Golf club head with repositionable weight

• US 10,112,085 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2014
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Hoffman, Joseph Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US14/508,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• 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: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a sole, a crown, a face at a forward end of the body, and a ribbon extending between the crown and the sole;

a channel being formed in or attached to the ribbon of the body, the channel having a length, the channel having two spaced apart channel walls and a bottom formed by an outer surface of the body;

at least one weight and weight retainer, the weight and weight retainer being continuously repositionable such that the weight can be positioned at any selected position along the channel, wherein the weight and weight retainer are retained and moveable within the channel, and wherein a fastening member threadably engages at least one of the weight and the weight retainer,

wherein at least one of the weight and the weight retainer is shaped such that at least one dimension of at least one of the weight and the weight retainer is larger than a width of the channel;

wherein the weight is a first weight, further comprising a second weight movable independently of the first weight;

wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received in and slidably movable within the channel.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel walls are formed as a single piece with the body.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is received by the weight retainer such that the weight and weight retainer are slidably movable as an assembly.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel has closed ends to keep the weight within the channel.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight includes a threaded bore to receive the fastening member.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight retainer is a retainer plate.

7. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a crown portion, a sole portion, and a skirt portion extending between the crown and the sole portion;

a track being at least one of formed in and attached to the body, the track including two spaced apart walls and a bottom defined along an outer surface of the body;

a weight being adjustable to one selected point or more than one point along the track;

a weight retainer including a bore, the weight retainer being slideable within the track, at least one of the weight and the weight retainer being shaped to prevent substantial rotation in the track; and

an axial fastening member engaging the weight, the fastening member having an exposed end portion configured to be driven by a tool, the fastening member arranged to engage the bore;

wherein the weight is secured by engaging inwardly toward the body;

wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received in and slidably movable within the track;

wherein the fastening member is threaded and the bore includes threading to engage the fastening member;

wherein the fastening member is in tension when the weight retainer and weight are secured in the track;

wherein the weight is a first weight, further comprising a second weight movable independently of the first weight.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the weight is secured against the body and wherein the track has closed ends to keep the weight within the track.

9. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a crown portion, a sole portion, and a skirt portion extending between the crown and the sole portion;

a channel being at least one of formed in and attached to the body, the channel including two spaced apart walls and a bottom defined along an outer surface of the body;

a weight being adjustable to one selected point or more than one point along the channel;

a weight retainer including a bore, at least one of the weight and the weight retainer being received within the channel, at least one of the weight and the weight retainer being slideable along the channel, at least one of the weight and the weight retainer being shaped to prevent substantial rotation in the channel; and

an axial fastening member engaging the weight, the fastening member having an exposed end portion configured to be driven by a tool, the fastening member arranged to engage the bore;

wherein the weight is secured by engaging inwardly toward the body;

wherein the weight is a first weight, further comprising a second weight movable independently of the first weight; and

wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received in and slidably movable within the channel.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the fastening member is threaded and the bore includes threading to engage the fastening member.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the fastening member is in tension when the weight retainer and weight are secured in the channel.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the weight retainer is a retainer plate.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the weight is secured against the body and wherein the channel has closed ends to keep the weight within the channel.

14. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a sole, a crown, a face at a forward end of the body, and a ribbon extending between the crown and the sole;

a channel being formed in or attached to the ribbon of the body, the channel having a length, the channel having two spaced apart channel walls and a bottom formed by an outer surface of the body;

at least one weight and weight retainer, the weight and weight retainer being repositionable such that the weight can be positioned at selected positions along the channel, wherein the weight and weight retainer are retained and moveable within the channel; and

wherein a fastening member threadably engages at least one of the weight and the weight retainer,

wherein at least one of the weight and the weight retainer is shaped such that at least one dimension of at least one of the weight and the weight retainer is larger than a width of the channel;

wherein the weight is a first weight, further comprising a second weight movable independently of the first weight;

wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received in and slidably movable within the channel;

wherein the weight is received by the weight retainer such that the weight and weight retainer are slidably movable as an assembly.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the channel walls are formed as a single piece with the body.

16. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the channel has closed ends to keep the weight within the channel.

17. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the weight includes a threaded bore to receive the fastening member.

18. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the weight retainer is a retainer plate.