Cor adjustment device

• US 20060111200A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Poynor, Raymond L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/346
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club head with a variable coefficient of restitution is disclosed and claimed. The club head includes a bias member that contacts and exerts a force against the interior surface of the face. The force exerted against the interior of the face lessens the face flexibility, and decreases the club head coefficient of restitution. The bias member can be adjusted from outside the club head, allowing the manufacturer to precisely adjust the club head coefficient of restitution.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a face, a sole, a crown, and a skirt, said face and said sole defining a loft angle, said body defining an interior volume, said face including a face interior surface, and said sole including a sole interior surface;

a toe receiving area on a toe portion of said skirt;

a heel receiving area on a heel portion of said skirt; and

an engagement member having two ends, a first end being retained within said toe receiving area and a second end being retained within said heel receiving area, said engagement member being in contact with and exerting a force against said face interior surface;

wherein the club head has a coefficient of restitution determined in part by said force.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said engagement member is adjustable to exert a variable force against said face interior surface, thereby varying said club head coefficient of restitution.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, further comprising:

a first adjustment member in contact with said engagement member adjacent to or within said toe receiving area; and

a second adjustment member in contact with said engagement member adjacent to or within said heel receiving area.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

said first adjustment member includes a first cam in contact with said engagement member adjacent said engagement member first end such that rotation of said first cam varies said force; and

said second adjustment member includes a second cam in contact with said engagement member adjacent said engagement member second end such that rotation of said second cam varies said force.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein said first and second adjustment members are operatively accessible from outside the club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein:

said first adjustment member includes a first threaded member passing through a rear toe area of said skirt; and

second adjustment member includes a second threaded member passing through a rear heel area of said skirt.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein each of said threaded members is substantially perpendicular to said face.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the body without said engagement member has an initial coefficient of restitution greater than 0.83; and

said engagement member lowers said coefficient of restitution to less than or equal to 0.83.