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 ball striking face and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face, wherein the rear surface of the ball striking face member comprises an engagement member including a first raised rib element and a second raised rib element formed integrally with the ball striking face member;
 wherein each of the first raised rib element and the second raised rib element projects rearward from the rear surface of the ball striking face member; 
 wherein the first raised rib element is located in a toe portion of the ball striking face member and the second raised rib element is located in a heel portion of the ball striking face member; and 
 wherein the first raised rib element and the second raised rib element are collinear; 
   a rear weight member including a front surface spaced from the rear surface of the ball striking face member to define a space therebetween; and   a resilient member disposed within the space to isolate the ball striking face member from the rear weight member along a perimeter of ball striking face member;   wherein the rear weight member and the resilient member are configured to receive transferred energy from impact between the ball striking face member and a ball, and to selectively 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 located below the first and second raised rib elements, and (b) an area of high compressibility located above the first and second raised rib elements.   
     
     
         2 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ball striking face member comprises a first material having a first hardness;   the rear weight member comprises a second member having a second hardness; and   the resilient member comprises at least a third hardness.   
     
     
         3 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the resilient member comprises a hardness less than that of the ball striking face member and the rear weight member. 
     
     
         4 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member covers the first and second raised rib elements thereby separating the ball striking face member from the rear weight member at the perimeter of the ball striking face member. 
     
     
         5 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second raised rib elements are arranged with respect to a center of gravity of the golf club head such that a line passing through the first and second raised rib elements passes through a center of gravity of the iron-type golf club head. 
     
     
         6 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member engages both the rear surface of the ball striking face member and the front surface of the rear weight member. 
     
     
         7 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises a ring shape engaging the perimeter of the ball striking face member. 
     
     
         8 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises two half ring members engaging the perimeter of the ball striking face member. 
     
     
         9 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second raised rib elements comprises a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a half circle, a triangle, and a trapezoid. 
     
     
         10 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient member comprises a complementary recess configured to receive the first and second raised rib elements. 
     
     
         11 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
 a ball striking face member including a ball striking face and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face, wherein the rear surface of the ball striking face member comprises an engagement member including a first raised rib element, a second raised rib element, and a third raised rib element formed integrally with the ball striking face member;
 wherein each of the first raised rib element, the second raised rib element, and the third raised rib element projects rearward from the rear surface of the ball striking face member; 
 wherein the first raised rib element is located in a toe portion of the ball striking face member, the second raised rib element is located in a central portion of the ball striking face member, and the third raised rib element is located in a heel portion of the ball striking face member; and 
 wherein the first raised rib element, the second raised rib element, and the third raised rib element are collinear; 
   a rear weight member including a front surface spaced from the rear surface of the ball striking face member to define a space therebetween; and   a resilient member disposed in the space to isolate the ball striking face member from the rear weight member along a perimeter of ball striking face member;   wherein the rear weight member and the resilient member are configured to receive transferred energy from impact between the ball striking face member and a ball, and to selectively 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 located below the first, second, and third raised rib elements, and (b) an area of high compressibility located above the first, second, and third raised rib elements.   
     
     
         12 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the ball striking face member comprises a first material having a first hardness;   the rear weight member comprises a second member having a second hardness; and   the resilient member comprises at least a third hardness.   
     
     
         13 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the resilient member comprises a hardness less than that of the ball striking face member and the rear weight member. 
     
     
         14 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the resilient member covers the first, second, and third raised rib elements thereby separating the ball striking face member from the rear weight member at the perimeter of the ball striking face member. 
     
     
         15 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third raised rib elements are arranged with respect to a center of gravity of the golf club head such that a line passing through the first, second, and third raised rib elements passes through a center of gravity of the iron-type golf club head. 
     
     
         16 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member engages both the rear surface of the ball striking face member and the front surface of the rear weight member. 
     
     
         17 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member comprises a ring shape engaging the perimeter of the ball striking face member. 
     
     
         18 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member comprises two half ring members engaging the perimeter of the ball striking face member. 
     
     
         19 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first, second, and third raised rib elements comprises a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a half circle, a triangle, and a trapezoid. 
     
     
         20 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 19 , wherein the resilient member comprises complementary recesses configured to receive the first, second, and third raised rib elements.