Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 9,192,831 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Boyd, Robert, Larson, Eric A., Brown, Kenneth W., Jones, Sherry L., Fujita, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/593,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 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 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• 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 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• 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 60/52 : with slits
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body defining a ball striking face, the body further having a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg, and further defining an interface area proximate the first leg and the second leg, the body further having a cover that extends over the void; and

a weight operably associated with the interface area;

wherein the body defines a receiver at the interface area, the weight being received in the receiver;

wherein the receiver comprises a first receiver tube, the tube having a closed end proximate the cover and an open end proximate a sole of the body; and

wherein the weight has a first end and a second end, the first end being heavier than the second end, the weight having a first position wherein the first end is positioned at the closed end and a second position wherein the second end is positioned at the closed end.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the weight is moveable between a first position providing a first weight arrangement and a second position providing a second weight arrangement.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the weight is moveable among a plurality of positions, each position providing a corresponding weight arrangement.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the weight comprises a first weight and a second weight, each weight being moveable between a first position providing a first weight arrangement and a second position providing a second weigh arrangement.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the weight is moveable between a first position towards the cover and a second position away from the cover.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the weight is dimensioned to be received in the tube through the open end.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the weight comprises a plurality of weight members releasably connected together.

8. The golf club head of claim 7 wherein the weight members have different weight values.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 further comprising a second receiver tube supported by the body, the second receiver tube having a closed end proximate the open end of the first receiver tube, the second receiver tube further having an open end proximate a rear of the club, and a second weight received in the second receiver tube.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 wherein the second weight has a first end and a second end, the first end being heavier than the second end, the second weight having a first position wherein the first end is positioned at the closed end of the second receiver tube and a second position wherein the second end is positioned at the closed end of the second receiver tube.

11. The golf club head of claim 10 wherein the second weight comprises a plurality of second weight members releasably connected together.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 wherein the second weight members have different weight values.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a first receiver tube, the weight positioned in the receiver tube through the open end, and a threaded fastener received in the open end enclosing the weight in the first receiver tube.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiver comprises a first receiver tube positioned at the interface area, a portion of the first receiver tube being visible in the void.

15. The golf club head of claim 14 wherein the first receiver tube has a window therein.

16. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a crown, a sole, a toe and a heel;

a v-shaped void formed in the rear of the golf club head body, the void extending from the rear of the golf club head body toward a central region of the golf club head body and having a greater width along a rear edge of the golf club head body than in the central region of the golf club head body, the void extending from the sole the golf club head toward the crown of the golf club head body; and

an adjustable weight arranged proximate the v-shaped void, the adjustable weight being positionable in a first position providing a first weight arrangement and a second position providing a second weight arrangement;

wherein the adjustable weight is accessible via the v-shaped void; and

wherein the body defines a receiver tube positioned proximate the central region of the golf club head, the receiver tube extending from proximate the crown of the golf club head to proximate the sole of the golf club head, the weight positioned in the receiver tube.

17. The golf club head of claim 16 wherein the weight has a first end and a second end, the first end being heavier than the second end, the first end being positioned in the receiver tube proximate the crown to provide the first weight arrangement, and the first end being positioned in the receiver tube proximate the sole to provide the second weight arrangement.