Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 9,446,294 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Oldknow, Andrew G. V., Jones, Sherry L., Lua, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US13/794,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 473238-242, 473/249, 473/250, 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 having a ball striking face, a crown and a sole, the body having a window, the body further having a member supported by the body, the member having indicia thereon, the indicia being viewable through the window to indicate an arrangement associated with the golf club head;

wherein the body defines a receiver wherein the window is positioned on the receiver, the member being received by the receiver wherein the indicia is viewable through the window;

wherein the receiver is a receiving tube and the member is generally cylindrical wherein the member is received by the receiving tube;

wherein an exterior of the receiving tube is exposed; and

wherein the window is viewable from a position external to the golf club head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the member is configured to be supported by the body in a plurality of positions, the indicia being viewable through the window to indicate one of a plurality of arrangements associated with the golf club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the member is configured to be supported by the body in a first position wherein the indicia viewable through the window indicates a first arrangement associated with the golf club head, and wherein the member is configured to be supported by the body in a second position wherein the indicia viewable through the window indicates a second arrangement associated with the golf club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving the tube is proximate the sole of the club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube is positioned between the crown and the sole of the club head.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube has an open end proximate an external surface of the club head, wherein the member is received in the tube such that the indicia is viewable through the window.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube has a longitudinal axis and the member has a longitudinal axis, wherein the respective longitudinal axes generally correspond when the member is received in the receiving tube.

8. The golf club head of claim 7 wherein the window is integrally formed with the body of the golf club head, and the window is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the receiving tube and the longitudinal axis of the member.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein the member is configured to be received by the receiving tube in a first position wherein the indicia viewable through the window indicates a first arrangement associated with the golf club head, and wherein the member is configured to be received by the receiving tube in a second position wherein the indicia viewable through the window indicates a second arrangement associated with the golf club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube has a longitudinal axis positioned in a generally vertical configuration and being generally parallel with the ball striking face.

11. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube is integrally formed with the body.

12. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube extends from an underside surface of the crown to proximate the sole.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the receiving tube is positioned at a location spaced away from a central region of the golf club head.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the window is integrally formed with the body of the golf club head, and wherein the receiving tube extends along a longitudinal axis, and the window is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the receiving tube.

15. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein the window is viewable when the golf club head is positioned such that the sole faces upwards.

16. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein a portion of the member is not viewable in the window.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a ball striking face, a crown and a sole, the body further supporting a tube, the tube having a window, the tube dimensioned such that a generally cylindrical member is received in the tube, the generally cylindrical member having indicia thereon, the indicia being viewable through the window to indicate an arrangement associated with the golf club head;

wherein the tube has a longitudinal axis and the member has a longitudinal axis, wherein the respective longitudinal axes generally correspond when the member is received in the receiving tube; and

wherein the window is integrally formed with the body of the golf club head, and the window is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the tube and the longitudinal axis of the member.

18. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the member is configured to be received in the tube in a plurality of positions, the indicia being viewable through the window to indicate one of a plurality of arrangements associated with the golf club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the member is configured to be received in the tube in a first position wherein the indicia viewable through the window indicates a first arrangement associated with the golf club head, and wherein the member is configured to be received in the tube in a second position wherein the indicia viewable through the window indicates a second arrangement associated with the golf club head.

20. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the window extends along the tube.

21. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the tube is proximate the sole of the club head.

22. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the tube has an open end proximate an external surface of the club head, wherein the member is received in the tube such that the indicia is viewable through the window.

23. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the longitudinal axis of the tube positioned in a generally vertical configuration and being generally parallel with the ball striking face.

24. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the tube is integrally formed with the body.

25. The golf club head of claim 17 wherein the tube is positioned at a location spaced away from a central region of the club head.

26. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a ball striking face, a rear, a crown, a sole, a toe and a heel, the body further having a receiving tube integral with the body and spaced from a central region of the golf club head body, the receiving tube extending along a longitudinal axis, and the receiving tube having a window therein, the window being integrally formed with the golf club head body and being viewable from a position external to the golf club head body, wherein the window is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the receiving tube; and

a cylindrical member positioned in the receiving tube, the cylindrical member having indicia thereon, the cylindrical member being positionable in the receiving tube in a first position providing a first arrangement associated with the golf club head and a second position providing a second arrangement associated with the golf club head, wherein the indicia on the cylindrical member is viewable through the window to indicate one of the first arrangement and the second arrangement.