US5273283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Golf club head with sleeved cavity
Assignee: Pro Group Inc
•
Filing: 1992-07-13
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Granted: 1993-12-28
•
Expires: 2012-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An oversize wooden golf club head has a cylindrical internal cavity which extends upwardly from the bottom of the head, toward but not to its upper surface. A thin-walled, lightweight metal sleeve insert is fitted in this cavity. A sleeve has been found to significantly increase the average distance of drives in comparison to a club head having the cavity but without a sleeve.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Bowland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:36
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B53/00; A63B53/04; A63B53/0416; A63B53/0466; A63B60/00; A63B2209/00; A63B53/0408; A63B53/0433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A golf club head comprising: a body made of wood, said body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front face, and a trailing surface, a cylindrical cavity formed in said body between said face and said trailing surface, said cavity having a wall and extending upwardly from said lower surface toward but not to said upper surface, a sleeve insert fitted in said cavity, said insert being of a lightweight metal and having an outer surface which closely adjoins the wall of said cavity, and a sole plate secured to the lower surface of said body and extending across and closing said cavity, the presence of said sleeve in said cavity increasing the average distance a ball can be hit with said club, in comparison to a similar club having said cavity but without said sleeve insert.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A golf club head comprising: a body made of wood, said body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front face, and a trailing surface, a cylindrical cavity formed in said body between said face and said trailing surface, said cavity having a wall and extending upwardly from said lower surface toward but not to said upper surface, a sleeve insert fitted in said cavity, said insert being of a lightweight metal and having an outer surface which closely adjoins the wall of said cavity, and a sole plate secured to the lower surface of said body and extending across and closing said cavity, the presence of said sleeve in said cavity increasing the average distance a ball can be hit with said club, in comparison to a similar club having said cavity but without said sleeve insert.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the height of said cavity is between about 1/3 and 2/3 the distance between said lower surface and said upper surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said cavity is about 1/3 to 2/3 the distance between said front face and said trailing surface of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The club head of claim 1 wherein said sleeve insert has a wall thickness between about 0.034-0.036 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The club head of claim 1 wherein at least one heavy metal weight is mounted in said body rearwardly and outside of said cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The golf club head of claim 5 wherein multiple weights are mounted in bores in said head, said bores being cylindrical and having axes generally parallel to a center axis of said cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The golf club head of claim 6 wherein said bores are spaced apart along a line generally paralleling said trailing surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said body is about 10 to 15% larger in volume than a conventional wood club driver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said lightweight metal is titanium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said body is of persimmon wood.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is adhesively secured to the wall of said cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said head is a driver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
A golf club head comprising: a body made of wood, said body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front face, and a trailing surface, a cylindrical cavity formed in said body between said face and said trailing surface, said cavity extending upwardly from said lower surface toward but not to said upper surface, a sleeve insert fitted in said cavity, said insert being of a lightweight metal having an outer surface which closely adjoins the wall of said cavity, at least one heavy metal weight being mounted in said body rearwardly and outside of said cavity, and a sole plate secured to the lower surface of said body and covering said cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
A golf club head comprising: a body made of wood, said body having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front face, and a trailing surface, a cylindrical cavity formed in said body between said face and said trailing surface, said cavity extending upwardly from said lower surface toward but not to said upper surface, a sleeve insert fitted in said cavity, said insert being of a lightweight metal having an outer surface which closely adjoins the wall of said cavity, at least one heavy metal weight being mounted in said body rearwardly and outside of said cavity, and a sole plate secured to the lower surface of said body and covering said cavity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The golf club head of claim 13 wherein said at least one weight is mounted in a bore formed in said head, said bore being cylindrical and having an axis generally parallel to a center axis of said cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The golf club head of claim 14 wherein each said bore is located along a line generally paralleling said trailing surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The golf club head of claim 13 wherein said lightweight metal is titanium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The golf head of claim 13 wherein said sleeve insert has a wall thickness within the range of approximately 0.034-0.036 inches.
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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) | 1996-12-27 | 1997-06-28 | 1997-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-27 | 2001-06-28 | 2001-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-27 | 2005-06-28 | 2005-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |