GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH ADJUSTABLE WEIGHTING, CUSTOMIZABLE FACE-ANGLE, AND VARIABLE BULGE AND ROLL FACE

• US 20110151995A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: EVANS, D. CLAYTON
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/328
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a face component;

a body comprising a crown and a sole; and

a removable skid plate attached to the sole;

wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address.

2. The wood type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the skid plate is removably affixed to the sole using at least one or more materials selected from the group consisting of screws, clips, rivets, double-backed adhesive tape, and heat softened glue.

3. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the skid plate is composed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, steel, magnesium, titanium, titanium alloy, polymer, and graphite composite.

4. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1 wherein the face component is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, and amorphous metal.

5. The wood-type golf club head of claim 4 wherein the face component is composed of a titanium material.

6. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a composite material.

7. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a face component;

a body comprising a crown and a sole;

a receiving pocket having a receiving structure; and

a removable skid plate having a plurality of compressible tabs,

wherein the receiving pocket is located in the sole, and

wherein the removable skid plate is positioned within the receiving pocket such that the compressible tabs lock the skid plate within the receiving structure of the receiving pocket.

8. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the receiving structure comprises indentations or protrusions.

9. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a face component;

a body comprising a crown and a sole;

at least one receiving pocket having a receiving structure; and

at least one removable weight member having a plurality of compressible tabs,

wherein the at least one receiving pocket is located in one or more of the face component, the crown, and the sole, and

wherein the removable weight member is positioned within the receiving pocket such that the compressible tabs lock the weight member within the receiving structure of the receiving pocket.

10. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 9, wherein the receiving structure comprises indentations or protrusions.

11. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of receiving pockets.

12. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 9, wherein the at least one receiving pocket is located in the sole.

13. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 9, wherein the at least one receiving pocket is located in the crown.

14. A method of adjusting a face angle of a wood-type golf club head comprising:

providing a club head body comprising a face component, a crown, and a sole;

providing a plurality of removable skid plates having structures that differ from one another;

selecting a skid plate having a structure that will cause the golf club head to have a desired face angle; and

removably affixing the selected skid plate to the sole,

wherein each individual skid plate structure, when affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a receiving pocket in the sole,

wherein the receiving pocket has a receiving structure,

wherein the plurality of removable skid plates each have a plurality of compressible tabs, and

wherein the selected skid plate is positioned within the receiving pocket such that the compressible tabs lock the selected skid plate within the receiving structure of the receiving pocket.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of removable skid plates is composed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, steel, magnesium, titanium, titanium alloy, polymer, and graphite composite.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of removable skid plates comprises a first skid plate that, when affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a 1°

open face angle at address and a second skid plate that, when affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a 2°

open face angle at address.

18. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown and a sole; and

a face component having a striking area and a return portion,

wherein the striking area comprises an outer face, an inner face, and an intersection boundary between the outer and inner faces,

wherein the outer face has first bulge and roll values,

wherein the inner face has second bulge and roll values,

wherein the first bulge and roll values are smaller than the second bulge and roll values, and

wherein the intersection boundary comprises a tangential fillet blend that smoothly connects and transitions between the outer face and the inner face.

19. The wood-type golf club head of claim 18, wherein the body is composed of a composite material and the face component is composed of a metal material.

20. The wood-type golf club head of claim 19, wherein the face component is composed of a titanium alloy.