Weighting system for a golf club head

• US 6,434,811 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Evans, D. Clayton, Helmstetter, Richard C., Cleveland, Roger C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARMA, SNEH K
• Application Number:
  US09/683,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 173 Days
• Field of Search: 164/98, 473/349, 473/350, 473/342, 473/343, 473/346, 473/300, 473/338, 473/344, 473/345, 473/409, 473/290, 473/291, 473/335, 156/86, 156/187, 295/273, 295/275, 294/070.8, 273/167.R, 273/167.H, 273/169, 273/167.F
• US Class Current: 29/407.08
• 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 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49776 Pressure, force, or weight determining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49984 and casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49988 Metal casting

Abstract

A golf club head has a weight compartment within a hollow interior, and a weight member that is injected into the weight compartment subsequent to formation of the body of the golf club head. The preferred weight member is bismuth. The golf club head has a body that has a volume between 140 cubic centimeters and 350 cubic centimeters. The body of the golf club head weighs between 140 grams and 215 grams.

Claims

1. A method for weighting a golf club head, the method comprising:

orienting a body of a golf club head for introduction of a weighting material, the body having a sole, a striking plate, a detached crown, and a hollow interior with a weight chamber therein, the body oriented with the striking plate facing downward;

injecting a flowable weight member into the weight chamber through a portal in the sole, the weight member weighing between 3 grams and 70 grams; and

sealing the portal.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein injecting the flowable weight member comprises:

injecting a first amount of the flowable weight member into the weight chamber;

weighing the golf club head; and

injecting an additional amount of the flowable weight member into the weight chamber to meet a predetermined weight for the golf club head.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the weight member is bismuth.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising heating the bismuth above its melting temperature prior to injecting it into the weight chamber, and allowing the bismuth to solidify prior to sealing the portal.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the weight member occupies between 70% to 90% of the weight chamber.