Movable weights for a golf club head

• US 7,632,194 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• 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: Beach, Todd P., Wright, Ian, Chao, Bing-Ling, Vincent, Benoit, Willett, Kraig Alan, Olsavsky, Thomas, Zimmerman, Gery Mel, Greaney, Mark Vincent, Kronenberg, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/002,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• 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

Embodiments of movable weights, such as weight assemblies and weight screws, for a golf club head are disclosed herein. One embodiment for a weight assembly, for example, comprises a mass element having a first end, a second end and a sidewall extending between the first end and the send end. The sidewall of the mass element defines a first bore extending through the mass element and at least a portion of the sidewall of mass element tapers in a direction from the first end to the second end. This embodiment further includes a retaining element configured to engage the first bore adjacent the first end of the mass element and defining a second bore. The weight assembly further includes an elongate fastener having a first end configured to be received within the second bore of the retaining element and a second end extending through the first bore and beyond the second end of the mass element when the mass element, retaining element and fastener are assembled together.

Claims

1. A weight screw for a golf club head comprising:

a head having a socket configured for engagement with a tool for securing the weight screw to the golf club head;

a body having a first end connected to the head and a second end;

a stop connected to the second end of the body and having a lateral dimension, the stop being configured to prevent an axial movement when the weight screw is tightened; and

a threaded portion extending from the stop and having a diameter less than the stop lateral dimension.

2. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the body has a diameter and the head has a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the body is less than the diameter of the head and the lateral dimension of the stop.

3. The weight screw of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the head is greater than the lateral dimension of the stop.

4. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the weight screw has a total weight screw mass equal to the combined masses of the head, body, stop and threaded portion.

5. The weight screw of claim 4, wherein the total weight screw mass is changed by lengthening or widening the mass of the body.

6. The weight screw of claim 4, wherein the total weight screw mass is between approximately 1 gram and approximately 5 grams.

7. The weight screw of claim 6, wherein the total weight screw mass is approximately 2 grams.

8. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the head comprises an outer end surface having markings thereon corresponding to mass characteristics of the weight screw.

9. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the weight screw is made from a titanium or steel.

10. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein a length of the weight screw is between approximately 18 mm and approximately 20 mm.

11. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the weight screw head is sized to enclose a corresponding weight recess formed in the golf club head.

12. The weight screw of claim 11, wherein the weight screw head comprises an outermost diameter between about 12 mm and about 13 mm.

13. The weight screw of claim 11, wherein the weight screw head comprises an outermost diameter between about 11 mm and about 12 mm.

14. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the socket comprises multiple lobes and corresponding flutes to facilitate engagement with the tool.

15. The weight screw of claim 14, wherein the socket comprises a centrally located post to facilitate engagement with the tool.

16. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the stop is positioned on the weight screw at a distance of about 11 mm from an outer end surface of the weight screw head.

17. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the stop lateral dimension is about 6 mm.

18. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the stop lateral dimension is a stop diameter.

19. The weight screw of claim 18, wherein the thread diameter is about 6 mm.

20. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the weight screw is configured to be removably engaged with the golf club head.

21. The weight screw of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a cross-sectional maximum dimension between about 4 mm and about 8 mm.