Golf putter heads and removable putter weights

• US 7,887,432 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Sanchez, Richard R., Nicolette, Michael R., Jones, David D., Schweigert, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti; Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/777,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473/256, 473287-292, 473/409, D21736-746, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads and removable golf club weights are generally described herein. According to certain embodiments, an example golf club head comprises a face for striking a golf ball, a backside portion, a sole portion, and one or more removable weights. According to such embodiments, the example golf club head may further comprise a vibration damping composition disposed between the removable weights and the golf club head.

Claims

1. A club head comprising two or more removable weights located within a sole portion of the club head, wherein each weight exhibits approximately the same volume and is disposed in a separate cavity located within the sole portion, wherein:

(i) each cavity is configured to receive no more than a single removable weight;

(ii) a first removable weight of the two or more removable weights is disposed in a heel portion of the club head, and a second removable weight of the two or more removable weights is disposed in a toe portion of the club head;

(iii) the first removable weight and the second removable weight exhibit a triangular shape having a portion that comprises an angle of approximately 90-degrees which is disposed in a side portion of the sole portion and away from a striking face of the club head;

(iv) each weight comprises a weight height;

(v) the club head comprises a club head height; and

(vi) each of the weight heights are less than half of the club head height.

2. The club head of claim 1, wherein the two or more removable weights are selected from a group of removable weights that comprises weights of different specific gravity.

3. The club head of claim 2, wherein at least one of the two or more removable weights is secured to the club head with a threaded screw.

4. The club head of claim 2, wherein at least one of the two or more removable weights is secured to the club head through a magnetic force.

5. The club head of claim 4, wherein each cavity comprises an open pocket adjacent to the cavity, the open pocket configured such that the at least one of the two or more removable weights can be lifted from the cavity to break the magnetic force.

6. The club head of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the two or more removable weights comprises a tungsten powder.

7. The club head of claim 1, which further comprises a third removable weight of the two or more removable weights disposed in a center portion of the club head.

8. The club head of claim 1, wherein:

the club head comprises a club head volume; and

a sum of each volume of each weight is less than half of the club head volume.

9. A golf putter comprising:

(a) a golf putter head comprising a putter head height and a putter head volume; and

(b) a shaft coupled to the golf putter head, wherein the golf putter head comprises two or more removable weights located within a sole portion of the golf putter head, wherein each weight comprises a weight height, exhibits approximately the same weight volume, and is disposed in a separate cavity located within the sole portion, wherein;

(i) each cavity is configured to receive no more than a single removable weight;

(ii) a first removable weight of the two or more removable weights is disposed in a heel portion of the putter head, and a second removable weight of the two or more removable weights is disposed in a toe portion of the putter head;

(iii) the first removable weight and the second removable weight exhibit a triangular shape having a portion that comprises an angle of approximately 90-degrees which is disposed in a side portion of the sole portion and away from a striking face of the golf putter head;

(iv) the weight height is less than half of the putter head height; and

(v) a sum of each weight volume is less than half of the putter head volume.

10. The golf putter of claim 9, wherein the two or more removable weights are selected from a group of removable weights that comprises weights of different specific gravity.

11. The golf putter of claim 10, wherein at least one of the two or more removable weights is secured to the golf putter head with a threaded screw.

12. The golf putter of claim 10, wherein at least one of the two or more removable weights is secured to the golf putter head through a magnetic force.

13. The golf putter of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the two or more removable weights comprises a tungsten powder.

14. The golf putter of claim 9, which further comprises a third removable weight of the two or more removable weights disposed in a center portion of the golf putter head.

15. A method for manufacturing a golf putter head, which comprises:

(a) forming a golf putter head, wherein the golf putter head comprises a sole portion that comprises two or more cavities, wherein each cavity is adapted to receive no more than a single removable weight, and the golf putter head comprises a putter head height, wherein (i) each weight exhibits approximately the same volume, (ii) a first removable weight comprising a weight height is configured to be disposed in a cavity located in a heel portion of the putter head, and a second removable weight comprising the weight height is configured to be disposed in a toe portion of the putter head, and (iii) the first and second removable weights exhibit a triangular shape having a portion that comprises an angle of approximately 90-degrees which is configured to be disposed in a side portion of the sole portion and away from a striking face of the putter head; and

(b) disposing the first and second removable weights in the two or more cavities of the sole portion such that the weight height is less than half of the putter head height.

16. The method of claim 15, which further comprises selecting the two or more removable weights from a set of removable weights.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of removable weights comprises removable weights that exhibit a plurality of different specific gravities.

18. The method of claim 17, which further comprises selecting a third removable weight from the set of removable weights and securing the third removable weight to the golf putter head.

19. The method of claim 18, which further comprises securing the third removable weight to a center portion of the golf putter head.

20. The method of claim 15, which further comprises securing the two or more removable weights to the golf putter head with a threaded screw.

21. The method of claim 15, which further comprises securing the two or more removable weights to the golf putter head with a magnetic force.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the two or more removable weights comprises a tungsten powder.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the golf putter head comprises a golf putter head volume; and

the club head volume is greater than twice a sum of each volume of each weight.