Individually customized golf club and process

• US 7,108,611 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Macilraith
• Original Assignee: Steve Macilraith
• Inventors: MacIlraith, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/741,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20040132541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473288-290, 473219-256
• US Class Current: 473/288
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/065 for putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A variable golf club head includes multiple skeletal faces each having a ball contacting surface, a point for shaft attachment, and an attachment surface typically opposite the ball contacting surface. In the construction of the variable golf club head, one skeletal face is selected from the multiplicity of skeletal faces provided. Each skeletal face away from the ball contacting surface is provided with an array of fastening points, the array varying with the particular skeletal face selected. Multiple head covering bodies are provided for each skeletal face to fasten over the backside of each skeletal face and extend away from the ball contacting surface. These head covering bodies impart to the variable golf club head appearance and aerodynamics. Each head covering body is typically capable of being fastened to a series of skeletal faces at selected fastening points. Various head weights are provided correspondingly varying in density, dimension, and shape for placement interior of the golf club head to the skeletal face away from the ball or to the covering body, or both.

Claims

1. A process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of skeletal faces for a particular class of club chosen from the group consisting of a putter, an iron and a driver, each face comprising a unitary piece defining a point for shaft attachment, a surface for impacting a golf ball, and a surface with a plurality of attachment points;

providing a plurality of head covering bodies for covering each skeletal face away from the surface for impacting a golf ball, differing head covering bodies providing differing head shape cooperatively with differing skeletal faces to which the head covering bodies are attached;

providing a plurality of weights for attachment to either to the skeletal face or head covering bodies for individually weighting and assembling a golf club;

providing at least one shaft for attachment to the skeletal face;

selecting a skeletal face with the desired surface for impacting a golf ball;

selecting a head covering body for fastening to the skeletal face at the attachment surface for imparting desired club shape to the surface for impacting the ball;

fastening one or more weights to the golf club from the group including the skeletal face and the head covering body to impart club shape to the surface for impacting the ball;

after the fastening step, fastening the head covering body to the skeletal face to cover the one or more weights between the skeletal face and the head covering body; and

,

fastening a shaft to the skeletal face to provide an individually tailored golf club.

2. The process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer according to claim 1 and including the further steps of:

the provided skeletal face defines a putter face; and

,

the provided head covering body defines a putter body.

3. The process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer according to claim 2 and including the further steps of:

providing hook and loop tape fastening for weights between the putter face and putter body.

4. The process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer according to claim 2 and including the further steps of:

providing a matrix of holes in the head covering body to receive individual weights.

5. The process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer according to claim 1 and including the further steps of:

the provided skeletal face defines a driver face; and

,

the provided head covering body defines a driver body.

6. The process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer according to claim 1 and including the further steps of:

the provided skeletal face defines an iron face; and

,

the provided head covering body defines an iron body.

7. The process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer according to claim 5 and including the further steps of:

the provided skeletal face defining a driver face is provided with a ball contacting surface, a bottom surface, and triangular reinforcing members extending there between.

8. An individually adjustable golf club comprising:

a skeletal face for a particular class of club chosen from the group consisting of a putter, an iron and a driver, the skeletal face comprising a unitary piece defining a point for shaft attachment, a surface for impacting a golf ball of variable size, and a surface with plurality of attachment points;

a head covering body for covering the skeletal face away from the surface for impacting a golf ball;

a plurality of weights for attachment to either the skeletal face or head covering body for individually weighting and applying moment to a golf club;

a shaft for attachment to the skeletal face;

the head covering body fastened to the skeletal face at the attachment surface;

one or more weights fastened to the golf club from the group including the skeletal face and the head covering body, the head covering body being joined to the skeletal face to cover the one or more weights between the skeletal face and the head covering body to apply individual weight and moment to a golf club; and

,

one shaft attached to the skeletal face to provide an individually tailored golf club;

whereby a single club individually adjusted to a golfer is assembled.

9. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 8 comprising:

the golf club is a puffer.

10. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 8 comprising:

the golf club is a driver.

11. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 8 comprising:

the provided skeletal face defines an iron.

12. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 8 comprising:

providing weights with male protuberances for fastening to the skeletal face or the covering body.

14. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 8 comprising:

providing a plurality of skeletal faces.

15. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 8 comprising:

providing a plurality of head covering bodies.

16. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 15 comprising:

differing head covering bodies providing a differing golf club head shape.

17. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 16 whereby the differing head covering bodies provide differing golf club head shapes cooperatively with the skeletal face.

18. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 15 comprising:

differing head covering bodies providing a differing golf club head appearance.

19. The individually adjustable golf club according to claim 15 comprising:

differing head covering bodies providing differing golf club head weighting.

13. A process of individually tailoring a golf club to a golfer comprising the steps of:

providing a skeletal face for a particular class of club chosen from the group consisting of a putter, an iron and a driver, each skeletal face comprising a unitary piece defining a point for shaft attachment, a surface for impacting a golf ball, and a surface with plurality of attachment points, the skeletal face selected for the shape of the surface for impacting the ball;

providing a plurality of head covering bodies for covering the skeletal face away from the surface for impacting a golf ball, differing head covering bodies providing differing head shapes cooperatively joined with differing skeletal faces to which the head covering bodies are attached;

providing a plurality of weights for fastening to the surface with a plurality of attachment points on the head covering bodies to provide weight and moment to the golf club;

providing at least one shaft for attachment to the skeletal face;

selecting a head covering body for fastening to the skeletal face at the attachment surface;

fastening weights to the skeletal face or head covering body to provide desired weight and moment to the club head;

fastening the head covering body to the skeletal face to customize the golf club to the golfer; and

,

fastening a shaft to the skeletal face to provide an individually tailored golf club.