CG height adjustability by conformal crown weighting

• US 8,690,708 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Ehlers, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US14/050,194
• Time in Patent Office: 181 Days
• Field of Search: 473334-339, 473345-346, 473/349
• US Class Current: 473/337
• 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

A golf club head comprising a crown with an edge support structure and a flexible, conformal weight sized to fit within the edge support structure is disclosed herein. The edge support structure preferably is disposed on an internal surface of the crown so that the conformal weight is invisible when the golf club head is viewed at address. The conformal weight can be removed to adjust the vertical center of gravity of the club head, and preferably is oriented in a front-to-back direction along the club head'"'"'s X-axis. The conformal weight preferably is composed of a high-density polymeric material with a specific gravity ranging from 1.8 to 4.2.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a face component comprising a face component contact surface;

a crown comprising a crown front edge, a crown aft edge, an edge support structure, and an aft opening in communication with the edge support structure;

a flexible weight comprising a weight front edge, a width, a depth, a length, and a weight rear edge; and

a damping layer disposed between the flexible weight and an interior surface of the crown,

wherein the aft opening is sized to receive the flexible weight,

wherein the flexible weight is removably retained within the edge support structure, and

wherein the length of the flexible weight is greater than the width of the flexible weight.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight front edge abuts one of the crown front edge and the face component contact surface when the weight is fully engaged within the edge support structure.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a sole, wherein the sole comprises at least one weight port.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown is composed of composite, and wherein the crown comprises a doubly curved shallow shell structure.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight is aligned with a golf club head X-axis when the flexible weight is engaged with the edge support structure.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge support structure is integrally formed with the crown.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight comprises a polymer having a specific gravity value of 1.8 to 4.2.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the edge support structure is selected from the group consisting of internal rails, an internal enclosed support structure, and external rails.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the edge support structure is internal rails, and wherein the crown comprises an opening disposed over the internal rails to form an external channel.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight front edge has shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular, tapered, and rounded.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the cutouts are disposed at an edge of the flexible weight.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight comprises a plurality of cutouts.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight is preloaded when it is fully engaged with the edge support structure.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the flexible weight has an initial un-deformed shape comprising a curvature that matches a curvature of the crown.