GOLF CLUB WITH ADJUSTABLE CENTER OF GRAVITY HEAD

• US 20080261715A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Vandette B. Carter
• Inventors: Carter, Vandette B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/291
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-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

Abstract

A golf club comprising a head having a series of tracks forming a three-dimensional pattern along a surface of the head; a plurality of weights for positioning along the channels; and a mechanism for securing the weights at arbitrary positions along the channels so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of the head. The channels can all interconnect with one another to allow a weight to be moved from one to another. The golf club can further comprising a removable cover for at least a portion of the surface, the cover being for covering the channels and the weights positioned along the channels. The weights can comprise a spherical member disposed in a channel; an external member having a portion external to a surface of the head; and a coupling between the spherical member and the external member to allow the spherical member and the external member to securely capture between them a wall in which a track is formed. The channels may be in the removable cover, or below the removable cover, in the head.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a removable cover for covering at least a portion of said head, said cover having a series of tracks corresponding to a three-dimensional pattern of channels;

a plurality of weights for positioning along said channels; and

a mechanism, for each weight, for securing the weights at arbitrary positions along said tracks so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of said head.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tracks all interconnect with one another to allow a weight to be moved from one track to another track and thus from one channel to another channel, below said cover.

3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said channels are within said head, and said weights are secured to said cover by a respective one of said mechanisms.

4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said channels are within said cover, and said weights are secured to said cover by a respective one of said mechanisms.

5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed of a transparent, translucent and or opaque material.

6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tracks extend to the rear or back of said head of said golf club.

7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said weights comprise:

a spherical member disposed in one of said channels below said cover;

an external member having a portion external to a surface of said cover; and

a coupling between said spherical member and said external member to allow said spherical member and said external member to securely capture between them a wall of said cover in which said track is formed.

8. The golf club of claim 1, configured in the form of a wood or driver.

9. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising markings on the club'"'"'s head which show ideal position or orientation for each individual weight for at least one of low or high moment of inertia;

high and low trajectory, and fade or draw.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the weights are comprised of similar density or different density materials selected from the group consisting of a metal, lead, tungsten, and iron.

11. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a head having a surface at an acute angle with respect to said shaft, said head having therein a track forming an arcuate, three-dimensional path along a back surface of the head;

a plurality of weights for positioning along said track; and

a mechanism for securing the weights at arbitrary positions along said track so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of said head.

12. The golf club of claim 11, wherein said track has a first end in proximity to a sole of the head at a first position, and a second end in proximity to the sole at a second position spaced from said first position, said track extending away from said sole between said first end and said second end.

13. The golf club of claim 11, configured in the form of an iron.

14. The golf club of claim 11, configured in the form of a putter.

15. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a head having a channel therein;

at least one weight for positioning along said channel; and

a mechanism for securing the at least one weight at arbitrary positions along said channel so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of said head, said mechanism comprising;

a first portion for connection to said weight; and

a second portion configured to move said first portion to move said weight.

16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the second portion includes at least one component associated with said shaft, or said shaft.

17. The golf club of claim 15, wherein:

said first portion includes a flexible rod coupled to said weight and extending through said shaft; and

said second portion includes a moving means for moving an end of said rod opposite to said at least one weight.

18. The golf club of claim 16, wherein said moving means comprises a rotatable knob having a threaded hole for receiving a threaded end of said rod opposite to said at least one weight.

19. The golf club of claim 15, wherein:

said first portion includes a worm gear coupled to said weight to move said weight when said worm gear is rotated; and

said second portion includes a gear for driving said worm gear.

20. The golf club of claim 15, wherein:

said first portion includes a wire or cable coupled to said weight at a first end; and

said second portion includes a take up mechanism for taking up and releasing a portion of said wire or cable not coupled to said weight, further comprising;

a spring for urging said weight in a direction so as to keep tension in said wire or cable.

21. The golf club of claim 15, wherein said second portion comprises a disk rotatably mounted in a hosel of said head.

22. The golf club of claim 15, configured in the form of an iron.

23. The golf club of claim 15, configured in the form of a putter.

24. The golf club of claim 15, further comprising a window covering said channel, said window being transparent, translucent or opaque so that position of said weight along said channel may be observed through or by removing said window.