Golf club head with repositionable weight

• US 8,444,505 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Hoffman, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/847,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20100292027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a body having a sole, a crown, a face at a forward end of the body, and a ribbon extending between the crown and the sole at a rearward end of the body;

a channel foamed in or attached to the ribbon of the body and having a length, the channel having two spaced apart channel walls and a bottom formed by an outer surface of the ribbon of the body;

at least one weight and weight retainer, the weight and weight retainer being continuously repositionable such that the weight can be positioned at any selected position along the channel between its ends, wherein the weight has a major dimension and the weight retainer comprises a retainer plate and a fastening member, with the fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight, wherein the weight and the retainer plate are retained within the channel and the fastening member is axially captured by the weight and the retainer plate.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel walls have an inverted “

J”

cross section defining hooked ends.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel walls are formed as a single piece with the body.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received and slidably movable within the channel.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the channel has closed ends to keep the weight within the channel.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight comprises a bore configured to threadedly receive the fastening member.

7. The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the fastening member is configured to extend through the bore in the weight and to tighten against an inner side of the channel, thereby urging the weight outwardly against an outer side of the channel.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is a first weight, further comprising a second weight movable independently of the first weight.