Method, apparatus, and system for golf product reconfiguration and selection

• US 9,636,556 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Beck, Christopher J., Casburn, Casey, Rae, John J., Salehi, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US14/467,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20150065264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292, 473256
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• 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 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 60/00 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

A computer program is disclosed for reconfiguring a property-adjustable golf club. The program receives data input corresponding to a current configuration of an adjustable feature of the golf club, and data input corresponding to trajectory adjustment information. Based on the data input, reconfiguration information is generated, and outputted, that corresponds to one of a plurality of configurations of the adjustable feature of the golf club.

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion;

a weight path comprising an elongate recess, a first rib, and a second rib, the weight path located on the bottom portion and forming a curvilinear path as projected into a vertical plane when the club head is oriented in a reference position; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path, the weight element comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located on an interior side of the first rib and the second rib and the second weight portion is located on an exterior side of the first rib and the second rib, the fastener configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a rib contact surface having an angular contour including surface portions angled to form at least one non-zero degree vertex, the surface portions being complementary to, and shaped to mate with, at least one of the first and second ribs.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded portion.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the striking wall, the top portion, and the bottom portion form a substantially hollow interior cavity.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein, when oriented in a reference position, the weight path, as projected in a horizontal plane, follows a curvilinear path.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first weight portion is confined within a space delimited in part by the elongate recess, the first rib, and the second rib.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the weight path further comprises a longitudinal end, and a retaining insert is located proximate the longitudinal end, the retaining insert configured to confine the first weight portion within the weight path.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the first weight portion is located on an interior side of the first rib and the second rib and further comprises a first contact surface portion;

the second weight portion is located on an exterior side of the first rib and the second rib and further comprises a second contact surface portion; and

when the weight element is secured to the bottom portion, the first contact surface portion is parallel to the second contact surface portion.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a main body including a striking wall, a top portion, and a bottom portion;

a weight path located on the main body, the weight path defined at least in part by a first elongate projection extending from the main body and a second elongate projection extending from the main body; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path, the weight element comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener,

wherein;

the first and second elongate projections are each interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located on an interior side of the first and second elongate projections and the second weight portion is located on an exterior side of the first and second elongate projections;

the fastener is configured to secure the weight element to the main body by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second elongate projections; and

the second weight portion comprises a contact surface having an angular contour including surface portions angled to form at least one non-zero degree vertex, the surface portions being complementary to, and shaped to mate with, an exterior surface of at least one of the first and second elongate projections.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded exterior surface portion and the first weight portion comprises a threaded recess configured to receive the threaded exterior surface portion of the fastener.

11. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the weight path follows a curvilinear path.

12. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein, when oriented in a reference position, the weight path, as projected in a vertical plane, follows a curvilinear path.

13. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the weight path is further defined by an elongate recess and the first weight portion is confined within a space delimited in part by the elongate recess, the first elongate projection, and the second elongate projection.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the weight path further comprises a longitudinal end, and a retaining insert is located proximate the longitudinal end of the weight path, the retaining insert configured to confine the first weight portion within the weight path.

15. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first elongate projection and the second elongate projection comprises a substantially constant thickness.

16. A golf club head comprising:

a main body comprising a striking wall, a top portion, and a bottom portion;

an elongate weight path located on the main body, having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end, and comprising a first elongate rib and a second elongate rib;

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second elongate ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion, the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the main body by compressing the first and second weight portions against the first and second elongate ribs;

a port located proximate one of the first and second longitudinal ends, the port discrete from the elongate weight path; and

a retaining insert secured within the port and configured to confine the weight element to the weight path.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the retaining insert is a removable insert.

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the retaining insert comprises a threaded portion, and the port is configured to threadably receive the retaining insert.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the golf club head is a wood type golf club head.

20. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the elongate weight path is located on the bottom portion of the main body.

21. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

the first weight portion is located on an interior side of the first elongate rib and the second elongate rib;

the second weight portion is located on an exterior side of the first rib and the second rib; and

the second weight portion comprises a contact surface having an angular contour complementary to, and shaped to mate with, at least one of the first and second elongate ribs.

22. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the striking wall, the top portion, and the bottom portion form a substantially hollow interior cavity.

23. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the weight path follows a curvilinear path.

24. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein, when oriented in a reference position, the weight path, as projected in a horizontal plane, follows a curvilinear path.

25. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein, when oriented in a reference position, the weight path, as projected in a vertical plane, follows a curvilinear path.