CLUB HEADS FOR ADJUSTING VERTICAL SPIN OF A GOLF BALL AND METHODS OF PROVIDING THE SAME

• US 20160008686A1
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Marty R., Serrano, Anthony D., Schweigert, Bradley D., Morales, Eric Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,737,772 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 53/005 Club sets
• 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 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence

Abstract

Some embodiments include a club head for adjusting vertical spin of a golf ball. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a club head body comprising a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a toe end, a heed end opposite the toe end, and a sole; and

a weighting mechanism;

wherein;

the weighting mechanism comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;

the weighting mechanism comprises multiple weight ports and at least one weight;

the multiple weight ports are located only at the sole;

the multiple weight ports are arranged in a straight line and at an angle relative to a face plane of the golf club head such that the weighting mechanism toward the front end is closer to the heel end than to the toe end and such that the weighting mechanism toward the rear end is closer to the toe end than to the heel end, the angle being measured approximately parallel to a ground plane of the golf club head when the golf club head is at address, and the angle is greater than or equal to approximately 2 degrees and less than or equal approximately to 25 degrees;

each of the multiple weight ports is configured to receive the at least one weight;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration and a user hits a golf ball with the golf club head in a predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf head (i) with a first vertical spin rate, (ii) with a first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with a first horizontal spin direction;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a second vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction; and

(iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction;

when the golf club head is at address, a vertical axis of rotation inertia extends vertically through a center of gravity of the golf club head;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration, the golf club head comprises a first moment of inertia about the vertical axis of rotational inertia;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration, the golf club head comprises a second moment of inertia about the vertical axis of rotational inertia; and

the second vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate, and the first moment of inertia is different than the second moment of inertia.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the angle is greater than or equal to approximately 3 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 13 degrees.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the angle is greater than or equal to approximately 5 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 8 degrees.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

each weight material comprises any suitable metals, or metal alloy, such as iron, aluminum, titanium, lead, tungsten, tin, or copper;

at least one weight can comprise of one or more lower mass, volume filling materials such as plastic, metal alloy, or composites;

at least one weight can comprise of one or more higher mass, volume filling material such as metal, or metal alloys;

each weight of the at least one weight comprises a mass that is greater than or equal to approximately 12 grams and less than or equal to approximately 15 grams.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

each weight can comprise any suitable shape such as circular, or polygonal.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight comprises a lateral cross sectional dimension and a height when inserted into the multiple weight ports;

the lateral cross-sectional dimension is approximately three times larger than the height.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the golf club head comprises a wood-type golf club head.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

when the weighting mechanism of confirmed in the first configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head with a first vertical spin direction; and

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head with a second vertical spin direction different than the first vertical direction.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

a part of the weighting mechanism is one of (a) coupled with the sole or (b) integral with the sole.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one weight comprises multiple weights; and

each weight port of the multiple weight ports is configured to receive one weight of the multiple weights.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 wherein:

each weight of the multiple weights comprises a volume, a shape, and a mass;

the volume of each weight of the multiple weights is approximately equal;

the shape of each weight of the multiple weights is approximately equal; and

the mass of each weight of the multiple weights is different for each weight of the multiple weights.

12. The golf club head of claim 10 wherein:

the multiple weight ports comprise a first weight port and a second weight port;

the multiple weights comprise a first weight and a second weight;

when the first weight port receives the first weight and the second weight port receives the second weight, the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration; and

when the first weight port receives the second weight and the second weight port receives the first weight, the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the weighting mechanism comprises a third configuration;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the third configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a third vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction; and

the third vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate and the second vertical spin rate.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight is configured to be mounted in the multiple weight ports via at least one of threading about an exterior wall of the each weight or a screw.

15. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight comprises at least one of (a) one or more ridges at a top surface of the each weight, or (b) a rubberized paint coating.

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

providing a club head body comprising a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a toe end, a heel end opposite the toe end, and a sole; and

providing a weighting mechanism;

wherein;

the weighting mechanism comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;

providing the weighting comprises providing multiple weight ports and at least one weight;

the multiple weight ports are located only at the sole;

the multiple weight ports are arranged in a straight line at an angle relative to a face plane of the golf club head such that the weighting mechanism toward the front end is closer to the heel end than to the toe end and such that the weighting mechanism toward the rear end is closer to the toe end than to the heel end, the angle being measured approximately parallel to a ground plane of the golf club head when the golf club head is at address, and the angle is greater than or equal to approximately 2 degrees and less than or equal approximately to 25 degrees;

each of the multiple weight ports is configured to receive the at least one weight;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration and a user hits a golf ball with the golf club head in a predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a first vertical spin rate, (ii) with a first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with a first horizontal spin direction;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head (i) with a second vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction;

when the golf club head is at address, a vertical axis of rotational inertia extends vertically through a center of gravity of golf club head;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration, the golf club head comprises a first moment of inertia about the vertical axis of rotational inertia;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration, the golf club head comprises a second moment of inertia about the vertical axis of rotational inertia;

and

the second vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate, and the first moment of inertia is different than the second moment of inertia.

17. The method of claim 17 wherein:

each weight material comprises any suitable metals, or metal alloy, such as iron, aluminum, titanium, lead, tungsten, tin, or copper;

at least one weight can comprise of one or more lower mass, volume filling materials such as plastic, metal alloy, or composites;

at least one weight can comprise of one or more higher mass, volume filling material such as metal, or metal alloys;

each weight comprises a mass that is greater than or equal to approximately 12 grams and less than or equal to approximately 15 grams.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight comprises a lateral cross-sectional dimension and a height when inserted into the multiple weight ports;

the lateral cross-sectional dimensions is approximately three times larger than the height.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein:

one of (a) providing the sole of the club head body comprises providing a part of the weighting mechanism or (b) coupling the part of the weighting mechanism to the sole.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein:

providing the multiple weight ports and the at least one weight comprises providing multiple weights, each weight port of the multiple weight ports being configured to receive one weight of the multiple weights.