Golf club head having movable weights

• US 7,717,805 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• 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: Wright, Ian, Beach, Todd P., Vincent, Benoit, Olsavsky, Thomas, Zimmerman, Gery Mel, Hoffman, Joseph, Willett, Kraig
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/669,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/337
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand

Abstract

One embodiment of a golf club head having movable weights includes a body with a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. Two or more weight ports are formed in the body and at least two weights are configured to be retained at least partially within the weight ports.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head wherein at least a portion of the sole has a total sole thickness less than about 0.9 mm, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity;

two or more weight ports formed in the body;

at least one weight configured to be removably retained at least partially within one of the weight ports;

wherein the head includes a golf club head center of gravity having a z-axis generally perpendicular to the ground when the head is ideally positioned, and

wherein a golf club head moment of inertia about the head center of gravity z-axis with the at least one weight divided by the golf club head mass without the at least one weight is between about 1,500 mm² and about 6,000 mm², and wherein at least one rib is attached to at least one of the two or more weight ports.

2. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head center of gravity z-axis with the at least one weight divided by the golf club head mass without the at least one weight is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

3. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head center of gravity z-axis with the at least one weight divided by the golf club head mass without the at least one weight is between about 3,000 mm² and about 6,000 mm².

4. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight comprises two or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the two or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the two or more weights is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

5. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight comprises two or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the two or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the two or more weights is between about 3,000 mm² and about 6,000 mm².

6. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight comprises three or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the three or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the three or more weights is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

7. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight comprises three or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the three or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the three or more weights is between about 3,000 mm² and about 6,000 mm².

8. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight comprises four or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the four or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the four or more weights is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

9. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight comprises four or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of with the four or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the four or more weights is between about 3,000 mm² and about 6,000 mm².

10. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the total sole thickness that is less than about 0.9 mm is over at least about 50% of the sole surface area.

11. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a crown thickness is less than about 0.8 mm.

12. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the sole is titanium or a titanium alloy.

13. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head has a volume of between about 400 cm³ and about 500 cm³.

14. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the mass of the golf club head is between about 180 g and about 215 g.

15. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the face plate is separately attached.

16. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity;

two or more weight ports formed in the body;

at least one weight configured to be retained at least partially within one of the weight ports;

wherein the head includes a golf club head center of gravity having a z-axis generally perpendicular to the ground when the head is ideally positioned, and

wherein a golf club head moment of inertia about the head center of gravity z-axis with the at least one weight divided by the golf club head mass without the at least one weight is between about 1,500 mm² and about 2,000 mm².

17. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 16,

wherein the at least one weight comprises two or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the two or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the two or more weights is between about 1,500 mm² and about 2,000 mm².

18. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the at least one weight comprises three or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the three or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the three or more weights is between about 1,500 mm² and about 2,000 mm².

19. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the at least one weight comprises four or more weights, and wherein the golf club head moment of inertia with the four or more weights divided by the golf club head mass without the four or more weights is between about 1,500 mm² and about 2,000 mm².