GOLF CLUB HEAD

• US 20170087429A1
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Nielson, Joseph Reeve, Sargent, Nathan T., Harbert, Christopher John, Beach, Todd P., Bazzel, Brian, Greaney, Mark Vincent, Wester, Christian Reber, Slyfield, Craig Richard, Johnson, Matthew David, Greensmith, Matthew, Willett, Kraig Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,962,584 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 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• 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 60/002 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 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity. The body having a channel located on the sole and extending generally from a heel end of the body to a toe end of the body. A weight member movably positioned within the channel such that a position of the weight member within the channel is able to be adjusted, thereby adjusting a location of a center of gravity of the body. Additionally, adjustment of the weight member provides a maximum x-axis adjustment range of the position of the center of gravity (Max ΔCGx) that is greater than 2 mm and a maximum z-axis adjustment range of the center of gravity (Max ΔCGz) that is less than 2 mm.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a face, a crown and a sole together defining an interior cavity,

a channel including a bottom channel wall and at least one ledge extending within the channel and a weight installation cavity located along a useable portion of the channel;

at least one weight member movably positioned within the channel and configured to clamp the at least one ledge at two or more positions along the channel, with one such position being located in the weight installation cavity; and

wherein at least a portion of the at least one weight member cannot be removed from the channel solely by movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the channel.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the useable portion of the channel is a portion of the channel that the at least one weight member is capable of clamping the at least one ledge.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a heel opening located on a heel end of the body, the heel opening configured to receive a fastening member;

and

a head-shaft connection system including a sleeve that is secured by the fastening member in a locked position, the head-shaft connection system configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in an adjustability range of different combinations of loft angle, face angle, or lie angle.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the channel is located on a heel side of the body and at least a portion of the channel is located on a toe side of the body.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of projections located on the at least one ledge, wherein the plurality of projections have a size and shape adapted to help locate the at least one weight member.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one weight member produces a change in the head origin z-axis (CGZ) coordinate of less than 1.0 mm throughout the adjustability range.

7. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the heel opening is located within the channel.

8. The golf club head of claim 3, further comprising at least one rib provided on an internal surface of the interior cavity, wherein the at least one rib connects a channel interior surface to at least one other internal surface of the body.

9. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the crown is formed from a composite material having a density less than about 2 g/cc.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel defines an interior channel volume including an interior portion volume bounded by the bottom channel wall and the at least one ledge, wherein a first portion of the interior channel volume located along an 8 mm long section of the channel within the weight installation cavity is greater than a second portion of the interior channel volume located along an 8 mm long section of the channel outside of the weight installation cavity.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a front channel wall and rear channel wall, wherein within the weight installation cavity a first distance between the front channel wall and the rear channel wall, at a first elevation between the at least one ledge and the bottom channel wall, is greater than a second distance outside of the weight installation cavity between the front channel wall and the rear channel wall, at a second elevation between the at least one ledge and the bottom channel wall.