Weight holder for attachment to golf club head

• US 6,716,111 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swing Sock, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Raymond A. Liberatore
• Inventors: Liberatore, Raymond A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/160,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 473/256, 473/231, 473/242, 473/219, 473/206, 473/238, 473/437, 473/553, 273/DIG.30, 150/160, 206/315.4
• US Class Current: 473/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3638 Normal golf clubs with directly attached weights
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/30 Hooked pile fabric fastener

Abstract

A weighting device for use on the head of a golf club during practice swinging of the club, comprising in combination, a receptacle having an opening via which the club head is received into the receptacle, a flexible retainer carried on the receptacle to be fastened at least partly covering the opening and then extending over one side of the receptacle, for retaining the receptacle to the club head, and weighting structure carried by the receptacle to add substantial weight to the club head weight, for use as in club head swinging. The head typically is a golf club wood head.

Claims

1. A weighting device in combination with and for use on the head of a golf club as during swinging of the club, the club having a hosel and a toe, comprising in combination:

a) a receptacle having an opening via which the club head is received into the receptacle, with the hosel projecting from said opening,

b) a flexible retainer carried on the receptacle to be fastened in a position at least partly covering said opening, and then extending over a surface of the receptacle, for retaining the receptacle to the club head,

c) and weighting structure carried by the receptacle to add substantial weight to the club head, for providing enhanced momentum in the direction of head swinging, and for use as in club swinging,

d) said head being a golf club wood head,

e) said retainer in said position overlying the top of the club head, and extending bodily forwardly toward said toe, generally parallel to the top of the club head, and generally toward but spaced from said weighting structure, in said fastened position.

2. The combination of claim 1 including hook and pile fastening material for fastening said retainer in said position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said retainer comprises a flap to be extended at least part way over or about the receptacle.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retainer comprises a flap to be extended at least part way over or about the receptacle.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said flaps in said positions overlie the top of said wood head.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retainer comprises two flaps to be extending in different positions wrapping at least part way over or about the receptacle.

7. The combination of claim 6 including, the two flaps having fold portions located at opposite sides of the hosel.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said flaps prior to being wrapped at least part way about the receptacle, extend in diverging relation away from said receptacle opening.

9. The combination of claim 8 including hook or pile layers on portions of the flaps remote from the receptacle.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receptacle has at least two of the following:

i) a wall portion to extend adjacent the front face of the club head,

ii) a wall portion to extend adjacent the rear side of the club head,

iii) a wall portion to extend adjacent the bottom surface of the club head,

iv) a wall portion to extend adjacent the toe of the club head,

v) a wall portion to extend adjacent the heel of the club head,

vi) a wall portion to extend adjacent the top surface of the club head,

and said weighting structure is located at or proximate at least one of said wall portions.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said weighting structure is located at or proximate one of the following:

vii) at least one of said wall portions,

viii) at least two of said wall portions,

ix) at least three of said wall portions,

x) at least four of said wall portions.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said weighting structure includes separate local metallic portions.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weighting structure includes one of the following:

a) metallic material,

b) flowable metallic material,

c) non-metallic material,

d) flowable non-metallic material.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said material is concealed by said receptacle.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein said material is held in a pocket or pockets provided on the receptacle.

16. The combination of claim 13 wherein said material is received in pockets adjacent sides of the club head.

17. The combination of claim 13 wherein said material is received in a pocket provided by the receptacle, the pocket sized to enable adjustment of the position of the material, relative to the pocket.

18. The combination of claim 13 wherein the material is received in a pocket or pockets provided by the receptacle, to enable selective weight usage of the pocket or pockets of the material.

19. The combination of claim 1 including the retainer having at least one flexible flap or one flexible opening positioned to retain the receptacle to a narrowed portion of the club head at or near the hosel.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein the retainer comprises two flaps wrapping about portions of the retainer proximate the hosel, and the flaps having end portions one of which overlies the other, at the upper side of the wood head, there being hook and pile material retaining the flaps in fastened position.

21. The combination of claim 1 including an elastic zone or zones associated with the receptacle and acting to resiliently reduce the size of the opening.

22. The combination of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a front opening to expose a face zone of the club head, for striking a golf ball.

23. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weighting structure is located at a receptacle toe portion.

24. A weighting device in combination with and for use on the head of a golf club as during swinging of the club, the club having a hosel and a toe, comprising in combination:

a) a receptacle having an opening via which the club head is received into the receptacle, with the hosel projecting from said opening,

b) a flexible retainer carried on the receptacle to be fastened in a position at least partly covering said opening, and then extending over one side of the receptacle, for retaining the receptacle to the club head,

c) and weighting structure carried by the receptacle to add substantial weight to the club head, for providing inertial directivity of club head swinging,

d) said head being a golf putter head,

e) said retainer being foldable and having a free end portion folded downwardly along said side of the receptacle, to also project toward said toe.

25. The combination of claim 24 including hook and pile fastening material for fastening said retainer in said position.

26. The combination of claim 24 wherein the receptacle has a front opening exposing a face zone of the putter head, for striking a golf ball.

27. The combination of claim 24 wherein said club includes a putter shaft extending generally upwardly from said opening and the receptacle including a closure flap wrapping over a portion of said opening at the rear of the shaft.

28. The combination of claim 27 wherein said weighting structure is positioned above said putter head in the receptacle.