Golf club head having variable center of gravity location

• US 8,376,878 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Thomas O., Roberts, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US12/473,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-291
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• 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 53/047 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club head with one or more passages travelling through a portion of the body. The passages may be accessible in the toe, heel, rear, or sole, or any combination thereof. The passages may be substantially vertical, substantially horizontal or a combination thereof. Weight inserts may be placed in one or more of the passages. In addition, one or more weight inserts may be coupled to the rear of the club head. The weight inserts may have varying densities. The present invention may also include a removable face insert. A plurality of weight inserts may be attached to the rear surface of the face insert.

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head, comprising:

a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, a toe, and a hosel;

a first passage travelling through at least 50 percent of the distance between the top line and the sole;

a second passage travelling through at least 50 percent of the distance between the top line and the sole, wherein the second passage is disposed between the heel and the first passage;

a first weighted insert comprised of at least one material inserted into the first passage and substantially filling the passage;

a second weighted insert comprised of at least one material inserted into the second passage and substantially filling the passage;

wherein at least one of the first and second weighted inserts are removable and accessible from the top line to enable adjustment of the center of gravity horizontally from the toe to the heel; and

wherein the first and second weighted inserts are each comprised of a first portion with a first density and a second portion with a second density so that the density of the inserts vary along a longitudinal axis of the inserts to enable adjustment of the center of gravity vertically from the top line to the sole, and wherein the first and second portions are contiguous.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second passages are accessible only from the sole of the golf club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first density is greater than the second density by about 1 g/cm³.

5. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first density is greater than the second density by about 5 g/cm³.

6. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the first density is greater than the second density by about 10 g/cm³.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the second passage is substantially the same length as the first passage.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the first and second passages are different lengths.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first and second passages are substantially vertical over a portion of the club head;

and

the portion comprises about 50 percent to about 75 percent of the distance from the sole to the top line.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a third passage with a third removable weighted insert.

11. A golf club head, comprising:

a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, a toe, and a hosel;

at least one passage travelling through at least 50 percent of the distance between the top line and the sole;

a first weighted insert capable of substantially filling the at least one passage, wherein the first weighted insert is removable and accessible from the top line to enable adjustment of the center of gravity horizontally from toe to heel, and wherein the first weighted insert comprises a first portion having a first density contiguous with a second portion having a second density to enable adjustment of the center of gravity vertically from the top line to the sole, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a second passage travelling through at least a portion of the body.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, further comprising a second weighted insert capable of substantially filling the second passage, wherein the second weighted insert is removable and accessible from at least one of the top line or sole.

14. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the second passage travels through at least 50 percent of the distance between the top line and the sole.

15. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the second weighted insert is accessible only from the sole.