Golf club head with removable component

• US 9,901,794 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Beno, Tim A., Breier, Joshua G., Clausen, Karl A., Curtis, Andrew, Kroloff, Caleb, Mitzel, Steven M., Moreira, Scott H., Sanchez, Richard Romo, Soracco, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US15/213,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350, 473287-292
• 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 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• 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 53/06 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 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

The invention provides a golf club head with a fully removable component that can withstand the stress of repeated hits. When assembled, the removable component is held in place by a fastening mechanism that includes structural elements that distribute the holding force across the component and tend to equalize the forces around the periphery where the component meets the body. The fastening mechanism may include a post that reaches across the open space within the hollow club head, pulling the removable component towards an opposed main club head body. Since a golf club of the present invention can be opened, it may include a mechanism on the inside for use by a golfer, such as an electronic device or an adjustment mechanism. The golf club may include a weight adjustment system that allows the club to be custom-fitted to a golfer.

Claims

1. A golf club head assembly comprising:

a club head body comprising a sole, a crown, a face, and a hosel;

a removable component configured to be removed from and re-attached to a mounting portion of the club head body, wherein the removable component forms a portion of the club head body and when attached to the mounting portion fully encloses an interior space within the club head body; and

the removable component comprises a fastening mechanism that includes a post connected to the removable component by a plurality of radiating truss structures, and when the removable component is attached to the mounting portion of the club head body, the post extends into the interior space of the club head body, and

the plurality of radiating truss structures distributes a holding force across the removable component to equalize forces around a periphery of the removable component where the removable component engages the club head body.

2. The club head assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a receiving member configured to receive a screw such that, when the removable component is coupled to the club head body, the screw extends through the interior space of the club head body.

3. The club head assembly of claim 2, wherein the screw extends from the crown to the sole across the interior space of club head body.

4. The club head assembly of claim 2, wherein the screw is substantially vertical when the club head is at address.

5. The club head assembly of claim 2, wherein the club head body includes a boss with the screw extending therethrough, the screw being threadably engaged with the receiving member of the fastening mechanism of the removable component.

6. The club head assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable component comprises a portion of the crown.

7. The club head assembly of claim 6, wherein the removable component comprises a majority of the crown.

8. The club head assembly of claim 1, wherein the removable component comprises a portion of the sole.

9. The club head assembly of claim 8, wherein the removable component comprises a majority of the sole.

10. The club head assembly of claim 1, wherein the club head body comprises a first piece defining the hosel and surrounding the face, and an intermediate piece connected to the first piece and defining a cutaway with an inner periphery defining an attachment perimeter for attaching the removable component.

11. The club head assembly of claim 10, wherein the attachment perimeter includes a plurality of tabs and corresponding recesses.