Weight element for a golf club

• US 8,814,722 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Boyd, Robert, Rauchholz, William F., Tavares, Gary G.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/746,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including a fixed portion proximal to the ball striking face, and a removable weight portion, which is configured to be coupled with the fixed portion on a side of the crown potion away from the ball striking face. The club head body may further include an interior portion with a frame member defined therein. The crown weight may further include a weight member attached to the frame member, the weight member including at least one receptacle defined therein. The removable weight portion may further include at least one weight insert supported within the weight member in the at least one receptacle.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a ball striking face; and

a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle located on the crown portion away from the ball striking face and at least one weight insert mounted to the club head body using at least one mechanical connector inserted into the bottom of the golf club body, wherein a portion of the at least one weight insert extends through the crown portion towards the at least one mechanical connector.

2. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body is metal.

3. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a screw.

4. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a fastener.

5. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight insert is at least partially located within the at least one receptacle.

6. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the crown portion is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

7. A golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a ball striking face; and

a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle located on the crown portion away from the ball striking face and at least one weight insert that includes at least one mechanical connector, wherein the at least one weight insert is mounted to the club head body using the at least one mechanical connector inserted into the bottom of the golf club body, wherein a portion of the at least one weight insert extends through the crown portion towards the at least one mechanical connector.

9. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the club head body is metal.

10. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a screw.

11. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the at least one weight insert is at least partially located within the at least one receptacle.

12. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the crown portion is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

13. A golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

14. A golf club, comprising:

a club head including a ball striking face and a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a crown portion, the crown portion including at least one receptacle located on the crown portion away from the ball striking face and at least one weight insert that includes at least one mechanical connector, wherein the at least one weight insert is mounted to the club head body using the at least one mechanical connector inserted into the bottom of the golf club body, wherein a portion of the at least one weight insert extends through the crown portion towards the at least one mechanical connector; and

a shaft member engaged with the club head.

15. A golf club according to claim 14, wherein the club head body is metal.

16. A golf club according to claim 14, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a screw.

17. A golf club according to claim 14, wherein the at least one mechanical connector is a fastener.

18. A golf club head according to claim 14, wherein the at least one weight insert is at least partially located within the at least one receptacle.

19. A golf club according to claim 14, wherein the crown portion is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

20. A golf club according to claim 14, wherein the at least one weight insert is made from a material selected from the group consisting of:

a polymeric material, a composite material, a fiber-reinforced composite material, a light-weight metal material.

21. A golf club according to claim 14, wherein a grip member is engaged with the shaft member.