Golf clubs and golf club heads having adjustable weighting characteristics

• US 10,258,840 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Larson, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stanczak, Matthew B
• Application Number:
  US14/745,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20160067570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 473334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

Golf club heads include an iron type golf club head body having a rear surface (e.g., a perimeter weighting member) that defines a first weight receiving portion, and a weight member is mounted in the first weight receiving portion. The club head body further defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion, and a second weight member is removably engaged with the golf club head body at this second weight receiving portion. The weight members may be interchangeably mounted in the two weight receiving portions to thereby allow selective placement of the center of gravity characteristics of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are described.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body comprising a ball striking face,

a top rail,

a sole,

a heel side,

a toe side,

a hosel,

a perimeter weighting member extending rearward from the ball striking face and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face;

wherein the perimeter weighting member includes a heel perimeter portion extending around a heel side of the iron type golf club head body, a toe perimeter portion around the toe side of the iron type golf club head body, an open space at a top rail position of the iron type golf club head body, and a sole portion around a lower portion of the golf club head body when at address;

wherein the open space is a gap between the toe perimeter portion, the heel perimeter portion, and the rear surface;

wherein the heel perimeter portion and the toe perimeter portion of the perimeter weight member are integrally formed with the iron type golf club head body,

wherein the rear surface includes a first rail positioned in a heel to toe direction, located in the open space at a top rail position of an upper portion of the perimeter weighting member of the golf club head when at address,

wherein a chamber is formed in the sole portion of the perimeter weighting member of the golf club head when at address,

a second rail positioned within the chamber formed in the sole portion of the perimeter weighting member in the heel to toe direction independent of the first rail

a first weight member removably and slidably engaged with the iron type golf club head body along the first rail; and

wherein the first weight member slidably engages with the iron type golf club body along the first rail by slidably engaging from a toe side end of the first rail horizontally parallel to the ball striking face toward a heel side end of the first rail,

wherein the first weight member comprises the upper portion of the perimeter weighting member when slidably engaged with the iron type golf club head along the first rail,

a second weight member removably and slidably engaged with the iron type golf club head body along the second rail;

wherein the second weight member slidably engages with the iron type golf club body along the second rail by slidably engaging from a toe side end of the second rail horizontally parallel to the ball striking face toward a heel side end of the second rail,

wherein the second weight member comprises a portion of the sole of the iron type golf club body when slidably engaged with the second rail,

wherein the first and second weight members have different weighting characteristics from one another but are substantially the same size, shape, and structure;

wherein interchanging the arrangement of the first and second weights with the first rail and the second rail adjust the center of gravity vertically when the golf club head is at address; and

wherein adjusting the center of gravity vertically can affect the trajectory and ball flight of a golf ball struck by the golf club head;

wherein when the golf club head is at address, the first weight member and the second weight member include a groove on a front surface, and

wherein the groove has an rear portion and a front portion,

wherein the rear portion is larger than the front portion; and

wherein the first and second rails have a rear portion and a front portion,

wherein the rear portion is larger than the front portion; and

the rear portion of the rail engages the rear portion of the groove on the weight member;

wherein when the first weight member or the second weight member are slidably engaged with the first rail or the second rail, the first or second weight member will not lift off the first or second rail.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second weight members are secured to the iron type golf club head body with at least one mechanical fastener.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first weight member has a first density and the iron type golf club head body has a second density,

wherein the first density is higher than the second density.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rails have at least one angled side wall.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second weight members are secured using an end cap,

wherein the end cap has a surface shaped to act as a continuation of the toe side of the iron type golf club head body.

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second weight members abut a surface of the heel perimeter portion of the perimeter weighting member.

7. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second weight members include:

a longitudinal length configured to extend along the golf club head in a heel to toe direction when the first and second weight members are engaged with the golf club head;

a first longitudinal end; and

a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end,

wherein the first and second weight members have a weight distribution along their longitudinal length such that the first longitudinal end is heavier than the second longitudinal end.

8. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body comprising a ball striking face,

a top rail,

a sole,

a heel side,

a toe side,

a hosel,

a back side including a heel portion, a portion of a sole surface, a toe portion, and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face;

wherein the heel portion and the toe portion of the golf club head are integrally formed with the iron type golf club head body,

wherein when the golf club head is at address, the rear surface is positioned forward an outer surface of the back side of the heel portion of the iron type golf club head body and includes a first rail positioned in a heel to toe direction, located in an open space in the top rail of the golf club head when at address, and

wherein the open space is a gap between the heel portion, the toe portion, and the rear surface;

wherein the first weight member slidably engages with the iron type golf club body along the first rail by slidably engaging from a toe side end of the first rail horizontally parallel to the ball striking face toward a heel side end of the first rail,

a second rail positioned in the heel and toe direction, located within a chamber formed in a bottom portion of the golf club head when at address;

a first weight member slidably engaged with the iron type golf club head body along the first rail; and

a second weight member slidably engaged with the iron type golf club head body along the second rail;

wherein the second weight member slidably engages with the iron type golf club body along the second rail by slidably engaging from a toe side end of the second rail horizontally parallel to the sole surface toward a heel side end of the second rail,

wherein the second weight member forms a portion of the sole surface of the iron type golf club head body;

wherein the first and second weight members have different weighting characteristics from one another but are substantially the same size, shape, and structure;

wherein interchanging the arrangement of the first and second weights with the first rail and the second rail adjust the center of gravity vertically when the golf club head is at address; and

wherein adjusting the center of gravity vertically can affect the trajectory and ball flight of a golf ball struck by the golf club head.

9. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein when the golf club head is at address, the first and second weight members include a groove on a front surface;

wherein the groove has a rear portion and a front portion, wherein the rear portion is larger than the front portion.

10. A golf club head according to claim 9, wherein the first and second rails have a rear portion and a front portion, and

wherein the rear portion is larger than the front portion;

and the rear portion of the rail engages the rear portion of the groove on the first and second weight members.

11. A golf club head according to claim 10, wherein the first and second rails have at least one angled side wall.

12. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the first and second weight members are secured using an end cap,

wherein the end cap has a surface shaped to act as a continuation of the toe side of the iron type golf club head body.

13. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the first and second weight members abut a surface of the heel portion of the back side of the iron type golf club head body.

14. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body comprising a ball striking face,

a top rail,

a sole,

a heel side,

a toe side,

a hosel,

a sole surface,

a perimeter weighting member extending rearward from the ball striking face and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face;

wherein a heel perimeter portion and a toe perimeter portion of the perimeter weight member are integrally formed with the iron type golf club head body,

wherein when the golf club head is at address, the rear surface includes a first rail positioned in a heel to toe direction, located along a top perimeter of the golf club head within an open space formed in the top rail of the golf club head, and

wherein the open space is a gap between the heel portion, the toe portion, and the rear surface;

wherein a chamber is formed in the sole portion of the perimeter weighting member of the golf club head when at address,

a second rail positioned within the chamber formed in a sole portion of the perimeter weighting member in a heel to toe direction independent of the first rail,

the first and second rail each having a rear portion and a front portion,

wherein the rear portion is larger than the front portion; and

wherein the perimeter weighting member includes a heel perimeter portion extending around a heel of the iron type golf club head body;

a first weight member comprising a groove on a front surface having a rear portion and a front portion, and

a second weight member comprising a groove on a front surface having a rear portion and a front portion;

wherein the groove of the first weight member is configured to slidably engage the first rail from the toe side such that the first weight member is unable to be removed without sliding along the first rail;

wherein the first weight member slidably engages with the iron type golf club body along the first rail by slidably engaging from a toe side end of the first rail horizontally parallel to the ball striking face toward a heel side end of the first rail,

wherein the first weight member comprises the upper portion of the perimeter weighting member when slidably engaged with the iron type golf club head along the first rail,

wherein the groove of the second weight member is configured to slidably engage the second rail from the toe side such that the second weight member is unable to be removed without sliding along the second rail;

wherein the second weight member slidably engages with the iron type golf club body along the second rail by slidably engaging from a toe side end of the second rail horizontally parallel to the ball striking face toward a heel side end of the second rail,

wherein the second weight member comprises a portion of the sole of the iron type golf club body when slidably engaged with the second rail,

wherein the first and second weight members have different weighting characteristics from one another but are substantially the same size, shape, and structure;

wherein interchanging the arrangement of the first and second weights with the first rail and the second rail adjust the center of gravity vertically when the golf club head is at address; and

wherein adjusting the center of gravity vertically affects the trajectory and ball flight of a golf ball struck by the golf club head.

15. A golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the first and second weight members are secured to the iron type golf club head body using at least one mechanical fastener.

16. A golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the first and second weight members abut a surface of the heel perimeter portion of the perimeter weighting member.

17. A golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the first and second rail have at least one angled side wall.

18. A golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the first and second weight members include:

a longitudinal length configured to extend along the golf club head in a heel to toe direction when the first and second weight members are engaged with the golf club head;

a first longitudinal end; and

a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end, wherein the first and second weight members have a weight distribution along its longitudinal length such that the first longitudinal end is heavier than the second longitudinal end.