Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 9,168,438 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/799,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

Golf club and golf club head structures having a void formed in the golf club head body are presented. In some arrangements, the golf club head may include a first arm and a second arm extending rearward from the golf club head body defining the void. In some examples, the golf club head body, first arm and second arm may form a substantially V-shaped golf club head. In other arrangements, the golf club head body may have a portion of the body removed to form a void defined by the golf club head body. In some arrangements, the void may be substantially T-shaped and may include a void insert.

Claims

1. A hollow golf club head, comprising:

a hollow golf club head body having a front face, a rear face located opposite the front face, a toe edge and a heel edge;

a first arm extending rearward from the rear face of the golf club head body and from the toe edge to a first free end;

a second arm extending rearward from the rear face of the golf club head body and from the heel edge to a second free end; and

a movable weight positioned within at least one of the first arm and the second arm;

wherein the movable weight is slidable within a slot formed on an exterior side of at least one of the first arm and the second arm.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head body, first arm and second arm define a void in the golf club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the void is substantially V-shaped.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the void is substantially rectangular.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is connected to a shaft forming a golf club.

5. A hollow golf club head, comprising:

a hollow golf club head body having a front face, a rear face located opposite the front face, a toe edge and a heel edge;

a first arm extending rearward from the rear face of the golf club head body and from the toe edge and having a distal end free of attachment to any other member;

a second arm extending rearward from the rear face of the golf club head body and from the heel edge and having a distal end free of attachment to any other member; and

a movable weight positioned within at least one of the first arm and the second arm,

wherein the golf club head body, first arm and second arm form a substantially V-shaped golf club head.

7. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front face, a rear edge, a toe edge and a heel edge; and

a void formed in a central region of the golf club head body and extending from a rear edge inward, toward the front face of the golf club head body, the void extending entirely through the golf club head body, wherein the void comprises between 5% and 30% of the area of the golf club head.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the void is substantially T-shaped and extends from the rear edge toward the central region of the golf club head body and from the central region toward the toe edge and heel edge.

9. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the void includes an opening in the rear edge that is between 1 and 4 inches wide.

10. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the void is defined by the golf club head body.