Golf club head

• US 7,223,180 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Willett, Kraig A., Hoffman, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/913,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 473334-339, 473290-291, 473345-346, 473/349, 473/297, 473/519
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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

The invention provides a golf club head comprising a head body, a weight body, and a fastener. The head body has at least one recess that is partially delineated by a first recess wall, a recess bottom, and an opening formed in the recess bottom. The weight body is disposed in the recess, wherein the weight body has a first aperture with a first diameter. The fastener comprises a fastener head and a fastener body, wherein the fastener head has a second diameter. The fastener head is disposed between the first aperture and the opening formed in the recess bottom, wherein that the fastener body and the opening are adapted to be removably engaged to one another and the first diameter is less than the second diameter.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a head body having at least one recess formed therein, the recess at least partially delineated by a first recess wall and a recess bottom;

an opening formed in the recess bottom;

a weight body disposed in the recess, the weight body having a first aperture, wherein the first aperture, wherein the first aperture has a first diameter; and

a fastener comprising a fastener head and a fastener body, wherein the fastener head has a second diameter;

wherein the fastener head is disposed between the first aperture and the opening formed in the recess bottom, the first diameter is less than the second diameter, and the fastener body and the opening are adapted to be removably engaged to one another.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a portion of the recess widens towards an outer surface of the head body, and wherein a portion of the weight body widens towards an outer surface of the body.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first diameter is adapted to provide tool access to the fastener head.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the opening and the fastener body are threadably engaged.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the opening has a depth at least 1.5 times a diameter of the fastener body.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a boss formed in the first recess wall, wherein the opening is formed in the boss.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the boss extends towards an outer surface of the head body.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the boss extends away from an outer surface of the head body.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a cross sectional shape of the weight body is triangular, hexagonal, oval, or rectangular.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight body has a uniform density.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight body has a non-uniform density.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one recess is disposed on a sole, top wall, side wall, heel portion, or toe portion of the head body.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein a portion of the recess and a portion of the weight body are coupled by means of a press fit.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight body is comprised of a first material having a first density, the head body is comprised of a second material having a second density, and the first density is different from the second density.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a low friction element disposed between the fastener head and the weight body.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight body includes a weight portion and a retaining portion.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a head body having at least one recess formed therein, wherein the recess is delineated by a first recess wall and a recess bottom, and wherein a portion of the recess widens towards an outer surface of the head body;

an opening formed in the recess bottom;

a weight body at least partially disposed in the recess, wherein a portion of the weight body widens towards an outer surface of the head body;

a hollow conduit formed through the weight body; and

a fastener having a fastener head and a fastener body, wherein a portion of the fastener body is disposed in the hollow conduit;

wherein the fastener body and the opening are adapted to be engaged to one another.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the recess is further delineated by a second recess wall, wherein the first recess wall defines a first portion of the recess and the second recess wall defines a second portion of the recess, and wherein the first and second portions of the recess widen towards an outer surface of the head body.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the weight body comprises a first wall adapted to complement the first recess wall.

20. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the weight body comprises a second wall adapted to complement the second recess wall.

21. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the opening and the fastener body are each at least partially threaded.