Golf club head having movable weights

• US 10,729,951 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2019
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Vincent, Benoit, Wright, Ian C., Willett, Kraig Alan, Zimmerman, Gery Mel, Hoffman, Joseph Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US16/556,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20200078646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 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 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness 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 60/42 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

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.

Claims

1. A golf club head having a face, comprising:

a first threaded aperture for receiving a fastener to secure a first weight to the golf club head;

wherein the first threaded aperture is positioned toeward of a geometric center of the face of the golf club head and the first threaded aperture has a head origin y-axis coordinate between 50 mm and 130 mm;

wherein the first weight having a mass between 1 gram and 25 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a golf club head center of gravity with a CG head origin z-axis coordinate less than about 0 mm, a CG head origin y-axis coordinate greater than 15 mm and less than 50 mm, and a CG head origin x-axis coordinate greater than about 10 mm and less than about 10 mm;

wherein the golf club head has a face with a face thickness that varies, and a maximum face thickness is no more than 6 mm and a minimum face thickness is no less than 1.5 mm;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8 and less than 1.0; and

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity z-axis (Izz), and a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity x-axis (Ixx), and a summation of Izz and Ixx is between about 740 kg·

mm² about 1000 kg·

mm²;

wherein the golf club head has a crown areal weight less than about 0.35 g/cm² over more than about 50% of the crown surface area;

wherein the moment of inertia about the golf club head CG z-axis divided by the club head mass excluding the mass contribution from the first weight is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight is housed within one or more recesses and the one or more recesses have a total volume between about 0.3 cm³ and about 15 cm³.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight has a total volume between about 0.3 cm³ and about 15 cm³.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a maximum face thickness is no less than 3.0 mm and a minimum face thickness is no more than 3.0 mm.

5. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the one or more recesses for receiving the first weight includes two or more recesses for receiving two or more removable weights including at least the first weight having a first mass and a second weight having a second mass, and the first mass is at least three times the second mass.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein one or more ribs are positioned within an interior cavity of the golf club head and connect the two or more recesses to an interior surface of the interior cavity.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first mass is between about 6 grams and about 18 grams, and the second mass is between 1 gram and about 3 grams.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a second threaded aperture located heelward of the geometric center of the face of the golf club head, a third threaded aperture located toeward of the geometric center of the face of the golf club head, and the first threaded aperture is located in between the second threaded aperture and the third threaded aperture.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a second weight configured to be selectively attachable to the golf club head at two or more positions including at least a second position located heelward of the geometric center of the face of the golf club head and at least a third position located toeward of the geometric center of the face of the golf club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein one or more ribs are positioned within an interior cavity of the golf club head and connect the one or more recesses to an interior surface of the interior cavity.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the golf club head is formed of a non-metallic composite material having a composite portion areal weight of less than about 0.35 g/cm².

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the non-metallic composite portion of the club head includes at least a portion of a crown.

13. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first weight and the second weight comprises a weight assembly comprising at least three components.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the golf club head has a sole areal weight less than about 0.35 g/cm² over more than about 50% of the sole surface area.

15. A golf club head, comprising:

at least two recesses for receiving at least two interchangeable weights;

the interchangeable weights configured to substantially conform to the recesses of the club head;

wherein one or more ribs are positioned within an interior cavity of the golf club head and connect at least one of the at least two recesses to an interior surface of the interior cavity;

wherein at least one of the two recesses is located in a forward position and has a head origin y-axis coordinate less than about 50 mm, and at least one of the two recesses is located in a rearward position and has a head origin y-axis coordinate greater than about 50 mm;

wherein the recesses have a volume between about 0.3 cm³ and about 15 cm³;

wherein the interchangeable weights range from about 1 gram to about 25 grams; and

wherein the golf club head has a CG (center of gravity) with a head origin x-axis coordinate between about −

4 mm and about 4 mm;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity z-axis (Izz), and a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity x-axis (Ixx), and a summation of Izz and Ixx is between about 740 kg·

mm² about 1000 kg·

mm²;

wherein the golf club head has a crown areal weight less than about 0.35 g/cm² over more than about 50% of the crown surface area.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein a maximum face thickness is no less than 3.0 mm and a minimum face thickness is no more than 3.0 mm.

17. A golf club head having a face, comprising:

one or more movable weights securable to the golf club head at three or more positions, wherein the three or more positions include a first position located heelward of a geometric center of the face of the golf club head, a second position located toeward of the geometric center of the face of the golf club head, and a third position located in between the first position and the second position;

wherein the three or more positions are proximate a perimeter of the golf club head;

wherein the one or more movable weights are secured to the golf club head by tightening a fastener;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity z-axis (Izz), and a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity x-axis (Ixx), and a summation of Izz and Ixx is between about 740 kg·

mm² about 1000 kg·

mm²;

wherein the golf club head has a crown areal weight less than about 0.35 g/cm² over more than about 50% of the crown surface area.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein a maximum face thickness is no less than 3.0 mm and a minimum face thickness is no more than 3.0 mm.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the golf club head has one or more recessed portions to receive the one or more movable weights.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the one or more recessed portions include one or more threaded apertures to receive the fastener.