Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 10,675,515 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Oldknow, Andrew G. V., Thomas, James S., Kawaguchi, Hiroshi, Boyd, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen L
• Application Number:
  US15/971,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20180250561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• 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 60/52 with slits

Abstract

Golf clubs and golf club heads having a weight member that is configurable in multiple positions to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head are presented. In some examples, the weight member may be arranged in a sole of the golf club head and may include ends having different weighting characteristics. For instance, one end may be heavier or denser than another end of the weight member. The difference in weight characteristics may be due to different materials used to form the different ends, different construction of the ends, and the like. The position of the weight member may be adjusted to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head. For instance, the weight member may be removed and rotated to position a heavier end where a lighter end was previously positioned.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a crown, a sole, a toe, and a heel;

a first recess formed in the sole, and a second recess formed in the sole,

the first recess forming a first recess surface on the sole such that the first recess surface is offset from the sole toward the crown of the golf club head body,

the second recess forming a second recess surface such that the second recess surface is offset from the first recess surface toward the crown of the golf club head body,

a longest length of the second recess extending only in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body;

wherein the second recess comprises a first end and a second end,

wherein the second recess has the first end having a width,

the second end having a width,

and

a center portion having a width connecting the first end and the second end;

wherein a maximum width of the center portion is less than a maximum width of both of the first and second ends;

and

an adjustable weight member configured to be received in the second recess,

the adjustable weight member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the adjustable weight member extends from the first end of the second recess to the second end of the second recess when received in the second recess,

the first end having a material different than the second end;

wherein;

a portion of the adjustable weight member is able to be received in either the first end of the second recess or the second end of the second recess;

and

wherein the first end of the second recess has a first bottom surface having a first aperture and the second end of the second recess has a second bottom surface having a second aperture.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture include threads and are configured to receive a threaded fastener.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first end of the second recess and the second end of the second recess each have a generally triangular shape.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second recess is symmetrical about the center portion in the front to rear direction.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the adjustable weight member comprises a portion having a flexible material.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center portion of the second recess has a depth and the first end and the second end each have a depth;

wherein the depth of the center portion is different than the depth at either the first end or the second end of the second recess.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the adjustable weight member is removably attached to the golf club head body by a threaded fastener.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the adjustable weight comprises a first material and a second material.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the first material has a higher density than the second material.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first end is comprised of the first material.

11. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a crown, a sole, a toe, and a heel;

a first recess formed in the sole, and a second recess formed in the sole,

the first recess forming a first recess surface on the sole that is offset from the sole toward the crown of the golf club head body,

the second recess forming a surface that is offset from the first recess surface toward the crown of the golf club head body,

the second recess extending in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body, wherein the second recess comprises a first end and a second end, and a longest length of the second recess extending only in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body;

an adjustable weight member configured to be received in the second recess, the adjustable weight member comprising a first end and a second end,

the first end having a material different than the second end,

wherein;

a portion of the adjustable weight member is able to be received in either the first end of the second recess or the second end of the second recess;

and

wherein the first end of the second recess has a first bottom surface having a first aperture and the second end of the second recess has a second bottom surface having a second aperture.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the adjustable weight member has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is oriented toward the crown of the golf club head when the adjustable weight member is received in the second recess,

wherein when the adjustable weight member is received in the second recess, the top surface of the adjustable weight member is offset towards the crown of the golf club head in reference to a surface of the sole surrounding the first recess,

such that the adjustable weight member makes minimal or no contact with a ground surface during use.