Golf club head weight with seal and vibration dampener

• US 8,177,662 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
• Inventors: Billings, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US11/467,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 473290-292, 473324-350, 473/287, 473/288, 473/289
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• 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

Abstract

A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.

Claims

1. Golf club head structure comprising, in combination:

a shell having an integral step portion extending inwardly from an exterior surface of the shell and forming an opening in the shell; and

a weight member, comprising;

a cover having a substantially curved perimeter and including a hole therethrough, the cover having an inner portion, and an outer portion;

a weight attached to the inner portion of the cover;

a fastener flush-mounted in the hole in the cover and coupling the cover and the weight to the integral step portion;

the cover outer portion covering the weight and being recessed from the exterior surface of the shell when the fastener couples the cover to the integral step portion;

the weight member sealing the opening when assembled to the shell.

2. The golf club head structure as described in claim 1, further including a hosel portion connected to and integrated with the shell.

3. The golf club head structure as described in claim 2, wherein the fastener extends through the opening and into a hollow cavity inside the shell.

4. The golf club head structure as described in claim 2, wherein the opening and the weight member are located on a bottom portion of the shell.

5. The golf club head structure as described in claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the shell is metal.

6. The golf club head structure as described in claim 5, wherein the shell comprises at least first and second metal pieces that are welded together.

7. The golf club head structure as described in claim 2, wherein the weight member is press-fit into the shell.

8. Golf club head structure comprising, in combination:

a metal shell formed from at least first and second pieces welded together, the shell having an integral step portion extending inwardly from an exterior bottom surface of the shell and forming an opening in the shell,

a hosel portion connected to and integrated with the shell; and

an assembly, comprising;

a cover having an outer portion and a substantially curved threaded outer perimeter adapted to be received in the opening in the shell;

a weight; and

a seal;

the cover outer portion covering the weight and the seal and being at least partially recessed from the exterior surface of the shell when the assembly is threadably coupled to the integral step portion.

9. The golf club head structure as described in claim 8, wherein the seal at least partially extends into the integral step portion and does not extend beyond the exterior bottom surface of the metal shell.

10. The golf club head structure as described in claim 8, wherein the seal also acts as a dampener to reduce vibration when the golf club head strikes a golf ball.