Golf club head with peripheral weighting

• US 6,860,818 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Steven J., Lowe, David, Greene, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Legesse, Nini F.
• Application Number:
  US10/379,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20030232659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 473/334, 473/335, 473/336, 473/337, 473/338, 473/339, 473/341, 473/345, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head with low peripheral and rearward weighting includes C-shaped and annular weights connected with at least one of the rear and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the head. The weighting within the peripheral weights is adjustable between the heel, rear, and toe portions of the head to customize the weight distribution of the head in accordance with a golfer'"'"'s swing. The added weight and its orientation increases the moment of inertia of the head and reduces the rotation thereof.

Claims

1. A golf club head of the wood-type, comprising:

a. a metal body having a heel end and a toe end and comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a front ball striking face, and a curved rear surface extending rearward of the striking face between the upper and lower surface, the curved rear surface having a concave slot formed therein, the slot extending along substantially the entire length of the rear surface, the slot having a first end adjacent to the toe end of the striking face and a second end proximate the heel end of the striking face, the slot having a recess formed therein, the recess having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end being closer to the heel end of the metal body than the third end, a distance between the first and third ends being greater than a distance between the second and fourth ends, the recess spanning a portion of the length of the slot; and

b. a peripheral weight removably secured in the recess of the body in order to increase the moment of inertia of the club head when used to strike a golf ball.

2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said peripheral weight has a uniform weight distribution throughout its length.

3. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral weight has an arcuate configuration.

4. The golf club head as defined in claim 3, wherein the peripheral weight has a generally C-shaped configuration.

5. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral weight is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

6. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral weight is composed of a metal material.

7. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the peripheral weight is secured in the recess of the metal body with at least one fastener.