GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20160001146A1
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Sargent, Nathan T., Nielson, Joseph Reeve, Harbert, Christopher John, Beach, Todd P., Bazzel, Brian, Greaney, Mark Vincent, Wester, Christian Reber, Slyfield, Craig Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,212 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 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/022 allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity. The body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body. A weight member movably positioned within the channel such that a position of the weight member within the channel is able to be adjusted, thereby adjusting a location of a center of gravity of the body. Additionally, adjustment of the weight member provides a maximum x-axis adjustment range of the position of the center of gravity (Max ΔCGx) that is greater than 2 mm and a maximum z-axis adjustment range of the center of gravity (Max ΔCGz) that is less than 2 mm.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity,

the body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body, wherein the distance between a first vertical plane intersecting a center of the face and the channel is less than about 50 mm over a full length of the channel;

at least one weight movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight within the channel is able to be adjusted;

an installation cavity for installing the weight, and wherein the installation cavity is incorporated into a useable portion of the channel; and

at least one ledge extending within the channel generally from a heel end of the channel to a toe end of the channel, and wherein the at least one weight is configured to clamp onto the at least one ledge.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a heel end, a toe end, a front channel wall, and a rear channel wall.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the useable portion of the channel extends from the heel end of the channel to the toe end of the channel.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the installation cavity includes a recessed surface to facilitate installation of the weight in the channel.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one ledge includes a plurality of projections located on an exposed surface of the at least one ledge, and wherein the weight member includes a plurality of notches adapted to selectively engage the projections.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a heel opening located on the heel end of the body, the heel opening configured to receive a fastening member;

and

a head-shaft connection system including a sleeve that is secured by the fastening member in a locked position, the head-shaft connection system configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in an adjustability range of different combinations of loft angle, face angle, or lie angle.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one weight produces a change in the head origin x-axis (CGx) coordinate of at least a Max Δ

CGx of 2 mm throughout the adjustability range and a Max Δ

CGz is approximately 2 mm throughout the adjustability range.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the Max Δ

CGz is approximately 1.5 mm throughout the adjustability range.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the Max Δ

CGz is approximately 1.0 mm throughout the adjustability range.

10. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the Max Δ

CGz is approximately 0.5 mm throughout the adjustability range.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a volume less than about 200 cc.

12. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the heel opening is located within the channel.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a volume greater than about 400 cc.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one weight port located rearward of the channel.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes at least two weights movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of each weight within the channel can be adjusted.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one rib provided on an internal surface of the interior cavity, wherein the at least one rib connects the channel interior surface to at least one other internal surface of the body.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown is formed from a composite material having a density less than about 2 g/cc, the crown having a thickness from about 0.195 mm to about 0.9 mm, and the crown being adapted to be secured to the body.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity,

the body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a front portion of the body to a rear portion of the body, wherein the channel includes a front channel wall and a rear channel wall, and wherein a width of the channel is be between about 8 mm and about 20 mm, and a depth of the channel is be between about 6 mm and about 20 mm;

at least one weight assembly movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight within the channel is able to be adjusted, wherein the at least one weight assembly weighs between about 5 g and about 25 g and includes a washer, a mass member, and a fastening bolt;

an installation cavity for installing the weight assembly in the channel, and wherein the installation cavity is located between the front channel wall and the rear channel wall; and

at least one ledge within the channel, wherein the at least one weight assembly is configured to clamp onto the at least one ledge, and wherein the fastening bolt is in tension when the weight assembly is clamped to the at least one ledge;

at least one rib provided on an internal surface of the interior cavity, wherein the at least one rib connects the channel interior surface to at least one other internal surface of the body.

19. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity,

the body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body, wherein the channel includes a front channel wall and a rear channel wall, and wherein a width of the channel is between about 8 mm and about 20 mm;

a heel opening located on the heel end of the body, the heel opening configured to receive a fastening member; and

a head-shaft connection system including a sleeve that is secured by the fastening member in a locked position, the head-shaft connection system configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in an adjustability range of different combinations of loft angle, face angle, or lie angle;

at least one weight port located rearward of the channel; and

wherein the golf club head has a volume greater than about 400 cc.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, further comprising at least one weight movably positioned within the channel, wherein a position of the at least one weight within the channel is able to be adjusted;

an installation cavity for installing the weight, and wherein the installation cavity is incorporated into a useable portion of the channel; and

at least one ledge extending within the channel generally from a heel end of the channel to a toe end of the channel, and wherein the at least one weight clamps onto the at least one ledge.

21. The golf club head of claim 19 wherein a depth of the channel is between about 6 mm and about 20 mm.