Golf club head having movable weights

• US 8,888,609 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Vincent, Benoit, Wright, Ian, Willett, Kraig Alan, Zimmerman, Gery Mel, Hoffman, Joseph Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/960,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/335
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• 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

A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.

Claims

1. A golf club head defining recesses for receiving removable weights, the club head defining a threaded opening in a wall of each recess, the golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity; and

at least one weight comprising a head and a threaded body extending from the head and configured to cooperatively engage the threaded opening of the club head;

wherein the head defining a socket for receiving an engagement end of a tool, the head configured to substantially conform to the recesses of the club head;

wherein the threaded body having an annular ledge located in an intermediate region thereof, the annular ledge having a diameter greater than that of a threaded portion of the body, the weight having a total mass between about 1 gram and about 18 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8, and a loft between about 6 degrees and about 16 degrees.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one weight cooperatively engages the threaded opening of the golf club head without degrading or destroying the weight or the golf club head.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the socket has multiple lobes.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the male threaded body has a diameter of about 5 mm.

5. A golf club head defining recesses for receiving removable weights, the club head defining a threaded opening in a wall of each recess, the golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity; and

at least one weight comprising a head, a cylindrical body, an annular ledge, and a male threaded portion;

wherein the head having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion defining a socket adapted to engage a tool, the head having a first maximum diameter and configured to substantially conform to the recesses of the club head;

wherein the cylindrical body having a top end, a bottom end, and a second maximum diameter, the top end directly coupled to the bottom portion of the head;

wherein the male threaded portion is directly coupled to the bottom end of the cylindrical body, the male threaded portion having a third maximum diameter and configured to cooperatively engage the threaded opening of the club head;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8, and a loft between about 6 degrees and about 16 degrees.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the at least one weight cooperatively engages the threaded opening of the golf club head without degrading or destroying the weight or the golf club head.

7. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the socket has multiple lobes.

8. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the male threaded body has a diameter of about 5 mm.