Golf club and golf club head structures

• US 10,780,330 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2019
• Issued: 09/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Stites, John T., Fujita, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US16/509,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20190344134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• 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 69/3632 : Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 : Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A golf club head has a body defining a ball striking face. The body further has a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face wherein a void is defined between the first leg and the second leg. The body further defines a cover that extends over the void. The golf club head may further have support structures and adjustable weight members.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a ball striking surface, a crown, a sole, a plurality of sidewalls, a rear, a toe portion, and a heel portion;

the plurality of sidewalls comprises at least a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall that extends downwardly in a direction from the crown of the golf club head towards the sole of the golf club head;

the body further comprises a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face to form a void;

the first leg comprises a first side and the second leg comprises a second side;

the body further includes a cover;

the first side of the first leg and the second side of the second leg converge toward the ball striking face to form an interface area;

a weight operably associated with the interface area;

wherein;

the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is generally parallel to the ball striking face;

the second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is substantially vertical and positioned proximal to the toe portion;

the third sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is substantially vertical and positioned proximal to the heel portion;

the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall form a recessed region in the rear of the body;

the body defines a receiver at the interface area and the weight being received in the receiver.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the cover extends over the void.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the receiver is in the form of a receiver tube having a closed end proximate the cover and an open end proximate the sole of the body.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight has a first end and a second end.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the first end is denser than the second end.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein the weight is positioned in the receiver in a first position such that the first end is positioned at the closed end.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight is moveable among a plurality of positions.

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the weight comprises a plurality of weight members releasably connected to one another.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of weight members have different weight values.

7. The golf club head of 5, wherein the weight is positioned in the receiver in a second position such that the second end is positioned at the closed end.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a ball striking surface, a crown, a sole, a plurality of sidewalls, a rear, a toe portion, and a heel portion;

the plurality of sidewalls comprises at least a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a third sidewall that extends downwardly in a direction from the crown of the golf club head towards the sole of the golf club head;

the body further comprises a first leg extending away from the ball striking face and a second leg extending away from the ball striking face to form a v-shaped void;

the first leg comprises a first side and the second leg comprises a second side;

the body further includes a cover;

the first side of the first leg and the second side of the second leg converge toward the ball striking face to form an interface area;

a weight operably associated with the interface area;

wherein;

the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is generally parallel to the ball striking face;

the second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is substantially vertical and positioned proximal to the toe portion;

the third sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls is substantially vertical and positioned proximal to the heel portion;

the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall form a recessed region in the rear of the body;

the body defines a receiver at the interface area and the weight being received in the receiver.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the cover extends over the v-shaped void.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the receiver is in the form of a receiver tube, and wherein the receiver tube includes a closed end proximate the cover and an open end proximate the sole of the body.

14. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the weight has a first end and a second end.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein the first end is denser than the second end.

16. The golf club head of claim 15, wherein the weight is positioned in the receiver in a first position such that the first end is positioned at the closed end.

18. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the weight is moveable among a plurality of positions.

19. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the weight comprises a plurality of weight members releasably connected to each other.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein the weight members have different weight values.

17. The golf club head of 15, wherein the weight is positioned in the receiver in a second position such that the second end is positioned at the closed end.