GOLF CLUB

• US 20100197424A1
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Beach, Todd P., Hoffman, Joseph Henry, Willett, Kraig Alan, Sargent, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,303,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/307
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0454 Strengthening ribs on the rear surface of the impact face plate
• 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.

Claims

1. A golf club sleeve comprising:

a top portion;

a middle portion connected to the top portion, the middle portion having a thin wall thickness of at least 0.6 mm to about 1 mm;

a bottom portion connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces;

a central longitudinal axis; and

an offset angle being offset from the central longitudinal axis, the offset angle being configured to allow a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees, wherein the total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.

2. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the sleeve is between about 4 g and about 9 g.

3. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the sleeve is between about 4 g and about 7 g.

4. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the sleeve is between about 4 g and about 6 g.

5. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the total weight of the sleeve is between about 4 g and about 5 g.

6. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the middle portion includes a thin wall thickness of between about 0.35 mm and about 1 mm.

7. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, further comprising:

a first engagement surface;

a second engagement surface;

a third engagement surface; and

a fourth engagement surface having a plurality of engaging splines, the first, second, third, and fourth engagements surfaces configured to engage a surface located on the hosel portion of a golf club head.

8. The golf club sleeve of claim 7, wherein the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface, the third engagement surface, and the fourth engagement surface are axi-symmetric about the central longitudinal axis.

9. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the third engagement surface is a ridge surface having a wide portion and a narrow portion configured to engage the interior wall of a hosel portion.

10. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, further comprising a first non-engagement region, a second non-engagement region, and a third non-engagement region, the non-engagement regions being axi-symmetric about the offset axis.

11. The golf club sleeve of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a plurality of markings that indicate the rotational position of the sleeve.

12. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a hosel portion, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head, the body defining an interior cavity, wherein at least 50 percent of the crown has a thickness less than about 0.8 mm;

an adjustable loft system configured to allow a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees;

a weight savings zone having a radius of 6.9 mm, the weight savings zone being symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis, a hosel material located within the weight savings zone weighing less than 35 g.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the hosel portion includes a thin wall portion of between about 0.6 mm to about 1 mm and the hosel material located within the weight savings zone weighs between about 15 g and about 35 g.

14. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the hosel includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface, wherein the second planar surface forms a non-zero angle with the first planar surface.

15. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein a golf club head center of gravity has a head origin x-axis coordinate greater than about −

2 mm and less than about 8 mm, a head origin y-axis coordinate greater than about 25 mm and less than about 40 mm where a positive y-axis extends towards the interior cavity, and a head origin z-axis coordinate less than about 0 mm.

16. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein a golf club head moment of inertia about a head center of gravity x-axis generally parallel to an origin x-axis is between about 200 kg·

mm² and 500 kg·

mm² and a moment of inertia about a head center of gravity z-axis generally perpendicular to ground, when the head is ideally positioned, is between about 350 kg·

mm² and about 600 kg·

mm².

17. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the adjustable loft system includes at least four discrete positions.

18. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the face plate has a thickness change of at least 25% over the face between a thickest portion of the face plate and a thinnest portion of the face plate.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein the golf club head includes at least one movable weight port.

20. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a face plate positioned at a forward portion of the golf club head, a hosel portion, a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head, the body defining an interior cavity, wherein at least 50 percent of the crown has a thickness less than about 0.8 mm;

an adjustable loft system assembly configured to allow a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees, the adjustable loft system assembly including a sleeve, a sleeve insert, a ferrule, a fastener, and a washer;

a weight savings zone having a radius of 6.9 mm, the weight savings zone being symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis, the adjustable loft system assembly located within the weight savings zone and a portion of the club head located within the weight savings zone weighing between about 15 g and about 50 g.