Method for adjusting the center of gravity of a golf club head

• US 7,344,450 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
• Inventors: Billings, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/467,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473/256, 473291-292, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a center of gravity of a golf club head after its manufacture, the golf club including a head comprising a hollow shell having a plurality of thin walls that collectively form a club head, the club head including a face for striking a golf ball, a heel portion, a toe portion, a back portion and a sole and having an original center of gravity prior to addition of any weights, the club head further including a plurality of user-attachable and detachable, discrete weights arranged on the shell at spaced-apart locations, the method comprising:

hitting golf balls with the club with the plurality of weights detachably secured to the shell in a first arrangement, in which the plurality of weights are positioned in at least two locations other than the sole, permitting movement of the center of gravity of the club head from the location of the original center of gravity toward the club face, wherein the sole is formed of one or more substantially planar surfaces at the bottom of the club head facing downwardly; and

after hitting golf balls with the club, forming a second arrangement with the plurality of weights detachably secured to the shell, the second arrangement moving the golf club head center of gravity forward of the original center of gravity in the general direction of a first axis extending between the face and back portion of the head and in the general direction of a second axis extending between the heel and the toe portions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement of the plurality of weights further comprises moving the golf club head center of gravity in the general direction of a third axis extending between the golf club head sole and top.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement of the plurality of weights further comprises removing a member secured to a port formed into the shell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement of the plurality of weights further comprises removing, from a port formed into the shell, a member to which at least one of the plurality of weights is attached.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of weights is detachably secured to the head by a threaded coupling.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of weights is detachably secured to the head by a threaded coupling.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights further comprises at least partly threadably securing at least one of the plurality of weights to the shell.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights further comprises press fitting at least one of the plurality of weights to the shell.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights further comprises securing at least one of the plurality of weights to the shell by one or more latches.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an opening into the shell and one or more internal walls extending inwardly from the opening into the golf club head; and

wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights comprises removably securing at least one of the plurality of weights within the opening and against the one or more internal walls of the shell opening to attenuate vibration of the weighted member.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights comprises at least partly threadably securing at least one of a plurality of weights to the shell.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights comprises press fitting at least one of a plurality of weights to the shell.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights comprises securing at least one of the plurality of weights to the shell by one or more latches.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming the second arrangement of the plurality of weights further comprises:

detaching at least a part of the club head shell; and

forming the second arrangement with the plurality of weights detachably secured to the shell.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detaching at least a part of the club head shell further comprises detaching at least a part of the back portion of the club head.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising replacing the detached part of the club head shell.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of weights comprises a member covering an opening in the shell, in at least one of the first and second arrangements of weights.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of weights is at least partially secured within a recess in the shell, in at least one of the first and second arrangements of weights.