GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH MOVEABLE INSERT

• US 20100105499A1
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L., Soracco, Peter L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• 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 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a golf club head with an adjustable insert. The insert is moveable in a face to back direction, and may be locked into place by one or more locking mechanisms. The insert may be adjustable so that the overall distance from the face to the back approaches the distance from the heel to the toe.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a first specific gravity defined by a face, a back, a heel, a toe, a sole, a crown, and at least one adjustable insert, wherein the adjustable insert is capable of movement in the face to back direction and locking into at least one position;

wherein the club head has a first distance from the toe to the heel;

wherein the club head has a second distance from the face to the back without the adjustable insert;

wherein the club head has a third distance from the face to the back of the adjustable insert comprising the insert extended to a maximum in the face to back direction; and

wherein the adjustable insert further comprises a first adjustment mechanism and a first locking mechanism.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the adjustable insert comprises a first portion with a second specific gravity greater than the first specific gravity.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the second specific gravity is about 7 or more.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first portion is less than about 40 percent of the total volume of the adjustable insert.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the first portion is less than about 20 percent of the total volume of the adjustable insert.

6. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the adjustable insert is located substantially on the heel side of the club.

7. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the adjustable insert is located substantially on the toe side of the insert.

8. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the adjustable insert comprises a second portion with a third specific gravity less than the first specific gravity.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein second portion has a specific gravity less than about 4.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than about 5 inches.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to the first distance times 1.10.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to the first distance times 1.05.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to the first distance times 1.00.

14. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of notches located on the body of the club head and a deformable tab located on the adjustable insert and designed to fit within a notch.

15. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the adjustable insert is rotatable about a center axis.

16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the adjustable insert further comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion has a specific gravity greater than the first portion, and the second portion comprises up to about 30 percent of the total volume of the adjustable insert.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to 1.05 times the second distance.

18. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third distance is greater than or equal to 1.50 times the second distance.

19. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the insert is capable of movement in increments of less than about 0.05 inch.