Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity and diagnostic features

• US 9,333,390 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Manwaring, Scott R., Seluga, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/446,630
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• 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 golf club head comprising one or more center of gravity adjustment assemblies, and weight cartridges and electronic diagnostic inserts that can be received by said assemblies, is disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a shaft; and

a golf club head comprising;

a face component;

a body comprising a composite crown, a metal sole, a heel side, a toe side, a hollow interior, and a rear side;

a center of gravity,

a mass M,

at least one hollow tube extending through the hollow interior from the sole to the crown;

at least one cushion composed of a polymeric material, and

a first electronic diagnostic insert sized to fit within the hollow tube,

wherein the first electronic diagnostic insert comprises a protective shell, a plurality of sensors, a removable memory card, a first, high density end comprising a first material, a second, low density end comprising a second material having a lower density than the first material, a length L, and a mass MT,

wherein the at least one cushion is disposed within the tube between the first electronic diagnostic insert and the body,

wherein the first electronic diagnostic insert records data about a golfer'"'"'s swing when a golfer swings the golf club,

wherein the memory card is configured to store the data,

wherein changing the orientation of the first electronic diagnostic insert within the tube changes the location of the golf club head'"'"'s center of gravity along a vertical Z axis,

wherein the distance from the midpoint of the length L to a center of gravity of the first electronic diagnostic insert when the first electronic diagnostic insert is disposed within the tube such that the high density end is closer to the sole is defined as 1/2D,

wherein the golf club head satisfies the equation D≧

0.065(1+M/MT), and

wherein D is a total center of gravity distance change for the first electronic diagnostic insert when its orientation is changed within the tube by being flipped.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least one hollow tube is accessible via an opening in the sole.

3. The golf club of claim 2, further comprising a removable cover sized to cover the opening in the sole.

4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the first electronic diagnostic insert is capable of connecting to a wireless network.

5. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising a weight port and at least one removable weight screw sized to fit within the weight port.

6. The golf club of claim 5, further comprising a second electronic diagnostic insert, wherein the second electronic diagnostic insert is sized to fit within the weight port.

7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein the second electronic diagnostic insert has the same shape as the at least one removable weight screw.

8. The golf club of claim 6, wherein the second electronic diagnostic insert has approximately the same mass as the removable weight screw.

9. The golf club of claim 6, wherein the second electronic diagnostic insert records data about a golfer'"'"'s swing when a golfer swings the golf club.

10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the golf club head is selected from the group consisting of a wood-type head, a hybrid-type head, an iron-type head, and a putter-type head.