GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH VERTICAL CENTER OF GRAVITY ADJUSTMENT

• US 20160367871A1
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Willett, Kraig Alan, Beach, Todd P., Harbert, Christopher John, Zimmerman, Gery Mel
• Granted Patent: US 10,035,054 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 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness 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

Abstract

Golf club heads include at least one weight port situated to retain weights and positioned above an approximate club face geometric center with the club in a standard address position. One, two, or more weight ports can be located above the club face center in a club crown or other portion of a club body. Club head vertical center of gravity can be selected to compensate dynamic loft associated with locating the club head center of gravity well behind the club face. Three-dimensional adjustment of club head center of gravity is possible.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity;

wherein the head has a face center of the face at an approximate geometric center of the face, the face including an x-axis tangential to the face and generally parallel to the ground when the head is ideally positioned, a y-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and generally parallel to the ground when the head is ideally positioned, and a z-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis and generally perpendicular to the ground when the head is ideally positioned;

at least first and second weight ports formed in the body; and

at least one weight configured to be retained at least partially within at least one of the first and second weight ports;

the first and second weight ports being located on the body such that vertical displacement of a center of gravity of the golf club is achieved by placement of one or more weights in at least one of the first and second weight ports;

wherein the vertical displacement of the center of gravity is up to about 2.8 mm.

2. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein vertical displacement of the center of gravity is as much as −

0.9 mm below the face center and as much as 1.7 mm above the face center as measured parallel to the z-axis.

3. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1 including at least a third weight port wherein the weight ports are configured to selectively receive and retain one or more weights to vertically displace the center of gravity of the head.

4. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the first weight port is located proximate to the sole and the second weight port is located proximate to the crown.

5. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the first and second weight ports each include at least one rib joined to the body.

6. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the first and second weight ports each include at least two ribs joined to the body.

7. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 2 wherein the first and second weights are press fit into at least one of the first and second weight ports.

8. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity;

wherein the head has a face center positioned on the face at an approximate geometric center of the face, the face center including an x-axis tangential to the face and generally parallel to the ground when the head is ideally positioned, a y-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and generally parallel to the ground when the head is ideally positioned, and a z-axis generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the y-axis and generally perpendicular to the ground when the head is ideally positioned;

at least first, second and third weight ports formed in the body, each weight port having a volumetric centroid defining its position on the body; and

at least one of the first, second and third weight ports being located at a vertically displaced volumetric centroid relative to at least one of the other weight ports;

the weight ports being configured to receive and retain one or more weights to vertically displace the center of gravity of the club head within a range of about −

0.9 mm below the face center to about 1.7 mm above the face center.

9. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the first weight port is located on the toe side of the body and the second weight port is located on the heel side of the body.

10. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 9 wherein the first and second weights each have a mass of about 1 g to about 18 g.

11. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 10 wherein the first and second weights each have a mass and are retained respectively in the first and second weight ports, the first and second weights defining a heel to toe mass ratio ranging from about 1:

18 to 18;

1.

12. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 9 wherein the third weight port is adapted to receive and position at least a portion of the third weight proximate to the crown and thereby add additional mass proximate to the crown.

13. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 12 wherein the third weight port is located on the crown.

14. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the face plate has a variable face thickness.

15. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the first weight port is located on the toe side of the body, second weight port is located on the heel side of the body, and the third weight port is centrally located on the body in proximity to the y-axis.

16. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 11 wherein the first, second and third weights have compatible geometries to allow the weights to be engaged and adjusted by a common hand-tool.

17. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the first, second and third weights each comprise a weight screw having at least three alternating pairs of lobes and flutes engageable by a torque applying tool.

18. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the club head has a volume between about 300 cm³ and about 500 cm³.

19. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the club head has a ratio of total weight port mass to body mass between about 0.015 to about 0.82.

20. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 8 wherein the club head has a ratio of total weight port mass plus total weight mass to body mass between about 0.044 and about 3.1.