GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH CENTER OF GRAVITY ADJUSTABILITY

• US 20160250527A1
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Seluga, James A., Holt, Denver
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,646 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

The present invention comprises a golf club head comprising a body having a crown, a sole, a front wall and a hosel, wherein the body defines a hollow interior. The golf club head further comprises a center of gravity adjustment assembly wherein the center of gravity adjustment assembly is positioned within the hollow interior of the body, and allows the center of gravity of the golf club head to be adjusted by at least 0.050 inch, preferably along a vertical axis.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face, a crown, a sole, and a rearmost portion opposite the face; and

a hollow tube,

wherein the face, crown, and sole define a hollow interior,

wherein the tube is disposed within the hollow interior and extends from the crown to the sole,

wherein the tube is in tension between the crown and the sole,

wherein the tube is disposed closer to the face than to the rearmost portion, and

wherein the golf club head exhibits one distinguished sound peak that has a frequency of at least 3000 Hz and an amplitude that is at least 8 decibels greater than any other sound peak.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face has a frequency of 3000 to 4010 Hz.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole has a frequency of 2500 to 3100 Hz.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the tube is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon composite, Kevlar, fiberglass, plastic, and glass-filled plastic.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the tube has a weight less than 5 grams and a length less than 3.8 inches.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown comprises an edge support structure sized to receive an end of the hollow tube.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a cap screw; and

a cartridge sized to fit within the tube,

wherein the tube is accessible via an opening in at least one of the crown and the sole,

wherein the cartridge is compressed between the crown and the sole, and

wherein the cap screw places a compression load on the cartridge that exceeds 50 lbs.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the cartridge comprises a first material having a first specific gravity and a second material having a second specific gravity that is at least three times the value of the first specific gravity, and wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the golf club head'"'"'s center of gravity along a vertical Z axis.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the golf club head'"'"'s center of gravity by at least 0.050 inch.

10. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of a glass filled epoxy, a glass filled polyester, and a glass-filled nylon, and wherein the second material is tungsten.

11. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the cap screw comprises external threads, wherein the opening comprises internal threads, and wherein the cap screw is sized to fit within the opening such that the external threads engage with the internal threads.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face, a crown, and a sole;

a hollow tube;

a cap screw comprising a plurality of cutouts; and

a cartridge sized to fit within the tube,

wherein the cartridge comprises a first end and a second end,

wherein the first end comprises a first color,

wherein the second end comprises a second color,

wherein the first color is different from the second color,

wherein the tube is disposed within a hollow interior of the golf club head,

wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the golf club head'"'"'s center of gravity, and

wherein a portion of the first end or the second end of the cartridge is visible through the cutouts.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the first end comprises a first material having a first specific gravity, and wherein the second end comprises a second material having a second specific gravity that is at least three times the value of the first specific gravity.

14. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the tube is in tension between the crown and the sole.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the cartridge is compressed between the crown and the sole.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face, a crown, and a sole;

a hollow tube;

a cap screw comprising a plurality of cutouts;

a cartridge sized to fit within the tube;

a first cartridge cap; and

a second cartridge cap,

wherein the tube is disposed within a hollow interior of the golf club head,

wherein the cartridge comprises a first end and a second end,

wherein the first cartridge cap is affixed to the first end of the cartridge,

wherein the second cartridge cap is affixed to the second end of the cartridge,

wherein a portion of the first cartridge cap or the second cartridge cap is visible through the cutouts, and

wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the golf club head'"'"'s center of gravity.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the first cartridge cap comprises a first cavity sized to receive the first end of the cartridge and a first set of projections sized to fit within the plurality of cutouts, and wherein the second cartridge cap comprises a second cavity sized to receive the second end of the cartridge and a second set of projections sized to fit within the plurality of cutouts.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the first cartridge cap comprises a first color, and wherein the second cartridge cap comprises a second color different from the first color.

19. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the plurality of cutouts comprises at least three cutouts, and wherein each of the first and second sets of projections comprises at least three projections.

20. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the tube is in tension between the crown and the sole, and wherein the cartridge is compressed between the crown and the sole.