GOLF CLUB HEAD AND REMOVABLE WEIGHT

• US 20150151172A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bezilla, Stephanie, Bennett, Thomas Orrin, Murphy, Stephen S., Zimmerman, Gery M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,731,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head and a removable weight that is received in a receptacle of the golf club head. The weight includes a cap and a slug. The cap is removably coupled to the receptacle and includes a recess that receives a portion of the slug so that the cap and slug are able to rotate relative to each other. The slug includes an anti-rotation feature that prevents relative rotation between the slug and the receptacle and a lead-in portion.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a weight receptacle, wherein the weight receptacle includes a cap portion and a seat portion, wherein the cap portion is disposed proximate an outer surface of the body and the seat portion is spaced from the outer surface of the body; and

a weight comprising a cap and a slug,

wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, wherein the cap is removably coupled to the cap portion of the weight receptacle, and wherein the cap comprises an aperture extending entirely through the base from an outer surface of the base to the recess of the cap,

wherein the slug is an elongate member and includes a retention portion and an extension portion, wherein at least a portion of the retention portion is disposed in the recess of the cap when the weight is installed in the weight receptacle, and

wherein the extension portion includes a tapered portion that is at least partially disposed in the seat portion of the weight receptacle when the weight is installed in the weight receptacle.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein retention portion of the slug comprises a projection including a tapered contact surface that abuts the cap.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the cap includes a tapered contact surface that abuts the tapered contact surface of the slug.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight receptacle is at least partially constructed from a receptacle component that is formed separate from the body and coupled to the body, wherein the receptacle component is constructed of a material that is different than a material of the body.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the receptacle component includes a cap portion and a seat portion.

6. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the receptacle component forms only a portion of the weight receptacle.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the receptacle component forms only the cap portion.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the receptacle component forms only the seat portion.

9. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the receptacle component is threaded to the body.

10. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the receptacle component is bonded to the body.

11. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the receptacle component is staked to the body.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight further comprises a compression member disposed between the base of the cap and the retention portion of the slug, wherein the compression member is an elastic member that is compressed when the weight is installed in the weight receptacle.

13. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a weight receptacle, wherein the weight receptacle includes a cap portion and a seat portion, wherein the cap portion is disposed proximate an outer surface of the body and the seat portion is spaced from the outer surface of the body; and

a weight comprising a cap and a slug,

wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, wherein the cap is removably coupled to the cap portion of the weight receptacle,

wherein the slug is an elongate member and includes a retention portion and an extension portion, wherein at least a portion of the retention portion is disposed in the recess of the cap, and

wherein the extension portion includes a tapered portion that is at least partially disposed in the seat portion of the weight receptacle when the weight is installed in the weight receptacle,

wherein retention portion of the slug comprises a projection including a tapered contact surface that abuts the cap, and wherein the cap includes a tapered contact surface that abuts the tapered contact surface of the slug.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the weight receptacle is at least partially constructed from a receptacle component that is formed separate from the body and coupled to the body, wherein the receptacle component is constructed of a material that is different than a material of the body.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the receptacle component is threaded to the body.

16. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the receptacle component is bonded to the body.

17. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a weight receptacle, wherein the weight receptacle includes a cap portion and a seat portion, wherein the cap portion is disposed proximate an outer surface of the body and the seat portion is spaced from the outer surface of the body; and

a weight comprising a cap and a slug,

wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, wherein the cap is removably coupled to the cap portion of the weight receptacle,

wherein the slug is an elongate member and includes a retention portion and an extension portion, wherein at least a portion of the retention portion is disposed in the recess of the cap, and

wherein the extension portion includes a tapered portion that is at least partially disposed in the seat portion of the weight receptacle when the weight is installed in the weight receptacle,

wherein the weight receptacle is at least partially constructed from a receptacle component that is formed separate from the body and coupled to the body, wherein the receptacle component is constructed of a material that is different than a material of the body, and wherein the receptacle component is bonded to the body.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the receptacle component forms only a partial weight receptacle.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the receptacle component forms only the cap portion.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the receptacle component forms only the seat portion.