GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING VARIABLE CENTER OF GRAVITY LOCATION

• US 20100304887A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Roberts, Doug, Bennett, Thomas O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,878 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 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club head with one or more passages travelling through a portion of the body. The passages may be accessible in the toe, heel, rear, or sole, or any combination thereof. The passages may be substantially vertical, substantially horizontal or a combination thereof. Weight inserts may be placed in one or more of the passages. In addition, one or more weight inserts may be coupled to the rear of the club head. The weight inserts may have varying densities. The present invention may also include a removable face insert. A plurality of weight inserts may be attached to the rear surface of the face insert.

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:

a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, a toe, and a hosel;

at least one passage travelling through at least 50 percent of the distance between the toe and the heel or the top line and the sole;

at least one weighted insert comprised of at least one material inserted into the at least one passage;

wherein the weighted insert is removable; and

wherein the density of the insert varies along a longitudinal axis of the insert.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the at least one passage is accessible in the toe of the golf club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one passage is accessible in the sole of the golf club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weighted insert is coupled to the rear of the golf club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weighted insert is comprised of a first portion with a first density and a second portion with a second density.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first density is greater than the second density by about 1 g/cm³.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first density is greater than the second density by about 5 g/cm³.

9. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first density is greater than the second density by about 10 g/cm³.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a second passage travelling through a portion of the body.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, further comprising:

a second weighted insert comprised of at least one material inserted into the second passage;

wherein the weighted insert is removable.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the first and second passages are substantially horizontal over a length of about 50 percent to about 75 percent of the distance from the toe to the heel.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the first and second passages are substantially vertical over a portion of the club head;

and

the portion comprises about 50 percent to about 75 percent of the distance from the sole to the top line.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a third passage with a third removable weighted insert.

15. An iron-type golf club head comprising:

a body defining a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, a toe, and a hosel;

a striking face comprised of a removable insert;

a plurality of weighted inserts coupled to the back of the striking face insert; and

wherein the weighted inserts are removable and accessible from the rear of the golf club head.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the plurality of weighted inserts are of varying density.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the density of a first weighted insert is greater than the density of a second weighted insert by at least 1 g/cm³.

18. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the density of a first weighted insert is greater than the density of a second weighted insert by at least 5 g/cm³.

19. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the density of a first weighted insert is greater than the density of a second weighted insert by at least 10 g/cm³.