Weight adjustment member for golf club head

• US 7,396,299 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Nicolette, Michael R., Solheim, John A., Schweigert, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/210,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20070042834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 473/350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 weight adjustment member may be mounted in a tuning port in a golf club head and secured therein using adhesive. The weight adjustment member includes a lip which prevents excess adhesive from escaping the tuning port and hides adhesive that might otherwise be visible between the weight adjustment member and the tuning port. Locating devices that mate with each other are included in the tuning port and on the weight adjustment member. A method of mounting the weight adjustment member in the tuning port of a golf club head is also provided.

Claims

1. A weight adjustment member for a golf club head wherein the golf club head includes a tuning port with a rim, said weight adjustment member comprising:

a base adapted to be received in said tuning port, said base including a side surface, a first side and a second side, said side surface having a height dimension that is different on said first and second sides;

a cap connected to said base, said cap having a lip projecting outwardly for concealing at least a portion of said tuning port rim when said base is received in said tuning port;

a first locating device on a bottom surface of said base and a second locating device on a bottom wall of said tuning port;

said first and second locating devices mating with each other when said base is received in said tuning port; and

said first locating device comprising an indentation and said second locating device comprising a protrusion.

2. The weight adjustment member of claim 1, wherein said indentation and said protrusion are located off-center with respect to said base and said tuning port, respectively.

3. The weight adjustment member of claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes a body with a front face arranged for impact with a golf ball and a back face disposed rearwardly of said front face.

4. The weight adjustment member of claim 3, wherein the golf club head includes a perimeter weighting element protruding rearwardly from said front face to define a primary cavity in said back face.

5. The weight adjustment member of claim 4, wherein said perimeter weighting element includes a top rail and a sole, and wherein said primary cavity is defined at its upper extremity by said top rail and at its lower extremity by said sole.

6. The weight adjustment member of claim 5, wherein said top rail extends between heel and toe portions of the body along an upper portion of the body and wherein said sole extends between the heel and toe portions of the body along a lower portion of the body.

7. The weight adjustment member of claim 6, wherein the golf club head includes an interior wall which extends from a first end located adjacent the heel portion of the body through said primary cavity between said top rail and said sole to a second end located adjacent the toe portion of the body to define said tuning port within said primary cavity.

8. A weight adjustment member for a golf club head wherein the golf club head includes a tuning port with a rim, said weight adjustment member comprising:

a base adapted to be received in said tuning port, said base including a side surface having a plurality of recesses formed therein;

a cap connected to said base, said cap having a lip projecting outwardly for concealing at least a portion of said tuning port rim when said base is received in said tuning port;

a first locating device on a bottom surface of said base and a second locating device on a bottom wall of said tuning port;

said first and second locating devices mating with each other when said base is received in said tuning port; and

said first locating device comprising an indentation and said second locating device comprising a protrusion.

9. The weight adjustment member of claim 8, wherein the golf club head includes a body with a front face arranged for impact with a golf ball and a back face disposed rearwardly of said front face.

10. The weight adjustment member of claim 9, wherein the golf club head includes a perimeter weighting element protruding rearwardly from said front face to define a primary cavity in said back face.

11. The weight adjustment member of claim 10, wherein said perimeter weighting element includes a top rail and a sole, and wherein said primary cavity is defined at its upper extremity by said top rail and at its lower extremity by said sole.

12. The weight adjustment member of claim 11, wherein said top rail extends between heel and toe portions of the body along an upper portion of the body and wherein said sole extends between the heel and toe portions of the body along a lower portion of the body.

13. The weight adjustment member of claim 12, wherein the golf club head includes an interior wall which extends from a first end located adjacent the heel portion of the body through said primary cavity between said top rail and said sole to a second end located adjacent the toe portion of the body to define said tuning port within said primary cavity.

14. A weight adjustment member for a golf club head wherein the golf club head includes a tuning port with a rim, said weight adjustment member comprising:

a base adapted to be received in said tuning port, said base including a side surface with a plurality of tabs extending therefrom;

a cap connected to said base, said cap having a lip projecting outwardly for concealing at least a portion of said tuning port rim when said base is received in said tuning port;

a first locating device on a bottom surface of said base and a second locating device on a bottom wall of said tuning port;

said first and second locating devices mating with each other when said base is received in said tuning port; and

said first locating device comprising an indentation and said second locating device comprising a protrusion.

15. The weight adjustment member of claim 14 wherein said tabs are located below said lip.

16. The weight adjustment member of claim 14, wherein the golf club head includes a body with a front face arranged for impact with a golf ball and a back face disposed rearwardly of said front face.

17. The weight adjustment member of claim 16, wherein the golf club head includes a perimeter weighting element protruding rearwardly from said front face to define a primary cavity in said back face.

18. The weight adjustment member of claim 17, wherein said perimeter weighting element includes a top rail and a sole, and wherein said primary cavity is defined at its upper extremity by said top rail and at its lower extremity by said sole.

19. The weight adjustment member of claim 18, wherein said top rail extends between heel and toe portions of the body along an upper portion of the body and wherein said sole extends between the heel and toe portions of the body along a lower portion of the body.

20. The weight adjustment member of claim 19, wherein the golf club head includes an interior wall which extends from a first end located adjacent the heel portion of the body through said primary cavity between said top rail and said sole to a second end located adjacent the toe portion of the body to define said tuning port within said primary cavity.