Iron-Type Golf Clubs And Golf Club Heads

Abstract

An iron-type golf club head includes a ball striking face and a rear weight member that are engaged through one or more resilient members with a connection structure that creates a mass-damping effect at impact with a golf ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
 a ball striking face member including a rear surface;   a rear weight member including a front surface, wherein the front surface of the rear weight member and the rear surface of the ball striking face member face one another and define a space therebetween;   at least three connection point support structures disposed within the space and extending in a direction between the rear surface and the front surface within the space, wherein the at least three connection point support structures limit compressibility of the space between the ball striking face member and the rear weight member and divide the space into: (a) an area of low compressibility at a vicinity of the at least three connection point support structures and (b) an area of high compressibility located away from the at least three connection point support structures, and wherein the at least three connection point support structures are arranged with respect to a center of gravity of the golf club head such that the center of gravity is located within a perimeter defined by the at least three connection point support structures; and   at least one resilient member disposed within the space at least in the area of high compressibility.   
     
     
         2 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member is arranged to surround the at least three connection point support structures and the area of low compressibility. 
     
     
         3 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures are rigidly connected to the face member. 
     
     
         4 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures are rigidly connected to the weight member. 
     
     
         5 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures are formed integrally with and of the same material as the face member. 
     
     
         6 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures are formed integrally with and of the same material as the weight member. 
     
     
         7 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter side of the at least one resilient member: (a) is visible and located between the rear surface and the front surface and (b) extends continuously at least around a top edge, a toe edge, and a sole edge of the iron type golf club head. 
     
     
         8 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member contacts both the front surface and the rear surface. 
     
     
         9 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures constitute three connection point support structures that extend between and directly connect the rear surface of the ball striking face member and the front surface of the rear weight member. 
     
     
         10 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures constitute three connection point support structures in a triangular arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three connection point support structures constitute four connection point support structures in a polygonal arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
 a ball striking face member including a rear surface;   a rear weight member including a front surface, wherein the front surface of the rear weight member and the rear surface of the ball striking face member face one another and define a space therebetween;   at least two connection point support structures disposed within the space and extending in a direction between the rear surface and the front surface within the space, wherein the at least two connection point support structures limit compressibility of the space between the ball striking face member and the rear weight member and divide the space into: (a) an area of low compressibility at a vicinity of the at least two connection point support structures and (b) an area of high compressibility located away from the at least two connection point support structures, and wherein the at least two connection point support structures are arranged with respect to a center of gravity of the golf club head such that the center of gravity is located between the at least two connection point support structures; and   at least one resilient member disposed within the space at least in the area of high compressibility.   
     
     
         13 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the at least two connection point support structures constitute two connection point support structures. 
     
     
         14 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein an outer perimeter side of the at least one resilient member: (a) is visible and located between the rear surface and the front surface and (b) extends continuously at least around a top edge, a toe edge, and a sole edge of the iron type golf club head. 
     
     
         15 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 12 , further comprising a scoreline on the ball striking face member, wherein the at least two connection point support structures are arranged along a line that is substantially parallel to the scoreline. 
     
     
         16 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
 a ball striking face member including a rear surface;   a rear weight member including a front surface, wherein the front surface of the rear weight member and the rear surface of the ball striking face member face one another and define a space therebetween;   at least one engagement member disposed within the space, wherein the at least one engagement member defines at least two separated support structures that extend in a direction between the rear surface and the front surface within the space and limit compressibility of the space between the ball striking face member and the rear weight member, the at least two separated support structures dividing the space into: (a) an area of low compressibility at a vicinity of the at least two separated support structures and (b) an area of high compressibility located away from the at least two separated support structures, and wherein the at least two separated support structures are arranged with respect to a center of gravity of the golf club head such that the center of gravity is located between the at least two separated support structures; and   at least one resilient member disposed within the space at least in the area of high compressibility.   
     
     
         17 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two separated support structures constitute two separated support structures. 
     
     
         18 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 16 , further comprising a scoreline on the ball striking face member, wherein the at least two separated support structures are arranged along a line that is substantially parallel to the scoreline. 
     
     
         19 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two separated support structures constitute three separated support structures in a linear arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . The iron type golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two separated support structures constitute at least three separated support structures in a polygonal arrangement, and wherein the at least three separated support structures are arranged with respect to the center of gravity of the golf club head such that the center of gravity is located within a perimeter defined by the polygonal arrangement of the at least three separated support structures.