GOLF CLUB

• US 20150011327A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: MATSUNAGA, Kiyofumi, MIZUTANI, Naruhiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,480,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/338
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/027 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft only
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club 2 includes a head 4 and a shaft 6. A face 5 includes a sole s4 and a grounding member X1. The sole s4 includes a plurality of attaching portions r1. The grounding member X1 can be fixed to each of the plurality of attaching portions r1. A face angle can be varied depending on an attached position of the grounding member X1. Preferably, the golf club 2 further includes a non-grounding member X2. Preferably, the non-grounding member X2 can be fixed to each of the attaching portions r1. Preferably, attached position of the non-grounding member X2 does not influence the face angle.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a head; and

a shaft,

wherein the head comprises a sole and at least one grounding member;

the sole comprises a plurality of attaching portions;

the grounding member is detachably attached to any of the plurality of attaching portions; and

a face angle can be varied depending on an attached position of the grounding member.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, further comprising at least one non-grounding member,

wherein the non-grounding member is attachable and detachable to/from each of the attaching portions;

and

an attached position of the non-grounding member does not influence the face angle.

3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the non-grounding member is attached to the attaching portion to which the grounding member is not attached.

4. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of attaching portions is a recess;

the recess can regulate rotation of the grounding member; and

the recess can regulate rotation of the non-grounding member.

5. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein a weight of the grounding member is substantially equal to a weight of the non-grounding member.

6. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein a center of gravity of the head moves with movement of the grounding member;

and the golf club can be adjusted so that a center of gravity of the head moves to a back side as the face angle is opened.

7. The golf club according to claim 1, further comprising a screw,

wherein the grounding member is detachably attached by the screw.

8. The golf club according to claim 2, further comprising two screws,

wherein the number of the non-grounding members is 2;

and

each of the non-grounding members is detachably attached by each of the screws.

9. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of attaching portions are disposed in different positions in a face-back direction.

10. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of attaching portions is a recess;

a height of the grounding member is greater than a depth of the recess; and

a height of the non-grounding member is equal to or less than the depth of the recess.

11. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the non-grounding member comprises a hollow portion.

12. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the grounding member comprises a hollow portion.

13. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the grounding member comprises a grounding surface;

and

the grounding surface is a curved surface convexed to the outside of the head.

14. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the non-grounding member can suppress movement of a center of gravity of the head caused by adjustment of the face angle.

15. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the number of the attaching portions is equal to or greater than 3;

the grounding member Is attached to at least one of the attaching portions; and

the non-grounding member can be selectively attached to any of the other attaching portions.

16. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein if the number of the grounding members is defined as N1, the number of the non-grounding members is defined as N2, and the number of the attaching portions is defined as N3, N3 is equal to the sum of N1 and N2.

17. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the number of the grounding members is equal to or greater than 2;

and

the golf club comprises the grounding members having heights different from each other.

18. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of attaching portions is a recess;

the plurality of recesses have the same planar view shape; and

the grounding member and the non-grounding member have the same planar view shape.

19. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the golf club is a driver.

20. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein a first attaching portion, a second attaching portion, and a third attaching portion are provided as the attaching portions;

a first sole indication portion is provided in a position corresponding to the first attaching portion;

a second sole indication portion is provided in a position corresponding to the second attaching portion;

a third sole indication portion is provided in a position corresponding to the third attaching portion; and

the first sole indication portion, the second sole indication portion, and the third sole indication portion are indications capable of showing a state of the face angle.