Weight element for a golf club

• US 8,357,057 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Tavares, Gary G., Boyd, Robert, Rauchholz, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/027,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/339
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown portion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head, comprising:

a ball striking face; and

a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle located on a proximate rear of the crown portion away from the ball striking face and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the at least one receptacle using at least one mechanical connector inserted into the bottom of the golf club body.

2. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body is metal.

3. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a screw.

4. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the crown portion is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

5. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

6. A wood-type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body constitutes a driver body.

7. A wood-type golf club, comprising:

a club head including a ball striking face and a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle located on a proximate rear of the crown portion away from the ball striking face and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the receptacle using at least one mechanical connector inserted into the bottom of the golf club body; and

a shaft member engaged with the club head.

8. A wood-type golf club according to claim 7, wherein the club head body is metal.

9. A wood-type golf club according to claim 7, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a screw.

10. A wood-type golf club according to claim 7, wherein the crown portion is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

11. A wood-type golf club according to claim 7, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

12. A wood-type golf club according to claim 7, wherein a grip member is engaged with the shaft member.

13. A wood-type golf club according to claim 7, wherein the club is a driver body.

14. A method for producing a wood-type golf club, comprising:

providing a club head including a ball striking face and a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle located on a proximate rear of the crown portion away from the ball striking face and at least one weight insert at least partially located within the at least one receptacle;

wherein the at least one weight insert is configured to be mounted within the receptacle using at least one mechanical connector inserted into the bottom of the golf club body;

mounting the at least one weight insert within the receptacle; and

engaging a shaft member with the club head body.