Method, apparatus, and system for golf product reconfiguration

• US 10,258,839 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2018
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Beck, Christopher J., Casburn, Casey, Rae, John J., Salehi, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US15/978,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20180296889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 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 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 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 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

A wood-type golf club head includes first and second ribs projecting from a bottom club head wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path. A weight element is translatable along the weight path and includes a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion. The second weight portion has a contact surface that includes a recessed region, and when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion and first and second ribs projecting from the wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion, and the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded portion.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking wall, the top portion, and the bottom portion form a substantially hollow interior cavity.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional weight path and an additional weight element in translatable communication with each additional weight path.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a removable cover plate for accessing interior elements of the club head and located proximate the top portion.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight path further comprises a longitudinal end, and a retaining insert is located proximate the longitudinal end, the retaining insert configured to confine the first weight element within the weight path.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the second weight portion is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.

9. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion and first and second ribs projecting from the wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path that, when the club head is oriented in a reference position, follows a curvilinear path as projected into a horizontal plane; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion, and the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded portion.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the striking wall, the top portion, and the bottom portion form a substantially hollow interior cavity.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising at least one additional weight path and an additional weight element in translatable communication with each additional weight path.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising a removable cover plate for accessing interior elements of the club head and located proximate the top portion.

15. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the weight path further comprises a longitudinal end, and a retaining insert is located proximate the longitudinal end, the retaining insert configured to confine the first weight element within the weight path.

16. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the contact surface of the second weight portion is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.

17. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion and first and second ribs projecting from the wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path that, when the club head is oriented in a reference position, follows a curvilinear path as projected into a vertical plane; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion, and the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

19. The golf club head of claim 17, further comprising at least one additional weight path and an additional weight element in translatable communication with each additional weight path.

20. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the contact surface of the second weight portion is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.