System and method for weighting a golf club

• US 10,350,472 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Golden, Charles E., de la Cruz, Noah, Stone, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US15/980,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20180256953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 473297, 473292, 473291, 473334, 473335, 473338, 473339
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/24 Weighted handles

Abstract

A system and method for weighting a golf club. The system is configured to adjust the overall club weight and the weight balance of a golf club. The system includes a weight assembly formed with a plurality of flexible cantilevered arms that interact with a weight member.

Claims

1. A weight assembly for attachment to a golf club, comprising a housing, wherein the housing includes a base and a plurality of flexible cantilevered arms extending distally away from the base;

a weight member disposed in the housing slidably abutting the plurality of flexible cantilevered arms, wherein the weight member has a first position relative to the housing and a second position relative to the housing; and

an actuator interposed between a portion of the housing and a portion of the weight member, wherein the actuator is movably coupled to the housing and movably coupled to the weight member,

wherein when the weight member is in the first position the flexible cantilevered arms are in a retracted configuration, and wherein when the weight member is in the second position the flexible cantilevered arms are in an expanded configuration wherein a maximum outer dimension of the flexible cantilevered arms is greater in the expanded configuration than in the retracted configuration.

2. The weight assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes an aperture that extends entirely through the base.

3. The weight assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator is a threaded fastener that extends through the base and into a threaded bore included in the weight member.

4. The weight assembly of claim 3, further comprising a weight retainer, wherein the retainer couples to a distal end of the threaded fastener and extends radially outward from an outer surface of the threaded fastener.

5. The weight assembly of claim 3, wherein the weight member is configured to interact with the flexible cantilevered arms of the housing to prevent relative rotation between the weight member and the housing.

6. The weight assembly of claim 3, wherein the threaded fastener includes a head that is recessed into the base of the housing, wherein a snap ring extends across an interface between a side wall of the head and the housing, wherein the snap ring prevents the head translating relative to the housing.

7. The weight assembly of claim 3, further comprising a cap coupled to the base, wherein the threaded fastener includes a head that is recessed into the base of the housing and the cap captures the head in the base.

8. The weight assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible cantilevered arms define an interior space, wherein the interior space is tapered so that it is narrower further away from the base, wherein the weight member is disposed within the interior space.

9. The weight assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible cantilevered arms includes a cushion disposed on an outer surface of the flexible cantilevered arm, wherein the cushion is a flexible extension of the flexible cantilevered arm.

10. A weight assembly for attachment to a golf club, comprising

a housing, wherein the housing includes a base and a plurality of flexible cantilevered arms extending distally away from the base, wherein at least one of the flexible cantilevered arms includes a cushion disposed on an outer surface of the flexible cantilevered arm;

a weight member disposed in the housing slidably abutting the plurality of flexible cantilevered arms, wherein the weight member has a first position relative to the housing and a second position relative to the housing; and

an actuator interposed between a portion of the housing and a portion of the weight member, wherein the actuator is movably coupled to the housing and movably coupled to the weight member,

wherein when the weight member is in the first position the flexible cantilevered arms are in a retracted configuration, wherein when the weight member is in the second position the flexible cantilevered arms are in an expanded configuration, and wherein a maximum outer dimension of the flexible cantilevered arms is greater in the expanded configuration than in the retracted configuration.

11. The weight assembly of claim 10, wherein the base includes an aperture that extends entirely through the base.

12. The weight assembly of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a threaded fastener that extends through the base and into a threaded bore included in the weight member.

13. The weight assembly of claim 12, further comprising a weight retainer, wherein the retainer couples to a distal end of the threaded fastener and extends radially outward from an outer surface of the threaded fastener.

14. The weight assembly of claim 12, wherein the weight member is configured to interact with the flexible cantilevered arms of the housing to prevent relative rotation between the weight member and the housing.

15. The weight assembly of claim 12, wherein the threaded fastener includes a head that is recessed into the base of the housing, wherein a snap ring extends across an interface between a side wall of the head and the housing, wherein the snap ring prevents the head translating relative to the housing.

16. The weight assembly of claim 12, further comprising a cap coupled to the base, wherein the threaded fastener includes a head that is recessed into the base of the housing and the cap captures the head in the recess.

17. The weight assembly of claim 10, wherein the actuator includes a cam that abuts the weight member, wherein the cam is rotatably coupled to the housing so that it can be rotated into a first position and into a second position, wherein in the first position the cam spaces weight member from the base a first distance, and wherein in the second position the cam spaces weight member from the base a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

18. The weight assembly of claim 10, wherein the cushion is constructed from a soft material having a hardness no harder than Shore A 60.

19. A weight assembly for attachment to a golf club, comprising

a housing, wherein the housing includes a base and a plurality of flexible cantilevered arms extending distally away from the base;

a weight member disposed in the housing slidably abutting the plurality of flexible cantilevered arms, wherein the weight member has a first position relative to the housing and a second position relative to the housing; and

an actuator interposed between a portion of the housing and a portion of the weight member, wherein the actuator is movably coupled to the housing and movably coupled to the weight member,

wherein the actuator includes a cam that abuts the weight member, wherein the cam is rotatably coupled to the housing so that it can be rotated into a first position and into a second position, wherein in the first position the cam spaces weight member from the base a first distance, and wherein in the second position the cam spaces weight member from the base a second distance that is greater than the first distance, and

wherein when the weight member is in the first position the flexible cantilevered arms are in a retracted configuration, and wherein when the weight member is in the second position the flexible cantilevered arms are in an expanded configuration wherein a maximum outer dimension of the flexible cantilevered arms is greater in the expanded configuration than in the retracted configuration.

20. The weight assembly of claim 19, wherein at least one of the flexible cantilevered arms includes a cushion disposed on an outer surface of the flexible cantilevered arm, wherein the cushion is a flexible extension of the flexible cantilevered arm.