Golf club head with center of gravity adjustability that optimizes products of inertia

• US 9,908,019 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Seluga, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US15/659,418
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 473332, 473334, 473338, 473339, 473344, 473345, 473346, 473348, 473349, 473350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole 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 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention comprises a golf club head comprising a body having a crown, a sole, a front wall and a hosel, wherein the body defines a hollow interior. The golf club head further comprises a center of gravity height adjustment assembly wherein the center of gravity height adjustment assembly is positioned within the hollow interior of the body. The products of inertia (Ixz and Iyz) of the golf club head have an absolute value below 100 g-cm².

Claims

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a metal body comprising a face, a rear portion, and a sole;

a crown;

a hollow tube; and

a cartridge removably positioned within the hollow tube comprising a first material having a first specific gravity and a second material having a second specific gravity that is greater than the value of the first specific gravity;

wherein the tube extends from the crown to the sole;

wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the hollow tube changes the location of the center of gravity of the wood-type golf club head along a vertical Z axis;

wherein the products of inertia (Ixz and Iyz) of the golf club head have an absolute value below 100 g-cm².

2. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first material is a polymer and wherein the second material is tungsten.

3. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the products of inertia (Ixz and Iyz) of the golf club head have an absolute value below 50 g-cm².

4. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a cap, wherein the cap is sized to fit within an opening in the sole.

5. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of a titanium alloy material.

6. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one weight screw.

7. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the center of gravity by no less than 0.050 inch along a vertical Z axis.

8. The wood-type golf club head of claim 7, wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the center of gravity by at approximately 0.070 inch along a vertical Z axis.

9. The wood-type golf club head of claim 7, wherein changing the orientation of the cartridge within the tube changes the location of the golf club head center of gravity by 0.068 inch to 0.085 inch along the vertical Z axis.

10. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head comprises an adjustable hosel.

11. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head comprises an adjustable plate on the sole.

12. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the tube is disposed closer to the face than to the rear portion.

13. The wood-type golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a first tapered end and a second tapered end.