Golf club head with adjustable face angle

• US 6,475,100 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Wenck, James C., Bistline, Donald A., Goodjohn, Andrew J., Helmstetter, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/686,034
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 473/244-248, 473/307, 473/309, 473/310, 473/311, 473/314, 473/345, 473/346
• US Class Current: 473/309
• 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 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/027 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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

The golf club (20) of the present invention allows for the face angle of the golf club to be set after manufacturing of the golf club head (22). The golf club (20) of the present invention is able to accomplish this by providing a golf club head (22) with an internal hosel (38) (such as a GREAT BIG BERTHA® HAWK EYE® driver), a shaft (40) and an insert (51) that is disposed within the internal hosel (38). The insert (51) allows for the face angle of the golf club (20) to be oriented after manufacturing of the golf club head (22). The golf club (20) may also include a hosel liner (50) that is disposed within the insert (51).

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a wood-type golf club head having a crown, a sole and a striking plate, the crown, the sole and the striking plate defining a hollow interior, the golf club head having an internal hosel disposed within the hollow interior, the internal hosel having a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening at the crown to a sole opening at the sole;

an insert disposed within the bore of the internal hosel, the insert having a cylindrical body extending from the crown opening to the sole opening, the cylindrical body defining a bore that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening, the bore of the insert disposed at an angle of between 0 to 3.5 relative to a central axis of the insert within the cylindrical body,

a hosel liner having an upper portion, a lower portion and a bore therethrough for positioning of the shaft therein, the upper portion having a greater diameter than the lower portion, the upper portion having a curved surface with a plurality of recesses therein, the lower portion positioned within the internal hosel, the hosel liner having a shoulder below the upper portion, the shoulder engaging the crown, and the hose liner composed of a polymer material; and

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the tip end of the shaft positioned through the bore of the insert to the sole opening;

wherein the angle of the bore of the insert relative to the central axis of the insert defines a face angle of the golf club.

2. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, amorphous metals, a composite material, magnesium, and a polymer material.

3. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the insert has an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the upper chamber having a diameter greater than the lower chamber, the lower portion of the hosel liner positioned within the upper chamber.

4. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the bore of the insert is at angle such that a quarter rotation of the removable insert within the bore of the internal hosel will result in a modification of the face angle of the golf club.

5. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a volume greater than 250 cubic centimeters.

6. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head weighs between 180 grams and 205 grams.

7. A golf club comprising:

a wood-type golf club head having a crown, a sole and a striking plate, the crown, the sole and the striking plate defining a hollow interior, the golf club head having an internal hosel disposed within the hollow interior, the internal hosel having a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening at the crow to a sole opening at the sole;

an insert disposed within the bore of the internal hosel, the insert having a cylindrical body extending from the crown opening to the sole opening, the cylindrical body defining a bore that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening, the bore of the insert disposed at an angle of between 0 to 3.5 relative to a central axis of the insert within the cylindrical body,

a hosel liner having an upper portion, a lower portion and a bore therethrough for positioning of the shaft therein, the upper portion having a greater diameter than the lower portion, the lower portion having a plurality of slots and a plurality of interior projections, the lower portion positioned within the internal hosel, the hosel liner having a shoulder below the upper portion, the shoulder engaging the crown, and the hosel liner composed of a polymer material; and

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the tip end of the shaft positioned through the bore of the insert to the sole opening;

wherein the angle of the bore of the insert relative to the central axis of the insert defines a face angle of the golf club.