Golf club head or other ball striking device with modifiable feel characteristics

• US 7,354,355 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavares, Gary G., Waatti, Todd A., Madore, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/954,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 473220-221, 473251-255, 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/329
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), include devices within and/or otherwise engaged with the ball striking head that allow users to selectively change the sound and/or other aspects of the “feel” associated with using the ball striking device to strike a ball. In this manner, a user, a club fitter, or the like can freely customize and adjust the sound and/or other aspects of the ball striking device'"'"'s feel to correspond to a particular user'"'"'s preferences.

Claims

1. A putter head, comprising:

a ball striking head including a ball striking surface that faces a ball in use, wherein the ball striking head includes a first opening and a second opening defined therein, wherein the first opening is separate from the second opening, the first opening and the second opening each extending from the ball striking surface toward a rear surface of the ball striking head;

a first wall member located in the first opening, wherein the first wall member includes a first end that engages a backside of the ball striking surface and a second end opposite the first end;

a second wall member located in the second opening, wherein the second wall member includes a first end that engages the backside of the ball striking surface and a second end opposite the first end;

a first means for applying a force to the first wall member, wherein the first means for applying the force engages the second end of the first wall member; and

a second means for applying a force to the second wall member, wherein the second means for applying the force engages the second end of the second wall member,

and wherein the forces applied to the first wall member and the second wall member may be selectively varied to alter a sound emanating from the ball striking head when a golf ball contacts the ball striking surface.

2. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first wall member at least partially defines a first chamber extending in a direction away from the ball striking surface.

3. A putter head according to claim 2, wherein the first means for applying the force is at least partially located in the first chamber.

4. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first means for applying the force includes a screw member.

5. A putter head according to claim 4, wherein the screw member applies a compressive force to the second end of the first wall member.

6. A putter head according to claim 4, wherein the screw member, at least in part, controls a stiffness characteristic of the first wall member.

7. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first means for applying the force extends at least partially through the first opening defined in the ball striking head.

8. A putter head according to claim 7, wherein an adjustable portion of the first means for applying the force is accessible from an exterior of the ball striking head.

9. A putter head according to claim 8, wherein the first wall member at least partially defines a first chamber extending in a direction away from the ball striking surface.

10. A putter head according to claim 9, wherein the first means for applying the force is at least partially located in the first chamber.

11. A putter head according to claim 8, wherein the first means for applying the force applies a compressive force to the second end of the first wall member.

12. A putter head according to claim 8, wherein the first means for applying the force, at least in part, controls a stiffness characteristic of the first wall member.

13. A putter head according to claim 7, wherein the first means for applying the force is selectively removable from the ball striking head.

14. A putter head according to claim 7, wherein the first wall member and the first means for applying the force are selectively removable from the ball striking head.

15. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first wall member at least partially defines a first chamber extending in a direction away from the ball striking surface, and wherein the second wall member at least partially defines a second chamber extending in a direction away from the ball striking surface.

16. A putter head according to claim 15, wherein the first means for applying the force is at least partially located in the first chamber, and wherein the second means for applying the force is at least partially located in the second chamber.

17. A putter head according to claim 1, wherein the first means for applying the force to the first wall member extends at least partially through the first opening defined in the ball striking head, and wherein the second means for applying the force to the second wall member extends at least partially through the second opening defined in the ball striking head.

18. A putter, comprising:

a putter head including a ball striking surface that faces a ball in use, wherein the putter head includes a first opening and a second opening defined therein, wherein the second opening is separate from the first opening, the first opening and the second opening each extending from the ball striking surface toward a rear surface of the putter head;

a first wall member located in the first opening, wherein the first wall member includes a first end that engages a backside of the ball striking surface and a second end opposite the first end;

a second wall member located in the second opening, wherein the second wall member includes a first end that engages the backside of the ball striking surface and a second end opposite the first end;

a first means for applying a force to the first wall member, wherein the first means for applying the force engages the second end of the first wall member;

a second means for applying a force to the second wall member, wherein the second means for applying the force engages the second end of the second wall member, wherein the forces applied to the first wall member and the second wall member may be selectively varied to alter a sound emanating from the ball striking head when a golf ball contacts the ball striking surface; and

a shaft engaged with the putter head.