Golf club head having movable weights

• US 7,963,861 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Ian, Willett, Kraig Alan, Olsavsky, Thomas, Zimmerman, Gery Mel, Beach, Todd P., Hoffman, Joseph Henry, Vincent, Benoit
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/669,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 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 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, 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 each having an outer portion formed in the body and a weight port mass, each weight port having a longitudinal weight port radial axis and being configured to at least partially receive a weight therein; and

two or more weights, each weight being configured to be removably retained at least partially within a weight port and having a weight mass;

wherein the weight ports are oriented such that each weight port radial axis and a golf club head origin y-axis form a weight port radial axis angle between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees, and

wherein the body has a body mass and a ratio of the weight mass to a sum of the body mass and the weight port mass is between about 0.005 and about 0.125;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8, and a loft between about 6 degrees and about 16 degrees.

2. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is between about 0.005 and about 0.025.

3. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is between about 0.026 and about 0.05.

4. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is between about 0.06 and about 0.09.

5. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the ratio is between about 0.1 and about 0.125.

6. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise three or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.005 and about 0.025.

7. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise three or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.026 and about 0.05.

8. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise three or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.06 and about 0.09.

9. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise three or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.1 and about 0.125.

10. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise four or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.005 and about 0.125.

11. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise four or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.026 and about 0.05.

12. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise four or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.06 and about 0.09.

13. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the two or more weights comprise four or more weights, and wherein the ratio is between about 0.1 and about 0.125.