Golf club head having movable weights

• US 9,789,372 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Vincent, Benoit, Wright, Ian C., Willett, Kraig Alan, Zimmerman, Gery Mel, Hoffman, Joseph Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/509,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20150024870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 4113725, 4113726, 411373, 411395, 411396
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• 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

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body and at least one self-extracting pressed weight assembly. The body comprises a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown. The body defines an interior cavity. The weight assembly comprises at least three components and is configured for a press fit engagement with the golf club head. The assembly has a drive portion and a threaded portion.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

at least one recess for receiving at least one removable weight, the at least one recess comprising a threaded opening;

a body comprising a face positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head, a hosel that extends outward from the body, and a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, wherein the body defines an interior cavity; and

the at least one removable weight comprising a head, a threaded body, and an intermediate portion located between the head and the threaded body;

wherein the intermediate portion includes an annular ledge from which the threaded body extends, wherein the threaded body is configured to cooperatively engage the threaded opening of the at least one recess of the club head;

wherein the head of the at least one removable weight defining a socket for receiving an engagement end of a tool;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 110 cm³ and about 210 cm³ and a loft between about 13 degrees and about 30 degrees;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the head CG x-axis between about 70 kg·

mm² and about 140 kg·

mm²; and

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the head CG z-axis between about 200 kg·

mm² and about 350 kg·

mm².

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the head of the at least one removable weight is configured to substantially conform to the at least one recess.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion of the at least one removable weight has a cylindrical shape and a diameter greater than a diameter of the threaded body, and the at least one removable weight has a total mass between about 1 gram and about 18 grams.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a center of gravity with a head origin x-axis coordinate between about −

4 mm and about 4 mm and a head origin y-axis coordinate between about 20 mm and about 30 mm.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the engagement end of the tool is attached to a torque wrench having a limited torque between about twenty inch-lbs. and forty inch-lbs.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the club head comprises at least two recesses capable of receiving the at least one removable weight.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the head of the at least one removable weight has a diameter ranging between about 11 mm and about 13 mm.

8. A golf club head comprising:

at least one recess for receiving one or more removable weights, the at least one recess comprising a threaded opening;

a face positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a hosel that extends outward from the crown, wherein the golf club head defines an interior cavity; and

the one or more removable weights comprising a head, a body, and a male threaded portion;

wherein the head of the one or more removable weights defining a socket for receiving an engagement end of a tool;

wherein the male threaded portion is configured to cooperatively engage the threaded opening of the at least one recess;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8, and a loft between about 6 degrees and about 30 degrees;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 420 cm³ and about 500 cm³;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the head CG z-axis that is greater than a moment of inertia about the head CG x-axis;

wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head CG x-axis is between about 310 kg·

mm² and about 400 kg·

mm²; and

wherein the moment of inertia about the golf club head CG z-axis divided by the club head mass excluding the mass contribution from the one or more removable weights is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

9. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the golf club head has a CG with a head origin x-axis coordinate between about −

10 mm and about 10 mm and a y-axis coordinate greater than or equal to about 15 mm and less than or equal to about 50 mm, and the one or more removable weights each have a mass between about 1 gram and about 18 grams.

10. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the one or more removable weights cooperatively engages the threaded opening of the golf club head without degrading or destroying the one or more removable weights or the golf club head.

11. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head CG z-axis is between about 480 kg·

mm² and about 600 kg·

mm².

12. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the engagement end of the tool is attached to a torque wrench having a limited torque between about twenty inch-lbs. and forty inch-lbs.

13. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the head of the one or more removable weights is configured to substantially conform to the at least one recess.

14. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein the golf club head defines at least two recesses, and wherein one of the one or more removable weights fits within each of the at least two recesses.

15. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the threaded opening of the club head is positioned in the sole of the club head.

16. The golf club head of claim 8, wherein the golf club head defines at least three recesses, and wherein one of the one or more removable weights fits within each of the at least three recesses.

17. A golf club head defining at least one recess for receiving at least one removable weight, the club head defining a threaded opening in a wall of the at least one recess, the golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a skirt positioned around a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the body defines an interior cavity; and

at least one removable weight comprising a weight head, a cylindrical body, and a male threaded portion;

wherein the weight head having a first diameter and a top portion defining a socket adapted to engage a tool;

wherein the socket has multiple lobes;

wherein the cylindrical body having a second diameter, a top end, and a bottom end having an annular ledge;

wherein the annular ledge presses against a bottom of the at least one recess when the at least one removable weight is installed;

wherein the male threaded portion is directly coupled to the annular ledge, the male threaded portion having a third diameter and configured to cooperatively engage the threaded opening of the club head; and

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 110 cm³ and about 500 cm³, a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8, and a loft between about 6 degrees and about 30 degrees.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 250 cm³ and about 500 cm³.

19. The golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the golf club head defines at least two recesses, and wherein the at least one removable weight fits within each of the at least two recesses on the golf club head.

20. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the first diameter is between about 11 mm and about 13 mm.

21. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter.

22. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein a moment of inertia about the golf club head CG z-axis divided by the club head mass excluding the mass contribution from any removable weights is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

23. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein a moment of inertia about the head CG x-axis is between about 310 kg·

mm² and about 400 kg·

mm².

24. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the at least one removable weight cooperatively engages the threaded opening of the golf club head without degrading or destroying the at least one removable weight or the golf club head.

25. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head CG z-axis is between about 480 kg·

mm² and about 600 kg·

mm².

26. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the tool that engages the socket is a torque wrench having a limited torque between about twenty inch-lbs. and forty inch-lbs.

27. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein the weight head of the at least one removable weight is configured to substantially conform to the at least one recess.

28. A golf club head comprising:

at least one recess for receiving one or more removable weights, the at least one recess comprising a threaded opening;

a face positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head and a hosel that extends outward from the crown, wherein the golf club head defines an interior cavity; and

the one or more removable weights comprising a weight head, a body, and a male threaded portion;

wherein the head of the one or more removable weights defining a socket for receiving an engagement end of a tool; and

wherein the male threaded portion is configured to cooperatively engage the threaded opening of the at least one recess;

wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution greater than about 0.8, and a loft between about 6 degrees and about 30 degrees;

wherein the golf club head has a volume between about 420 cm³ and about 500 cm³;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about the head CG z-axis that is greater than a moment of inertia about the head CG x-axis;

wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head CG z-axis is between about 480 kg·

mm² and about 600 kg·

mm²;

wherein the moment of inertia about the golf club head CG z-axis divided by the golf club head mass excluding the mass contribution from the one or more removable weights is between about 2,000 mm² and about 3,000 mm².

29. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the golf club head moment of inertia about the head CG x-axis is between about 310 kg·

mm² and about 400 kg·

mm².

30. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the one or more removable weights cooperatively engages the threaded opening of the golf club head without degrading or destroying the one or more removable weights or the golf club head.

31. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the golf club head has a CG with a head origin x-axis coordinate between about −

10 mm and about 10 mm and a y-axis coordinate greater than or equal to about 15 mm and less than or equal to about 50 mm, and the one or more removable weights each have a mass between about 1 gram and about 18 grams.

32. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the golf club head defines at least two recesses, and wherein one of the one or more removable weights fits within each of the at least two recesses.

33. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the golf club head defines at least three recesses, and wherein one of the one or more removable weights fits within each of the at least three recesses.

34. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the engagement end of the tool is attached to a torque wrench having a limited torque between about twenty inch-lbs. and forty inch-lbs.

35. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the weight head of the one or more removable weights is configured to substantially conform to the at least one recess.

36. The golf club head of claim 28, wherein the threaded opening of the club head is positioned in the sole of the golf club head.