GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH CENTER OF GRAVITY ADJUSTABILITY

• US 20160256753A1
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Westrum, Joshua D., Seluga, James A., Dawson, Patrick, Griffin, Sean P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,814,954 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 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-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

Abstract

A golf club head comprising an adjustable weighting feature including a tube extending from the crown to the sole of the golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, a golf club head formed from three pieces, namely a first piece comprising a face, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a hosel, a second piece comprising a rear end, a crown portion, and a sole portion, and a tube, wherein these pieces are welded to one another, is disclosed herein. Each of these pieces may be separately cast, forged, or formed from a metal material such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, and aluminum alloy.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a first piece comprising a face, a first crown portion, a first sole portion, and a hosel;

a second piece affixed to the first piece, the second piece comprising a second crown portion, a second sole portion, and a rear portion; and

a bar,

wherein the bar extends from the first crown portion to the first sole portion and is disposed behind the face.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first crown portion comprises a first alignment feature, wherein the second crown portion comprises a second alignment feature, wherein the bar comprises an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is retained within the first alignment feature, and wherein the lower end is retained within the second alignment feature.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face comprises an amplitude of 3000 to 4000 Hz.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the sole comprises an amplitude that is less than the amplitude of the face.

5. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the highest amplitude of the golf club head is in the face.

6. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the sole comprises a high frequency mode and a low frequency mode.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein each of the first piece and the second piece comprises approximately 50% of the golf club head.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein each of the first piece and second piece is composed of a metal material, and wherein the first piece is welded to the second piece.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium alloy.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the bar has a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the length is greater than the width and the thickness, and wherein the bar extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the face.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type head.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a first piece comprising a face, a first crown portion, a first sole portion, and a hosel;

a second piece affixed to the first piece, the second piece comprising a second crown portion with a cover, a second sole portion, and a rear portion;

a hollow tube having an upper opening and a lower opening; and

a cap,

wherein the hollow tube is inserted in both the first piece and the second piece and is spaced from the hosel,

wherein the hollow tube is composed of a composite material,

wherein each of the first piece and the second piece is composed of a metal material,

wherein the cover of the second crown portion closes the entire upper opening of the hollow tube, and

wherein the cap closes the lower opening of the hollow tube and is removably affixed to a sole of the golf club head.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the first piece is welded to the second piece.

14. The golf club head of claim 12 wherein each of the first piece and the second piece comprises an opening sized to receive at least part of the hollow tube, wherein the hollow tube is cylindrical, and wherein each opening is semicircular.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium alloy.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a carrier, wherein the carrier is sized to fit through the lower opening of the hollow tube, wherein the carrier is sized to fit within the hollow interior of the hollow tube, wherein the carrier comprises a first material and a second material, and wherein the specific gravity of the first material is less than the specific gravity of the second material.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the first material is located at a first end of the carrier, wherein the second material is located at a second end of the carrier, and wherein changing the orientation of the carrier within the hollow tube adjusts the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head along a vertical Z axis.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein changing the orientation of the carrier changes the location of the golf club head center of gravity by no less than 0.050 inch and no more than 0.100 inch.

19. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the face comprises an amplitude of 3000 to 4000 Hz.

20. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the sole comprises an amplitude that is less than the amplitude of the face.