Customizable center-of-gravity golf club head

• US 9,011,269 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dogleg Right Corporation
• Inventors: Billings, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US13/947,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/256
• US Class Current: 473/332
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.

Claims

1. A multi-piece golf club head, comprising:

a hollow metal club head body with a recessed portion located on a bottom thereof;

a hosel portion, distinct from the head body, connected to and integrated with the head body to receive a golf club shaft;

a weight cover secured in the recessed portion and having an outermost surface coated with a friction-reducing material;

a bolt securing the weight cover in the recessed portion;

a head portion of the bolt being flush with and retaining the weight cover when fastened; and

the weight cover being adjustable to adjust one of;

swing weight, total weight, and a center-of-gravity location;

wherein the recessed portion is located behind a face portion of the golf club head and supports weight adjacent to and behind the face portion, forward of a center of the golf club head.

2. The multi-piece golf club head as described in claim 1, wherein the weight cover is at least partially secured by press fitting.

3. The multi-piece golf club head as described in claim 1, wherein the weight cover is at least partially secured by one or more latches.

4. A golf club, comprising:

a hollow metal club head body comprised of a plurality of pieces;

a hosel portion, distinct from the head body, connected to and integrated with the head body to receive a golf club shaft;

a recessed weighting port located in a bottom portion of the head body, the weighting port comprising a stepped section with side walls descending into a cavity in the head body, the weighting port providing access to the cavity in the head body;

a weight cover with a threaded hole there-through to receive a threaded fastener, the weight cover having an outer edge sized and shaped to mate with a recessed portion of the weighting port when fastened with a threaded fastener, thereby securing the weight cover at a corresponding position within the recessed weighting port;

the weight cover being threadably-coupled into the recessed portion;

the weight cover being flush with or recessed from one or more surrounding club head outer walls when installed;

the weight cover having a weighting material assembled on its inner side; and

the weight cover being coated with a friction-reducing material; and

a threaded bolt coupling the weight cover to the threaded hole in the recessed weighting port in the head body thereby securing the weight cover with the club head;

wherein the recessed portion is located behind a face portion of the golf club head body and supports the weight adjacent to and behind the face portion, forward of a center of the golf club head body.

5. The golf club head as described in claim 4, wherein the weight cover is at least partially secured by press fitting.

6. The golf club head as described in claim 4, wherein the weight cover is at least partially secured by one or more latches.

7. The golf club as described in claim 4 wherein the threaded bolt extends into the cavity in the head body.

8. The golf club as described in claim 4 further including a vibration dampening ring.

9. A multi-piece golf club head, comprising:

a hollow metal club head body with a recessed portion located on an underside thereof;

a port within the recessed portion opening into an interior of the club head body;

a hosel portion, distinct from the head body, connected to and integrated with the head body to receive a golf club shaft;

a weight cover threadably-secured in the recessed portion;

a weight assembled on an inner side of the weight cover;

an outer portion of the weight cover being flush with or recessed from a sole portion of the club head body when the weight cover is fastened; and

the weight cover being adjustable to adjust one of;

swing weight, total weight, and a center-of-gravity location;

wherein the recessed portion is located behind a face portion of the golf club head and supports the weight adjacent to and behind the face portion, forward of a center of the golf club head.