Golf club

• US 5,890,973 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher L. Gamble
• Original Assignee: Christopher L. Gamble
• Inventors: Gamble, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/842,970
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 273/170, 473/326, 473/332, 473/333, 473/345, 473/346
• US Class Current: 473/326
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0602 Fluids, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0603 Fluid-like particles, e.g. gun shot or sand
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club having a head defining a recess which receives an insert. In a preferred embodiment, the insert includes a conical head and a projection extending rearwardl from the cap to the rear of the club to reinforce the face of the club and transmits impact forces to the rear of the club.

Claims

1. In a golf club head having a face, a sole, top and a rear portion, said head defining a hollow interior chamber disposed between said face and rear portion, the improvement comprising:

(a) a fixed insert positioned in said hollow interior chamber, said insert having a generally conical cap with a generally circular flat surface disposed against the rear surface of the face, said insert defining a hollow interior cavity and terminating at a threaded section;

(b) a threaded member extending in said chamber from said threaded section to the rear portion and being axially adjustable to vary the force applied to said face by said cap; and

(c) a material having fluid characteristics substantially filling said cavity in said insert.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said cap has a face which defines a generally circular area projected on said golf club face.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said insert is plastic.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said insert is metal.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said cap includes a resilient pad at the rear of said face.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said golf club head is metal and further includes a removable sole plate.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said insert is a composite material.

8. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said head includes a sole plate, said sole plate having recessed areas defined therein located on opposite sides of said insert.

9. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said hollow interior chamber contains a resilient material.