Golf club head with moveable insert

• US 8,303,433 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L., Soracco, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/581,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a golf club head with an adjustable insert. The insert is moveable in a face to back direction, and may be locked into place by one or more locking mechanisms. The insert may be adjustable so that the overall distance from the face to the back approaches the distance from the heel to the toe.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face, a back, a heel, a toe, a sole, and a crown that together form a hollow, interior volume of the club head; and

an adjustable insert attached to the body, the insert comprising;

a substantially round member positioned between the sole and the crown and capable of rotation around a center pin, wherein the substantially round member has a first portion having a first specific gravity and second portion comprising at least 50% of the substantially round member and having a second specific gravity lower than the first specific gravity, and wherein the center pin is coupled to a track that allows for mobility of the round member in the face to back dimension.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the track has a locking mechanism that prevents the center pin from moving.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the second portion has a specific gravity less than about 4.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second specific gravity is less than 2.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first specific gravity is greater than 9.

6. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face, a back, a heel, a toe, a sole, and a crown that together form a hollow, interior volume of the club head; and

at least one adjustable insert, attached to the body, the at least one adjustable insert further comprising;

a pin member defining an axis of rotation,

a solid rotatable member positioned between the sole and the crown and capable of rotation around the pin member, wherein the rotatable member has a first portion having a first specific gravity and second portion having a second specific gravity lower than the first specific gravity, and

an adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of notches located on the body of the club head and a deformable tab located on the adjustable insert and designed to fit within a notch.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable insert in a plurality of positions.

8. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the second specific gravity is less than about 4.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the second specific gravity is less than 2.

10. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the first specific gravity is greater than 9.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face, a back, a heel, a toe, a sole, and a crown that together form a substantially enclosed hollow interior volume of the club head;

an adjustable insert positioned substantially within the volume between the sole and the crown, the insert comprising;

a rotatable member having a non-uniform density and capable of rotation around an axis;

and a pin defining the axis and extending through the member, wherein the pin is coupled to a track that allows for mobility of the rotatable member in the face to back dimension.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable insert in a plurality of positions.

13. The golf club of claim 11, further comprising an adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of notches and a deformable tab.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein a majority of the adjustable insert is located inside of the golf club head.