Golf driver head with exchangeable rear sections

• US 7,959,522 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dick's Sporting Goods Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dick's Sporting Goods Incorporated
• Inventors: Lavallee, Ben S., North, Richard Ray III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US12/190,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 473/288, 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/288
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• 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

Abstract

A golf driver kit includes a front portion and a plurality of rear portions exchangeably connectable to the front portion and being of different respective shapes for imparting different flight characteristics to a struck golf ball. The front portion includes a front face plate and a hosel for receiving a shaft, plus a rearwardly projecting base on which the rear portion is seated. The rear portion is removably attached to the front portion by screws.

Claims

1. A golf driver head kit comprising:

a front portion including a hollow frame section having a front face plate and a hosel projecting upwardly from the frame section; and

a plurality of exchangeable rear portions selectively connectible to the front portion, each rear portion including a forwardly facing edge arranged to mate with the frame portion, the rear portions having different respective external shapes for imparting different effects to golf shots; and

a releasable fastening structure for selectively securing a selected rear portion to the front portion,

wherein a combination of the front portion and each rear portion defines a golf driver head,

wherein each selected rear portion is configured to be separated from the front face plate by an empty space, and

wherein the plurality of exchangeable rear portions includes at least two of;

i) a rear portion of generally rectangular shape;

ii) a rear portion of generally triangular shape; and

iii) a rear portion of generally reverse C-shape, wherein all shapes are from a top view.

2. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the front portion includes a rearwardly facing opening is encompassed by a rearward projecting ridge received in the front end of the rear portion.

3. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the releasable fastening structure comprises screws.

4. The kit according to claim 3 wherein each rear portion includes holes through which the screws can extend, and the front portion includes rearwardly open threaded holes each receiving a respective screw.

5. The golf driver head kit according to claim 1 wherein the front portion includes a rearwardly extending base having an upstanding tab at its rear end;

the rear portion including a back wall;

the releasable fastening structure including a screw connecting the back wall to the tab.

6. The golf driver head according to claim 5 wherein the releasable fastening structure comprises screws.

7. The golf driver head according to claim 5 wherein the rear portion includes a notch formed therein for receiving the base.

8. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of exchangeable rear portions includes all three of i) the rear portion of generally rectangular shape;

ii) the rear portion of generally triangular shape; and

iii) the rear portion of generally reverse C-shape.

9. A golf driver head kit comprising:

a shaft;

a front portion including a hollow frame section having a front face plate, a rearwardly facing opening, and a hosel projecting upwardly from the frame section and receiving the shaft; and

a plurality of exchangeable rear portions selectively connectible to the front portion, each rear portion including a forwardly facing edge arranged to mate with the frame portion, the rear portions having different respective external shapes for imparting different effects to golf shots; and

a releasable fastening structure for selectively securing a selected rear portion to the front portion,

wherein a combination of the front portion and each rear portion defines a golf driver head;

wherein each selected rear portion is configured to be separated from the front face plate by an empty space, and

wherein the plurality of exchangeable rear portions includes at least two of;

i) a rear portion of generally rectangular shape;

ii) a rear portion of generally triangular shape; and

iii) a rear portion of generally reverse C-shape, wherein all shapes are from a top view.

10. The kit according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of exchangeable rear portions includes all three of i) the rear portion of generally rectangular shape;

ii) the rear portion of generally triangular shape; and

iii) the rear portion of generally reverse C-shape.

11. A golf driver head kit comprising:

a front portion including a hollow frame section having a front face plate and a hosel projecting upwardly from the frame section; and

a plurality of exchangeable rear portions selectively connectible to the front portion, each rear portion including a forwardly facing edge arranged to mate with the frame portion, the rear portions having different respective external shapes for imparting different effects to golf shots; and

a releasable fastening structure for selectively securing a selected rear portion to the front portion,

wherein the front portion includes a rearwardly extending base having an upstanding tab at its rear end;

the rear portion including a back wall;

the releasable fastening structure including a screw connecting the back wall to the tab;

wherein the plurality of exchangeable rear portions includes at least two of;

i) a rear portion of generally rectangular shape;

ii) a rear portion of generally triangular shape; and

iii) a rear portion of generally reverse C-shape, wherein all shapes are from a top view.

12. The kit according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of exchangeable rear portions includes all three of i) the rear portion of generally rectangular shape;

ii) the rear portion of generally triangular shape; and

iii) the rear portion of generally reverse C-shape.