Abstract:
A metalwood type golf clubhead including a clubhead body having a toe, heel, upper crown surface, bottom sole surface, side surfaces, rear surface and ball-striking clubface having at least one raised, elongated, aerodynamically shaped reinforcing and stabilizing member extending outwardly from the upper and/or bottom surfaces, and having a front ball-striking surface located perpendicular to and coincident with the ball-striking clubface. The structure provides improved weight distribution for better balance, additional strength and stability to clubhead and provides more effective aerodynamic surfaces to increase clubhead speed.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention, specifically relates to wood-type traditional shaped clubheads having a reinforcing and stabilizing (R/S) member, including ball-striking surfaces coincident with the clubface and located verticallyin a perpendicular plane, above and/or below, the clubface of a traditional shaped clubhead.  
           [0002]    Most wood-type traditional shaped clubheads are currently made of metal, either totally of steel, titanium, or combined with other alloys. Other clubheads include a shell made of a steel with a face insert that is made of titanium or similar lighter weight material. This permits clubheads to be much larger, yet meet the accepted weight parameters for the respective drivers and fairway type metalwoods.  
           [0003]    Although these wood-type traditional shaped clubheads have been substantially enlarged overall, having higher clubfaces with wider, bulkier crowns and sole bottoms, their clubfaces have not increased the effective ball-contact hitting area, horizontally or vertically, proportionately to the overall enlarged clubheads for improved performance, especially for most golfers. To keep the overall clubhead size larger, and lighter, as currently demanded by most higher handicap golfers, the structural integrity of the side walls and the clubfaces, is often compromised. This causes stress cracks, unstable clubhead control at ball contact, and erratic ball flight control, resulting in loss of distance, accuracy, and inability to produce reassuring and repeating solid ball contacts, even when hit flush.  
           [0004]    Many attempts have been made to reinforce the traditional shaped metal wood type clubheads as shown and described in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,399, to Raymont reinforces the back of the clubface with a honeycomb structure. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,230 reinforces the interior of a metalwood with a first mass located behind the ball-striking face, and my U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,279 provides an interior peripheral mass basically along the inner periphery, of the clubhead shell behind the clubface. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,134 reinforces the outer side walls, rear, bottom and crown areas of a wood-type golf clubhead. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,162,794 and 4,319,752 to Thompson show golf clubheads with a downwardly projecting keel, which is coincident with the ball-striking clubface.  
           [0005]    The ball-striking surface, on clubfaces of traditional shaped metalwood-type clubheads, diminishes dramatically, from the actual point where the crown or top section interfaces with the uppermost portion of the clubface. From this upper demarcation point or common border of the clubface, the outer shape, at both the toe and heel sections of the clubface, are traditionally in a downward and inward direction. his greatly reduces the size of the ball-contact area, available on the traditional shaped metalwood clubfaces. Various attempts at enlarging the ball contact area have been made by altering the overall shape of the clubhead, as shown in the patents to Adams, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,465,970 and 5,931,745, among others.  
           [0006]    A primary concept of the present invention provides traditional shaped wood-type golf clubheads with at least one raised reinforcing and stabilizing member, which adds additional ball striking area to a traditional-sized ball-striking clubface, either upwardly or downwardly in a vertical direction when the clubhead is on the ground surface in a normal address position. This increased ball contact area of the RIS member is specifically formed in a perpendicular or vertical plane, in a top to bottom direction of the clubface. The addition of the reinforcing and stabilizing member of the present invention, includes a ball-striking surface coincident with and located perpendicular to a traditionally, diminished size, shaped clubface, increases the overall height of the ball striking clubface, providing a considerably expanded area to strike a golf ball. The smaller raised reinforcing and stabilizing (R/S) member formed above or below the clubface will always be substantially shorter in a heel to toe direction; than the traditional sized clubhead body.  
           [0007]    Lower handicap golfers, may prefer a smaller traditional shaped clubhead with effective, expanded ball-striking surfaces located above and/or below the clubface. This R/S embodiment locates a much larger concentration of mass above the clubface and closer to the center of gravity and produces a more solid response from ball-contacts, which are made closer to the center of gravity, by the most proficient golfers.  
           [0008]    The versatile concept of the present invention includes distinctively different aerodynamically designed reinforcing and stabilizing members that perform totally different functions on the clubheads, independently of each other. The ball-striking surfaces that are coincident with and/or perpendicular to the clubface may be located separately and/or independently, at different sections of the clubhead, to produce preferred and specifically different functions. The unique structural concept of the present invention permits combining the advantages of distinctively different reinforcing and stabilizing R/S members, in shape and size, which are formed at different locations on the clubhead. The frontal ball striking surfaces of the reinforcing and stabilizing R/S members are coincident with and perpendicular to the clubface on the traditional shaped clubhead to produce improved functions in a superior high-performing clubhead.  
           [0009]    Locating a reinforcing and stabilizing member with ball-string surfaces coincident with the clubface, above and/or below the clubface, substantially increases the reduced ball-striking area on the clubface of a traditional shaped clubhead. In addition, the unusual structure of the present invention, not only minimizes or eliminates undesirable shocks and vibrations of “thin” shots, but produces a most formidable clubhead stability, even when the most severe off-center ball contacts occur at the extreme toe, heel or lowest portion of the clubface.  
           [0010]    A first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes at least one raised reinforcing and stabilizing (R/S) member, with a front ball-striking surface that forms only a downsized smaller top crown section on a traditional shaped clubhead located above and perpendicular to the clubface, which vertically expands the hitting area of the clubface of a traditional shaped clubhead, in a top to bottom direction. The R/S front ball-striking surface extends to and is coincident with a central, upper portion of the ball-striking surface of the clubface. The multi-functional capabilities of the reinforcing and stabilizing member, provides an upwardly expanded, centrally located, ball-contact area that creates a deeper-type clubface on a traditional shaped clubhead. The reinforcing and stabilizing member with a frontal ball-striking surface can be coincident with and located perpendicular to the lower portion and/or the upper portion of the clubface, enlarging it substantially in a vertical direction, thereby providing additional ball-striking area on the clubface of a traditional shaped metalwood-type golf clubhead.  
           [0011]    The reinforcing and stabilizing member is located on an upper portion of the clubhead and includes a front ball-striking surface that extends to and is coincident with the central upper portion of the ball-striking clubface.  
           [0012]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention, provides a reinforcing and stabilizing member with a ball-striking surface, located below and perpendicular to the clubface. This unique additional expanded hitting area below the clubface, is formed by a front ball-striking surface of the reinforcing and stabilizing member, which is coincident with and below the clubface, and is located on the bottom of a traditional shaped clubhead. The reinforcing and stabilizing member extends rearwardly from the ball-striking clubface. This embodiment of the present invention, provides an reinforcing and stabilizing member, including a front ball striking surface, located at the extreme lower portion of the clubface. The lower reinforcing and stabilizing member, located on the bottom of a traditional shaped clubhead, and having a ball striking surface coincident with and perpendicular to the clubface, extends rearwardly therefrom.  
           [0013]    Another embodiment includes two distinctively separated reinforcing and stabilizing members, both including front ball-striking surfaces located above and perpendicular to the clubface of a traditional shaped clubhead.  
           [0014]    Still another embodiment includes two separated reinforcing and stabilizing R/S members including front ball-striking surfaces located below and perpendicular to the clubface of a traditional shaped clubhead.  
           [0015]    Yet another embodiment includes two separated reinforcing and stabilizing R/S members including front ball-striking surfaces, one located above the clubface and another located below the clubface, both perpendicular to the clubface of a traditional shaped clubhead.  
           [0016]    Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred, but non-limiting, embodiment of the subject invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a toe end elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a heel end elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 1  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 1  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 6.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of a third embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of a forth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a bottom-front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 10.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 12.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a seventh embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is a bottom-front perspective view of a eighth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the clubhead of FIG. 15.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is a bottom-front perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a tenth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 19 is a bottom-front perspective view of the clubhead of FIG. 18.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of a eleventh embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of a twelfth embodiment of a metalwood type golf clubhead in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]    FIGS.  1  to  5  illustrate a first embodiment of a golf clubhead  100  in accordance with the present invention, including a clubhead body  112 , hosel  114 , heel  116 , toe  118 , ball striking clubface  120 , upper surface  122 , rear surface  124  and bottom sole  126 . A single reinforcing and stabilizing member  128 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extends upwardly from the upper surface  122 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  100  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottom sole resting on grass or similar support surface. The reinforcing and stabilizing member  128  has a front ball striking surface  130  which is perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  120 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  120  upwardly creating additional ball striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  100 . The location of the reinforcing and stabilizing member  128  on the upper surface  122  moves a portion of the overall weight to the upper part of the clubhead  100 . The reinforcing and stabilizing member  128  is disposed toward and terminates at the rear surface  124  of the clubhead  100 . The reinforcing and stabilizing member  128  includes side wall surfaces  132  which are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ball striking clubface  120 . The top of the reinforcing and stabilzing member  128  forms a top crown surface  138  on the clubhead body  112 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a second embodiment of a golf clubhead  200  in accordance with the present invention, including a clubhead body  212 , hosel  214 , heel  216 , toe  218 , ball striking clubface  220 , upper surface  222 , sidewalls  221 , rear surface  224  and bottom sole  226 . A single reinforcing and stabilizing member  228 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extends upwardly from the upper surface  222 . The reinforcing and stabilizing member  228  has a front ball striking surface  230  which is located above, perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  220 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  220  upwardly creating additional ball striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  200 . This embodiment is similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  5  with the exception that the single reinforcing and stabilizing member  228  terminates before reaching the rear surface  224 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment of a golf clubhead  300  in accordance with the present invention, having a single reinforcing and stabilizing member  328 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extends upwardly from the upper surface  322  and sidewalls  321 . In this embodiment the reinforcing and stabilizing member  328  has a generally curved rear edge  336  adjacent the rear surface  324  to provide smooth aerodynamic airflow at the back of the clubhead  300 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 9 illustrates a forth embodiment of a golf clubhead  400  in accordance with the present invention, including a single reinforcing and stabilizing member  428 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extending upwardly from the upper surface  422  and sidewalls  421 . In this embodiment the reinforcing and stabilizing member  428  has a generally curved rear edge  436  adjacent the rear surface  424  and has a significantly higher top crown  438 . This structure provides significantly more ball striking front surface (not shown) as well as providing greater aerodynamic airflow surface area.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a fifth embodiment of a golf clubhead  500  in accordance with the present invention, including a clubhead body  512 , hosel  514 , heel  516 , toe  518 , ball striking clubface  520 , upper surface  522 , and bottom sole  526 . A single reinforcing and stabilizing member  528 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extends downwardly from the bottom sole  526 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  500  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottom sole resting on grass or similar support surface. The reinforcing and stabilizing member  528  has a front ball striking surface  530  which is located below, perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  520 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  520  downwardly creating additional bail striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  500 . The location of the reinforcing and stabilizing member  528  on the bottom sole  526  moves a portion of the overall weight to the lower part of the clubhead  500 . The reinforcing and stabilizing member  528  is disposed rearwardly  536  short of the rear surface  524  of the clubhead  500 . The reinforcing and stabilizing member  528  includes side wall surfaces  532  which are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ball striking clubface  520 . The outer surface  538  of the reinforcing and stabilizing member  528  also forms a ground engaging surface to stabilize the clubhead  500  when ground contact occurs during the execution of a golf swing.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a sixth embodiment of a golf clubhead  600  in accordance with the present invention, including a clubhead body  612 , hosel  614 , heel  616 , toe  618 , ball striking clubface  620 , upper surface  622 , and bottom sole  626 . A pair of reinforcing and stabilizing members  628  and  629 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extend upwardly from the upper surface  622 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  600  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottom sole resting on grass or similar support surface. A first reinforcing and stabilizing member  628  is located on the upper surface  622  proximate the toe  618 , whereas the second reinforcing and stabilizing member  629  is located on the upper surface  622  proximate the heel  616 . Each reinforcing and stabilizing member  628  and  629  has a front ball striking surface  630  which is located above, perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  620 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  620  upwardly creating additional ball striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  600 . The location of the reinforcing and stabilizing members  628  and  629  moves a portion of the overall weight to the outer parts of the clubhead  600 , thereby effectively increasing the Moment of Inertia of the clubhead  600  when needed. The reinforcing and stabilizing members  628  and  629  are disposed toward and terminate short of the rear surface  624  of the clubhead  600 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  628  and  629  each includes side wall surfaces  632  which are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ball striking clubface  620 .  
         [0044]    FIGS.  14  illustrates a seventh embodiment of a golf clubhead  700  in accordance with the present invention, including a clubhead body  700  having a reinforcing and stabilizing member  728  with a front ball striking surface  730  extending upwardly from upper surface  722  located above, perpendicular to and coincident with ball striking clubface  720 . This embodiment is identical to the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  5  except for the addition of punch marks  732  on the front ball-striking surface  730  of the R/S 728.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a eighth embodiment of a golf clubhead  800  in accordance with the present invention, which is similar to the clubhead described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The clubhead  800  includes a pair of reinforcing and stabilizing members  828  and  829 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extend downwardly from the bottom sole  831 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  800  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottoms of  828  and  829  resting on grass or similar support surface. A first reinforcing and stabilizing member  828  is located on the bottom sole  831  proximate the toe  818 , whereas the second reinforcing and stabilizing member  829  is located on the bottom sole  822  proximate the heel  816 . Each reinforcing and stabilizing member  828  and  829  has a front ball striking surface  830  which is located below, perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  820 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  820  downwardly creating additional ball striking surface below clubface  820  to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center portion of the clubface  820 . The location of the reinforcing and stabilizing members  828  and  829  moves a portion of the overall weight to the outer parts of the clubhead  800 , thereby increasing the Moment of Inertia potential of the clubhead  800 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  828  and  829  are disposed rearwardly short of the rear surface  824  of the clubhead  800 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  828  and  829  each includes side wall surfaces  832  which are generally parallel to each other, perpendicular to the ball striking clubface  820  and taper toward the rear surface  824 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 17 illustrates a ninth embodiment of a club head  900  in accordance with the present invention. This clubhead  900  is similar to the embodiment described with reference FIGS. 15 and 16 and includes a pair of reinforcing and stabilizing members  928  and  929 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extending downwardly from the bottom sole  926 . Each reinforcing and stabilizing member  928  and  929  has a front ball striking surface  930  which is located below, perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  920 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  920  downwardly creating additional ball striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  900 . A first reinforcing and stabilizing member  928  is located on the bottom sole  926  proximate the toe  918 , whereas the second reinforcing and stabilizing member  929  is located on the bottom sole  926  proximate the heel  916 . In this embodiment, the reinforcing and stabilizing members  928  and  929  extend to the rear surface (not shown) and remain at the same height along the bottom sole  926  in a front to rear direction.  
         [0047]    Various combinations and locations of reinforcing and stabilizing members maybe formed on a conventional or traditional shaped golf clubhead depending upon various characteristics that are preferred by a particular golfer. Single or multiple reinforcing and stabilizing members maybe provided on the upper and/or the bottom sole locations on a golf clubhead, and /or combinations thereof.  
         [0048]    For example, FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate a tenth embodiment of a golf clubhead  1000  in accordance with the present invention, including a clubhead body  1012 , hosel  1014 , heel  1016 , toe  1018 , ball striking clubface  1020 , upper surface  1022 , and bottom sole  1026 . Two reinforcing and stabilizing members  1028  and  1029 , having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, extend outwardly from the clubhead body  1012 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  1000  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottom sole resting on grass or similar support surface. A first reinforcing and stabilizing member  1028  is located on the upper surface  1022  above ball-striking clubface  1020 , whereas the second reinforcing and stabilizing member  1029  is located on the bottom sole  1026 . Each reinforcing and stabilizing member  1028  and  1029  has a front ball striking surface  1030  which is located perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  1020 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  1020  upwardly and downwardly creating additional ball striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  1000 . The location of the reinforcing and stabilizing members  1028  and  1029  moves a portion of the overall weight to the outer parts of the clubhead  1000 , thereby increasing the effectiveness as needed for the Moment of Inertia of the clubhead  1000 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  1028  and  1029  are disposed toward and terminate short of the rear surface  1024  of the clubhead  1000 , although it will be appreciated one or both may extend all the way to the rear surface  1024 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  1028  and  1029  each includes side wall surfaces  1032  which are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ball striking clubface  1020 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 20 illustrates an eleventh embodiment of a golf clubhead  1100  in accordance with the present invention, including three reinforcing and stabilizing members  1127 , 1128  and  1129 , each having an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, and extending outwardly from the clubhead body  1112 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  1100  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottom sole resting on grass or similar support surface. A first reinforcing and stabilizing member  1127  is located on the upper surface  1122  above clubface  1120 , whereas the second and third reinforcing and stabilizing members  1128  and  1129  are located on the bottom sole  1126 . Each of the three reinforcing and stabilizing members  1127 ,  1128  and  1129  has a front ball striking surface  1130  which is perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  1120 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  1120  upwardly and downwardly creating additional ball striking surfaces to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubhead  1100 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  1127 , 1128  and  1129  are disposed toward and may extend to or terminate short of the rear surface  1124  of the clubhead  1100 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 21 illustrates a twelfth embodiment of a golf clubhead  1200  in accordance with the present invention, including two pair of reinforcing and stabilizing members  1227  and  1228  and  1229  and  1231 . Each of the four of reinforcing and stabilizing members  1227  and  1228  and  1229  and  1231  has an aerodynamic, airfoil type shape, and extend outwardly from the clubhead body  1212 , in a vertical direction when the clubhead  1200  is viewed in a normal address position, that is with the bottom sole resting on grass or similar support surface. A first pair of reinforcing and stabilizing members  1227  and  1228  are located on the upper surface  1222  above clubface  1220 , whereas a second pair of reinforcing and stabilizing members  1229  and  1231  are located on the bottom sole  1226 . Each of the reinforcing and stabilizing members  1227  and  1228  and  1229  and  1231  has a front ball striking surface  1232  which is perpendicular to and coincident with the ball striking clubface  1220 , thereby enlarging and extending the ball striking clubface  1220  upwardly and downwardly creating additional ball striking surface to provide a greater margin for error when golf balls are struck away from the center of the clubface  1220 . The reinforcing and stabilizing members  1227  and  1228 ,  1229  and  1231  are disposed toward and may extend to or terminate short of the rear surface  1224  of the clubhead  1200 .  
         [0051]    While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.