GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH REPOSITIONABLE WEIGHT

• US 20080146370A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Hoffman, Joseph H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/336
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• 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: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body;

a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length;

a weight and weight retainer, the weight being continuously repositionable such that the weight can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends, wherein the weight has a major dimension and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the track is a channel having two spaced apart channel walls and a bottom formed by an outer surface of the body.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the channel walls have an inverted “

J”

cross section defining hooked ends.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the channel walls are formed as a single piece with the body.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received and slidably movable within the track.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is dimensioned to fit over the track.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the weight comprises a pair of opposing legs and a channel-shaped track opening defined between the legs, and wherein the track opening is dimensioned to receive the track when the weight is positioned over the track with the leg portions straddling opposite sides of the track and bearing against the body at points outside of the track.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight comprises a bore configured to threadedly receive the fastening member.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the track is a channel and the fastening member is configured to extend through the bore in the weight and to tighten against an inner side of the channel, thereby urging the weight outwardly against an outer side of the channel.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the weight retainer comprises a retainer plate with a threaded bore dimensioned to receive the fastening member, and wherein the weight is positioned against an inner side of the channel, the retainer plate is positioned within and against the outer side of the channel and the fastening member is tightened to press the retainer plate outward against the channel and to press the weight inwardly against the inner side of the channel.

11. The golf club of claim 7, wherein the fastening member comprises a head end and an opposite end dimensioned larger than the channel opening, and wherein, with the opposite end of the threaded member received in the channel and threadedly received in the bore of the weight, the head end can be tightened to press the weight toward the body and to press the retainer plate toward an outer side of the channel.

12. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the weight retainer further comprises a washer positioned between the opposite end of the fastening member and the channel, wherein the washer facilitates rotation of the opposite end relative to the channel when the fastening member is rotated.

13. The golf club of claim 7, wherein the track comprises a rib formed on the exterior of the body and having a generally T-shaped cross-section and a coupling member for coupling the rib to the opposite end of the fastening member.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the coupling member comprises a C-shaped coupler.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the fastening member has a head end and an opposite end dimensioned to slide within the channel but larger than a channel opening of the channel.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight retainer is configured to secure the weight at a selected position by contact between the weight and the body.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is generally plate-shaped.

18. A golf club head, comprising:

a body;

a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length;

a weight and coaxial weight retainer, wherein the weight and the weight retainer are configured to exert at least two retaining forces at a selected position along the track in generally opposing directions, with one of the two forces being exerted in a direction toward the head and the other of the two forces being exerted in a direction away from the head.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the track comprises a channel, and wherein the weight exerts a retaining force in a direction away from the head on an outer side of the channel and the weight retainer exerts a retaining force on the weight in a direction toward the head.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the weight retainer comprises a fastening member and a retainer plate with a bore dimensioned to threadedly receive the fastening member, wherein the track comprises a channel, and wherein when the fastening member is tightened, the fastening plate exerts a retaining force in a direction away from the head on an outer side of the channel and the fastening member exerts a retaining force on the weight in a direction toward the head.

21. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the track is positioned generally in the aft portion of the club head.

22. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the track is positioned generally within the ribbon of the club head.

23. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein a position of the weight within the channel is continuously adjustable.