GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH MULTI-COMPONENT CONTRUCTION

• US 20130178305A1
• Filed: 07/02/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Beno, Tim A., Breier, Joshua G., Curtis, Andrew, McDonnell, Michael T., Mitzel, Steven M., Morris, Thomas C., Preece, Thomas W., Soracco, Peter L.
• Application Number:
  US13/539,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178305A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/287
• 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• 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: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53013 Computer input

Abstract

A golf club head with a multi-component construction. The golf club head can include one or more components such as inserts, panels, plates, or body members that fasten to one another to form a club head body or that fasten to a club head body. The club head can include one or more components that snap-fit into a club head body. An insert can be made entirely or partially of plastic.

Claims

5. A golf club head, comprising:

a body comprising an opening for receiving an insert;

an attachment feature disposed at the opening and presenting a surface comprising a plurality of holes; and

an insert panel comprising a plurality of protrusions dimensioned to be received by the plurality of holes.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the body comprises at least five holes on the surface, and the insert comprises at least five post-like structures.

7. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein surface comprising a plurality of holes is located on a gasket member, and the gasket member is attached adhesively to the body.

8. The golf club head of claim 5 wherein the insert is a crown insert comprising a majority of the crown, and is comprised at least partially of plastic.

9. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member comprising at least one opening for receiving a sole insert, the body member comprising a first attachment flange disposed at the opening for attachment to the sole insert; and

a sole insert comprising a second attachment flange and attached to the body via the first attachment flange,

wherein the sole insert is configured to be attached to the body member by a snap-fit assembly, without the use of adhesives or welding.

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member comprising at least one opening for receiving a crown insert, the body member comprising at least one body attachment feature for attaching the body member to the crown insert; and

a crown insert attached to the body member, a majority of the crown insert comprised of plastic, the crown insert comprising at least one crown attachment feature for attaching the crown insert to the body member, the crown insert comprising at least one divider element separating the crown insert into a plurality of plastic portions.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the plastic portions are transparent.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the divider elements are flexible, non-plastic, and divide the crown insert into four plastic sections.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a releasable weight component releasably attached to the body member, the releasable weight component having at least one specialized tool cavity, the releasable weight component configured to adjust the weight and center of gravity of the club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein first attachment flange extends inwardly from the body member towards an open cavity in the club head.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first and second attachment flanges are angled.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the snap-fit assembly comprises a plurality of cantilevers with protruding tips and a recess corresponding to each tip.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the snap-fit assembly comprises a collar adapted to be swaged onto a post for attachment and unscrewed with a wrench for removal.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the sole insert is selected from a group of different inserts, so as to customize the club head.

13-1. The golf club head of claim 9, further comprising at least one weight releasably attached to the body member, the weight having at least one specialized tool cavity, the weight screw configured to adjust the weight and center of gravity of the club head.

15. A golf club head comprising:

a body member having a striking face, a heel-side skirt portion, a toe-side skirt portion, and a hosel;

a shaft-mounting structure within the body member for coupling a shaft through the hosel;

a shaft bolt configured to fasten an end of the shaft within the body; and

a sole insert fastened in place at least in part by the shaft bolt.

16. The club head of claim 15, wherein removing the shaft bolt with a tool allows the sole insert to be manually separated from the club head with no other tools.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a body member having strike face area, a hosel, and an opening having a perimeter;

a weight member releasably attached to the body member; and

an insert panel releasably held in place over the opening at least in part by the weight member.

18. The club head of claim 17, further comprising a flange disposed at the perimeter of the opening and further wherein the insert panel comprises:

a hole through which a portion of the weight member extends when attached to the body member;

an attachment feature spaced away from the hole for coupling to the body member.

19. A set of inserts for customizing a golf club, the set comprising:

at least two insert panels each having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a perimeter portion; and

an attachment feature at the perimeter portion of each insert panel, wherein the two insert panels have substantially the same morphology at the perimeter portion and are adapted to be interchangeably coupled to a club head, and further wherein the two insert panels are not identical.

20. The set of claim 19, wherein at least one of the insert panels is translucent.

21. The set of claim 19, wherein the attachment feature comprises one selected from the list consisting of:

barbed posts;

adhesive;

protruding boss for coupling via a shaft screw;

recess for receiving a protruding tip of a cantilever; and

swage-on/twist-off fastening mechanism.

22. The set of claim 19, wherein the two insert panels further comprise unlike morphologies at their exterior surfaces.

23. The set of claim 19, further comprising a third insert panel.

24. A method of providing a customized golf club head, the method comprising:

receiving a consumer'"'"'s selection of an option and storing the selection in a tangible, non-transitory memory;

creating, through the use of a computer processor coupled to the memory, a digital file including information about a club head including the selected option;

transferring the information to a production site; and

producing a customized club head including the selected option.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the consumer'"'"'s selected option comprises a choice of insert to be provided with the club head.

26. A system for providing a customized golf club, the system comprising:

a computer including a tangible, non-transitory memory coupled to a processor, the computer configured to execute instructions causing it to;

receive a consumer'"'"'s selection of an option and store the selection in a tangible, non-transitory memory;

create, through the use of a computer processor coupled to the memory, a digital file including information about a club head including the selected option;

transfer the information to a production site; and

write a file comprising billing and shipping data for use in a sale transaction.

27. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member comprising an opening dimensioned to receive an insert;

a bore through the hosel and a sole portion of the club head to receive a removable shaft; and

an insert dimensioned to fit into the opening to form an assembled club head, wherein the insert is fastened into place by fastening a shaft to the assembled club head.

28. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member comprising an opening dimensioned to receive an insert;

an insert having an outer perimeter portion configured to mate with an inner perimeter portion of the opening to define an attachment perimeter, wherein at least a portion of the attachment perimeter defines a line that, when projected onto a plane, comprises three inflexion points that can be connected with an arc having no inflexion points in the plane.

29. A golf club head comprising:

a body member comprising a feature for mating with a malleable component; and

a malleable component adapted to mate with the feature to provide an assembled club head.

39. The club head of claim 29, wherein the malleable component comprises rubber and the feature is a raised, rigid boss.

40. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member comprising an opening dimensioned to receive an insert;

an insert adapted to be coupled to the opening to provide an assembled club head; and

a fastening mechanism including a cam that fastens the insert to the assembled club head.

41. The club head of claim 40, wherein the cam is part of a lever member having a tool engagement surface.

42. The club head of claim 40, wherein the fastening mechanism further includes at least one engagement hook.

43. A golf club head, comprising:

a body member comprising an opening dimensioned to receive an insert;

an insert adapted to be coupled to the opening to form an assembled club head for a golf club and further wherein the insert includes a mechanism for fastening the insert to a shaft of the golf club.