Golf club with adjustable total weight, center of gravity and balance

• US 6,015,354 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen C. Ahn, Suh Yong Lee
• Original Assignee: Stephen C. Ahn, Suh Yong Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Suh Yong, Ahn, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/035,031
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/290, 473/291, 473/226, 473/256, 473/350, 473/341
• US Class Current: 473/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 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 60/52 with slits

Abstract

Improved golf club heads including irons, woods and putters have built-in provisions to change the weight of the golf club head including a way to increase, decrease or adjust the position and the amount of weights in a selected golf club head so as to enable the player to adjust the club'"'"'s center of gravity, total club weight, and balance of the club and to tailor the club to compensate for an individual'"'"'s style of swing, physical characteristics and skill level as a way of improving the golfer'"'"'s accuracy and the distance of his shots.

Claims

1. A golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, said golf club head having a heel portion, a toe portion, a striking surface and a rear surface, said golf club head comprising:

a bottom portion extending rearwardly of said striking surface and having a slot formed therein and a top portion extending rearwardly of said striking surface and having a groove formed therein each of said slot and said groove extending generally horizontally between said heel and toe portions;

an elongated weight having a top end shaped for sliding engagement with said groove and a bottom end having a rearwardly extending portion for sliding engagement within said slot;

a disc shaped central portion formed in said weight and having a central bore formed therein, said central bore being threaded for threaded engagement with a set screw, said screw having a length extending into and through said bore and putting sufficient force on said rear surface to lock said weight into a desired horizontal position along said rear surface, whereby the location of the center of gravity may be selectively adjusted.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said weight terminates at said disc shaped portion.

3. A golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, said golf club head having a heel portion, a toe portion, a striking surface and a rear surface having a predetermined width, said golf club head comprising:

a bottom portion extending rearwardly of said striking surface and having a slot formed therein and a top portion extending rearwardly of said striking surface and having a groove formed therein;

an elongated weight having a top end shaped for sliding engagement with said groove and a bottom end having a rearwardly extending portion for sliding engagement within said slot;

said groove and said slot co-extending between said heel and said toe and allowing positioning of said weight at substantially the entire width of said rear surface;

at least one elongated horizontally disposed permanent magnets secured to said rear surface, said magnets capable of generating sufficient magnetic force to hold said weight in a desired horizontal position during impact with a golf ball.