Golf club head

• US 10,293,225 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• 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
• Application Number:
  US15/170,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 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 sliding weight track with first and second opposing ledges extending along the sliding weight track, wherein the first and second opposing ledges define a gap between the first and second opposing ledges;

at least one weight member configured to clamp onto the first and second opposing ledges at selected locations along the sliding weight track, wherein the at least one weight member is located entirely external to the interior cavity of the body and comprises an outer member, an inner member, and a threaded fastening bolt that connects the outer member to the inner member;

a weight installation cavity entirely located in a portion of the sliding weight track in which the first and second opposing ledges extend; and

a coefficient of restitution (COR) feature located on the sole of the golf club head;

wherein;

the weight installation cavity is configured to allow insertion of an entirety of the inner member into the weight installation cavity and the sliding weight track, through the gap defined between the first and second opposing ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sliding weight track;

the weight installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the sliding weight track to facilitate installation of the at least one weight member in the sliding weight track;

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

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the first and second opposing ledges, the sliding weight track is wider on the side of the sliding weight track that comprises the recessed side surface than on a side of the sliding weight track opposite the recessed side surface.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner member and the outer member are noncircular and shaped to prevent rotation upon tightening the threaded fastening bolt.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of projections located on the first and second opposing ledges, wherein the plurality of projections have a size and shape adapted to help locate the at least one weight member.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein when the at least one weight member is secured to the sliding weight track the outer member engages outward-facing surfaces of the first and second opposing ledges and the inner member engages inward-facing surfaces of the first and second opposing ledges, and the threaded fastening bolt has a threaded shaft that extends through a first aperture of the outer member and engages mating threads located in a second aperture of the inner member.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a heel opening located on a heel end of the body, the heel opening configured to receive a fastening member;

and

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, or lie angle.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the COR feature is a channel.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the COR feature is a through slot.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a volume between 80 cm³ and 150 cm³.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a volume between 130 cm³ and 220 cm³.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity, the body having a sliding weight track with first and second opposing ledges extending along the sliding weight track, wherein the first and second opposing ledges define a gap between the first and second opposing ledges;

at least one weight member configured to clamp onto the first and second opposing ledges at three or more selected locations along the sliding weight track, the at least one weight member comprises an outer member, an inner member, and a threaded fastening bolt that connects the outer member to the inner member;

a weight installation cavity entirely located in a portion of the sliding weight track in which the first and second opposing ledges extend, wherein the weight installation cavity is configured to allow insertion of an entirety of the inner member into the weight installation cavity and the sliding weight track, through the gap defined between the first and second opposing ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sliding weight track and the inner member is noncircular and shaped to prevent rotation within the sliding weight track;

a coefficient of restitution (COR) feature located on the sole of the golf club head;

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

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, or lie angle

wherein;

the weight installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the sliding weight track to facilitate installation of the at least one weight member in the sliding weight track;

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

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the first and second opposing ledges, the sliding weight track is wider on the side of the sliding weight track that comprises the recessed side surface than on a side of the sliding weight track opposite the recessed side surface.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the weight installation cavity is located on a portion of the sliding weight track where the first and second opposing ledges may be clamped by the at least one weight member.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the COR feature is a through slot having a slot width between 7 mm and 12 mm.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the outer member and the inner member are noncircular and are shaped to prevent rotation when the threaded fastening bolt is tightened.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein when the at least one weight member is secured to the sliding weight track the outer member engages outward-facing surfaces of the first and second opposing ledges and the inner member engages inward-facing surfaces of the first and second opposing ledges, and the threaded fastening bolt has a threaded shaft that extends through a first aperture of the outer member and engages mating threads located in a second aperture of the inner member.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of projections located on the first and second opposing ledges, wherein the plurality of projections have a size and shape adapted to help locate the at least one weight member along the sliding weight track.

16. A golf club head comprising:

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

a sliding weight track including first and second opposing ledges extending within the sliding weight track, wherein the first and second opposing ledges define a gap between the first and second opposing ledges;

a weight installation cavity entirely located in a portion of the sliding weight track in which the first and second opposing ledges extend;

at least one weight member movably positioned within the sliding weight track and configured to clamp onto the first and second opposing ledges at two or more positions along the sliding weight track;

a coefficient of restitution (COR) feature located on the sole of the golf club head, wherein the COR feature is a through slot;

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

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, wherein an adjustability range of the head-shaft connection system includes different combinations of loft angle, face angle, or lie angle;

wherein;

at least a portion of the sliding weight track is located on a heel side of the body and at least a portion of the sliding weight track is located on a toe side of the body;

movement of the at least one weight member produces a change in a head origin z-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head of less than 1.0 mm throughout the adjustability range;

the at least one weight member and the head-shaft connection system are configured to be adjustable by a single tool;

over at least a portion of the sliding weight track a width of the sliding weight track is between about 8 mm and about 20 mm, and a depth of the sliding weight track is between about 6 mm and about 20 mm;

the weight installation cavity is configured to allow insertion of the at least one weight member into the weight installation cavity and sliding weight track, through the gap defined between the first and second opposing ledges, in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sliding weight track;

the weight installation cavity is defined by a recessed side surface of the sliding weight track to facilitate installation of the at least one weight member in the sliding weight track;

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

relative to a middle of the gap defined between the first and second opposing ledges, the sliding weight track is wider on the side of the sliding weight track that comprises the recessed side surface than on a side of the sliding weight track opposite the recessed side surface.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the golf club head has a weight between about 210 grams and 240 grams, and the head origin z-axis coordinate of the center of gravity of the golf club head is less than −

3 mm.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the crown is formed from a composite material having a density less than about 2 g/cc.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein adjusting the position of the at least one weight member within the sliding weight track produces a change in a head origin y-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head of between 2.0 mm and 6.0 mm throughout the adjustability range.

20. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein adjusting the position of the at least one weight member within the sliding weight track produces a change in a head origin y-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head of less than 1.0 mm throughout the adjustability range, and produces a change in a head origin x-axis coordinate of a center of gravity of the golf club head of between 4.0 mm and 7.3 mm throughout the adjustability range.