Golf Club And Golf Club Head Structures

• US 20130090185A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Oldknow, Andrew G.V., Thomas, James S., Kawaguchi, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/337
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

Golf clubs and golf club heads having a weight member that is configurable in multiple positions to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head are presented. In some examples, the weight member may be arranged in a sole of the golf club head and may include ends having different weighting characteristics. For instance, one end may be heavier or denser than another end of the weight member. The difference in weight characteristics may be due to different materials used to form the different ends, different construction of the ends, and the like. The position of the weight member may be adjusted to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head. For instance, the weight member may be removed and rotated to position a heavier end where a lighter end was previously positioned.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a top, a sole, a toe and a heel;

an adjustable weighted member extending in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body, the adjustable weighted member having a first end having a first weight and a second end having a second weight different from the first weight, wherein the adjustable weighted member is removable from the golf club head to adjust a position of the first end and the second end.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second weight is lighter than the first weight.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first end is formed of a first material and the second end is formed of a second material different from the first material.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the second material is lighter than the first material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first end has a first construction and the second end has a second construction different from the first construction.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the second end has a hollow constructions.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the first end is thicker than the second end.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, further including a recess formed in the sole configured to receive the adjustable weighted member.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the recess further includes a mating connection portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the adjustable weighted member.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first end has a different appearance than the second end to provide a visual indication between the first weight and the second weight.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, further including a shaft coupled to the golf club head to form a golf club.

12. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the first end of the adjustable weighted member imparts at least one characteristic to the golf ball head different from the second end.

13. The golf club head of claim 12 wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of ball trajectory, ball speed, loft, distance, and spin.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the adjustable weighted member is removably attached to the golf club head body by a fastener.

25. The golf club head of claim 1, further including a shaft coupled to the golf club head to form a golf club.

15. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a top, a sole, a toe and a heel;

a recess formed in the sole of the club head body extending in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body; and

an adjustable weighted member configured to be received in the recess, the adjustable weighted member having a first end having a first weight and a second end having a second weight different from the first weight, wherein the adjustable weighted member is removable from the golf club head to adjust a position of the first end and the second end.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the second weight is lighter than the first weight.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the first end is formed of a first material and the second end is formed of a second material different from the first material.

19. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the second material is lighter than the first material.

20. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the first end has a first construction and the second end has a second construction different from the first construction.

21. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the second end has a hollow construction.

22. The golf club head of claim 20, wherein the first end is thicker than the second end.

23. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the recess further includes a mating connection portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the adjustable weighted member.

24. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the first end has a different appearance than the second end to provide a visual indication between the first weight and the second weight.

26. The golf club head of claim 15 wherein the first end of the adjustable weighted member imparts at least one characteristic to the golf ball head different from the second end.

27. The golf club head of claim 26 wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of ball trajectory, ball speed, loft, distance, and spin.

28. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the adjustable weighted member is removably attached to the golf club head body by a fastener.

29. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a top, a sole, a toe and a heel;

a recess formed in the sole of the club head body extending in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body; and

an adjustable weighted member configured to be received in the recess, the adjustable weighted member having a first end having a first weight and a second end having a second weight different from the first weight, the weighted member having a generally planar underside surface, wherein the adjustable weighted member is removable from the golf club head to adjust a position of the first end and the second end.