Golf club with non-metallic fasteners

• US 9,566,478 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyd, Robert, Young, Matthew S., Perry, Mark J., Moore, Megan Sesslar
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/256,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20140228152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 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 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 33/006 Non-metallic fasteners using screw-thread

Abstract

A golf club with a golf club head having non-metallic fasteners is presented. The club head may include a face member, a body member, a sole member and a crown member. The various portions of the club head may be connected using mechanical fasteners, such as screws. In some arrangements, the screws may be formed of a non-metallic material, such as a composite material, in order to reduce weight associated with the club head. In some arrangements, a portion of the mechanical fasteners may be formed of a non-metallic material and may be placed in regions of the club head where reduced weight is desired, while another portion of the fasteners may be formed of metal or other heavier material and may be placed in regions where additional weight may be desired.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body;

a ball striking face;

a ratcheting fastener system connecting the ball striking face to the club head body, the ratcheting fastener system including;

at least one ratcheting fastener;

at least one ratcheting connector extending from the at least one ratcheting fastener to the ball striking face; and

wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is a rigid rod.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the ratcheting fastener system further includes at least one of jack bolts, jack screws and turnbuckle fasteners.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is formed of a metal.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is formed of a non-metallic material.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is formed of a composite material.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the at least one ratcheting fastener is formed of a composite material.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the at least one ratcheting fastener is formed of a non-metallic material.

8. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body;

a ball striking face;

a ratcheting fastener system connecting the ball striking face to the club head body forming a hollow interior, the ratcheting fastener system including;

at least one ratcheting fastener positioned at a rear of the club head body;

at least one ratcheting connector extending linearly through the hollow interior from the at least one ratcheting fastener to the ball striking face; and

wherein the at least one ratcheting fastener has at least a portion visible from outside the club head body.

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the ratcheting fastener system further includes at least one of jack bolts, jack screws and turnbuckle fasteners.

10. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is a rigid rod.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is formed of a metal.

12. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is formed of a non-metallic material.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the at least one ratcheting connector is formed of a composite material.