Method, apparatus, and system for golf product reconfiguration

• US 10,596,422 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• 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:
  US16/289,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20190192932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 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, a first pair of ribs projecting from the wall portion, and a second pair of ribs projecting from the wall portion, wherein the first pair of ribs and the wall portion form a first elongate recess defining a first weight path and wherein the second pair of ribs and the wall portion form a second elongate recess defining a second weight path;

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

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

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first weight path and the second weight path comprises a linear path.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first weight path and the second weight path comprises a curvilinear path.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a third pair of ribs projecting from the wall portion, wherein the third pair of ribs and the wall portion form a third elongate recess defining a third weight path.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight path and the second weight path extend in a front to rear direction.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a threaded portion.

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

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

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

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first 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 first weight path.

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

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the first weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

13. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion, a first pair of ribs projecting from the wall portion, and a second pair of ribs projecting from the wall portion, wherein the first pair of ribs and the wall portion form a first elongate recess defining a first linear weight path and wherein the second pair of ribs and the wall portion form a second elongate recess defining a second linear weight path;

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

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

14. The golf club head of claim 13, further comprising a third pair of ribs projecting from the wall portion, wherein the third pair of ribs and the wall portion form a third elongate recess defining a third weight path.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first weight path and the second weight path extend in a front to rear direction.

16. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first pair of ribs and the second pair of ribs comprises a substantially constant thickness.

17. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first 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 first weight path.

18. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first second weight portion comprises a contact surface that is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the first weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

20. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the first and second fasteners each comprise a threaded portion.