Adjustable metal wood golf club head with moveable weight structure

• US 10,159,880 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: Mine, Takayuki, Tsuji, Kei, Llewellyn, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US15/658,751
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

An adjustable golf club head and weight structure is disclosed. The adjustable golf club head can include a crown, a toe, a hosel, and a sole. The sole of the club head may have one or more tracks located thereon. Each of the one or more tracks can have one or more weights secured therein. Each of the one or more weights can include an upper weight portion, and a lower weight portion. A screw can be positioned to adjoin the upper weight portion and the lower weight portion. The weight can also include a clip fastened to the screw such that the clip retains the screw within bores located in the upper and lower weight portions. In order to prevent the upper and lower weight portions from rotating with respect to one another, the weight can include an alignment portion and an alignment receptacle.

Claims

1. An adjustable golf club head comprising:

a crown, a toe, a hosel, and a sole;

one or more open ended tracks located on the sole; and

one or more weights secured on each of the one or more tracks located on the sole, wherein each of the one or more weights comprises;

an upper weight portion having an upper bore therethrough;

a lower weight portion having a lower bore therethrough;

a screw positioned to adjoin the upper weight portion and the lower weight portion by passing through the upper and lower bores, and having an upper end and a lower end;

a clip fastened to the screw at the lower end, such that the clip retains the screw within the upper and lower bores;

an alignment portion and an alignment receptacle, such that the alignment portion is located on one of the upper and lower weight portions, and the alignment receptacle is located on the other one of the upper and lower weight portions;

wherein the alignment portion cooperates with the alignment receptacle in order to prevent rotation of the upper and lower weight portions;

an upper chamfer provided on the upper weight portion, and a lower chamfer provided on the lower weight portion;

wherein the screw is positioned so as to not contact any portion of the tracks or the sole in an installed position;

wherein each of the one or more tracks located on the sole further comprises a first and second track rail; and

wherein a height of each of the upper and lower chamfers is substantially equal to a height of the first and second track rails.

2. The adjustable golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second track rails are positioned between the upper and lower weight portions of the one or more weights.

3. The adjustable golf club head of claim 2, wherein rotation of the screw causes the lower weight portion to move towards the upper weight portion.

4. The adjustable golf club head of claim 3, wherein rotation of the screw causes the lower weight portion and the upper weight portion to abut the first and second track rails.

5. A golf club comprising:

an adjustable golf club head having a crown, a toe, a hosel, and a sole;

a shaft connected to the hosel;

one or more open ended tracks located on the sole; and

one or more weights secured on each of the one or more tracks located on the sole, wherein each of the one or more weights comprises;

an upper weight portion having an upper bore therethrough;

a lower weight portion having a lower bore therethrough;

a screw positioned to adjoin the upper weight portion and the lower weight portion by passing through the upper and lower bores, and having an upper end and a lower end;

a clip fastened to the screw at the lower end, such that the clip retains the screw within the upper and lower bores;

an alignment portion and an alignment receptacle, such that the alignment portion is located on one of the upper and lower weight portions, and the alignment receptacle is located on the other one of the upper and lower weight portions;

wherein the alignment portion cooperates with the alignment receptacle in order to prevent rotation of the upper and lower weight portions;

an upper chamfer provided on the upper weight portion, and a lower chamfer provided on the lower weight portion;

wherein the screw is positioned so as to not contact any portion of the tracks or the sole in an installed position;

wherein each of the one or more tracks located on the sole further comprises a first and second track rail; and

wherein a height of each of the upper and lower chamfers is substantially equal to a height of the first and second track rails.

6. The golf club of claim 5, wherein the first and second track rails are positioned between the upper and lower weight portions of the one or more weights.

7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein rotation of the screw causes the lower weight portion to move towards the upper weight portion.

8. The golf club of claim 7, wherein rotation of the screw causes the lower weight portion and the upper weight portion to abut the first and second track rails.