Golf club head and detachable weighted sole plate and cover plate

• US 9,561,411 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Mizutani, Naruhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US14/749,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20150375066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/328, 473/334, 473/335, 473/344, 473/345
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club head includes a head body having a crown portion, a face portion, and a sole portion; at least one regular weight member configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion; and a cover kit configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion. The cover kit includes a cover provided with a decoration and configured to cover at least a portion of the sole portion, and optionally includes at least one auxiliary weight member configured to be attached to the cover. A weight of the cover kit is the same as the weight of the regular weight member. The sole portion is configured to selectively be in one of a first mode in which the regular weight member is attached, and a second mode in which the cover kit is attached.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a head body having a crown portion, a face portion, and a sole portion;

at least one regular weight member configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion; and

a cover kit configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion,

wherein the cover kit includes a cover provided with a decoration and configured to cover at least a portion of the sole portion, and optionally includes at least one auxiliary weight member configured to be attached to the cover,

a weight of the cover kit is the same as a weight of the regular weight member, and

the sole portion is configured to selectively be in one of a first mode in which the regular weight member is attached, and a second mode in which the cover kit is attached,

wherein the sole portion includes at least one recessed portion to which the regular weight member is attached, and

the cover includes a protrusion portion configured to be detachably engaged with the recessed portion.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the cover kit includes both the cover and the at least one auxiliary weight member.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary weight member is detachably attached to the cover.

4. A method of providing a golf club head, comprising:

a step of providing a golf club head including a crown portion, a face portion, a sole portion, and at least one regular weight member configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion; and

a step of providing at least one cover kit among a plurality of types of cover kits configured to be detachably attached to the sole portion, the cover kit including a cover provided with a decoration and configured to cover at least a portion of the sole portion, and optionally including at least one auxiliary weight member configured to be attached to the cover,

wherein a weight of the cover kit is the same as a weight of the regular weight member,

wherein the sole portion includes at least one recessed portion to which the regular weight member is attached, and

the cover includes a protrusion portion configured to be detachably engaged with the recessed portion.