Golf club head with removable component

• US 9,393,471 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Beno, Tim A., Breier, Joshua G., Clausen, Karl A., Curtis, Andrew, Kroloff, Caleb, Mitzel, Steven M., Moreira, Scott H., Sanchez, Richard Romo, Soracco, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US14/150,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20140187346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473/256
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• 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 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

The invention provides a golf club head with a fully removable component that can withstand the stress of repeated hits. When assembled, the removable component is held in place by a fastening mechanism that includes structural elements that distribute the holding force across the component and tend to equalize the forces around the periphery where the component meets the body. The fastening mechanism may include a post that reaches across the open space within the hollow club head, pulling the removable component towards an opposed main club head body. Since a golf club of the present invention can be opened, it may include a mechanism on the inside for use by a golfer, such as an electronic device or an adjustment mechanism. The golf club may include a weight adjustment system that allows the club to be custom-fitted to a golfer.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a hosel, a ball-striking face, a crown, and a sole;

a club head body member defining a portion of the golf club head; and

a removable component removably coupleable to the club head body member to create a playable club, the removable component comprising a fastening mechanism for removably coupling the removable component to the club head body member, the fastening mechanism comprising;

a receiving member configured to receive a screw extending from the club head body member through an enclosed volume of space inside of the club head; and

at least one structural element configured to distribute a holding force across the removable component and equalize forces around a periphery of the removable component where the removable component engages the club head body member when the removable component is coupled to the club head body member;

wherein the club head body member comprises a first piece defining the hosel and surrounding the ball-striking face, and an intermediate piece connected to the first piece and defining a cutaway with an inner periphery defining an attachment perimeter for attaching the removable component.

2. The club head of claim 1, wherein the club head body member includes a boss with the screw extending therethrough, the screw being threadably engaged with the receiving member of the fastening mechanism of the removable component.

3. The golf club of claim 2, further comprising a washer disposed around the screw and retaining the screw within the boss.

4. The club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one mount point on an inside surface of the main club head body.

5. The club head of claim 4, further comprising a removable weight attached to the mount point.

6. The club head of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of mount points, wherein the removable weight can be threadably attached to any one of the plurality of mount points.

7. The club head of claim 4, wherein the mount point comprises a casting and a threaded insert disposed within the casting.

8. The club head of claim 1, wherein the removable component comprises at least a majority of a crown of the club head and extends into at least a portion of the sole.

9. The club head of claim 8, wherein the club head body member comprises a face cup, a hosel, and at least a portion of a sole of the club head.

10. The club head of claim 9, wherein the club head body member comprises a majority of the sole.

11. The club head of claim 4, wherein the attachment perimeter includes a plurality of tabs and corresponding recesses.

12. The club head of claim 1, wherein the screw that extends through an enclosed volume of space inside of the club head is substantially vertical when the club head is at address.

13. The club head of claim 1, wherein when the removable component is coupled to the club head body, the club head defines an enclosed interior space throughout the club head with a single assembly screw extending from the crown to the sole across the enclosed interior space.