Patent Application
20160051869
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a weight for a golf club head that can be adjusted along one or more channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
The ability to adjust center of gravity location and weight in the head of driving clubs is useful for controlling performance of the golf club. The prior art includes several different solutions for adjustable weighting, but these solutions do not optimize weight adjustment. There is a need for a weighting mechanism that allows for simple and flexible center of gravity (CG) and moment of inertia (MOI) adjustability.
The present invention is a novel way of working with adjustable products. The present invention allows consumers to easily move and fix a weight at any location within one or more channels disposed in the golf club head in such a way to maximize aesthetic appearances while preserving the function of the movable weight. The objective of this invention is to provide an adjustable weight with minimal or no effect on appearance at address while maximizing the ability of the weight to adjust center of gravity height. Additional goals include minimizing the fixed component of the structure dedicated to the weighting system and also minimizing any potential effect on impact sound. Yet another object of the present invention is an adjustable weighting feature for lateral or vertical center of gravity control which is placed to maximize effectiveness and may be entirely concealed from view at address.
One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, and a channel, wherein the channel extends from the sole to the crown via the rear side.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club comprising a body comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, and a channel, a cartridge sized to fit within the channel, the cartridge comprising an opening, and a weight sized to fit within the opening. In some embodiments, the opening in the cartridge may be elongated, and the weight may be capable of sliding within the elongated opening.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, and a channel, wherein the channel is a closed loop.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a first channel, and a second channel, wherein the first channel and the second channel each have portions that extend parallel to one another.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, and a rear side opposite the face, a medallion comprising a channel, a slidable weight sized to fit within the channel, and a cover, wherein the cover is removably affixed to the medallion and traps the slidable weight within the channel. In a further embodiment, the cover may comprise a plurality of cutouts, at least one of which may be filled with a translucent material.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, and a rear side opposite the face, a medallion comprising a first channel, at least one slidable weight sized to fit within the first channel, and a cover, wherein the medallion is affixed to one of the crown and the sole, and wherein the cover is removably affixed to the medallion and fixes the at least one slidable weight within the first channel. In some embodiments, the first channel may be Y-shaped or a closed loop. In other embodiments, the medallion may comprise a second channel, which may have a first part that extends parallel to the first channel and a second part that extends perpendicular to the first channel. In some embodiments, the first channel may extend across the medallion in a direction perpendicular to the face. In other embodiments, the first channel may be V-shaped.
In some embodiments, the cover may comprise an elongated cutout, and the first channel may be at least partially visible through the elongated cutout. In a further embodiment, the elongated cutout may have the same approximate shape as the channel. In another embodiment, the elongated cutout may be covered with a translucent material, such as glass or plastic. In some embodiments, the at least one slidable weight may comprise a first slidable weight and a second slidable weight. In other embodiments, each of the medallion and the cover may be composed of a non-metal material.
In some embodiments, the medallion may comprise a plurality of protrusions and the cover may comprise a plurality of cutouts sized to receive the protrusions. In a further embodiment, the protrusions may lock into the cutouts to removably secure the cover to the medallion. In another embodiment, some or all of the protrusions may comprise a textured surface. In another embodiment, the medallion may be integrally formed with one of the crown and the sole from a non-metal material. In yet another embodiment, the at least one slidable weight may comprise a polymer material, and the cover may compress the at least one slidable weight within the channel. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one slidable weight may comprise or be composed of a high-density metal material.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a wood-type golf club head comprising a body comprising a crown, a sole, and a metal face component, a non-metal medallion comprising a Y-shaped channel and a plurality of protrusions, at least one weight sized to fit at any location within the channel, and a non-metal cover comprising an elongated first cutout having approximately the same shape as the channel, and a plurality of secondary cutouts, wherein the medallion is permanently affixed to the sole, wherein the cover is removably affixed to the medallion by locking the protrusions into the cutouts, and wherein, when the cover is affixed to the medallion, the at least one slidable weight is secured in place within the channel. In a further embodiment, the first cutout may be filled with a translucent material, which may be a plastic material.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a first channel, and a second channel, wherein at least a portion of the first channel is perpendicular to the second channel. In a further embodiment, the first channel may intersect with the second channel at a weight port. In another embodiment, the golf club head may further comprise first and second slidable weights.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a crown, sole, and face, and an expandable weight comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a fastener, wherein at least one of the crown and the sole comprises first and second grooves that extend parallel to one another, wherein each of the first portion and second portion comprises a protrusion that extends into one of the first and second grooves.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, and a first channel, a first slidable weight sized to fit within the first channel, the first slidable weight comprising a second channel, and a second slidable weight sized to fit within the second channel.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a face component, an aft body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a crown recess, and a sole recess, a pivoting track comprising a first protrusion sized to fit within the crown recess and a second protrusion sized to fit within the sole recess, and a slidable weight engaged with the pivoting track, wherein the pivoting track is capable of moving from the heel side to the toe side.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, a rear side opposite the face, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, and a deep pocket, a weight cartridge comprising an internal track, and a slidable weight sized to fit within the internal track, wherein the weight cartridge is sized to fit within the deep pocket. In some embodiments, the weight cartridge may comprise a heavy side and a lightweight side. In another embodiment, the weight cartridge may be symmetrical around a horizontal axis. In yet another embodiment, the deep pocket may be disposed in the sole.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The design approaches described herein are based on a construction used in a driver head characterized by a composite crown 12 adhesively bonded to a cast titanium body. This particular construction approach permits the crown configuration to be adapted to the inventive weighting scheme with minimal impact on weight and function. However, the weighting embodiments disclosed herein can be used with other constructions, including all titanium, all composite, and a composite body with metal face cup. The embodiments may also work in conjunction with at least one adjustable weight port on the sole 14 of the driver head. Shifting weight along the channel described herein allows for control of center of gravity location.
A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in
A second embodiment also includes a channel 20 located at approximately the same place on the sole 14 as the first embodiment, but in this embodiment the cartridge 30 is the same approximate size as the channel 20 and thus completely covers and/or fills the channel 20 when it is fully engaged with the golf club head 10, as shown in
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in
In a fourth embodiment, shown in
In other embodiments, the channel 20 is a closed loop as shown in
In another, preferred, embodiment, shown in
The cover 80, which also is composed of a lightweight, non-metallic material, preferably includes a cutout 82 that is approximately the same shape as the channel 20 so that the location of the weight 40 within the channel 20 is visible to a user. Even more preferably, the cutout 82 is covered with a translucent material, such as plastic or a high-strength glass, so that the channel 20 and the weight 40 are visible without allowing dirt and debris to get caught in the channel 20 when the golf club head 10 is in use.
The medallion 70 also preferably includes a plurality of protrusions 72, 74, which mate with matching cutouts 84, 86 in the cover 80 and help to orient the cover 80 properly when it is applied to the medallion 70. The cover 80 may also lock onto the medallion 70 if the cutouts 84, 86 are formed such that they tightly grip the sides of the protrusions 72, 74. The protrusions 72, 74 also may have cosmetics that can be customized by the user. The medallion 70, its protrusions 72, 74, and the cover 80 may have different colors and/or textures to allow for further customization.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
In another embodiment, shown in
In yet another embodiment, shown in
Another embodiment is shown in
The slidable weights 40 disclosed in connection with any of the embodiments shown herein may have any of the constructions disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/033,218, and may also be added to and removed from the golf club head 10 as disclosed in that application. Similarly, the channels 20 disclosed herein may have any of the configurations disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/656,271, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, and any of the channel 20 embodiments disclosed herein may disposed anywhere on a golf club head 10, including the sole, 14, crown 12, face, 15, and ribbon portions. Though each of the embodiments disclosed herein are wood-type golf club heads (drivers and fairway woods), the adjustable weighting configurations shown herein may also be used with other type of golf clubs, including irons, hybrids, and putters.
In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, the face 15 and sole 14 of the golf club head 10 preferably are formed from a metal material, while the crown 12 is formed from a non-metal material such as composite. In other embodiments, the golf club head 10 may have a multi-material composition such as any of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,976, 6,332,847, 6,386,990, 6,406,378, 6,440,008, 6,471,604, 6,491,592, 6,527,650, 6,565,452, 6,575,845, 6,478,692, 6,582,323, 6,508,978, 6,592,466, 6,602,149, 6,607,452, 6,612,398, 6,663,504, 6,669,578, 6,739,982, 6,758,763, 6,860,824, 6,994,637, 7,025,692, 7,070,517, 7,112,148, 7,118,493, 7,121,957, 7,125,344, 7,128,661, 7,163,470, 7,226,366, 7,252,600, 7,258,631, 7,314,418, 7,320,646, 7,387,577, 7,396,296, 7,402,112, 7,407,448, 7,413,520, 7,431,667, 7,438,647, 7,455,598, 7,476,161, 7,491,134, 7,497,787, 7,549,935, 7,578,751, 7,717,807, 7,749,096, and 7,749,097, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,946, filed on Jan. 24, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/893,728, filed on Oct. 21, 2013, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/033,218, filed on Sep. 20, 2013, and issued on Apr. 15, 2015, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,696,491, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/923,571, filed on Jun. 21, 2013, and issued on Jul. 21, 2015, as U.S. Pat. No. 9,084,921, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/778,958, filed on Feb. 27, 2013, and issued on Nov. 25, 2014, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,894,506, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/727,608, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,946 also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/766,658, filed on Feb. 13, 2013, and issued on Jul. 29, 2014, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,195, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/746,348, filed on Dec. 27, 2012, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61893728 | Oct 2013 | US | |
| 61727608 | Nov 2012 | US | |
| 61746348 | Dec 2012 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14163946 | Jan 2014 | US |
| Child | 14932171 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14033218 | Sep 2013 | US |
| Child | 14163946 | US | |
| Parent | 13923571 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14033218 | US | |
| Parent | 13778958 | Feb 2013 | US |
| Child | 13923571 | US | |
| Parent | 13766658 | Feb 2013 | US |
| Child | 14163946 | US |
