Golf club head

• US 10,046,212 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Sargent, Nathan T., Nielson, Joseph Reeve, Harbert, Christopher John, Beach, Todd P., Bazzel, Brian, Greaney, Mark Vincent, Wester, Christian Reber, Slyfield, Craig Richard, Willett, Kraig Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davison, Laura L
• Application Number:
  US14/789,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 473334-336
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/022 allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity. The body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body. A weight member movably positioned within the channel such that a position of the weight member within the channel is able to be adjusted, thereby adjusting a location of a center of gravity of the body. Additionally, adjustment of the weight member provides a maximum x-axis adjustment range of the position of the center of gravity (Max ΔCGx) that is greater than 2 mm and a maximum z-axis adjustment range of the center of gravity (Max ΔCGz) that is less than 2 mm.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the body having a channel located on the sole;

at least one weight assembly movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight assembly within the channel is able to be adjusted;

an installation cavity for installing the at least one weight assembly, and wherein the installation cavity is incorporated into a useable portion of the channel; and

first and second opposing ledges extending within the channel generally from a heel end of the channel to a toe end of the channel, the first and second opposing ledges defining a gap between the two ledges, wherein the at least one weight assembly is configured to clamp onto the first and second ledges and wherein the useable portion of the channel is a portion of the channel that includes the first and second ledges;

wherein the at least one weight assembly comprises an outer member, an inner member, and a threaded fastening bolt that connects the outer member to the inner member; and

wherein an entirety of the inner member is insertable into the channel and the installation cavity at the useable portion, through the gap defined between the two ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel;

wherein the threaded fastening bolt comprises an enlarged head portion and a threaded shaft extending from the head portion, the inner member includes a threaded bore for receiving the shaft, and the outer member comprises a non-threaded bore for receiving the shaft and a counter-bore in communication with the non-threaded bore for receiving the enlarged head portion;

wherein the shaft of the fastening bolt is configured to be inserted through the non-threaded bore of the outer member and tightened into the threaded bore of the inner member to cause the inner member and the outer member to clamp onto opposite sides of the first and second ledges;

wherein at least one of the outer member and the inner member of the at least one weight assembly comprises a central protrusion that extends into the gap between the first and second ledges, at least one of the outer member and the inner member further comprising first and second recessed surfaces on opposite sides of the central protrusion, the first recessed surface being configured to contact the first ledge and the second recessed surface being configured to contact the second ledge; and

wherein;

the installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the channel to facilitate installation of the at least one weight assembly in the channel;

the recessed side surface is on only one side of the channel and located interiorly adjacent only one of the first and second opposing ledges; and

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the two ledges, the channel is wider on the side of the channel comprising the recessed side surface than on a side of the channel opposite the recessed side surface.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the useable portion of the channel extends from the heel end of the channel to the toe end of the channel.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a sleeve for securing a shaft to the golf club head;

wherein selectively attaching the sleeve adjusts at least one of a loft angle and a lie angle of the club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one weight assembly produces a change in a head origin x-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head of at least 2 mm throughout an adjustability range and a head origin z-axis coordinate of the center of gravity of the golf club head of at most 2 mm throughout the adjustability range.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes at least two weight assemblies movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of each weight assembly within the channel can be adjusted.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one rib provided on an internal surface of the interior cavity, wherein the at least one rib connects the internal surface of the interior cavity to at least one other internal surface of the body.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the crown is formed from a composite material having a density less than 2 g/cc, the crown having a thickness from 0.195 mm to 0.9 mm, and the crown being adapted to be secured to the body.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one weight assembly is clampable onto the first and second ledges at four or more positions along the channel.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the sole of the body comprises a toe side winglet and a heel side winglet;

the toe side winglet and the heel side winglet each comprises a built-up portion of the sole;

the channel is at least partially formed in the toe side winglet and the heel side winglet;

a heel/toe radius of curvature of the channel is greater than a heel/toe radius of curvature of the sole.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a rearward weight track located on the sole and extending generally from a front portion of the body to a rear portion of the body, wherein:

the body further comprises an aft winglet at a rear portion of the body;

the aft winglet comprises a built-up portion of the sole; and

the rearward weight track is at least partially formed in the aft winglet.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second opposing ledges extend along an entirety of the channel from the heel end of the channel to the toe end of the channel; and

the gap between the first and second opposing ledges is constant along the entirety of the channel from the heel end of the channel to the toe end of the channel.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity,

the body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a front portion of the body to a rear portion of the body, wherein the channel includes a first channel wall and a second channel wall, and wherein a width of the channel is between 8 mm and 20 mm, and a depth of the channel is between 6 mm and 20 mm;

at least one weight assembly movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight assembly within the channel is able to be adjusted, wherein the at least one weight assembly weighs between 5 g and 25 g and wherein the at least one weight assembly comprises an outer member, an inner member, and a threaded fastening bolt that connects the outer member to the inner member;

an installation cavity for installing the at least one weight assembly in the channel, and wherein the installation cavity is located between the first channel wall and the second channel wall and the installation cavity is incorporated into a useable portion of the channel;

within the channel, wherein the at least one weight assembly is configured to clamp onto the first and second opposing ledges, wherein the fastening bolt is in tension when the at least one weight assembly is clamped to the first and second opposing ledges, and wherein the useable portion of the channel is a portion of the channel that includes the first and second opposing ledges; and

at least one rib provided on an internal surface of the interior cavity, wherein the at least one rib connects the internal surface of the interior cavity to at least one other internal surface of the body;

wherein an entirety of the inner member is insertable into the channel and the installation cavity at the useable portion, through a gap defined by the first and second opposing ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel;

wherein the threaded fastening bolt comprises an enlarged head portion and a threaded shaft extending from the head portion, the inner member includes a threaded bore for receiving the shaft, and the outer member comprises a non-threaded bore for receiving the shaft and a counter-bore in communication with the non-threaded bore for receiving the enlarged head portion;

wherein the shaft of the fastening bolt is configured to be inserted through the non-threaded bore of the outer member and tightened into the threaded bore of the inner member to cause the inner member and the outer member to clamp onto the first and second opposing ledges; and

wherein;

the installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the channel to facilitate installation of the at least one weight assembly in the channel;

the recessed side surface is on only one side of the channel and located interiorly adjacent only one of the first and second opposing ledges; and

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the two ledges, the channel is wider on the side of the channel comprising the recessed side surface than on a side of the channel opposite the recessed side surface.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a forward weight track located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body, wherein:

the at least one weight assembly is movably positionable within the forward weight track; and

the forward weight track merges with the channel such that the forward weight track and the channel collectively form a T-shaped channel.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising at least two weight assemblies movably positionable within the channel and the forward weight track, wherein respective positions of the at least two weight assemblies in the channel or the forward weight track, are reversible without removing the at least two weight assemblies from the channel and the forward weight track.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the channel includes at least one angled portion that is angled, at an angle greater than 0-degrees and less than 90-degrees, relative to a y-axis of the club head.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the installation cavity is located within the angled portion of the channel.

17. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a coefficient of restitution (COR) feature formed in the sole, positioned between the face and the channel, and extending generally from a heel side of the body to a toe side of the body.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the body having a channel located on the sole, wherein the channel includes a first channel wall and a second channel wall, and wherein a width of the channel is between 8 mm and 20 mm;

a heel opening located on the heel end of the body, the heel opening configured to receive a fastening member;

a head-shaft connection system including a sleeve that is secured by the fastening member in a locked position, the head-shaft connection system configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in an adjustability range of different combinations of loft angle, face angle, and lie angle;

at least one weight assembly movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight assembly within the channel is able to be adjusted;

an installation cavity for installing the at least one weight assembly, and wherein the installation cavity is incorporated into a useable portion of the channel; and

first and second opposing ledges extending within the channel, wherein the at least one weight assembly clamps onto the first and second opposing ledges, and wherein the useable portion of the channel is a portion of the channel that includes the first and second opposing ledges;

wherein the at least one weight assembly comprises an outer member, an inner member, and a threaded fastening bolt that connects the outer member to the inner member;

wherein an entirety of the inner member is insertable into the channel and the installation cavity at the useable portion, through a gap defined by the first and second opposing ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel;

wherein a mass of the at least one weight assembly is between 5 g and 25 g, wherein movement of the at least one weight assembly adjusts at least one of a head origin x-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head, a head origin y-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head, and a head origin z-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head;

wherein the threaded fastening bolt comprises an enlarged head portion and a threaded shaft extending from the head portion, the inner member includes a threaded bore for receiving the shaft, and the outer member comprises a non-threaded bore for receiving the shaft and a counter-bore in communication with the non-threaded bore for receiving the enlarged head portion;

wherein the shaft of the fastening bolt is configured to be inserted through the non-threaded bore of the outer member and tightened into the threaded bore of the inner member to cause the inner member and the outer member to clamp onto the first and second opposing ledges; and

wherein;

the installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the channel to facilitate installation of the at least one weight assembly in the channel;

the recessed side surface is on only one side of the channel and located interiorly adjacent only one of the first and second opposing ledges; and

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the two ledges, the channel is wider on the side of the channel comprising the recessed side surface than on a side of the channel opposite the recessed side surface.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, further comprising at least two weight assemblies movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of each weight assembly within the channel can be adjusted.

20. The golf club head of claim 18 wherein a depth of the channel is between 6 mm and 20 mm.

21. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the body having a channel located on the sole;

at least one weight assembly movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight assembly within the channel is able to be adjusted;

an installation cavity for installing the at least one weight assembly, and wherein the installation cavity is incorporated into a useable portion of the channel; and

first and second opposing ledges extending within the channel, the first and second opposing ledges defining a gap between the two ledges;

wherein;

the at least one weight assembly is configured to clamp onto the first and second ledges;

the useable portion of the channel is a portion of the channel that includes the first and second ledges;

the at least one weight assembly comprises an outer member and an inner member;

the inner member is insertable into the channel and the installation cavity at the useable portion, through the gap defined between the two ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel;

the installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the channel to facilitate installation of the at least one weight assembly in the channel;

the recessed side surface is on only one side of the channel and located interiorly adjacent only one of the first and second opposing ledges; and

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the two ledges, the channel is wider on the side of the channel comprising the recessed side surface than on a side of the channel opposite the recessed side surface.