US4687205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Iron type golf club head
Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-08-09
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Granted: 1987-08-18
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Expires: 2004-08-09
Abstract
Abstract An iron type golf club head comprising a composite material of light metal or synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers at 2 to 80% by volume and occupying 20% or more by volume of the body of the club head. The club head can be 10 to 60% lighter than a club head made entirely of steel with the same configuration and size, while the moment of inertia is approximately the same. Weight metal inserts having a specific gravity greater than steel can also be embedded in the club head.
Inventors
- 👤 Ichiro Tominaga
- 👤 Teruo Sasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:32
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B53/00; A63B53/04; A63B53/0433; A63B53/047; A63B60/00; A63B2209/00; A63B2209/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising light metal containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising light metal containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein the content of said silicon carbide whiskers in the composite material ranges from 2 to 80% by volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A golf club as defined in claim 2, wherein the content of said silicon carbide whiskers in the composite material ranges from 4 to 40% by volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein the specific gravity of said composite material is equal to 40% or less than the specific gravity of steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A golf club as defined in claim 4, wherein said head has a sole portion with weight inserts embedded therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said silicon carbide whiskers ranges from 0.1 to 1.0 um in diameter and the aspect ratio ranges from 50 to 300.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The iron type golf club according to claim 1, wherein the light metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A golf club as defined in claim 8, wherein the content of said silicon carbide whiskers in the composite material ranges from 2 to 80% by volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A golf club as defined in claim 9, wherein the content of said silicon carbide whiskers in the composite material ranges from 4 to 40% by volume.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A golf club as defined in claim 8, wherein the specific gravity of said composite material is equal to 40% or less than the specific gravity of steel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A golf club as defined in claim 11, wherein said head has a sole portion with weight inserts embedded therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A golf club as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said silicon carbide whiskers ranges from 0.1 to 1.0 μm in diameter and the aspect ratio ranges from 50 to 300.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising light metal containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head so that the weight of said club head is 10 to 60% lighter than a club head made entirely of steel having the same configuration and size with the condition that the moment of inertia is approximately the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising light metal containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head so that the weight of said club head is 10 to 60% lighter than a club head made entirely of steel having the same configuration and size with the condition that the moment of inertia is approximately the same.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An iron type golf club as defined in claim 14, wherein weight inserts are embedded into portions lying apart from the center of gravity of the club head on lower portions thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The iron type golf club according to claim 14, wherein the light metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head so that the weight of said club head is reduced by 10 to 60% to be lighter than a club head made entirely of steel and having approximately the same configuration and size as the club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
74 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and occupying 20% or more by volume of said club head so that the weight of said club head is reduced by 10 to 60% to be lighter than a club head made entirely of steel and having approximately the same configuration and size as the club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A golf club as defined in claim 17, wherein weight inserts are embedded into portions lying apart from the center of gravity of the club head on lower portions thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising light metal containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said head, provided with metal weight inserts each having a specific gravity greater than that of steel and embedded into portions lying apart from the center of gravity of the club head on lower portions thereof, and adapted to possess an increased moment of inertia around said center of gravity with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising light metal containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said head, provided with metal weight inserts each having a specific gravity greater than that of steel and embedded into portions lying apart from the center of gravity of the club head on lower portions thereof, and adapted to possess an increased moment of inertia around said center of gravity with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The iron type golf club according to claim 19, wherein the light metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said club head, provided with weight metal inserts each having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of steel and embedded into portions lying apart from the center of gravity of the club head on the lower portions thereof, and adapted to possess an increased moment of inertia around said center of gravity with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said club head, provided with weight metal inserts each having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of steel and embedded into portions lying apart from the center of gravity of the club head on the lower portions thereof, and adapted to possess an increased moment of inertia around said center of gravity with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said club head, provided with a weight metal insert having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of steel and embedded into a sole portion of the club head with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said club head, provided with a weight metal insert having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of steel and embedded into a sole portion of the club head with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
83 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said club head, provided with a weight metal insert having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of steel and embedded in a sole portion of the club head with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
A golf club comprising an iron type golf club head formed of a composite material comprising synthetic resin containing silicon carbide whiskers and forming a major part of said club head, provided with a weight metal insert having a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of steel and embedded in a sole portion of the club head with the condition that the configuration, size, and weight of said club head are identical with those of a club head made entirely of steel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-17 | 1991-02-16 | 1991-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-17 | 1995-02-16 | 1995-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-17 | 1999-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |