Golf club head with peripheral weighting

• US 20030232659A1
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Steven J., Greene, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head with low peripheral and rearward weighting includes C-shaped and annular weights connected with at least one of the rear and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the head. The weighting within the peripheral weights is adjustable between the heel, rear, and toe portions of the head to customize the weight distribution of the head in accordance with a golfer'"'"'s swing. The added weight and its orientation increases the moment of inertia of the head and reduces the rotation thereof.

Claims

1. A golf club head of the wood type, comprising

(a) a metal body including an upper surface, a lower surface, a front ball striking face, a curved rear surface and toe and heel surfaces between said striking face and said curved rear surface;

and

(b) a peripheral weight connected with said body on at least one of said rear and lower surfaces in order to increase the moment of inertia of the club head when used to strike a golf ball.

2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said body rear surface contains an elongated recess which extends between said toe and heel surfaces, said peripheral weight having a C-shaped configuration and being arranged within said recess.

3. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein said peripheral weight has a uniform weight distribution throughout its length.

4. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein said peripheral weight has a variable weight distribution throughout its length, whereby the weight toward said toe and heel surfaces of the club head can be adjusted in accordance with the weighting of said peripheral weight.

5. A golf club head a defined in claim 4, wherein said peripheral weight comprises a housing containing a plurality of chambers along its length for selectively receiving weight members to alter the weight distribution thereof.

6. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one weight member is integrally arranged within said peripheral weight at a selected location along the length thereof.

7. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of said toe and heel surfaces contains a concave slot for improving the aerodynamic qualities of the head, said recess being arranged within at least a portion of said slot.

8. A golf club head ad defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral weight has an annular configuration and is connected with said body lower surface in order to lower the center of gravity of the club head.

9. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, wherein said peripheral weight includes an upwardly extending portion at the rear thereof which extends upwardly over a portion of said body rear surface to distribute more weight to the rear of the club head.

10. A golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein weight is evenly distributed throughout said peripheral weight.

11. A golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein greater weight is concentrated in a rear portion of said peripheral weight.

12. A golf club head as defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said toe and heel surfaces contains a concave slot for improving the aerodynamic qualities of the head.

13. A golf club head as defined in claim 2, and further comprising an annular peripheral weight connected with said body lower surface in order to lower the center of gravity of the club head.

14. A golf club head as defined in claim 13, wherein said annular peripheral weight includes an upwardly extending portion at the rear thereof which extends upwardly over a portion of said body rear surface.

15. A golf club head as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one of said peripheral weight and said annular peripheral weight has an adjustable weight distribution.

16. A golf club head as defined in claim 15, wherein at least one of said toe and heel surfaces contains a concave slot for improving the aerodynamic qualities of the head.