Golf clubs with variable moment of inertia and methods of manufacture thereof

• US 7,798,914 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Noble, Randall B., Cole, Eric V., Blankenship, Jeff A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/184,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20100029402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In some embodiments, a golf club head has a body with a front section, a first restrictor of a restrictor mechanism coupled to a first portion of the body, and a weight having a first end coupled to the restrictor mechanism and to the body. The first restrictor has a first stiffness and is non-integral with the weight. Responsive to impact at a first zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react towards each other, and the first stiffness can resist a deformation of the first restrictor by the first end of the weight. Responsive to impact at a second zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react away from each other such that the first stiffness is substantially non-involved with first end of the weight. Other examples and related methods are also described herein.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a front section, the front section comprising;

a first zone; and

a second zone substantially opposite the first zone;

a first restrictor mechanism comprising a first restrictor and coupled to a first portion of the body; and

a weight comprising a first end coupled to the first restrictor mechanism and coupled to the body;

wherein;

the first restrictor comprises a first stiffness and is non-integral with the weight;

in response to an impact at the first zone of the front section;

the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react towards each other; and

the first stiffness is configured to resist a deformation of the first restrictor by the first end of the weight; and

in response to an impact at the second zone of the front section;

the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react away from each other such that the first stiffness is substantially non-involved with first end of the weight.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first restrictor is positioned between the first end of the weight and the front section of the body.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first restrictor is positioned behind the first end of the weight, relative to the front section of the body.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight comprises a face aligned substantially parallel to the front section of the body.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight comprises a face aligned substantially perpendicular to the front section of the body.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a center of gravity of the weight is proximate to at least one of;

a center of gravity of the golf club head;

the front section of the golf club head;

or

a geometric center of the golf club head.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight comprises a post coupled to the body and the weight; and

the post is configured to align the first end of the weight with the first restrictor.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein:

the weight is coupled via the post to second and third portions of the body.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first restrictor mechanism further comprises;

a second restrictor located adjacent to the first end of the weight and coupled to the first portion of the body opposite the first restrictor; and

the first end of the weight is configured to be positioned between the first restrictor and the second restrictor.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein:

the second restrictor comprises a second stiffness;

the first stiffness of the first restrictor is greater than the second stiffness of the second restrictor; and

the second stiffness is configured to permit a deformation of the second restrictor by the first end of the weight in response to an impact at the second zone of the front section.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein:

the weight is configured for interaction with only one of the first or second restrictors at a time.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein:

the first end of the weight is connected to at least one of;

the first restrictor;

or

the second restrictor.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a second restrictor mechanism comprising a second restrictor and coupled to a second portion of the body;

wherein;

the weight comprises a second end coupled to the second restrictor; and

the first end of the weight is coupled to the first restrictor.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein:

the second restrictor comprises a second stiffness;

the first restrictor comprises a first stiffness greater than the second stiffness; and

the second stiffness is configured to permit a deformation of the second restrictor by the second end of the weight in response to the impact at the first zone of the front section.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein:

the first restrictor mechanism further comprises a third restrictor opposite the first restrictor;

wherein;

the first end of the weight is between the first restrictor and the third restrictor;

the third restrictor comprises a second stiffness;

the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness; and

the second stiffness is configured to permit a deformation of the third restrictor by the first end of the weight in response to an impact at the second zone of the front section.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein:

the second restrictor mechanism further comprises a fourth restrictor opposite the second restrictor;

wherein;

the second end of the weight is between the second restrictor and the fourth restrictor;

the fourth restrictor comprises the first stiffness;

the second restrictor comprises the second stiffness;

the second stiffness is configured to permit a deformation of the second restrictor by the second end of the weight in response to the impact at the second zone of the front section; and

the first stiffness is configured to resist a deformation of the fourth restrictor by the second end of the weight in response to the impact at the first zone of the front section.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight comprises a mass cutout.

18. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a second restrictor mechanism coupled to a second portion of the body substantially opposite the first portion of the body;

a third restrictor mechanism coupled to a third portion of the body between the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body; and

a fourth restrictor mechanism coupled to a fourth portion of the body substantially opposite the third portion of the body;

wherein the weight further comprises;

a second end substantially opposite the first end and coupled to the second restrictor mechanism;

a third end coupled to the third restrictor mechanism; and

a fourth end substantially opposite the third end and coupled to the fourth restrictor mechanism.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein:

the third restrictor mechanism comprises a first hingepin set with one or more hingepins coupled to the third end of the weight; and

the fourth restrictor mechanism comprises a second hingepin set with one or more hingepins coupled to the fourth end of the weight.

20. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight further comprises a second end;

the first end of the weight is located along a first plane of the weight;

the second end of the weight is located along a second plane of the weight different from the first plane;

the golf club head further comprises a second restrictor mechanism coupled to a second portion of the body; and

the second end of the weight is configured to be coupled to the second restrictor mechanism.

21. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first restrictor comprises a notch;

the first end of the weight comprises a protrusion coupled with the notch of the first restrictor; and

the notch of the first restrictor restricts the weight from rotating along a plane substantially parallel to a face of the weight when the protrusion is coupled to the notch.

22. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first restrictor further comprises a restrictor coupler comprising a coupler stiffness;

the first stiffness is greater than the coupler stiffness;

the first end of the weight is coupled to the restrictor coupler; and

the coupler stiffness is configured to permit a deformation of the restrictor coupler by the first end of the weight in response to at least one of;

the impact at the first zone of the front section;

or

an impact at the second zone of the front section.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein:

the first restrictor mechanism further comprises a second restrictor opposite the first restrictor;

wherein;

the first end of the weight is between the second restrictor and the restrictor coupler of the first restrictor;

the second restrictor comprises a second stiffness greater than the coupler stiffness of the restrictor coupler of the first restrictor; and

the second stiffness is configured to resist a deformation of the second restrictor by the first end of the weight in response to the impact at the second zone of the front section.

24. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first restrictor mechanism is adjustable relative to the first end of the weight.

25. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein:

the first restrictor of the first restrictor mechanism is adjustable from a first position to a second position relative to the first end of the weight.

26. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein:

the first restrictor mechanism comprises;

a restrictor cap with an inner perimeter; and

restrictors along the inner perimeter of the restrictor cap;

the first end of the weight is configured to be coupled within the inner perimeter of the restrictor cap and between the restrictors; and

positions of the restrictors relative to the first end of the weight are adjustable when the restrictor cap is rotated relative to the first end of the weight.

27. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein:

pairs of the restrictors comprise inversely proportional stiffnesses; and

the pairs of the restrictors are positioned opposite each other along the inner perimeter.

28. The golf club head of claim 26, wherein:

the restrictors comprise increasing stiffnesses; and

the restrictors are positioned along the inner perimeter based on increasing stiffnesses.

29. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first stiffness is adjustable.

30. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight comprises at least one of:

a mass of approximately 20 to 40 grams;

or

a mass of approximately 10 to 20 percent of a mass of the golf club head.

31. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the body comprises at least one of;

a steel material, a titanium material, an aluminum material, or

a graphite material;

the weight comprises at least one of;

a tungsten material, a tungsten-epoxy material, a steel material, a copper material,

a titanium material, or a bronze material; and

the first restrictor mechanism comprises at least one of;

a steel material, a titanium material, an aluminum material, a silicon material,

a polymer material, or an epoxy material.

32. A method of manufacturing a golf club head, the method comprising:

providing a body;

providing a weight;

providing a first tab coupler coupled to a first region of the body and comprising a first tab; and

coupling a first end of the weight to the first tab;

wherein;

a rotational tendency of the body is restricted by an interaction between the first end of the weight and the first tab upon an impact at a first portion of the body of the golf club head;

the rotational tendency of the body is substantially uninhibited by the interaction between the first end of the weight and the first tab upon an impact at a second portion of the body; and

the first and second portions of the body are at opposite ends of a front face of the golf club head.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

providing a second tab for the first tab coupler at the first region of the body and opposite the first tab of the first tab coupler; and

positioning the first end of the weight towards the first region of the body and between the first tab and the second tab of the first tab coupler;

wherein the second tab permits a greater distortion than the first tab.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein:

in response to the impact at the first portion of the body of the golf club head;

the first tab and the first end of the weight are configured to react towards each other such that a first stiffness of the first tab resists a deformation of the first tab by the first end of the weight; and

in response to an impact at the second portion opposite the first portion of the body;

the first tab and the first end of the weight are configured to react away from each other such that the first stiffness is substantially non-involved with first end of the weight.

35. A golf club comprising:

a face;

a housing;

a golf club shaft coupled to the housing;

a first restrictor coupled to a first section within the housing;

a second restrictor coupled to the first section within the housing;

a weight comprising a first end between the first restrictor and the second restrictor within the housing; and

a third restrictor coupled to a second section within the housing and to the weight;

wherein;

the second restrictor comprises a second stiffness;

the first restrictor comprises a first stiffness greater than the second stiffness;

the first stiffness is configured to resist a distortion of the first restrictor by the first end of the weight in response to an impact at a first portion of the face of the golf club head; and

the second stiffness is configured to allow a distortion of the second restrictor by the first end of the weight in response to an impact at a second portion of the face of the golf club head.

36. The golf club of claim 35, wherein:

the first restrictor impedes a rotational tendency of the weight relative to the housing when the housing is rotated in a first direction in response to the impact at the first portion of the face of the golf club.

37. The golf club of claim 36, wherein:

the first restrictor is neutral with respect to impeding a rotational tendency of the weight relative to the housing when the housing is rotated in a second direction in response to the impact at the second portion of the face of the golf club.

38. The golf club of claim 35, wherein:

a center of gravity of the weight is substantially collinear with a gravitational vector through a center of gravity of the golf club head.

39. The golf club of claim 35, wherein:

at least one of the first restrictor and the second restrictor is adjustable relative to the first end of the weight.