Golf club head and removeable weight

• US 8,182,363 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bezilla, Stephanie, Bennett, Thomas Orrin, Murphy, Stephen S., Knutson, Scott A., Herman, Denise T., Zimmerman, Gery M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/845,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 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 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head and a removable weight that is received in a receptacle of the golf club head. The weight includes a cap and a slug. The cap is removably coupled to the receptacle and includes a recess that slidably receives a portion of the slug so that the cap and slug are able to rotate relative to each other. The slug includes an anti-rotation feature that prevents relative rotation between the slug and the receptacle.

Claims

1. A removable weight for a golf club head including a receptacle, comprising:

a cap including a base, and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, wherein the side wall includes an outer surface that is removably coupled to the receptacle;

a slug including a retention portion and an extension portion, wherein at least a portion of the retention portion is slidably disposed in the recess, and the extension portion includes an anti-rotation feature that engages the receptacle to prevent relative rotation between the receptacle and the slug; and

a retainer disposed between the cap and the slug, wherein the retainer is configured to prevent the retention portion of the slug from disengaging the recess of the cap when the cap is uncoupled from the receptacle, and wherein the cap and the slug rotate relative to each other, wherein the extension portion is tapered such that the extension portion directly abuts a portion of the receptacle when the weight is received therein.

2. The weight of claim 1, wherein the extension includes at least one planar facet.

3. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a receptacle, wherein the receptacle includes a cap portion and a seat portion and wherein the cap portion is disposed proximate an outer surface of the body and the seat portion is spaced from the outer surface of the body by the cap portion;

a weight comprising a cap, a slug and a retainer,

wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, and the side wall includes an outer surface that is removably coupled to the cap portion of the receptacle,

wherein the slug includes a retention portion and an extension portion, at least a portion of the retention portion is slidably disposed in the recess, and the extension portion includes an anti-rotation feature that engages the seat portion of the receptacle to prevent relative rotation between the receptacle and the slug, and

wherein the retainer is disposed between the cap and the slug, wherein the retainer is configured to prevent the retention portion of the slug from disengaging the recess of the cap when the cap is uncoupled from the receptacle, and wherein the cap and the slug rotate relative to each other.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the retainer is a spring clip configured as a semi-circular annular member constructed to be elastically deformed radially.

5. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the receptacle is an integral component of the body.

6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the receptacle is a separate component that is attached to the body.

7. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the weight further comprises a retainer that extends across a sliding interface between the cap and the slug.

8. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the seat portion of the receptacle includes an opening having a polygonal shape.

9. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the seat portion of the receptacle includes a tapered opening.

10. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the seat portion includes at least one facet.

11. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the inner surface of the cap portion of the receptacle is threaded, the outer surface of the side wall of the cap is threaded and the cap is threadably engaged with the cap portion.

12. A golf club head, comprising:

a body including a receptacle, wherein the receptacle includes a threaded cap portion and a seat portion; and

a weight comprising a threaded cap, a slug and a retainer,

wherein the cap includes a base and a sidewall that extends from the base to define a recess, and the cap is threadably coupled to the cap portion of the receptacle,

wherein the slug includes a retention portion and an extension portion, at least a portion of the retention portion is slidably disposed in the recess, the extension portion includes an anti-rotation feature that engages the seat portion of the receptacle to prevent relative rotation between the receptacle and the slug, and the retainer extends across a sliding interface between the cap and the slug, and

wherein the retainer is disposed between the cap and the slug, and is configured to prevent the retention portion of the slug from disengaging the recess of the cap when the cap is uncoupled from the receptacle, and the cap and the slug rotate relative to each other.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the retainer is a spring clip configured as a semi-circular annular member constructed to be elastically deformed radially.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the cap is constructed from a material having a first density, the slug is constructed from a material having a second density and the second density is greater than the first density.