WEIGHT ELEMENT FOR A GOLF CLUB

• US 20110039634A1
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Rauchholz, William F., Boyd, Robert, Stites, John T.
• Application Number:
  US12/913,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20110039634A1
• 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 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a ball striking face; and

a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle defined therein and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the at least one receptacle.

2. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receptacle is located on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face.

3. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body is metal.

4. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight insert is mounted within the receptacle using at least one mechanical connector.

5. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is inserted into the top of the golf club body.

6. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is inserted into the bottom of the golf club body.

7. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a screw.

8. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the crown portion is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

9. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

10. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body constitutes a driver body.

11. A wood-type golf club, comprising:

a club head including a ball striking face and a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle defined therein and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the receptacle; and

a shaft member engaged with the club head.

12. A wood-type golf club according to claim 11, wherein the at least one receptacle is located on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face.

13. A wood-type golf club according to claim 11, wherein the at least one weight insert is mounted within the receptacle using at least one mechanical connector.

14. A wood-type golf club according to claim 13, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is inserted into the top of the golf club body.

15. A wood-type golf club according to claim 13, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is inserted into the bottom of the golf club body.

16. A wood-type golf club according to claim 11, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

17. A method of producing a wood-type golf club head, comprising:

providing a club head including a ball striking face and a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle defined therein and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the receptacle; and

attaching the weight insert to the club head within the at least one receptacle.

18. A method for producing a wood-type golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the at least one receptacle is located on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face.

19. A method for producing a wood-type golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the at least one weight insert is attached within the receptacle using at least one mechanical connector.

20. A method of producing a wood-type golf club, comprising:

providing a club head including a ball striking face and a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle defined therein and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the receptacle;

attaching the weight insert to the club head within the at least one receptacle; and

engaging a shaft member with the club head body.

21. A method for producing a wood-type golf club according to claim 20, wherein the at least one receptacle is located on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face.

22. A method for producing a wood-type golf club head according to claim 20, wherein the at least one weight insert is attached within the receptacle using at least one mechanical connector.