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EP-4470638-B1 - GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING CONSTANT BLADE LENGTH

EP4470638B1EP 4470638 B1EP4470638 B1EP 4470638B1EP-4470638-B1

Inventors

  • TASSISTRO, KEVIN
  • HETTINGER, RONALD K.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240530

Claims (5)

  1. A plurality of golf club heads comprising: a first golf club head (100); and a second golf club head (200), wherein said first golf club head (100) comprises: a first striking face (110); a first back portion (122) behind said first striking face (110) extending from a first topline (112) to a first sole (116); a first leading edge (130) at a transition between said first striking face (110) and said first sole (116); a first hosel (120) configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis (SA), said first hosel (120) located on a first heel portion (118), said first heel portion (118) located opposite a first toe portion (114); a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of said first striking face (110), said first coordinate system comprising a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane (GP) when said first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to said first y-axis and parallel to said first striking face (110), extending towards said first heel portion (118) of said first golf club head (100), and a first z-axis, perpendicular to said first y-axis and said first x-axis and extending through said first striking face (110); a first leading edge plane (LEP) parallel to said first ground plane (GP) and passing through a forwardmost point of said first leading edge (130); a first shaft axis and leading edge plane intersection point (160) located where said first shaft axis (SA) intersects said first leading edge plane (LEP); a first vertical heel plane (VHP) perpendicular to said first ground plane (GP) and passing through said first shaft axis and leading edge plane intersection point (160); a first vertical toe plane (VTP) perpendicular to said first ground plane (GP) and passing through a toewardmost point of said first golf club head (100); a first leading edge blade length (LEBL) defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane (VTP) and said first shaft axis and leading edge plane intersection point (160); and a first striking face length (150) defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane (VTP) and said first vertical heel plane (VHP), wherein said second golf club head (200) comprises: a second striking face (210); a second back portion (222) behind said second striking face (210) extending from a second topline (212) to a second sole (216); a second leading edge (230) at a transition between said second striking face (210) and said second sole (216); a second hosel (220) configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis (SA), said second hosel (220) located on a second heel portion (218), said second heel portion (218) located opposite a second toe portion (214); a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of said second striking face (210), said second coordinate system comprising a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane (GP) when said second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to said second y-axis and parallel to said second striking face (210), extending towards said second heel portion (218) of said second golf club head (200), and a second z-axis, perpendicular to said second y-axis and said second x-axis and extending through said second striking face (210); a second leading edge plane (LEP) parallel to said second ground plane (GP) and passing through a forwardmost point of said second leading edge (230); a second shaft axis and leading edge plane intersection point (260) located where said second shaft axis intersects said second leading edge plane (LEP); a second vertical heel plane (VHP) perpendicular to said second ground plane (GP) and passing through said second shaft axis and leading edge plane intersection point (260); a second vertical toe plane (VTP) perpendicular to said second ground plane (GP) and passing through a toewardmost point of said second golf club head (200); a second leading edge blade length (LEBL) defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane (VTP) and said second shaft axis and leading edge plane intersection point (260); and a second striking face length (250) defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane (VTP) and said second vertical heel plane (VHP), wherein a geometry of said first sole (116) is different than a geometry of said second sole (216), and wherein said first leading edge blade length (LEBL) is equal to said second leading edge blade length (LEBL).
  2. A plurality of golf club heads according to claim 1, wherein said first prescribed loft angle is equal to said second prescribed loft angle.
  3. A plurality of golf club heads according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first prescribed lie angle is equal to said second prescribed lie angle.
  4. A plurality of golf club heads according to any of claims 1-3, wherein a maximum height of said first sole (116) along said first y-axis is different than a maximum height of said second sole (216) along said second y-axis.
  5. A plurality of golf club heads according to any of claims 1-4, wherein a bounce angle of said first sole (116) is different than a bounce angle of said second sole (216).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a plurality of golf club heads with the same loft having a same blade length dimension regardless of their sole configurations. More specifically, golf club heads of the same loft in accordance with the present invention have the same striking face dimensions and visual appearance at the address position regardless of their bounce angle and/or grind type. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern day golf club design has evolved since the early days of golf. The good news of all the technological advancements in golf club technology is that it makes the game of golf easier for golfers of all skill levels. However, all these advancements come with tremendous challenges for the golf club engineer. In order to inspire confidence in shot making, it is important to provide golfers with consistent club head profiles when standing at the address position. Current iron-type golf club head design measures blade length by holding the club in its designed loft angle and lie angle, contacting the sole with a ground plane, establishing a shaft axis intersection point where the shaft axis intersects the ground plane, establishing a vertical plane perpendicular to the ground plane and in contact with the toewardmost point of the golf club head, and measuring a distance from the shaft axis intersection point to the vertical plane. A problem exists using the conventional design method when the sole of the golf club head changes. Golf club heads having the same loft but different sole height due to bounce angle or grind differences will have a different shaft axis intersection point on the ground plane. Designing golf club heads to have the same blade length dimension based on conventional measuring thus requires adjusting the position of the vertical plane which changes the length of the striking face as observed from the address position. The following prior art documents can be regarded as useful to understand the invention: 1) US8753219B2 to Acushnet Company, which discloses a set of golf clubs including golf club heads having improved mass distribution characteristics; 2) EP0517487B1 to Acushnet Company, which discloses a set of irons that have a cavity back where the cavity volume is adjusted such that the geometric centre of the club face and the centre of mass of the club head coincide; 3) US5429353A to Acushnet Company, which discloses a set of irons that have a cavity back surrounded by a perimeter where the perimeter is formed such that the geometric center or other intended impact position on the club face and the center of gravity of the club head coincide; and 4) US2017/259134A1 to Acushnet Company, which discloses a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid irons and short irons having a progressive horizontal CG location. The present invention is directed to golf club heads within a given loft having the same striking face length regardless of their sole configurations which provides a consistent appearance at address position. The present invention utilizes a unique design aspect that ensures the length of the striking face in a heel-to-toe direction is not affected by different bounce angles and/or grind types on the sole. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention is a plurality of golf club heads including: a first golf club head; and a second golf club head, wherein the first golf club head includes: a first striking face; a first back portion behind the first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; a first leading edge at a transition between the first striking face and the first sole; a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, the first hosel located on a first heel portion, the first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of the first striking face, the first coordinate system including a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when the first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to the first y-axis and parallel to the first striking face, extending towards the first heel portion of the first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to the first y-axis and the first x-axis and extending through the first striking face; a first leading edge plane parallel to the first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the first leading edge; a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the first shaft axis intersects the first leading edge plane; a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of the first golf club h