Golf Club and Golf Club Head Structures

• US 20160199706A1
• Filed: 03/21/2016
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Fujita, Yoshimasa
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,854 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 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• 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 60/52 : with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body having a crown, a sole, and a ball striking face configured for striking a golf ball, the golf club head body comprising a base located adjacent the ball striking face, a first leg extending rearward from the base on a heel side of the golf club head body, a second leg extending rearward from the base on a toe side of the golf club head body, and a void defined between the first and second legs;

a first weight receptacle positioned within the first leg, the first weight receptacle having a first opening on the sole providing access to the first weight receptacle;

a first weight removably received in the first weight receptacle, such that the first weight is configured to be inserted into and removed from the first weight receptacle through the first opening;

a second weight receptacle positioned within the second leg, the second weight receptacle having a second opening on the sole providing access to the second weight receptacle; and

a second weight removably received in the second weight receptacle, such that the second weight is configured to be inserted into and removed from the second weight receptacle through the second opening.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight and the second weight each have a heavier end and a lighter end, such that the first and second weights are each configured to be positioned in the weight receptacle in a first position and a second position to adjust a center of gravity of the club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein one of the first weight and the second weight is configured to adjust the center of gravity in a front/rear direction and another of the first weight and the second weight is configured to adjust the center of gravity in a crown/sole direction.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first leg and the second leg each have a first end located at the base and a second end located at a rear of the club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the first and second openings are located at the first end of the first leg and the first end of the second leg, respectively.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body further includes a cover at least partially defining the crown, the cover extending over the void such that the void is positioned beneath the crown.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the void is v-shaped and increases in width from the base toward a rear of the golf club head body.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body defines an internal cavity, and wherein the internal cavity is defined at least in part by the base, the first leg, and the second leg.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body having a crown, a sole, and a ball striking face configured for striking a golf ball, the golf club head body comprising a base located adjacent the ball striking face, a first leg on a heel side of the golf club head body, the first leg connected to the base and extending rearwardly to a first rear end at a rear of the golf club head body, a second leg on a toe side of the golf club head body, the second leg connected to the base and extending rearwardly to a second rear end at the rear of the golf club head body, and a void defined between the first and second legs;

a first weight receptacle positioned within the first leg, the first weight receptacle having a first opening located at the first rear end of the first leg providing access to the first weight receptacle;

a first weight received in the first weight receptacle, wherein the first weight is configured to be moveable by sliding within the first weight receptacle, such that the first weight is configured to be secured in a plurality of different positions within the first weight receptacle;

a second weight receptacle positioned within the second leg, the second weight receptacle having a second opening located at the second rear end of the second leg providing access to the second weight receptacle;

a second weight received in the second weight receptacle, wherein the second weight is configured to be moveable by sliding within the second weight receptacle, such that the second weight is configured to be secured in a plurality of different positions within the second weight receptacle.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the golf club head body further includes a cover at least partially defining the crown, the cover extending over the void such that the void is positioned beneath the crown.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the void is v-shaped and increases in width from the base toward a rear of the golf club head body.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the golf club head body defines an internal cavity, and wherein the internal cavity is defined at least in part by the base, the first leg, and the second leg.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first weight receptacle and the second weight receptacle each include a fastener for releasably securing the first and second weights in the different positions.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first and second weights are configured for sliding to shift a center of gravity of the golf club head in a front/rear direction.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the first and second weights are further configured for sliding to shift the center of gravity of the golf club head in a heel/toe direction.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the first and second weights are further configured for sliding to shift the center of gravity of the golf club head in a crown/sole direction.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body having a crown, a sole, and a ball striking face configured for striking a golf ball, the golf club head body comprising a base located adjacent the ball striking face, a first leg on a heel side of the golf club head body, the first leg having a first front end connected to the base and extending rearwardly to a first rear end at a rear of the golf club head body, a second leg on a toe side of the golf club head body, the second leg having a second front end connected to the base and extending rearwardly to a second rear end at the rear of the golf club head body, and a void defined between the first and second legs, wherein the first leg and the second leg extend outwardly away from each other toward the heel side and the toe side respectively from the base toward the rear of the golf club head body, such that the void has a v-shape, wherein the crown extends over the void such that the void is positioned below the crown, and wherein the golf club head body defines an internal cavity, and the internal cavity is defined at least in part by the base, the first leg, and the second leg;

a first weight receptacle positioned within the first leg, the first weight receptacle having a first opening providing access to the first weight receptacle;

a first weight received in the first weight receptacle, such that the first weight is configured to be inserted into the first weight receptacle through the first opening;

a second weight receptacle positioned within the second leg, the second weight receptacle having a second opening providing access to the second weight receptacle; and

a second weight received in the second weight receptacle, such that the second weight is configured to be inserted into the second weight receptacle through the second opening,

wherein the first and second weights are configured to be adjustable within the first and second weight receptacles to shift a center of gravity of the golf club head.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the first and second weights are adjustable by removing the first and second weights from the first and second weight receptacles through the first and second openings and inserting the first and second weights into the first and second weight receptacles through the first and second openings in different positions.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein one of the first weight and the second weight is configured to adjust the center of gravity in a front/rear direction and another of the first weight and the second weight is configured to adjust the center of gravity in a crown/sole direction.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the first opening is located on the sole at the first front end of the first leg and the second opening is located on the sole at the second front end of the second leg.

21. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the first weight and the second weight each have a heavier end and a lighter end, such that the first and second weights are each configured to be positioned in the weight receptacle in a first position and a second position to shift the center of gravity of the club head.

22. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the first and second weights are adjustable by sliding within the first and second weight receptacles.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the first weight receptacle and the second weight receptacle are each configured for releasably securing the first and second weights in a plurality of different positions within the first and second weight receptacles.

24. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the first opening is located at the first rear end of the first leg and the second opening is located at the second rear end of the second leg.

25. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the first and second weights are configured for sliding to shift a center of gravity of the golf club head in a front/rear direction and in a heel/toe direction.

26. The golf club head of claim 25, wherein the first and second weights are further configured for sliding to shift the center of gravity of the golf club head in a crown/sole direction.

27. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the first leg has a first side facing and partially defining the void, and the second leg has a second side facing and partially defining the void, and wherein the first weight receptacle extends within the first leg and parallel to the first side of the first leg, and the second weight receptacle extends within the second leg and parallel to the second side of the second leg.