# US 5,326,105 A · Sea plane sole for a golf club > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,326,105 A - Document ID: US5326105A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/064,634 - Filed: 1993-05-20 - Granted: 1994-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1993-05-20 - Assignees: Fenton Golf, Inc. - Inventors: Francis A. Fenton, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5326105A ## CPC - A63B 53/04: Heads - A63B 53/0466: {wood-type} - A63B 53/047: {iron-type} - A63B 60/00: Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like - A63B 53/0433: {with special sole configurations} - A63B 53/0487: {for putters (A63B53/065 takes precedence)} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A golf club of either an "iron"-type, "wood"-type, or "putter"-type, has a clubhead with a face for striking a golfball. The sole of the clubhead has a contoured surface that extends from a leading edge of the striking face of the clubhead toward a rear portion of the clubhead. The contoured surface has a first portion starting at the leading edge of the striking face that extends a predetermined distance towards the rear portion of the head. This first portion of the contoured surface has a convex camber of a predetermined radius. The contoured surface also has a second portion beginning at the end of the first portion and extending the remaining distance toward the rear portion of the clubhead. The second portion of the contoured surface has a concave camber of a predetermined radius. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A head portion of an iron-type golf club, comprising: a. a striking face on a front portion of the head; b. a rear portion opposite the front portion; c. a heel; d. a toe; and e. a sole having a contoured surface extending from a leading edge of the striking face towards the rear portion of the head, the contoured surface having a first portion beginning at the leading edge of the striking face and extending a predetermined distance toward the rear portion of the head, the first portion of the contoured surface having a convex camber of a predetermined radius, the contoured surface having a second portion beginning at the end of the first portion and extending the remaining distance towards the rear portion of the clubhead, the second portion of the contoured surface having a concave camber of a predetermined radius. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The head of claim 1, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is greater in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The head of claim 1, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is smaller in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The head of claim 1, wherein the contoured surface of the sole further includes a convex camber extending between the heel and toe of the head. ### Claim 5 In a set of iron-type golf clubs comprising a plurality of clubs, each club within the set having a shaft and a head portion to which the shaft is attached, the head having a striking face disposed on a front portion of the head, a rear portion opposite the front portion, a heel, a toe, and a sole, wherein the improvement comprises the sole having a contoured surface extending from a leading edge of the striking face toward the rear portion of the head, the contoured surface having a first portion beginning at the leading edge of the striking face and extending a predetermined distance toward the rear portion of the head, the first portion of the contoured surface having a convex camber of a predetermined radius, the contoured surface having a second portion beginning at the end of the first portion and extending the remaining distance toward the rear portion of the clubhead, the second portion of the contoured surface having a concave camber of a predetermined radius. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 5, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is greater in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 5, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is smaller in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 5, wherein the iron-type golf clubs differ from each other in an amount of loft angle of the striking face. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 8, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface changes in value among the clubs in the set as the loft angle of the striking face of the club increases in value among the clubs in the set. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The set of iron-type golf clubs of claim 5, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is different for each club within the set of iron-type clubs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The of iron-type golf clubs of claim 5, wherein the contoured surface of the sole further includes a convex camber extending between the heel and toe of the head. ### Claim 12 An iron-type golf club comprising: a. a shaft; and b. a head portion having a striking face disposed on a front portion of the head, the head portion also having a rear portion, a heel, a toe, and a sole, the sole having a contoured surface extending from a leading edge of the striking face toward the rear portion of the head, the contoured surface having a first portion beginning at the leading edge of the striking face and extending a predetermined distance towards the rear portion of the head, the first portion of a contoured surface having a convex camber of a predetermined radius, the contoured surface having a second portion beginning at the end of the first portion and extending the remaining distance towards the rear portion of the clubhead, the second portion of the contoured surface having a concave camber of a predetermined radius. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is greater in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 14 A head portion of a wood-type golf club, comprising: a. a striking face on a front portion of the head; b. a rear portion opposite the front portion; c. a heel; d. a toe; and e. a sole having a contoured surface extending from a leading edge of the striking face towards the rear portion of the head, the contoured surface having a first portion beginning at the leading edge of the striking face and extending a predetermined distance toward the rear portion of the head, the first portion of the contoured surface having a convex camber of a predetermined radius, wherein the first portion of the contoured surface comprises means for elevating the leading edge of the striking face above a ground plane when the head is at address and at impact with a golf ball, thereby reducing an amount of physical contact of the sole with the ground plane, the contoured surface having a second portion beginning at the end of the first portion and extending the remaining distance towards the rear portion of the clubhead, the second portion of the contoured surface having a concave camber of a predetermined radius, wherein the second portion of the contoured surface comprises means for elevating the second portion of the contoured surface above the ground plane, at a highest point of the second portion above the ground plane which is higher than the elevation of the leading edge of the striking face above the ground plane, when the head is at address and at impact with the golf ball, thereby reducing an amount of physical contact of the sole with the ground plane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The head of claim 14, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is greater in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The head of claim 14, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is smaller in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 17 A head portion of a putter-type golf club, comprising: a. a striking face on a front portion of the head; b. a rear portion opposite the front portion; c. a heel; d. a toe; and e. a sole having a contoured surface extending from a leading edge of the striking face towards the rear portion of the head, the contoured surface having a first portion beginning at the leading edge of the striking face and extending a predetermined distance toward the rear portion of the head, the first portion of the contoured surface having a convex camber of a predetermined radius, wherein the first portion of the contoured surface comprises means for elevating the leading edge of the striking face above a ground plane when the head is at address and at impact with a golf ball, thereby reducing an amount of physical contact of the sole with the ground plane, the contoured surface having a second portion beginning at the end of the first portion and extending the remaining distance towards the rear portion of the clubhead, the second portion of the contoured surface having a concave camber of a predetermined radius, wherein the second portion of the contoured surface comprises means for elevating the second portion of the contoured surface above the ground plane, at a highest point of the second portion above the ground plane which is higher than the elevation of the leading edge of the striking face above the ground plane, when the head is at address and at impact with the golf ball, thereby reducing an amount of physical contact of the sole with the ground plane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The head of claim 17, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is greater in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The head of claim 17, wherein the radius of the convex camber of the first portion of the contoured surface is smaller in value then the radius of the concave camber of the second portion of the contoured surface.