GOLF CLUBS AND GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTING CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20080318706A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Larson, Eric A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

Golf club heads include an iron type golf club head body having a rear surface (e.g., a perimeter weighting member) that defines a first weight receiving portion, and a weight member is mounted in the first weight receiving portion. The club head body further defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion, and a second weight member is removably engaged with the golf club head body at this second weight receiving portion. The weight members may be interchangeably mounted in the two weight receiving portions to thereby allow selective placement of the center of gravity characteristics of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are described.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face and a perimeter weighting member extending rearward from the ball striking face and along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body, wherein the perimeter weighting member defines a first weight receiving portion, and wherein the golf club head body defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion;

a first weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first or second weight receiving portions, wherein the first weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first and second weight receiving portions; and

a second weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first or second weight receiving portions, wherein the second weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first and second weight receiving portions,

wherein the first and second weight members are engaged with different weight receiving portions, and wherein the first and second weight members have different weighting characteristics from one another.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the second weight receiving portion is defined in the perimeter weighting member.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first weight receiving portion is located at a first vertical position with respect to the golf club head body and the second weight receiving portion is located at a second vertical position with respect to the golf club head body, wherein the first vertical position is higher than the second vertical position when the club head body is oriented at a ball addressing orientation.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first weight receiving portion is located along a top perimeter portion of the perimeter weighting member.

6. A golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the second weight receiving portion is located along a bottom perimeter portion of the perimeter weighting member.

7. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first weight member and the second weight member have substantially the same size and shape.

8. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first weight member has a different density from the second weight member.

9. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein when the first weight member is engaged with the first weight receiving portion and the second weight member is engaged with the second weight receiving portion, the club head has a higher center of gravity than when the first weight member is engaged with the second weight receiving portion and the second weight member is engaged with the first weight receiving portion.

12. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first weight receiving portion includes an open space defined along the perimeter weighting member.

13. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the first and second weight members are sized and shaped so as to entirely form a portion of a longitudinal length of the perimeter weighting member.

15. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the weights are engaged with the club head body by press fitting.

16. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the weights are engaged with the club head body via threaded connections.

5. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

17-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face and a perimeter weighting member extending rearward from the ball striking face and along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body, wherein the perimeter weighting member defines a first weight receiving portion, and wherein the golf club head body defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion and a third weight receiving portion independent of the first and second weight receiving portions;

a first weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first, second, or third weight receiving portions, wherein the first weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first, second, and third weight receiving portions;

a second weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first, second, or third weight receiving portions, wherein the second weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first, second, and third weight receiving portions; and

a third weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first, second, or third weight receiving portions, wherein the third weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first, second, and third weight receiving portions,

wherein the first, second, and third weight members are engaged with different weight receiving portions.

20. A golf club head comprising:

an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face, wherein an upper perimeter portion of the rear surface along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body defines a first weight receiving portion of the club head body; and

a first weight member engaged with the golf club head body at the first weight receiving portion.

21-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A golf club comprising:

an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face and a perimeter weighting member extending rearward from the ball striking face and along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body, wherein the perimeter weighting member defines a first weight receiving portion, and wherein the golf club head body defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion;

a first weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first or second weight receiving portions, wherein the first weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first and second weight receiving portions; and

a second weight member removably engaged with the golf club head body at one of the first or second weight receiving portions, wherein the second weight member is engagable with the golf club head body at each of the first and second weight receiving portions,

wherein the first and second weight members are engaged with different weight receiving portions, and wherein the first and second weight members have different weighting characteristics from one another; and

a shaft member engaged with the iron type golf club head body.

25. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the second weight receiving portion is defined in the perimeter weighting member.

26. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the first weight receiving portion is located at a first vertical position with respect to the golf club head body and the second weight receiving portion is located at a second vertical position with respect to the golf club head body, wherein the first vertical position is higher than the second vertical position when the club head body is oriented at a ball addressing orientation.

27. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the first weight receiving portion is located along a top perimeter portion of the perimeter weighting member.

29. A golf club according to claim 27, wherein the second weight receiving portion is located along a bottom perimeter portion of the perimeter weighting member.

30. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the first weight member and the second weight member have substantially the same size and shape.

31. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the first weight member has a different density from the second weight member.

32. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein when the first weight member is engaged with the first weight receiving portion and the second weight member is engaged with the second weight receiving portion, the club head has a higher center of gravity than when the first weight member is engaged with the second weight receiving portion and the second weight member is engaged with the first weight receiving portion.

35. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the first weight receiving portion includes an open space defined along the perimeter weighting member.

36. A golf club according to claim 24, wherein the first and second weight members are sized and shaped so as to entirely form a portion of a longitudinal length of the perimeter weighting member.

28. (canceled)

33-34. -34. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. A golf club comprising:

an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face and a rear surface opposite the ball striking face, wherein an upper perimeter portion of the rear surface along at least a portion of a circumferential area of the golf club head body defines a first weight receiving portion of the club head body; and

a first weight member engaged with the golf club head body at the first weight receiving portion; and

a shaft member engaged with the iron type golf club head body.

39-77. -77. (canceled)