Golf club head with high specific-gravity materials

• US 8,938,871 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Roach, Ryan L., Soracco, Peter L., Beno, Tim A., Curtis, Andrew, Yagley, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): COZART, JERMIE E
• Application Number:
  US13/644,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 473/334, 473/335, 473/345, 473/349, 294/011, 294/021.3, 294/021.6, 294/021.8
• US Class Current: 29/401.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• 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 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• 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 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/00 Restoring or reconditioning objects straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49737 Metallurgically attaching preform
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49742 Metallurgically attaching preform
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49746 : by applying fluent material, e.g., coating, casting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49993 : Filling of opening

Abstract

Golf club heads comprising weighted materials that can be added, removed, and moved in order to change the weight and center of gravity of the club. In some instances, the weighted material is a polymer composition comprising metal and having a specific gravity greater than about 4. Also disclosed are methods of modifying the center of gravity of a golf club head and methods of manufacturing golf club heads.

Claims

1. A method of modifying the center of gravity of a golf club head comprising:

removing a portion of a club head, having a face, a back, a heel, a toe, a sole, and a crown that together form a hollow interior volume, to access the interior of the club head;

contacting the interior of the club head with a polymer composition comprising a metal and having a specific gravity greater than about 4; and

reassembling the club head.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting comprises spraying a coating comprising a polymer and a metal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the metal is selected from tungsten, nickel, copper, iron, gold, platinum, lead, silver, molybdenum, silver, and uranium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting comprises inserting a conformable polymer composition comprising a metal and having a specific gravity greater than about 4.

5. A method of modifying the center of gravity of a golf club head comprising:

removing a portion of a club head, having a face, a back, a heel, a toe, a sole, and a crown that together form a hollow interior volume, to access the interior of the club head;

removing from the interior of the club head a polymer composition comprising a metal and having a specific gravity greater than about 4; and

reassembling the club head.