Golf club head

• US 8,721,472 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kuan, Jimmy, Cooper, Christopher R., Sandoval, Michael, Sheldon, Adam K., Mendoza, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANCZAK, MATTHEW BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/709,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,636 Days
• Field of Search: 473/334, 473335-339, 473/341
• US Class Current: 473/341
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/60 Cleaning or maintenance of golf clubs, putters, shoes or other golf accessories cleaning balls A63B47/04; devices for cleaning handles or grips of golf clubs or putters A63B60/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand

Abstract

An adjustable golf club incorporates instructions into the golf club, and more particularly, in connection with the club head. More specifically, encoded information is visibly provided on the club head, the encoded information relating to the performance of the club head. In addition to the encoded information, a decoder or device for interpreting the encoded performance information is also provided on the club head. The encoded information, in conjunction with the decoder, allows the golfer to easily adjust his or her club head based on playing conditions or his or her swing. Typically, the encoded information relates to a weight of the club head, and may be used to vary the weight of the club head. A method of configuring a putter-type golf club head adaptable to a plurality of configurations is described, as well as a kit for selectively configuring components of a golf club head.

Claims

1. A mutable golf club head comprising:

a body;

at least one weighting element demountably coupled to the body;

discrete information encoded on each weighting element, the encoded discrete information corresponding to the mass of each so-encoded weighting element and visible when the at least one weighting element is coupled to the body;

a plate portion demountably coupled to the body; and

decoding indicia located on an exposed surface of the plate portion for decoding the encoded discrete information encoded on each weighting element, the decoding indicia visible in its entirety when the plate portion is coupled to the body, the plate portion further including means for viewing the encoded discrete information on the at least one weighting element coupled to the body.

2. The mutable golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a sole and an upper surface opposite the sole, and the at least one weighting element is between the sole and the upper surface of the body.

3. The mutable golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one recess formed in the body.

4. The mutable golf club head of claim 3, wherein the body comprises opposed toe and heel regions, with at least one recess in the toe region and at least one recess in the heel region.

5. The mutable golf club head of claim 3, wherein at least one opening is within the at least one recess and the weighting element is press fitted at least partially into the opening.

6. The mutable golf club head of claim 5, wherein the plate portion retains the at least one weighting element in the opening.

7. The mutable golf club head of claim 3, wherein the plate portion is seated in the recess.

8. The mutable golf club head of claim 1, comprising a plurality of weighting elements having the same or different discrete masses ranging from 1 to 50 grams.

9. The mutable golf club head of claim 1, wherein the means for viewing the encoded discrete information includes a window for observing a portion of the weighting element coupled to the body.

10. The mutable golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weighting element is interchangeable with other weighting elements of varying masses.

11. The mutable golf club head of claim 1, comprising a plurality of weighting elements each bearing discrete encoded information in the form of a color corresponding to the mass of the weighting element bearing that color.

12. The mutable golf club head of claim 11 wherein the decoding indicia is a chart of a plurality of colors and the masses of weighting elements uniquely corresponding to each color.

13. A kit for a golf club head comprising:

a mutable golf club head comprising;

(a) a plurality of weighting elements for reconfiguring such a golf club head, each such element having discrete encoded information thereon corresponding to its mass;

(b) a plate portion demountably coupled to the mutable golf club head;

(c) decoding indicia for decoding the discrete encoded information located on an exposed surface of the plate portion, the decoding indicia visible in its entirety when the plate portion is coupled to the mutable golf club head, the plate portion further including means for viewing the discrete encoded information; and

(d) a tool for rearranging the weighting elements in the golf club head.

14. The kit of claim 13, further comprising instructions for selecting and positioning the weighting elements about the club head.

15. A mutable golf club head comprising:

a body;

at least one weighting element demountably coupled at least partially within the body;

discrete information encoded on each weighting element, the encoded discrete information corresponding to the mass of each so-encoded weighting element and visible when the at least one weighting element is at least partially within the body; and

decoding indicia for decoding the encoded discrete information, the decoding indicia located on a surface of a plate portion demountably coupled to the body, the decoding indicia being visible in its entirety when the plate portion is coupled to the body, the plate portion further including an opening for viewing the encoded discrete information on a weighting element at least partially within the body.

16. The mutable golf club head of claim 15, wherein the body and plate portion fully enclose the weighting element, only the encoded discrete information thereon being visible through the opening in the plate portion.

17. The golf club head of claim 15, comprising a plurality of weighting elements each bearing discrete encoded information only in the form of a color corresponding to the mass of the weighting element bearing that color.

18. The mutable golf club head of claim 17 wherein the decoding indicia is a chart of a plurality of colors and the masses of weighting elements uniquely corresponding to each color.