Golf club head with adjustable weighting, customizable face-angle, and variable bulge and roll face

• US 8,550,934 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Evans, D. Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US13/019,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20110151995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/324
• 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 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a face component;

a body comprising a crown, a sole, and a plurality of receiving pockets, each having a receiving structure;

a plurality of removable weight members, each having a plurality of compressible tabs; and

a removable skid plate attached to the sole,

wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address, and

wherein each of the plurality of weight members is positioned within one of the plurality of receiving pockets such that the compressible tabs lock the weight member within the receiving structure of the receiving pocket.

2. The wood type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the skid plate is removably affixed to the sole using at least one or more materials selected from the group consisting of screws, clips, rivets, double-backed adhesive tape, and heat softened glue.

3. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the skid plate is composed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, steel, magnesium, titanium, titanium alloy, polymer, and graphite composite.

4. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1 wherein the face component is composed of a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, and amorphous metal.

5. The wood-type golf club head of claim 4 wherein the face component is composed of a titanium material.

6. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a composite material.

9. A method of adjusting a face angle of a wood-type golf club head comprising:

providing the wood-type golf club head of claim 1;

providing a plurality of removable skid plates having structures that differ from one another;

selecting a skid plate having a structure that will cause the golf club head to have a desired face angle; and

removably affixing the selected skid plate to the sole,

wherein each individual skid plate structure, when affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.

7. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a face component;

a body comprising a crown and a sole;

a first receiving pocket having a receiving structure, wherein the first receiving pocket is located in the sole;

second and third receiving pockets, at least one of which is not disposed on the sole;

first and second removable weight members; and

a removable skid plate having a plurality of compressible tabs,

wherein the first and second removable weight members are disposed within the second and third receiving pockets, respectively, and

wherein the removable skid plate is positioned within the first receiving pocket such that the compressible tabs lock the skid plate within the receiving structure of the receiving pocket.

8. The wood-type golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the receiving structure comprises indentations or protrusions.