# US 10,369,433 B2 · Golf club head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,433 B2 - Document ID: US10369433B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/170,905 - Filed: 2018-10-25 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-25 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Inventors: Mika Becktor; Patrick Ripp - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369433B2 ## CPC - A63B 53/047: {iron-type} - A63B 69/3632: {Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning (A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00)} - A63B 53/04: Heads - A63B 53/0408: {characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness} - A63B 53/0416: {Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert} - A63B 53/042: {the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head} - A63B 53/0425: {the face insert comprising two or more different materials} - A63B 53/0433: {with special sole configurations} - A63B 53/0441: {with visual indicators for aligning the golf club} - A63B 2053/0479: {Wedge-type clubs, details thereof} - A63B 2053/0483: {Chipping clubs, details thereof} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract An iron-type golf club head comprising a topline, a sole in opposed relation to the topline, and a front portion extending from the topline toward the sole. The front portion includes a leading edge, a substantially planar hitting region including a face center, and a peripheral region. The peripheral region at least partially surrounds the hitting region such that the hitting region and the peripheral region define therebetween a visually-recognizable hitting region boundary line including a sole-proximate boundary line segment such that when the club head is oriented in a reference position relative to a virtual ground plane, and in a virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the hitting region and passing through the face center, the sole-proximate boundary line segment is vertically spaced above the leading edge by a distance D1 that is no less than 2.5 mm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An iron-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position relative to a virtual ground plane, comprises: a topline; a sole; and a front portion extending from the topline toward the sole, the front portion including a leading edge and a substantially planar striking face having a face center, wherein, in a virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the striking face and passing through the face center: the leading edge is vertically spaced above the virtual ground plane by a distance D2 no less than 4 mm and no greater than 12 mm; the sole comprises a sole length between 0.5 in and 1.2 in; and the sole varies in camber in the front to rear direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, wherein, in the virtual vertical plane, the distance D2 is no less than 7 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, wherein, in the virtual vertical plane, the sole varies in camber such that radius of curvature decreases forwardly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, wherein, in the virtual vertical plane, the sole varies in camber between a first radius curvature associated with a first sole location and a second radius of curvature associated with a second sole location forward of the first sole location, wherein the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature by a difference of at least 0.5 in. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the difference between the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature is at least 1.0 in. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the first radius of curvature is no less than 4 in. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a loft no less than 40 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole portion is structured to contact the virtual ground plane at a sole contact location heel-ward of the face center by no less than 2 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the sole contact location is heel-ward of the face center by no less than 4 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking face further comprises a plurality of scorelines and a plurality of texture ridges. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking face further comprises a plurality of scorelines and a plurality of face grooves. ### Claim 12 An iron-type golf club head that, when oriented in a reference position relative to a virtual ground plane, comprises: a topline; a sole; and a front portion extending from the topline toward the sole, the front portion including a leading edge and a substantially planar striking face having a face center, wherein, in a virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the striking face and passing through the face center: the leading edge is vertically spaced above the virtual ground plane by a distance D2 no less than 4 mm and no greater than 12 mm; and the sole varies in camber such that radius of curvature decreases from a first radius of curvature associated with a first sole location to a second radius of curvature associated with a second sole location that is forward of the first sole location, wherein the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature by a difference of at least 0.5 in. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, wherein, in the virtual vertical plane, the distance D2 is no less than 7 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the difference between the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature is at least 1.0 in. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a loft no less than 40 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the first radius of curvature is no less than 4 in. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the sole portion is structured to contact the virtual ground plane at a sole contact location heel-ward of the face center by no less than 2 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the sole contact location is heel-ward of the face center by no less than 4 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the striking face further comprises a plurality of scorelines and a plurality of texture ridges. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the striking face further comprises a plurality of scorelines and a plurality of face grooves.