Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 9,987,533 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Oldknow, Andrew G. V., Thomas, James S., Kawaguchi, Hiroshi, Boyd, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US15/040,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20160158612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• 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 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

Golf clubs and golf club heads having a weight member that is configurable in multiple positions to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head are presented. In some examples, the weight member may be arranged in a sole of the golf club head and may include ends having different weighting characteristics. For instance, one end may be heavier or denser than another end of the weight member. The difference in weight characteristics may be due to different materials used to form the different ends, different construction of the ends, and the like. The position of the weight member may be adjusted to alter the performance characteristics of the golf club head. For instance, the weight member may be removed and rotated to position a heavier end where a lighter end was previously positioned.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a crown, a sole, a toe, a heel;

a recess formed in the sole,

the recess extending only in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body;

wherein the recess consists of a first end and a second end,

wherein the recess has the first end having a width,

the second end having a width,

and

a center portion having a width connecting the first end and the second end;

wherein the width of the first end tapers in the front to rear direction from a maximum width to a minimum width;

wherein the width of the second end tapers in the rear to front direction from a maximum width to a minimum width;

wherein a maximum width of the center portion is less than the maximum width of both of the first and second ends;

and

an adjustable weight member configured to be received in the recess,

the adjustable weight member having a first end and a second end,

wherein the adjustable weight member extends from the first end of the recess to the second end of the recess when received in the recess,

the first end having a visual appearance different than the second end.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein

a portion of the adjustable weight member is able to be received in either the first end of the recess or the second end of the recess;

and

wherein each of the first end of the recess has a first bottom surface having a first aperture and the second end of the recess has a second bottom surface having a second aperture.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture include threads and are configured to receive a threaded fastener.

4. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the adjustable weight member comprises a portion having a flexible material.

5. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the adjustable weight member is removably attached to the golf club head body by a threaded fastener.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the first end of the recess and the second end of the recess each have a generally triangular shape.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the recess is symmetrical about the center portion in the front to rear direction.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the center portion of the recess has a depth and the first end and the second end each have a depth;

wherein the depth of the center portion is different than the depth at either the first end or the second end of the recess.

9. A golf club head, comprising:

a golf club head body having a front, a rear, a crown, a sole, a toe, a heel;

a first recess formed in the sole,

the first recess extending in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body;

a second recess formed in the sole,

the second recess extending in a front to rear direction along the sole of the golf club head body;

an adjustable weight member configured to be received in the first recess and the second recess,

the adjustable weight member consisting of a first end and a second end,

the first end having a visual appearance different than the second end;

wherein the first recess has a width and the width of the first recess tapers in the front to rear direction from a maximum width to a minimum width;

and

wherein the second recess has a width and the width of the second recess tapers in the front to rear direction from a maximum width to a minimum width.