Multi-track adjustable golf club

• US 9,597,563 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mizuno USA Incorporated (Mizuno Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mizuno USA Incorporated (Mizuno Corporation)
• Inventors: Voshall, Chris, Llewellyn, David, Ishida, Kazuya, Kanayama, Tetsuya, Tsuji, Kei
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US14/309,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• 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 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable

Abstract

An adjustable golf club is disclosed. The adjustable golf club can include a club head having a sole. The sole of the club head may have two or more tracks located thereon. Each track can be configured to receive at least one weight. The two or more tracks may be three tracks. The three tracks can comprise an elongated central track, a first short track disposed on a first side of the elongated central track, and a second short track disposed on the second side of the elongated central track.

Claims

1. An adjustable golf club comprising:

a club head having a sole and a ball-striking face;

two or more straight tracks located on the sole;

one or more weights;

wherein each track is configured to adjustably receive at least one of the one or more weights therealong; and

wherein the at least one weight enters the track in a direction parallel to the track and engages an inner surface of the track;

wherein the two or more straight tracks include an elongated central track, the elongated central track comprising;

a first, front position for retaining at least one of the one or more weights; and

a second, rear most position for retaining the at least one weight;

wherein the elongated central track is configured to retain the at least one weight in any discrete position between the first position and the second position;

a first short track disposed on a first side of the elongated central track;

a second short track disposed on the second side of the elongated central track; and

wherein the first and second short tracks are evenly spaced on either side of the elongated central track.

2. The adjustable golf club of claim 1, wherein the two short tracks are configured to accept and retain a weight in only one position.

3. The adjustable golf club of claim 1, wherein the weights are retained in place by a spring loaded detent.

4. The adjustable golf club of claim 1, wherein the weights are retained by a set screw.

5. The adjustable golf club of claim 1, wherein the elongated central track is substantially parallel to the first and second short tracks.

6. An adjustable golf club comprising:

a club head having a sole and a ball-striking face;

two or more straight tracks located on the sole;

wherein the two or more straight tracks comprise an elongated central track comprising a plurality of discrete, predetermined weight locations for adjusting the spin characteristics of the golf club;

one or more weights;

wherein at least the elongated central track is configured to adjustably receive at least one of the one or more weights therealong in at least one of the plurality of discrete, predetermined weight locations;

wherein the at least one weight enters the elongated central track in a direction parallel to the track and engages an inner surface of the elongated central track; and

wherein the two or more tracks comprise two perpendicular tracks.

7. The adjustable golf club of claim 6, wherein the two perpendicular tracks cross on the sole.

8. The adjustable golf club of claim 6, wherein the two perpendicular tracks comprise one track parallel to and located proximate the ball-striking face.

9. The adjustable golf club of claim 7, wherein the at least one weight comprises a retention device configured to allow the at least one weight to be secured along the elongated central track.

10. The adjustable golf club of claim 9, wherein the retention device comprises one of a spring loaded detent and a set screw.

11. An adjustable golf club comprising:

a club head having a sole and a ball-striking face;

two or more straight tracks located on the sole;

one or more weights;

wherein each track is configured to adjustably receive at least one of the one or more weights therealong; and

wherein the at least one weight enters the track in a direction parallel to the track and engages an inner surface of the track;

wherein the two or more tracks comprise an elongated central track further comprising a plurality of markings to accurately delineate the position of the at least one weight in the elongated central track;

wherein the two or more tracks comprise three parallel tracks.

12. An adjustable golf club comprising:

a club head having a sole and a ball-striking face;

two or more straight tracks located on the sole, each of the two or more straight tracks comprising an open end and having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section;

one or more weights;

wherein each track is configured to adjustably receive one or more of the one or more weights therealong, wherein the one or more weights enter the track through the open end by being slid into the track in a direction parallel to the straight track; and

wherein the one or more weights are retained in place by a detent mechanism that engages an inner surface of the track;

wherein at least one of the two or more straight tracks is configured to retain at least one of the one or more weights in a first front position, a second rear position, or any discrete position along the straight track between the first position and the second position.

13. The adjustable golf club of claim 12, wherein at least one of the two or more straight tracks is configured to receive two or more weights.