Golf club head and removable weight

• US 7,771,290 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Herman, Denise T., Murphy, Stephen S., Zimmerman, Gery M., Knutson, Scott A., Bennett, Thomas Orrin, Bezilla, Stephanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US12/130,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head and a removable weight that is received in a receptacle of the golf club head. The weight includes a cap and a slug. The cap is removably coupled to the receptacle and includes a recess that slidably receives a portion of the slug so that the cap and slug are able to rotate relative to each other. The slug includes an anti-rotation feature that prevents relative rotation between the slug and the receptacle.

Claims

1. A removable weight for a golf club head including a receptacle, comprising:

a cap including a base, a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, and a tool engagement feature included in base, wherein the side wall includes an outer surface that is removably coupled to the receptacle;

a slug including a retention portion and an extension portion, wherein at least a portion of the retention portion is slidably disposed in the recess, and the extension portion includes an anti-rotation feature that engages the receptacle to prevent relative rotation between the receptacle and the slug; and

a retainer extending across a sliding interface between the retention portion and the side wall, wherein the retention portion of the slug includes a first circumferential channel, the side wall of the cap includes a second circumferential channel and a first portion of the retainer is disposed in the first circumferential channel and a second portion of the retainer is disposed in the second circumferential channel.

2. The weight of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a spring clip.

3. The weight of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a deformable ring.

4. The weight of claim 1, further comprising a compression member interposed between the base of the cap and the retention portion of the slug.

5. The weight of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the side wall of the cap is threaded and threadably engages a threaded inner surface of the receptacle.

6. The weight of claim 1, wherein the extension portion has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

7. The weight of claim 1, wherein the extension portion is tapered and includes at least one facet.

8. The weight of claim 1, wherein the extension portion includes a keyway.

9. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a receptacle, wherein the receptacle includes a cap portion and a seat portion and wherein the cap portion is disposed proximate an outer surface of the body and the seat portion is spaced from the outer surface of the body by the cap portion; and

a weight comprising a cap, a slug, and a retainer, wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, and the side wall includes an outer surface that is removably coupled to the cap portion of the receptacle, wherein the slug includes a retention portion and an extension portion, at least a portion of the retention portion is slidably disposed in the recess, and the extension portion includes an anti-rotation feature that engages the seat portion of the receptacle to prevent relative rotation between the receptacle and the slug, and wherein the retention portion of the slug includes a first circumferential channel, the side wall of the cap includes a second circumferential channel and a first portion of the retainer is disposed in the first circumferential channel and a second portion of the retainer is disposed in the second circumferential channel.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the receptacle is an integral component of the body.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the receptacle is a separate component that is attached to the body.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the retainer extends across a sliding interface between the cap and the slug.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the seat portion of the receptacle includes an opening having a polygonal shape.

14. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the seat portion of the receptacle includes a tapered opening.

15. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the seat portion includes at least one facet.

16. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the inner surface of the cap portion of the receptacle is threaded, the outer surface of the side wall of the cap is threaded and the cap is threadably engaged with the cap portion.

17. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a receptacle, wherein the receptacle includes a threaded cap portion and a seat portion; and

a weight comprising a threaded cap, a slug and a retainer, wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, and the cap is threadably coupled to the cap portion of the receptacle, wherein the slug includes a retention portion and an extension portion, at least a portion of the retention portion is slidably disposed in the recess, the extension portion includes an anti-rotation feature that engages the seat portion of the receptacle to prevent relative rotation between the receptacle and the slug, and the retainer extends across a sliding interface between the cap and the slug, and wherein the retention portion of the slug includes a first circumferential channel, the side wall of the cap includes a second circumferential channel and a first portion of the retainer is disposed in the first circumferential channel and a second portion of the retainer is disposed in the second circumferential channel.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the cap is constructed from a material having a first density, the slug is constructed from a material having a second density and the second density is greater than the first density.