and which plane is also substantially normal or perpendicular to parallel planes extending along the top and bottom edges. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf club of the iron type selected from the group consisting of a one iron through a nine iron, the golf club having a shaft and a club head, the club head having a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole, a substantially planar front face being defined by a bottom edge adjacent the sole and side edges adjacent the heel and toe portions and a top edge, the club head being characterized in that the hosel extends from a point intermediate the toe portion and heel portion and is formed to extend from a rear face of the club head upwardly and outwardly therefrom, the sole extending rearwardly from the bottom of the front face in a flange like projection, the sole extending rearwardly adjacent the toe portion of the club head for a distance which is greater SUBSTITUTESHEET than the distance which it extends rearwardly adjacent the heel portion of the club head. In greater detail, according to one aspect of the present invention, the club head of the iron is designed such that the hosel, which receives the shaft, is located intermediate the toe and heel portions. In so doing, shots hit near the heel portion no longer will suffer interference from the hosel of the club head. In conventional golf clubs, the hosel is located and indeed forms a portion of the heel portion and as will be discussed in greater detail herein below, a ball hit near this portion can result in an inaccurate shot. According to this aspect of the present invention, the hosel is located substantially mid-way between the toe and heel portions although it will be understood that a certain degree of variation may be accepted - i.e the hosel need not be exactly halfway between the two sides. The hosel is preferably situated such that the shaft joins the hosel rearwardly of the face of the club head. The distance between the face and the shaft may vary depending upon the particular club. Thus, in the case of the lower irons, the shaft may not need to be spaced as large a distance as is the case with the higher irons since the point of contact with the ball (near the top of the face) is different. The hosel, in the preferred embodiment, extends from a rear face of the club head diagonally upwardly and outwardly in the general direction of the heel portion. The SUBSTITUTESHEET hosel, which receives the shaft, terminates at a point which would intersect a plane extending substantially parallel to and substantially tangential to a size edge of the club adjacent the heel portion. The location of the hosel intermediate the heel and toe portions, as aforementioned, is preferably midway between the two portions. However, in the case of highly angled clubs which are designed to provide maximum loft to the ball such as the wedges, the principle of the present invention may be modified such that the hosel is offset from the center point more toward the heel portion of the club head. This would particularly be the case for wedges. In a further aspect of the present invention, the face of the club head is designed such that the height thereof is substantially uniform extending from the heel to the toe portion of the club. This provides a larger hitting surface and also permits a greater margin of error particularly when the ball is hit what was the traditional heel portion of the club. Thus, since the height of the face near the heel extends higher than in a conventional club, a shot wherein the ball is contacted near the upper portion of the face proximate the heel will result in a more accurate shot. This is particularly the case with the higher irons wherein the club head tends to get under the ball to a greater extent than with the lower irons. The attachment of the shaft to the club head at a point intermediate of the toe and heel portions can also SUBSTITUTESHEET permit the engineering of a larger "sweet spot" than may otherwise be the case. It has long been proposed in the past to weight club heads in various manners so as to provide larger sweet spots. However, given certain methods of manufacture, the provision of this type of weighting was somewhat limited due to the inherent requirements with the hosel at the heel portion of the club head. With the club head of the instant invention, the center of rotation of the club head is at the center of the face rather than at one side thereof. Thus, a shot which is hit somewhat off center of the club will cause a lesser rotation of the club head than would otherwise be the case. The club head of the present invention can be manufactured by conventional processes known in the art such as investment casting. Any suitable material can be selected including material such as stainless steel and the like. Similarly, conventional manufacture would include the provision of grooves along the face of the club head. Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a golf club head according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a golf club head according to the prior art; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 3a is a view similar to Figure 3 of a "higher number" golf club; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a top elevational view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a rear elevational view taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a top view illustrating the striking of a golf ball slightly off center using a golf club of the prior art; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 illustrating the striking of a golf ball using the golf club of the present invention; Figure 9 is a front view of a further embodiment of a club head according to the present invention; Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a bottom view of a club according to the embodiment of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a rear view of the club head of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 9 of a club having a large loft such as a wedge; Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the club head of Figure 13 from the right hand side thereof; and Figure 15 is a rear view thereof. Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, a conventional golf club 10 of the iron type is illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. The conventional golf club head 10 includes a front face 12 and a rear face 14 with a bottom sole 16. Club 10 has a toe portion 18 and a heel portion 20 which merges with a hosel 22 to which the shaft of the club is attached. The front face 12 includes a plurality of grooves 24 as is conventional in the art. As may be seen from Figure 2, adjacent the toe portion 18, the club head has a height "Y" while adjacent the heel portion 20 the club head has a height "y" wherein Y > y. This is a substantially conventional arrangement utilized for most known golf club irons. Also, as shown in Figure 2, the club head has a width L which is the total overall width from toe 18 to heel portion 20; the effective hitting width is that indicated by reference character X. Referring to Figures 1 and 3, a golf club head 30 according to the present invention is illustrated. Golf club head 30 includes a front face 32 and a rear face 34 and has a sole portion 36 extending along the bottom. Club head 30 also includes what is designated a toe portion 38 and a heel portion 40 with a hosel 42. Hosel 42 terminates in a plane which is a continuation of a plane tangential to the side of heel portion 40. Grooves 44 are provided on front face 32. As may been seen from the drawings, hosel 42 is located intermediate toe and heel portions 38 and 40 respectively and the heights "Y" of both toe portion 38 and heel portion 40 are identical. All of the grooves 44 are of substantially uniform length and extend over the effective hitting area of front face 32 with the distance "S" being equal to the distance "X" of the prior art clubs. Similarly, the overall width of the entire club face is substantially equivalent to that of a conventional golf club as shown in Figure 2. Reference will now be made to Figures 3 and 4 which illustrate the differences between the prior art and present club heads on a golf ball near the heel portion of the club head. Thus, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, when a golf ball 50 (shown in dotted lines) is struck close to the heel portion 20 of club head 10, not only does the ball 50 contact front face 12 at the point of impact designated by reference P, it can also contact the hosel portion at point 52. As shown by arrow 54, this will cause the ball 50 to move in a line off center to the intended direction. This can happen if the ball is hit on the lower portion of the front face 12. When the ball 50 is hit at the upper portion (such as can occur with a wedge) the height "y" of the club head is not sufficient to provide full control over the ball. As shown in Figure 3, since the front face 32 of club head 30 has a constant height "Y", and since the hosel portion 42 is located between the toe portion 38 and heel portion 40 and rearwardly of the front face 32, the point of SUBSTITUTESHEET impact P results in a ball making clean contact with the front face 32 and a better shot results. Figures 3a illustrates a further club of the iron type but a "lower" iron such as 3 iron. As shown therein, the same results occur. As may be seen from Figures 3 and 3a, the distance "G" between the hosel and club face 12 is slightly greater with the higher iron. Figures 7 and 8 compare the impact of conventional head 10 and the club 30 of the present invention when the ball is hit adjacent the toe portion. As shown in Figure 7, when the ball contacts club head 10 at point P, there is effective distance R from hosel or shaft portion causing the club head to open or rotate from the desired plane by an angle A. This results in the ball going off the intended course as indicated by arrows 58. As shown in Figure 8, the same point of impact P on club head 30 of the present invention results in a distance R from the point at which the club head will 2 rotate and consequently, the angle the club head opens is reduced to A. This results in the ball taking a direction 2 indicated by arrows 60 which is half the error of that which would occur in the case of conventional club head 10 as shown in Figure 7. Referring to the embodiment of Figures 9 to 12, the golf club includes a club head generally designated by reference numeral 66 and a shaft 68 having a gripping portion 69 thereon. Head 66 has a front face 72 and a rear SUBSTITUTESHEET face 74. A toe portion and a heel portion are designated by reference numerals 76 and 78 respectively. At the bottom of the club there is provided a sole 80. Hosel 82 extends from rear face 74 and is located intermediate toe portion 76 and heel portion 78. As may best be seen in Figure 10, hosel 82 has a cavity 84 for receiving shaft 68 in a conventional manner. In a conventional manner, front face 72 has a plurality of parallel generally horizontally extending grooves 88. Hosel 82 terminates in a plane designated by line 94 which plane is tangential to the side of heel portion 78 and which plane 94 is also substantially normal or perpendicular to the planes extending longitudinally to top and bottom of the club face. As may be seen in Figure 11 and 12, sole 80 extends rearwardly from front face 72 in a flange like projection. In order to assist in the balance of the club, and since the direction of hosel 82 is towards the heel of the club head, sole 80 extends rearwardly a greater distance, as designated by reference numeral 81, near the toe portion than the distance it extends rearwardly at the heel portion, as designated by reference numeral 83. In the embodiment of Figures 12, 13 and 14, a similar construction as has been discussed with respect to Figures 9 to 12 is illustrated. However, Figures 13 to 15 show a club having a greater loft -i.e. a sand wedge or a pitching wedge. Similar reference numerals are employed for SUBSTITUTESHEET similar elements as in the embodiment of Figures 9 to 12, except the reference numbers are numbered in the 100's. As may be noted, hosel 182 is formed to be closer to heel portion 178 than was the case in the previously described embodiment. It should be noted that hosel 182 does, however, still terminate in a plane which extends upwardly from the side of club head 166. Club head 166 has a front face 172 similar to those previously described. Again there is provided a sole portion 180 which extends rearwardly from the bottom of the club head and which is similar to the sale of the embodiment of Figures 9 to 12. It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. A golf club of the iron type comprising a shaft and a club head, said club head having a heel portion, a toe portion, a sole, a hosel, a front face and a rear face, said front face being of a substantially planar nature and being bounded by a bottom edge adjacent a sole portion of the club, an upper edge, a first side edge proximate said heel portion and a second side edge proximate said toe portion, characterized in that said hosel extends upwardly from a point intermediate said heel portion and said toe portion, said hosel terminating in a plane which extends substantially parallel to and tangential with said side edge at said heel portion, and which plane is also substantially normal to parallel planes extending along said top and bottom edges. 2. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said front face has a height at said side edge proximate said toe portion substantially equal to the height of the side edge proximate said heel portion. 3. The golf club of claim 2 wherein said sole portion extends rearwardly from the bottom edge of said front face in a flange like projection, said sole portion extending rearwardly adjacent the toe portion of the club head for a distance which is greater than the distance adjacent the heel portion of the club head. SUBSTITUTESHEET 4. The golf club of claim 3 wherein said front face has a plurality of parallel grooves extending substantially parallel to the sole and between the toe portion and heel portion, all the grooves being of a substantially uniform length. 5. A golf club of the iron type selected from the group consisting of a one iron through a nine iron, said golf club having a shaft and a club head, the club head having a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole, a substantially planar front face being defined by a bottom edge adjacent said sole and side edges adjacent said heel and toe portions of the club head, and a top edge, characterized in that a hosel extends from a point intermediate said toe portion and said heel portion and is formed to extend from a rear face of said club head upwardly and outwardly therefrom, said sole extending rearwardly from the bottom of said front face in a flange like projection, said sole extending rearwardly adjacent the toe portion of the club head for a distance which is greater than the distance which it extends rearwardly adjacent the heel portion of the club head. 6. The golf club of claim 5 wherein said front face has a substantially uniform height. 7. The golf club of claim 6 wherein said face has a plurality of parallel grooves extending substantially SUBSTITUTE SHEET parallel to the sole and between the toe portion and heel portion, all of said grooves being of a substantially uniform length. SUBSTITUTESHEET

Inventors: DESMARAIS LOUIS, DESMARAIS, LOUIS
Applicants: DESMARAIS LOUIS, DESMARAIS, LOUIS
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A63B53
IPC codes: A63B53