Golf club head having a bridge member and a weight positioning system

• US 7,201,669 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John Thomas, Tavares, Gary Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US10/707,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 473334-339, 473/242, 473/350
• US Class Current: 473/337
• 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 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-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 is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a body extending between the toe and the heel, the body comprising a striking face, the striking face having a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear cavity, the rear cavity opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear cavity, the bridge member having a front surface and a back surface;

a weight, the weight having an elliptical shape, the weight attached to the bridge member to vary a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face, the weight being moveable to different locations on the bridge member, the weight being interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights; and

wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the weight.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the different locations on the bridge member are fixed.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight comprises a weight chip.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the weight chip is attached to the bridge member with a setscrew.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the elliptical shaped weight is rotated and fixed in different positions to further vary the position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the face.

6. A golf club head

comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a body extending between the toe and the heel, the body comprising a striking face, the striking face having a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear cavity, the rear cavity opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear cavity, the bridge member having a front surface and a back surface, the bridge member further including a rail formed in the bridge member;

an elliptical shaped weight, the elliptical shaped weight shaped to engage and slide along the rail of the bridge member to vary a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face, the elliptical shaped weight being moveable to different locations on the bridge member, the elliptical shaped weight being interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights; and

wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different shape than the elliptical shaped weight.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the weight further includes a locking mechanism to secure the weight to the rail at a fixed location along the rail.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the weight further includes a locking mechanism to secure the weight to the rail at a fixed location along the rail.

9. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the elliptical shaped weight is rotated and fixed in different positions to further vary the position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the face.

10. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the elliptical shaped weight is interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights.

11. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the weight.

12. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different shape than the weight.

13. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the bridge member connects the heel and the toe.

14. A set of iron golf clubs, the set of iron golf clubs comprising:

a plurality of increasing numbered iron golf clubs, the plurality of increasing numbered iron clubs each having a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club head positioned on an end of the shaft, the golf club head of each iron golf club comprising;

a striking face that provides a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear cavity opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear cavity;

an elliptical shaped weight, the elliptical shaped weight attached to the bridge member and moveable to different locations on the bridge member, the elliptical shaped weight varying a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face, the elliptical shaped weight being interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights; and

wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the elliptical shaped weight.

15. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 14, wherein the different locations on the bridge member are fixed.

16. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 15, wherein the weight comprises a weight chip.

17. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 16, wherein the weight chip is attached to the bridge member with a setscrew.

18. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 14, wherein the elliptical shaped weight is rotated and fixed in different positions to further vary the position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the face.

19. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 14, wherein the set of iron golf clubs is selected from the group consisting of a two iron, a three iron, a four iron, a five iron, a six iron, a seven iron, an eight iron, a nine iron, and a pitching wedge.

20. A set of iron golf clubs, the set of iron golf clubs comprising:

a plurality of increasing numbered iron golf clubs, the plurality of increasing numbered iron clubs each having a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club head positioned on an end of the shaft, the golf club head of each iron golf club comprising;

a striking face that provides a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear cavity opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear cavity;

the bridge member further including a rail formed in the bridge member, the rail extending from a front surface of the bridge member through to a back surface of the bridge member;

a weight, the weight attached to the bridge member and moveable to different locations on the bridge member, the weight varying a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face, the weight being interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights; and

wherein at least one of the alternate weights has a different mass than the weight.

21. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 20, wherein the weight is shaped to engage and slide along the rail to very the position of the center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face.

22. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 21, wherein the weight further includes a locking mechanism to secure the weight to the rail at a fixed location along the rail.

23. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a set screw.

24. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 21, wherein the weight comprises an elliptical shape.

25. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 24, wherein the elliptical shaped weight is rotated and fixed in different positions to further vary the position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the face.

26. A golf club head comprising:

a heel;

a toe;

a body extending between the toe and the heel, the body comprising a striking face, the striking face having a contact area for engaging a golf ball;

a rear cavity opposite the striking face;

a bridge member extending across the rear cavity, the bridge member including a rail formed in the bridge member the rail extending from a front surface of the bridge member through to a back surface of the bridge member; and

a weight, the weight attached to the bridge member and moveable to different locations along the rail, the weight varying a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head with respect to the striking face.

27. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 26, wherein the weight comprises an elliptical shape.

28. The set of iron golf clubs of claim 27, wherein the weight chip is attached to the bridge member with a setscrew.

29. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the elliptical shaped weight is interchangeable with one of a plurality of alternate weights.