Patent Application
20250032867
The present disclosure relates to a golf club head, specifically, a weight for a golf club head to adjust the swing weight.
Weights are used to adjust the swing weight of a golf club. Weighting the golf club changes the characteristics of center of gravity, moment of inertia, and flight path of the golf ball.
Many weights in current golf club heads require one material with a low density or one material with a high density. The limitation of one material weights restricts the range a weight one can use to change the characteristics of the club head. The use of high density weights have limitations and increases manufacturing costs. For example, threading a high density weight is difficult. In addition, when the high density weight is torqued down upon, the high density weight tends to crack and eventually break due to the brittleness of the material. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a weight that provides the ease of threading a material with a low density material while having the flexibility of interchanging a high density material to achieve multiple weight ranges for the same design weight.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the golf clubs and their methods of manufacture. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the golf club heads with weights. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
Described herein is a golf club head comprising a two or more part weight. The two or more part weight allows for a first low density material of less than or equal to 7.8 specific gravity or density to be combined with a second high density material of greater than 7.8 specific gravity or density. The first low density material of the weight serves to provide a more torque resistant part of the weight to enable threads to be incorporated for purpose of securing the two or more part weight into an aperture. One part of the weight can comprise a low density material, with a specific gravity or density less than 7.8. This part of the weight is more durable and can be used as a cap over the second part of the weight. The second part of the weight can comprise a second high density material, with a specific gravity or density greater than 7.8. The second part of the weight can be interchangeable. The two or more weight has the advantage of (1) reducing the stockpile of inventory that the supplier has to manufacture, (2) provide customizable weight screws to increase (or decrease) the weight to specific integers of weight, (3) the first low density part material is easier to paint and provides a stockpile of inventory of weights with a consistent surface finish and coloring scheme, and (4) the first low density part provides greater durability to the threads than the second part material because the threads comprise the more durable, less brittle first low density material.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements, mechanically or otherwise. Coupling (whether mechanical or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.
Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details or embodiment and the arrangement of components as set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. It should be understood that the description of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the disclosure from covering all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A. Golf Club Head with Weight
In some embodiments, described herein is a golf club head 100 comprising a club head body 101 configured to receive a weight. The weight can be configured as weight 310 as described below. The golf club head 100 can be an iron-type golf club head (see
For ease of discussion and understanding, and for purposes of description only, the following detailed description illustrates golf club head 100 as an iron. It should be appreciated that the irons are provided for purposes of illustration of one or more embodiments of the multi-material weight as disclosed herein. However, the disclosed embodiments of the multi-material weight can be used on any desired wood, iron, hybrid, or other golf club where weights are desired. For example, the club head 100 may include, but is not limited to, a driver, a fairway wood, a hybrid, a one-iron, a two-iron, a three-iron, a four-iron, a five-iron, a six-iron, a seven-iron, an eight-iron, a nine-iron, a pitching wedge, a gap wedge, a utility wedge, a sand wedge, a lob wedge, and/or a putter.
In other embodiments, described herein is a golf club head 200 comprising a club head body 201 configured to receive a weight. The weight can be configured as weight 310 as described below. The golf club head 200 can be a wood-type golf club head (see
The positions of the weights 310 in the golf club heads 100 and 200 allow for precise weighting to optimize the characteristics of center of gravity and moment of inertia. Optimizing the center of gravity and moment of inertia of golf club heads 100 and 200 allows for improvements to the performance characteristics of ball spin, forgiveness, and trajectory under various circumstances.
B. Weight with Two Materials
The golf club head 100 or 200 as described above can comprise a weight. In one embodiment, the weight can be weight 310. The weight 310 is removeably coupled with the aperture of the golf club head 100 or 200. The weight 310 may be coupled in any other manner to the golf club head 100 or 200 such as a pressfit, an adhesive or epoxy, a swedge, a weld, a threading, or any other method of mechanical coupling. Weight 310 can comprise a first part 311 and a second part 322 as illustrated in
The overall mass of the weight 310 can range from 0.1 to 100 grams. In some embodiments, the overall mass of the weight 310 can range from 0.1 to 0.5 gram, 0.5 to 1 gram, 1 to 5 grams, 5 to 10 grams, 10 to 20 grams, 20 to 30 grams, 30 to 40 grams, 40 to 50 grams, 50 to 60 grams, 60 to 70 grams, 70 to 80 grams, 80 to 90 grams, or 90 to 100 grams. For example, the overall mass of the weight 310 can be 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 grams. The overall length of the weight 310 can range from 0.1 to 1.5 inches. In some embodiments, the overall length of the weight 310 can range from 0.1 to 0.2 inch, 0.2 to 0.3 inch, 0.3 to 0.4 inch, 0.4 to 0.5 inch, 0.5 to 0.6 inch, 0.6 to 0.7 inch, 0.7 to 0.8 inch, 0.8 to 0.9 inch, 0.9 to 1 inch, 1 to 1.1 inches, 1.1 to 1.2 inches, 1.2 to 1.3 inches, 1.3 to 1.4 inches, or 1.4 to 1.5 inches. For example, the overall length of the weight 310 can be 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, or 1.5 inches.
The weight 310 with the series of interchangeable second parts 322 allows for reducing the stockpile of inventory that the supplier has to manufacture, providing customizable weights to increase (or decrease) the weight to specific integers of weight, making it easier to paint the first part 311, providing a consistent surface finish and color scheme, and providing a greater durability to the first part 311 having the first specific gravity of the first material less than the second specific gravity of the second material. The weight 310 increases the weight of the golf club head 100 or 200 to affect the center of gravity, thereby affecting the moment of inertia characteristics of the golf club head 100 or 200. The weight 310 can also be used to manipulate a golf ball flight upon impact with the golf club head 100 or 200.
As illustrated in
The threaded region 318 of the upper region 312 can further comprise a minimum thread diameter and a maximum thread diameter. The minimum thread diameter of the threaded region 318 can range from 0.1 to 0.4 inch. In some embodiments, the minimum thread diameter of the threaded region 318 can range from 0.1 to 0.2 inch, or 0.2 to 0.4 inch. For example, the minimum thread diameter of the threaded region 318 can be 0.1, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, or 0.40 inch. The maximum thread diameter of the threaded region 318 can range from 0.4 to 0.8 inch. In some embodiments, the maximum thread diameter of the threaded region 318 can range from 0.40 to 0.60 inch, or 0.60 to 0.80 inch. For example, the maximum thread diameter of the threaded region 318 can be 0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.65, 0.70, 0.75, or 0.80 inch.
As illustrated in
The cavity 319 of the lower region 313 can comprise a cross sectional shape. The cross sectional shape can comprise a cylindrical shape, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a polygonal shape, or a trapezoidal shape. Further, the cavity 319 of the lower region 313 can comprise a diameter. The diameter of the cavity 319 can range from 0.05 to 0.60 inch. In some embodiments, the diameter of the cavity 319 can range from 0.05 to 0.10 inch, 0.10 to 0.20 inch, 0.20 to 0.30 inch, 0.30 to 0.40 inch, 0.40 to 0.50 inch, 0.50 to 0.60 inch. For example, the diameter of the cavity 319 can be 0.05, 0.075, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, or 0.60 inch.
The wall thickness of the cavity 319 can comprise a thickness. The thickness is measured perpendicular from the inner surface 320 of the cavity 319 to the outer surface 321 of the cavity 319. The thickness can range from 0.015 to 0.065 inch. In some embodiments, the thickness can range from 0.015 to 0.025 inch, 0.025 to 0.035 inch, 0.035 to 0.045 inch, 0.045 to 0.055 inch, or 0.055 to 0.065 inch. For example, the wall thickness of the body 317 can be 0.015, 0.025, 0.035, 0.045, 0.055, or 0.065 inch.
The first part 311 of the weight 310 can comprise a first material. The first material may be any suitable material having a first specific gravity or density less than or equal to approximately 7.8. The first material may have a first specific gravity less than or equal to approximately 7.0, less than or equal to approximately 6.0, less than or equal to approximately 5.0, less than or equal to approximately 4.0, or less than or equal to approximately 3.0. In some embodiments, the first material may have a first specific gravity ranging from approximately 1.0 to 4.5, or 4.5 to 7.8. Specifically, the first material may have a first specific gravity of approximately 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.8, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, or any other value less than or equal to approximately 7.8.
The first material may be any suitable material including steel, stainless steel, steel alloys, aluminum, titanium, vanadium, chromium, zinc, iron, aluminum, composite polymer materials, other metals, metal alloys, or any other homogeneous or heterogeneous material, wherein the specific gravity of the first material is less than or equal to approximately 7.8. The specific gravity of stainless steel is less than or equal to approximately 7.7. The specific gravity of aluminum is less than or equal to approximately 2.8. The specific gravity of titanium is less than or equal to approximately 2.6. The specific gravity of vanadium is less than or equal to approximately 6.0. The specific gravity of chromium is less than or equal to approximately 7.2. The specific gravity of zinc is less than or equal to approximately 7.2. The specific gravity of iron is less than or equal to approximately 7.13. The specific gravity of aluminum is less than or equal to approximately 2.8. The specific gravity of copper is less than or equal to approximately 8.9. The specific gravity of composite polymer is less than or equal to approximately 2.0.
The first part 311 of the weight 310 can comprise a mass. The mass of the first part 311 can range from 0.1 to 25 grams. In some embodiments, the mass of the first part 311 can range from 0.1 to 1 gram, 1 to 5 grams, 5 to 10 grams, 10 to 15 grams, 15 to 20 grams, or 20 to 25 grams. For example, the mass of the first part 311 can be 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, or 25 grams.
Further, the first part 311 of the weight 310 can comprise a torque value. The torque value is the amount of twisting or rotational force needed to secure the weight 310 to the aperture 109. The torque value of the first part 311 can range from 35 to 105 in-lbs. In some embodiments, the torque of the first part 311 can range from 35 to 45 in-lbs, 45 to 55 in-lbs, 55 to 65 in-lbs, 65 to 75 in-lbs, 75 to 85 in-lbs, 85 to 95 in-lbs, or 95 to 105 in-lbs. For example, the torque of the first part 311 can be 35, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105 in-lbs.
As illustrated in
The second part 322 of the weight 310 can comprise a diameter. In some embodiments, the diameter of the second part 322 can be greater than the diameter of the cavity 319. In some embodiments, the diameter of the second part 323 can be less than the diameter of the cavity 319. In other embodiments, the diameter of the second part 323 can be equal to the diameter of the cavity 319. The diameter of the second part 322 can range from 0.05 to 0.60 inch. In some embodiments, the diameter of the second part 322 can range from 0.05 to 0.10 inch, 0.10 to 0.20 inch, 0.20 to 0.30 inch, 0.30 to 0.40 inch, 0.40 to 0.50 inch, 0.50 to 0.60 inch. For example, the diameter of the second part 322 can be 0.05, 0.075, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, or 0.60 inch.
The second part 322 of the weight 310 can comprise a length. The length is measured perpendicular from the first end 323 to the second end 324 of the second part 322. The length of the second part 322 can range from 0.1 to 1.2 inches. In some embodiments, the length of the second part 322 can range from 0.1 to 0.3 inch, 0.3 to 0.6 inch, 0.6 to 0.9 inch, or 0.9 to 1.2 inches. For example, the length of the second part 322 can be 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, or 1.2 inches.
The second part 322 of the weight 310 can comprise a second material. The second material may be any suitable material having a second specific gravity or density greater than approximately 7.8. The second material may have a second specific gravity greater than approximately 8.0, greater than approximately 9.0, greater than approximately 10, greater than approximately 11, greater than approximately 12, greater than approximately 13, greater than approximately 14, or greater than approximately 15. In some embodiments, the second material may have a second specific gravity ranging from approximately 7.9 to 14, or 14 to 20. Specifically, the second material may have a second specific gravity of approximately 7.9, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or any other value greater than approximately 7.8.
The second material may be any suitable material including tungsten, tungsten alloys, cobalt, nickel, copper, other metals, metal alloys, or any other homogeneous or heterogeneous material, wherein the specific gravity of the second material is greater than to approximately 7.8. The specific gravity of tungsten is greater than or equal to approximately 19.22. The specific gravity of tungsten alloy is greater than or equal to approximately 8.0. The specific gravity of tungsten alloy is greater than or equal to approximately 9.0. The specific gravity of tungsten alloy is greater than or equal to approximately 10. The specific gravity of tungsten alloy is greater than or equal to approximately 11. The specific gravity of cobalt is greater than or equal to approximately 8.7. The specific gravity of nickel is greater than or equal to approximately 8.9. The specific gravity of copper is greater than or equal to approximately 8.9.
The second part 322 of the weight 310 can comprise a mass. The mass of the second part 322 can range from 0.1 to 50 grams. In some embodiments, the mass of the second part 322 can range from 0.1 to 1 gram, 1 to 5 grams, 5 to 10 grams, 10 to 15 grams, 15 to 20 grams, 20 to 25 grams, 25 to 30 grams, 30 to 40 grams, or 40 to 50 grams. For example, the mass of the second part 322 can be 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 grams.
According to another embodiment as illustrated in
According to another embodiment as illustrated in
The weight 310 having the first part 311 with a first low density material separate from the second part 322 with a second high density material allows for the weight 310 to have multiple advantages. Having two separate parts allows for easier adjustability of the weight of the golf club head 100 or 200, reduces the manufacturing costs of machining higher density materials, and increases production capabilities. Machining threads on a first low density material is easier and faster than machining threads on a second high density material. Since the second high density material is more brittle than the first low density material, the second high density material tends to see cracking during the threading of the weight 310 to the club head body 101 or 201. Having the first low density material with the threading and the second high density material with the majority of the weight distribution allows for a series of interchangeable second parts 322 to increase (or decrease) the weight to specific integers of weight and reduces the stockpile of inventory that the supplier has to manufacture. In addition, the first low density material is easier to paint and provides a stockpile of inventory of weights with a consistent surface finish and coloring scheme, and provides durability to the threads because the threads comprise the more durable, less brittle first low density material.
The weight 310 with the first part 311 including the threaded region 318 on the head 314 allows for a greater wall thickness of the first part 311. Having a greater wall thickness provides more structural rigidity during the torqueing of the weight 310 to the club head body 101 or 201. In addition, the threaded region 318 on the head 314 allows for a greater thread diameter to be use providing more material thickness at the threaded region 318. A greater material thickness provides a stress relief at the threaded region 318 during engagement with the apertures on the club head 100 or 200.
Replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
As the rules to golf may change from time to time (e.g., new regulations may be adopted or old rules may be eliminated or modified by golf standard organizations and/or governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), etc.), golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be conforming or non-conforming to the rules of golf at any particular time. Accordingly, golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be advertised, offered for sale, and/or sold as conforming or non-conforming golf equipment. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Alternatively, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable other type of sports equipment such as a hockey stick, a tennis racket, a fishing pole, a ski pole, etc.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/896,009, filed on Feb. 13, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 62/458,215, filed on Feb. 13, 2017, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62458215 | Feb 2017 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15896009 | Feb 2018 | US |
| Child | 18914609 | US |
