Golf club heads with protrusion weights and related methods

• US 8,628,431 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Schweigert, Bradley D., Nicolette, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US13/737,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20130123043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/256, 473/409, D21/733, D21/759
• US Class Current: 473/324
• 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 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head can comprise a head body and a protrusion weight coupled thereto. The protrusion weight can protrude from at least the heel portion of the head body. The head center of gravity of the golf club head can be defined by both a mass of the head body and a mass of the protrusion weight. The body center of gravity of the head body can be defined by the mass of the head body independent of the mass of the protrusion weight. A weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight can be defined by the mass of the protrusion weight independent of the mass of the head body, and can be external to a body volume of the head body. The protrusion weight can be at least partially visible from an exterior of the club head. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a head body comprising;

a crown portion, a sole portion, a heel portion with a heel end, a toe portion with a toe end, a rear portion, a front portion comprising a club face, and a geometric center;

and

a protrusion weight coupled to the head body;

wherein;

the protrusion weight protrudes from at least the heel portion of the head body and is separated from the toe portion of the head body;

a head center of gravity of the golf club head is defined by both a mass of the head body and a mass of the protrusion weight;

a body center of gravity of the head body is defined by the mass of the head body independent of the mass of the protrusion weight;

a weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight is defined by the mass of the protrusion weight independent of the mass of the head body, and is external to a body volume of the head body of the golf club head; and

the protrusion weight is at least partially visible from an exterior of the golf club head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the protrusion weight is externally visible from an address position perspective.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a moment of inertia of the golf club head is increased due to a distance extension of a distance between the weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight and the head center of gravity of the golf club head; and

the extended distance is external to the body volume.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the club face imparts an increased hook spin onto a golf ball upon impact at a toe-portion section of the club face; and

the increased hook spin results from an increased gear effect between the toe-portion section of the club face and the golf ball due to a location of the weight center of gravity relative to the head body.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the club face imparts a decreased slice spin onto a golf ball upon impact at a heel-portion section of the club face, the decreased slice spin resulting from a decreased gear effect between heel-portion of the club face and the golf ball due to a location of the weight center of gravity relative to the head body.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the head center of gravity is shifted towards the heel portion by the weight center of gravity; and

the golf club head is devoid of a weight member at the toe portion fully counteractive of the weight center of gravity'"'"'s shift of the head center of gravity.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

an exterior sidewall of the head body of the golf club head is integral with a surface of the protrusion weight.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the body volume comprises;

a heel portion volume between the geometric center and the heel end; and

a toe portion volume between the geometric center and the toe end;

and

the heel and toe portion volumes are within approximately 20% of each other.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the protrusion weight is separated from a hosel of the head body of the golf club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the protrusion weight is located at a rear-heel quadrant of the golf club head and towards an edge of the head body, between;

a first point where further shifting of the protrusion weight along the edge and towards the rear portion would shift the head center of gravity more towards the toe portion than towards the rear portion; and

a second point where further shifting of the protrusion weight along the edge and towards the heel portion would shift the head center of gravity more towards the front portion than towards the heel portion.

11. A method for providing a golf club head, the method comprising:

providing a head body comprising;

a crown portion, a sole portion, a heel portion with a heel end, a toe portion with a toe end, a rear portion, a front portion comprising a club face, a hosel, and a geometric center;

providing a protrusion weight at the head body; and

coupling a golf shaft to the hosel of the head body;

wherein;

the protrusion weight protrudes from at least the heel portion of the head body and is separated from the toe portion of the head body;

a head center of gravity of the golf club head is defined by both a mass of the head body and a mass of the protrusion weight;

a body center of gravity of the head body is defined by the mass of the head body independent of the mass of the protrusion weight;

a weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight is defined by the mass of the protrusion weight independent of the mass of the head body, and is external to a body volume of the head body of the golf club head;

the geometric center of the head body defines a center of a compass plane that, from a top view of the golf club head, comprises;

a heel-to-toe axis extending through the geometric center;

a front-to-rear axis extending through the geometric center; and

a zero-degree position defined by a toe end of the heel-to-toe axis;

and

providing the protrusion weight comprises;

locating the protrusion weight such that the weight center of gravity is between approximately 120 degrees and approximately 180 degrees with respect to the compass plane.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

providing the protrusion weight comprises;

locating the protrusion weight such that the weight center of gravity is between approximately 125 degrees and approximately 145 degrees with respect to the compass plane.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the protrusion weight is externally visible from an address position perspective.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

providing the protrusion weight comprises;

increasing a moment of inertia of the golf club head due to a distance extension of a distance between the weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight and the head center of gravity of the golf club head;

and

the extended distance is external to the body volume.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the club face imparts an increased hook spin onto a golf ball upon impact at a toe-portion section of the club face; and

the increased hook spin results from an increased gear effect between the toe-portion section of the club face and the golf ball due to a location of the weight center of gravity relative to the head body.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a head body comprising;

a crown portion, a sole portion, a heel portion with a heel end, a toe portion with a toe end, a rear portion, a front portion comprising a club face, a hosel, and a geometric center;

and

a protrusion weight at the head body;

wherein;

the protrusion weight protrudes from at least the heel portion of the head body and is separated from the toe portion of the head body;

a head center of gravity of the golf club head is defined by both a mass of the head body and a mass of the protrusion weight;

a body center of gravity of the head body is defined by the mass of the head body independent of the mass of the protrusion weight;

a weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight is defined by the mass of the protrusion weight independent of the mass of the head body;

the protrusion weight is separated from the hosel of the head body;

the head center of gravity is located between the body center of gravity and the heel end, shifted thereto by the weight center of gravity; and

a mass of the protrusion weight comprises approximately 3% to approximately 16% of a total mass of the golf club head.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

the weight center of gravity is external to a body volume of the head body; and

the protrusion weight is externally visible from an address position perspective.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

the golf club head comprises;

a driver-head body defining the head body;

a vertical axis extending through the geometric center of the golf club head; and

a club head mass of approximately 190 grams to approximately 210 grams;

a moment of inertia of the golf club head is approximately 4000 g·

cm² to approximately 6000 g·

cm² about the vertical axis;

the protrusion weight comprises;

a protrusion weight mass of approximately 15 grams to approximately 30 grams;

the head body comprises;

a body volume of approximately 400 cc to approximately 600 cc;

and

the head center of gravity is shifted towards the heel portion by the protrusion weight by approximately 1.25 mm to approximately 5.1 mm.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

the golf club head comprises;

at least one of a fairway-wood-head body or a hybrid-head body defining the head body;

a vertical axis extending through the geometric center of the golf club head; and

a club head mass of approximately 200 grams to approximately 240 grams;

the moment of inertia of the golf club head is approximately 2500 g·

cm² to approximately 3500 g·

cm² about the vertical axis;

the protrusion weight comprises;

a protrusion weight mass of approximately 10 grams to approximately 30 grams;

the head body comprises;

a body volume of approximately 130 cc to approximately 250 cc;

and

the head center of gravity is shifted towards the heel portion by the protrusion weight by approximately 1.6 mm to approximately 2 mm.

20. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

the protrusion weight is located at a rear-heel quadrant of the golf club head and towards an edge of the head body, between;

a first point where further shifting of the protrusion weight along the edge and towards the rear portion would shift the head center of gravity more towards the toe portion than towards the rear portion; and

a second point where further shifting of the protrusion weight along the edge and towards the heel portion would shift the head center of gravity more towards the front portion than towards the heel portion.