Golf club having a weight positioning system

• US 7,108,609 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary Gene, Stites, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/615,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 473/334, 473/335, 473/338, 473/339, 473/256, 473/336, 473/337, 473/345, 473/349, 473/350, D21/733, D21/734
• US Class Current: 473/256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-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

A golf club head is disclosed that includes weight positioning system for modifying a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight positioning system includes a weight and a support. The weight is independently movable along the support to change the position of the center of gravity in a first direction, and the weight is independently movable around the support to change the position of the center of gravity in a second direction.

Claims

1. A golf club head having a face for contacting a golf ball and a weight positioning system, the weight positioning system comprising:

a support having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the support; and

a weight that is movable along the support and around the support to vary a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head, the weight defining an opening that extends at least partially around the support,

wherein one of an indentation and a protrusion extends along the support and in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support, and another of the indentation and the protrusion is positioned within the opening, the indentation receiving the protrusion to limit movement of the weight around the support.

2. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein a center of gravity of the weight is offset from the opening.

3. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes a shell that defines the face.

4. The golf club head recited in claim 3, wherein the weight positioning system is located within the shell.

5. The golf club head recited in claim 3, wherein the shell defines an aperture and the weight positioning system is removable from an interior of the shell through the aperture.

6. The golf club head recited in claim 5, wherein the aperture is positioned in a lower area of the shell.

7. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the support is oriented substantially parallel to the face.

8. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the weight positioning system includes a locking mechanism that secures a position of the weight relative to the support.

9. The golf club head recited in claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism is a pair of locking rings that extend around the support and are positioned on opposite sides of the weight.

10. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the weight has an elliptical shape.

11. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the weight positioning system includes at least one scale to determine a position of the weight relative to the support.

12. The golf club head recited in claim 11, wherein the scale is positioned on a surface of the support.

13. The golf club head recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one scale includes a first scale and a second scale, the first scale being oriented to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to determine a position of the weight along the support, and the second scale being oriented to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to determine a position of the weight around the support.

14. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the weight is interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights.

15. The golf club head recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the weight.

16. The golf club head recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different shape than the weight.

17. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the weight positioning system is mounted on an exterior of the golf club head.

18. The golf club head recited in claim 1, wherein the weight includes a pair of arms that extend outward from the support, and a pair of masses are secured to the arms.

19. The golf club head recited in claim 18, wherein the arms are angled with respect to each other.

20. A golf club head having a face for contacting a golf ball and a weight positioning system, the weight positioning system comprising:

a support having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the support;

a weight that is movable along the support and around the support to vary a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head, the weight defining an opening that extends at least partially around the support; and

at least one scale located to determine a position of the weight relative to the support, the at least one scale including a first scale and a second scale, the first scale being oriented to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the second scale being oriented to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

21. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the scale is positioned on a surface of the support.

22. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the first scale determines a position of the weight along the support, and the second scale determines a position of the weight around the support.

23. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein an indentation extends along the support and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support, and a protrusion is positioned within the opening, the indentation receiving the protrusion to limit movement of the weight around the support.

24. The golf club head recited in claim 23, wherein the scale is positioned within the indentation.

25. The golf club head recited in claim 23, wherein a center of gravity of the weight is offset from the opening.

26. The golf club head recited in claim 23, wherein the golf club head includes a shell that defines the face.

27. The golf club head recited in claim 26, wherein the weight positioning system is located within the shell.

28. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the longitudinal axis of the support is oriented substantially parallel to the face.

29. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the weight has an elliptical shape.

30. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein a center of gravity of the weight is offset from the opening.

31. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the weight is interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights.

32. The golf club head recited in claim 31, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the weight.

33. The golf club head recited in claim 31, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different shape than the weight.

34. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the weight positioning system is mounted on an exterior of the golf club head.

35. The golf club head recited in claim 20, wherein the weight includes a pair of arms that extend outward from the support, and a pair of masses are secured to the arms.

36. The golf club head recited in claim 35, wherein the arms are angled with respect to each other.

37. A golf club head having a face for contacting a golf ball and a weight positioning system, the weight positioning system comprising:

a support having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the support;

a weight that is movable along the support and around the support to vary a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head, the weight defining an opening that extends at least partially around the support; and

at least one scale located to determine a position of the weight relative to the support,

wherein an indentation extends along the support and in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support, and a protrusion is positioned within the opening, the indentation receiving the protrusion to limit movement of the weight around the support.

38. The golf club head recited in claim 37, wherein the scale is positioned on a surface of the support.

39. The golf club head recited in claim 37, wherein the scale is positioned within the indentation.

40. The golf club head recited in claim 37, wherein a center of gravity of the weight is offset from the opening.

41. The golf club head recited in claim 37, wherein the golf club head includes a shell that defines the face.

42. The golf club head recited in claim 37, wherein the weight positioning system as located within the shell.

43. The golf club head recited in claim 37, wherein the longitudinal axis of the support is oriented substantially parallel to the face.

44. A golf club head having a face for contacting a golf ball and a weight positioning system, the weight positioning system comprising:

a support having a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the support;

a weight with an elliptical shape, the weight being movable along the support and around the support to vary a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head, the weight defining an opening that extends at least partially around the support; and

at least one scale located to determine a position of the weight relative to the support.

45. The golf club head recited in claim 44, wherein the scale is positioned on a surface of the support.

46. The golf club head recited in claim 44, wherein a center of gravity of the weight is offset from the opening.

47. The golf club head recited in claim 44, wherein the weight is interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights.

48. The golf club head recited in claim 47, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the weight.

49. The golf club head recited in claim 47, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different shape than the weight.

50. The golf club head recited in claim 44, wherein the weight positioning system is mounted on an exterior of the golf club head.