Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity

• US 9,675,856 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Gibbs, Evan D., Nunez, Christopher A. G., Del Rosario, Justin, Holt, Denver, Myers, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin
• Application Number:
  US14/884,027
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• 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

Abstract

A golf club head comprising a channel and a sliding weight that can be reversibly fixed at any point within the channel is disclosed herein. The channel preferably is disposed on the sole and extends from a heel side of the golf club head, around a rear side, and ends at a toe side of the golf club head. This channel is not constrained to a planar arc, but instead twists as it extends around the golf club head so that it follows the contours, and preserves the aesthetics, of the golf club head. The slidable weight comprises a base portion and a first cap, and a second cap that has the same dimensions as, and is interchangeable with, the first cap is disposed in a pocket in the sole proximate the face of the golf club head.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel;

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt; and

a second cap,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap,

wherein the second cap fits within the pocket,

wherein the first cap is interchangeable with the second cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first cap is composed of a first material having a first density, wherein the second cap is composed of a second material having a second density, and wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the first cap has a first color, wherein the second cap has a second color, and wherein the first color contrasts with the second color.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable hosel assembly.

16. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the crown is composed of a composite material, and wherein the sole and the face are composed of a titanium alloy.

17. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein an area of a cross-section of the channel taken in a direction normal to the edge portion is constant along the channel.

4. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the first cap comprises a first sidewall protrusion and a second sidewall protrusion,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap and comprises a floor having first and second depressions sized to receive the first and second sidewall protrusions, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

5. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the bolt connects the base to the first cap,

wherein the base and the first cap do not make direct contact with one another,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

6. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel;

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt; and

a second bolt,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket comprises a plurality of walls, a floor, and a second threaded bore extending into the floor,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap,

wherein the second bolt comprises a threaded portion sized to fit within the threaded bore, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein each of the channel and the pocket is disposed in the sole,

wherein the pocket is located proximate the face portion and is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

8. The golf club head of claim 7, wherein the channel is disposed proximate the rear side of the body and extends proximate the edge portion.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the cap comprises a lower cavity,

wherein the base is sized to fit within the lower cavity,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the base is hidden from view when the weight is disposed within the channel.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the base is composed of a material with a density greater than 4 g/cc,

wherein the first cap is composed of a material with a density less than 4 g/cc,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel extending from the heel side towards the toe side via the rear side along one of the crown and the sole; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein the channel twists relative to a plane intersecting the golf club head at the edge portion as the channel extends around the body,

wherein the channel comprises a channel axis that extends normal to the floor of the channel,

wherein an angle between the channel axis and the plane does not remain constant along the channel,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein a heel-most end of the channel is closer to the face than a toe-most end of the channel,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

14. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, an edge portion where the crown connects with the sole, a pocket, and a channel; and

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt,

wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall,

wherein a distance between the edge portion and a midpoint of the channel remains constant for at least 50% of the length of the channel,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight to the rails,

wherein the pocket is sized to receive the first cap, and

wherein moving the weight within the channel changes both a moment of inertia and a location of a center of gravity of the golf club head.

18. A driver-type golf club head comprising:

a composite crown;

a metal body comprising a sole, a heel side, a toe side, a face portion, a rear side, a rectangular pocket, and a channel;

a weight comprising a base comprising a first threaded bore, a first cap comprising a through-bore, and a first bolt; and

a second cap,

wherein each of the channel and the pocket is disposed in the sole,

wherein the weight is disposed within and movable to any location in the channel,

wherein tightening the bolt reversibly fixes the weight within the channel,

wherein the pocket is located proximate the face portion,

wherein the second cap is disposed within the pocket, and

wherein the first cap and the second cap have the same dimensions and are interchangeable.

19. The driver-type golf club head of claim 18, wherein the channel comprises a first wall, a second wall, a floor, a first rail extending from the first wall, and a second rail extending from the second wall, and wherein the base and the first cap sandwich a portion of each of the first and second rails.