Golf club with adjustable center of gravity head

• US 10,543,406 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Vandette B. Carter
• Inventors: Carter, Vandette B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US15/645,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20170304690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-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

Abstract

A golf club having a head with a series of tracks forming a three-dimensional pattern; weights for positioning along channels; and a mechanism for securing the weights at positions along the channels so as to customize center of gravity and moment of inertia. The channels can all interconnect to allow a weight to be moved from one to another. The club can include a removable cover for at least a portion of the surface to cover the channels and the weights. The weights can comprise a spherical member disposed in a channel; a member external to a surface of the head; and a coupling between the spherical member and the external member to allow the spherical member and the external member to capture between them a wall in which a track is formed. The channels may be in the removable cover, or below the removable cover, in the head.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a head having a channel therein;

at least one weight for positioning along said channel; and

a mechanism for securing the at least one weight at arbitrary positions along said channel so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of said head, said mechanism comprising;

a first portion for connection to said weight; and

a second portion configured to move said first portion to move said weight, wherein

said first portion includes a worm gear coupled to said weight to move said weight when said worm gear is rotated; and

said second portion includes a gear for driving said worm gear.

2. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising at least one component associated with said shaft and attached to the gear for driving said worm gear.

3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein:

said at least one component includes a flexible rod coupled to said weight and extending through said shaft; and

said second portion includes a rotating means for rotating an end of said rod opposite to said end coupled to said gear for driving said worm gear.

4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein said rotating means comprises a rotatable knob having a threaded hole for receiving a threaded end of said rod opposite to said end coupled to said gear for driving said worm.

5. The golf club of claim 1, configured in the form of an iron.

6. The golf club of claim 1, configured in the form of a putter.

7. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a head having a channel therein;

at least one weight for positioning along said channel; and

a mechanism for securing the at least one weight at arbitrary positions along said channel so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of said head, said mechanism comprising;

a first portion for connection to said at least one weight;

a second portion configured to move said first portion to move said weight; and

a window covering said channel, said window being transparent, translucent or opaque so that position of said weight along said channel may be observed through or by removing said window.

8. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a head having a surface at an acute angle with respect to said shaft, said head having therein a track forming an arcuate, three-dimensional path along a back surface of the head;

a plurality of weights for positioning along said track; and

a mechanism for securing the weights at arbitrary positions along said track so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of said head;

wherein said mechanism includes;

a rotatable knob secured at an end of the shaft opposite to the head; and

components coupled to the rotatable knob configured so that rotation of the knob causes movement of the at least one weight along the track.